USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > History of Newburyport, Mass., 1764-1905, Volume I > Part 12
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March 22, 1791, a committee, appointed for that purpose, having examined the old almshouse, reported that it was inexpedient to repair it and recommended the building of a new one in the same place.3 Capt. William P. Johnson, Moses Brown, Nathaniel Knap, William Bartlet and Jonathan Marsh were authorized, March 12, 1793, to prepare plans and ascertain the cost of a suitable building.4
[April 1, 1793] Voted to build a new work house, not exceeding ninety-five feet in length, thirty-two feet in width and two stories high with a gable roof agreeably to a plan reported to the Town by their Committee at the present meeting, and that the Walls of the house be built of Brick next year, and that such part of the house be finished as may then be found necessary.5
William Bartlet, Capt. William Coombs and Capt. William P. Johnson were appointed a committee to purchase materials and superintend the erection of the building. May 13, 1794, the selectmen were directed to draw on the town treasurer for the sum of one thousand pounds " for building the new work
1 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 419.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 429.
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 29.
4 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 66.
5 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 95.
ALMSHOUSE ERECTED IN 1794.
I45
DISTILLERIES AND MALT HOUSES
house including the three hundred pounds already drawn,"I and on the eighteenth day of September following the build- ing committee, above named, was instructed to sell, at public auction, the whole or any part of the old work house with oth- er small buildings near it.2
May 4, 1796, the selectmen were authorized to purchase, of Miss Sarah Roberts, a narrow strip of land adjoining the work- house lot " provided it may be had at a reasonable rate."3
The male inmates of the almshouse who were able to work were employed in cultivating land, making oakum, and sawing and splitting wood ; the women were employed in spinning wool, cotton and flax and in weaving yarn into cloth.4
In 1821, the work house was enlarged by a three-story brick addition forty feet long and thirty-four feet wide.5 It was occupied until the almshouse on North Atkinson street was completed in 1888, when it was sold and taken down.
DISTILLERIES AND MALT HOUSES.
As early as 1690, malt houses had been erected and were in active operation at the foot of Ordway's lane, now Market street, at the foot of Greenleaf's lane, now State street, and at the foot of Chandler's lane, now Federal street, Newburyport.6 At a later date, distilleries were established at convenient locations near Merrimack river, between Federal street and Broad street, for the manufacture of New England rum.
At a meeting of the selectmen of Newburyport held March 9, 1767, a lot of land owned by Ralph Cross, "adjoining to the Landing above the Lower Long Wharf," was laid out to Stephen Cross, son of Ralph Cross ; and Dudley Atkins and Michael Dalton, justices of the peace, "granted the said Stephen Cross liberty to erect a distillery thereon."7
1 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 95.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 97.
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 128.
4 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., pp. 298, 449.
5 Newburyport Town Records, vol. III., pp. 104, 107.
6 History of Newbury (Currier), p. 262.
7 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 103.
A river lot, near the lower Long wharf, " on which an old Distill House now stands," was advertised for sale by Stephen and Ralph Cross in the Newburyport Herald Nov. 10, 1801.
146
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
In 1785, Robert Laird, a Scotchman, came to Newburyport, and, in company with James Ferguson, established himself in business as a brewer of ale, beer and porter.
The following advertisement was published in the Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet November 30, 1785 :-
BREWERY.
JAMES FERGUSON AND ROBERT LAIRD
Hereby inform the Public, that they have set up a Brewery opposite to Somersby's Landing in Newbury-port where they brew the best Porter and Strong Beer which they determine to sell at the most reasonable rate. Having been regularly bred to the business in Europe they flatter them- selves that they shall give satisfaction to the public as they do not doubt but that their Liquor will equal that which comes from the best English Breweries.I
Three years later, the firm of Ferguson & Laird was dis- solved, but the junior partner announced in the following advertisement his intention of carrying on the brewing busi- ness in the same place :-
The Subscriber informs the Public that he has begun the Malting and Brewing business again opposite Somersby's Landing.
Any gentlemen who wish to export any of his Porter may have it put up in the best manner, in good new barrels and warranted.
ROBERT LAIRD.
Cash given for Barley, or Malt in Exchange.2
In 1789, land on Green street adjoining the brewery was purchased,3 and, in 1793, additional land on the corner of Green and Cross (now Pleasant) streets was conveyed to Robert Laird, brewer.4
This property was advertised for sale at auction July 20, 1800; 5 but Robert Laird probably retained possession of it until he removed to Liberty street several years later. Owing
1 Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet on file at the rooms of the Ameri- can Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.
2 Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet, Nov. 19, 1788 (American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.).
8 Essex Deeds, book 149, leaf 269, and book 152, leaf 90.
4 Essex Deeds, book 156, leaf 226, and book 159, leaf 88.
Newburyport Herald, July 20, 1800,
147
CANALS
to heavy losses he was obliged to make an assignment of his property April 16, 1833.
In 1790, there were ten distilleries in the town engaged in the manufacture of New England rum.1
In 1796, the distillery on Winter street, within one hundred feet of Merrimack street was advertised for sale by the admin- istrator of the estate of William Coffin, deceased.2
When the census was taken in 1820 the number of distil- leries had been reduced to four. They were located on Merri- mack street,-one near the foot of Warren street, another at the foot of Kent street, a third on the corner of Williams court and the fourth on the corner of Strong street.
In 1826, the distill house formerly occupied by Col. Abra- ham Williams was in the possession of John Chickering. "It was the first one on the river road as you enter the town."3 At that date Joseph Williams owned the distillery at the foot of Warren street, and Robert B. Williams the one on the corner of Williams court.
At the present time the distillery at the foot of Kent street, owned by Messrs. Alexander and George J. Caldwell, is the only one in operation within the limits of Newburyport.
CANALS.
In 1791, a canal was cut through the marshes, between Salisbury beach and the main land, from Hampton, N. H., to Merrimack river, a distance of about eight miles.4 Fifty years ago this canal was much used. When the weather was tempestuous and the waves were rolling high on the beach, boats passed safely and quickly through the canal from Hamp- ton to Newburyport and then, following the course of Plum Island river, reached Ipswich in season to secure a load of fish or clams and return home with the incoming tide. Now the canal is practically abandoned and almost entirely overgrown
1 History of Newburyport (Cushing), p. 84.
2 Impartial Herald, Jan. 29, 1796.
3 Newburyport Herald, Aug. 8, 1826.
4 Belknap's History of New Hampshire (1792), vol. III., chap. V., p. 72.
148
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
with tall reeds and thatch. It is spanned by two small bridges one for the accommodation of travellers over the old road from East Salisbury to the beach, and the other erected, in 1866, by the Salisbury Beach Plank Road Company.1
In order to facilitate the transportation of passengers and merchandise, Dudley Atkins Tyng,2 William Coombs, Joseph Tyler, Nicholas Johnson and Joshua Carter were incorporated by the General Court of Massachusetts, on the twenty- seventh day of June, 1792, by the name of " The Proprietors of the Locks and Canals on Merrimack River," and were authorized to buy and hold real estate and water privileges at or near " Patucket Falls " for the purpose of rendering the river navigable "from the divisional line of New Hampshire and Massachusetts to the Tide Waters of said River."3
In 1793, the Middlesex Canal Company was incorporated and authorized to build a canal from Hillsborough county in New Hampshire to Boston. Liberty was granted the com- pany, in 1798, to purchase the water privileges necessary to carry on the business of the corporation.
Meanwhile the General Court had extended the time allowed for the construction of the canal " at Patucket Falls "4 and in the month of April, 1796, " The Proprietors of Locks and Canals on Merrimack River" levied an assessment of five dollars per share to pay for the preliminary survey. At that date, the officers of the company, Jonathan Jackson, president, Joseph Cutler, treasurer, and Samuel Cutler, clerk, were citi- zens of Newburyport.5
June 17, 1797, the General Court established the rates of toll for boats or rafts passing through the canal and increased the rate by a supplementary act March 3, 1804.6
1 The Salisbury Beach Plank Road Company was incorporated in 1865. Early in the spring of 1866 a long strip of marsh land on the westerly side of the beach was purchased, and in the month of June following the road was completed, being opened to the public July thirteenth. December 7, 1899, the property was con- veyed to Climena G. Gale of Amesbury and Edward P. Shaw of Newburyport. Essex Deeds, book 733, leaves 89-95, and book 1600, p. 234.
2 " An Act to enable Dudley Atkins, Esquire, to take the surname of Tyng " was passed by the General Court January 16, 1790.
3 Acts and Resolves of 1792, ch. 13.
4 Acts of 1795-1796, ch. 27.
5 Impartial Herald, April 24, 1796.
6 Acts of 1796-1797, ch. 6, and Acts of 1803-1804, ch. 102.
I49
PIERS IN MERRIMACK RIVER
William Bartlet, Moses Brown, John Pettingell, Ebenezer Moseley, William B. Bannister, Edward S. Rand and others were incorporated, June 19, 1816, by the name of The Merrimack River Association and authorized to build addi- tional locks and canals around the falls in Merrimack river.1
June 19, 1819, William Bartlet, Moses Brown and John Pettingell, " Proprietors of the Merrimack canal " were incor- porated for the purpose of building a canal at Hunt's falls.2
Two years later the stock of this corporation was transferred to Nathan Appleton, Patrick Tracy Jackson, Kirk Boott, Warren Dutton, Paul Moody, John W. Boott and others of Boston. A dam was built across the Merrimack river at Pawtucket falls, the locks and canals were widened and deep- ened, mills were erected and the foundations for the present city of Lowell were laid.
January 27, 1825, the old Locks and Canals company, incor- porated in 1792, was re-established and authorized to purchase the real estate and mill privileges of the Merrimack Manufac- turing company, and also additional land in the towns of Chelmsford, Dracut and Tewksbury.3
June 15, 1820, the proprietors of the Essex canal were incor- porated and authorized to lay out and dig a canal from Fox creek, so called, in Ipswich, to a branch of the Essex river.4 The canal was completed in 1821. It was used by small boats and barges and, in connection with Plum Island river, furnished a safe inland route of communication between Essex and Newburyport.5 For many years oak timber, floated down Merrimack river, from Bradford and Haverhill, was taken through this canal and used in the construction of small ves- sels in the town of Essex.
PIERS IN MERRIMACK RIVER.
In 1804, the piers near the Gangway rocks were in a dilapi- dated condition and the merchants of Newburyport decided to
1 Acts and Resolves of 1816, ch. 27.
2 Acts and Resolves of 1819, ch. 51. .
3 Acts and Resolves of 1824-1825, ch. 47.
4 Acts and Resolves of 1820, ch. 8.
a Felt's History of Ipswich, p. 54.
150
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
erect two new ones, at their own expense, as soon as possible. On the eighth day of May, a meeting was held at the office of the Marine and Fire Insurance company to choose a commit- tee to purchase materials and employ workmen.1
The piers were built during the following summer, and in January, 1806, Hon. Jeremiah Nelson of Newburyport, mem- ber of congress from the Fourth Essex district, presented a petition briefly reciting the facts above stated, and humbly praying that the cost of building the piers be assumed by the general government. The committee of commerce and manufactures, to whom the petition was referred, reported, March fourth, that the piers were not built under the direction of an agent or officer of the United States and the cost there- fore ought not to be assumed by the government.2
The plan of Newburyport harbor on the opposite page, repro- duced from the sixteenth edition of the American Coast Pilot, published in 1809, gives the location of the piers near the " Hump Sands," built in 1774, to obstruct the mouth of the harbor, and the piers near the Gangway rocks, built in 1804, to mark the channel of the river.3
A meeting of the merchants and others interested in com- mercial affairs in Newburyport was held in the summer of 1808 to consider the propriety of petitioning congress to place piers and buoys in the river, or repair those already erected, but no definite action was taken until several years later.4
On the twenty-fourth day of May, 1816, the inhabitants of Newburyport voted to petition the General Court to cede certain rocks and flats in Merrimack river to the United States government. A .petition representing that the channel of the river was crooked and obstructed by sunken rocks, that
1 Advertisement in Newburyport Herald, May 8, 1804.
2 Newburyport Herald, March 28, 1804.
8 The location of salt works on the Salisbury shore is marked on the map. Capt. James Hudson, for many years engaged in the manufacture of salt, erected works there in 1767, and June 18, 1777 the General Court granted him the sum of two hundred pounds to enable him to enlarge his works and increase the production of salt. Mass. Archives, vol. 137, p. 172; History of Newbury (Currier), p. 296. 4 Newburyport Herald, August 5, 1808.
Engraved for the American Coast Pilot.
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Turnpike
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152
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
the piers and beacons were out of repair and needed to be rebuilt, that the Federal government had consented to defray the cost of rebuilding, provided the site where the piers then stood was ceded to the United States, was prepared and presented to the representatives, in General Court assembled, humbly praying " that the land under the piers in said river, as they now stand may be ceded by this commonwealth to the United States for the purpose of erecting and keeping in repair suitable piers for the safety of the navigation of that river.I
" An act to cede to the United States the jurisdiction of the Rocks and Flats under the Piers in Merrimack River " passed June 13, 1816, expressly provides " that if the said United States shall neglect to keep the said Piers in good repair and in condition useful to navigation then this ces- sion shall be void."2
THE GREAT FIRE.
Friday, May 31, 1811, the inhabitants of Newburyport were alarmed, at about half-past nine o'clock in the evening, by the cry of "Fire !" There had been very little rain for several weeks and a strong westerly wind was blowing. At first, clouds of smoke obscured the moon, then suddenly a vast column of flame shot upward into the air. Men and women hastened to assist the members of the several engine companies in their efforts to stop the conflagration, but the flames spread with great rapidity and soon destroyed a large amount of val- uable property.
The fire began in an unoccupied stable on Inn street, then called Mechanic's row, and continued to rage until two o'clock in the morning, burning nearly two hundred and fifty shops and dwelling houses, between State and Fair streets, and Middle street and Merrimack river.3
George Peabody, afterwards the eminent London banker, was at that time a clerk in a dry-goods store on State street, kept
' Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., p. 523.
2 Acts and Resolves, 1816, ch. I.
3 See map and account of the " Great Fire " in "Ould Newbury," pp. 646- 650.
153
THE GREAT FIRE
by his brother David Peabody and Capt. Samuel Swett, and was one of the first to discover the fire and give the alarm. Owing to the general stagnation in business that followed, he removed, May 4, 1812, with his uncle Gen. John Peabody, to Georgetown, D. C., and established himself in business there.1
At a town meeting held on the third day of June a commit- tee was appointed to enquire into the origin of the fire, and arrangements were made to provide food and clothing for those whose property had been destroyed. The friendly as- sistance rendered by the inhabitants of Newbury, Salisbury, Amesbury, Rowley, Ipswich, Beverly, Haverhill, Topsfield, Bradford, Hampton, Portsmouth and other towns in Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire was gratefully acknowledged, especially the service of the citizens of Salem, in protecting property the night after the fire, when the inhabitants of Newburyport were completely exhausted.2
The value of the property destroyed was estimated at one mil- lion dollars. William Bartlet gave three thousand dollars ; Moses Brown, fifteen hundred dollars, and others of less fortune contributed as their means permitted to the fund raised for the relief of the sufferers. Liberal donations were made by neighboring cities and towns. Boston sent over twenty-four thousand dollars ; Salem, ten thousand dollars ; Philadelphia, thirteen thousand dollars ; Charlestown, twenty- five hundred dollars; Hingham, Waltham, Marlboro, Brigh- ton, Attleboro, Medford and other towns, smaller sums. The contributions from all sources amounted to nearly one hundred and thirty thousand dollars.3
1 The store, No. 3 Cornhill, nearly opposite the town house, on State street, occupied by David Peabody & Co., was not destroyed by the fire, but the store at the corner of State street and Market square, occupied by John Peabody, was totally consumed with a large stock of dry goods, boots, shoes, etc. David Peabody, born April 23, 1790, and George Peabody, born February 18, 1795, were sons of Thomas and Judith (Dodge) Peabody of Danvers. John Peabody, brother of Thomas Peabody, was born February 22, 1768. He married Anna Little of Newbury March 30, 1791.
2 Newburyport Town Records, vol. II., pp. 409, 410.
3 August 18, 1826, a barn and several dwelling houses, between Temple and Charter streets, were destroyed by fire. Stephen Merrill Clark, seventeen years of age, was tried and convicted, February 17, 1821, for setting fire to these buildings. He was sentenced by Chief-Justice Parker, at the supreme court in Salem, to be hung, and on the tenth day of May following he was executed at Winter island.
154
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
June 14, 1811, the General Court passed " An Act to secure the town of Newburyport from damage by fire," and in a sup- plementary act, passed June 18, 1812, provided that all dwell- ing houses or stores erected between Market and Federal streets and the northeasterly side of High street and Merri- mack river, should be built of brick or stone, and prohibited the erection of wooden buildings, more than twenty-five feet high, in any other part of the town.1
The inhabitants of Newburyport voted December 29, 1828, to petition the General Court to repeal these acts, considering them detrimental to the growth and prosperity of the town,2 but the petition was not granted until January 30, 1832.3
AMUSEMENTS.
At the close of the eighteenth century the social life of Newburyport was gay and attractive. John Quincy Adams, a student at law, from 1787 to 1789, in the office of Theophi- lus Parsons, frequently mentions in his diary the brilliant gatherings and impromptu dancing parties he attended.4
[October 15, 1787] at about seven o'clock we [Samuel Putnam of Danvers, Moses Little of Newbury and John Q. Adams] met at the danc- ing hall, and from that time till between three and four in the morning we were continually dancing. I was unacquainted with almost all the company ; but I never saw a collection of Ladies where there was com- paratively so much beauty. Two or three gentlemen got rather over the bay; but upon the whole the proceedings were as regular and agreeable as might be expected.5
[December 27, 1787] St. John's Day. An entertainment for the So- ciety of Free Masons. In consequence of Stacey's6 exertions, we had this evening a good dance. There were only thirteen gentlemen and fifteen ladies. The diversion was general and the company spirited. Upon such occasions there is almost always somebody who makes pe- culiar amusement for the rest of the company. A Captain Casey was this
1 Acts and Resolves, 1811-1812, ch. 9.
2 Acts and Resolves, 1832, ch. 15.
3 Newburyport Town Records, vol. III., p. 186.
4 A portrait of John Quincy Adams, painted in London a few years after he left Newburyport, is reproduced in the half-tone print on the opposite page.
5 Life in a New England Town, p. 46.
" George Stacey, of Ipswich, student-at-law in Newburyport.
155
AMUSEMENTS
evening as singular as any of the gentlemen. As a Mason he had the gener- osity of his heart at dinner, rather than the reflections of prudence, and as this, like most virtues, increased by being put in action, he had not laid any illiberal restraints upon himself in the evening. It increased exceed- ingly his activity, and after all the Company had done dancing he re- tained vigor to walk a minuet and to skip in reels. In all this there was
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.
nothing but what was perfectly innocent ; yet so fond are the sons of men to remark their respective foibles, that the Captain was not totally exempt_ ed from the smiles of the company. This was the most particular circum_ stance that took place. In general I was much pleased. It was between four and five in the morning before we broke up.1
1 Life in a New England Town, p. 75.
156
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
[January 22, 1788] Between four and five I received an invitation from Putnam and F. Bradbury' to join them for a party at sleighing. Though not particularly desirous to go I did not refuse ; and at about six o'clock we started. We went to Sawyer's tavern, about three miles off, and there danced till between twelve and one. The company was rather curiously sorted, but the party was agreeable.2
Whist, commerce, quadrille, and other games with cards, although condemned by many, were evidently considered worthy of a place in the social life of Newburyport. Mr. Adams frequently mentions them in his diary and describes at some length an evening passed at the house of Hon. Tris- tram Dalton, February 26, 1788, when he sat down to a game of whist at seven and played until a "formal, ceremonious, and consequently elegant " supper was served at ten o'clock.
At that date, accomplished young ladies played upon the harpsichord, an instrument resembling the piano-forte of to- day, but only few understood the science of music and handled the keys skillfully. Singing, however, with violin and flute accompaniment, was popular and evidently the chief attraction at many evening entertainments ; and in summer, when the stars were bright, the quiet streets resounded with songs of youthful serenaders. Concerning this diversion John Quincy Adams wrote as follows :-
[May 21, 1788] I walked with Pickman 3 in the evening to Sawyer's4 where we drank tea and made it almost ten o'clock before we got home. I then went up with my flute to Stacey's lodgings, our general head- quarters. About a quarter before twelve, Stacey, Thompson, Putnam, with a couple of young lads by the name of Greenough, and myself sallied forth upon a scheme of serenading. We paraded round the town till almost four in the morning.5
At a later date, a club of amateur musicians was formed which afterwards developed into an orchestral union, and
1 Francis Bradbury, son of Hon. Theophilus Bradbury, of Newburyport.
2 Life in a New England Town, p. 87.
Sawyer's tavern was on the Bradford road at or near Brown's springs and within the present limits of the town of West Newbury.
3 Benjamin Pickman of Salem, student-at-law in the office of Theophilus Par- sons, Newburyport.
4 Tavern on the Bradford road near Brown's springs.
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