USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > History of Newburyport, Mass., 1764-1905, Volume I > Part 19
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The hospital was opened for public inspection April 16,
1 Miss Anna Jaques was born in Newbury May 8, 1800; and died there Jan. 24, 1885.
242
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
1884. The first patient was admitted on the seventh day of May following. Since that date it has been maintained by gifts received from private individuals, contributions from churches, and an annual collection made by the Hospital Aid association.
ANNA JAQUES.
In 1888, a training school for nurses was established in con- nection with the hospital, and funds for its support were given by Mr. Henry B. Little, Mrs. Lucy (Moseley) Muzzey and others interested in the work. In 1889, a convenient and commodious building was erected, fitted up and furnished for a laundry, and presented to the hospital by Hon. Elisha P. Dodge. In October, 1896, a home for the nurses, connected with the training school, was completed, in memory of Mrs. Lucy (Mose- ley) Muzzey of Cambridge, and conveyed to the trustees of the corporation by Mr. Charles W. Moseley of Newburyport and Mr. Oliver H. Perry of Lowell, executors of her will.
243
ANNA JAQUES HOSPITAL
Realizing that the old hospital, overcrowded and inconven- ient, must soon give place to a new one with all the modern improvements, Mr. William C. Todd1 offered, March 5, 1901, to give fifty thousand dollars to pay the cost of erecting a suit-
WILLIAM C. TODD.
1 Mr. William C. Todd was born in Atkinson, N. H., February 16, 1823. He was principal of the female high school in Newburyport from 1854 to 1864. In a letter to the directors of the Newburyport public library, dated March 26, 1870, he offered to pay the sum of three hundred dollars annually for the purchase of newspapers and magazines. His offer was accepted and the first free newspaper reading room in Europe or America was established in connection with the libra- ry in Newburyport. He subsequently created a trust fund of fifteen thousand dollars, the income to be expended in maintaining and supplying the reading room with the leading newspapers and periodicals of the day.
= In 1897, Mr. Todd gave fifty thousand dollars, in trust, to the directors of the Boston public library, the income to be used for a similar purpose in connection with the library in Boston. For four years previous to that date he generously con- tributed two thousand dollars toward the cost of establishing and maintaining a newspaper reading room there and when its advantages were appreciated and acknowledged he provided the funds for its permanent support. Mr. Todd died in Atkinson, N. H., June 26, 1903, and was buried in a grave-yard near the cen- tre of that town.
In his will, after the payment of certain bequests, he gave ten thousand dollars to the New England Historic-Genealogical Society, and the residue of his estate, amounting to two hundred thousand dollars, to Mount Holyoke college in South Hadley, Mass.
ANNA JAQUES HOSPITAL, 1905.
245
NEW ALMSHOUSE
able brick building, on land to be conveyed to the trustees, near the corner of High and Toppan streets, Newburyport. Subsequently, with the consent of Mr. Todd, a better location on higher ground, was selected for the new hospital, and, in 1902, over ten acres of land, on Highland avenue, on the south- westerly side of High street, near the head of Arlington street, was purchased and, in April, 1903, work on the new building was begun. It was completed and dedicated with appropriate exercises June 28, 1904.
The land and hospital and other buildings connected there- with, including the expense of moving the nurses' house from Broad street, cost nearly one hundred thousand dollars. The operating room, not provided for in the original plan, was built at the suggestion of Frederick S. Moseley, Henry B. Lit- tle and others, who gave the money needed for that purpose, and Meyer S. Bernheimer of New York furnished the delicate and valuable surgical instruments and other appliances used to alleviate suffering and prolong human life.
Hon. Elisha P. Dodge, one of the original incorporators of the Anna Jaques Hospital Association, was elected treasurer January 1, 1899, and held that office until his death, Septem- ber 30, 1902. During the last three years of his life he was much interested in hospital work, and managed the financial affairs of the association with great skill and ability. Under his care and supervision the plans for the new building were prepared and accepted, but he did not live to see the contracts awarded and the work begun.
NEW ALMSHOUSE.
Rev. William Horton, D. D., in his will, dated October twenty-second, and proved December 15, 1863, gave to the city of Newburyport, after the death of his wife and mother and the payment of certain bequests, one quarter part of the resi- due of his estate for the erection of a commodious almshouse, and the city received June 22, 1880, from the trustees under Mr. Horton's will, the sum of nineteen thousand, five hundred and eighty-nine dollars and twenty-two cents. In 1887, this
ALMSHOUSE, 1888.
247
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
sum, with accrued interest, amounted to twenty-six thousand four hundred and two dollars and forty-three cents. Early in the spring of that year land on the corner of Low and North Atkinson streets was purchased, and during the following summer plans were prepared and the foundation of the new almshouse laid. The building, built of brick, was completed and occupied in July, 1888. The total cost of the property, including land, barn and outbuildings, was thirty-eight thou- sand, eight hudnred and thirty-six dollars and twenty-nine cents.
A photographic view of the almshouse, from North Atkin- son street, is reproduced in the half-tone print on the opposite page.
The old almshouse on Federal street was sold in 1888 to be. taken down and removed. A portion of the land under and adjoining the same, was laid out for a highway and named Horton street, and the remainder was divided into house lots and sold at public auction in 1889.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The Newburyport Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1876. Sylvester B. Carter was its first president ; Edward L. Chute and Dudley D. Tilton, vice presidents ; George D. Morey, secretary ; Charles W. Pike, treasurer ; and John A. Maynard, auditor. At that date the association occupied rooms at No. 45 and later at No. 38 State street. In 1880, the second and third stories of the building on the northwesterly corner of Hale's court and Pleasant street were leased, and the association removed there. September I, 1884, it was incorporated under the general laws of the com- monwealth of Massachusetts, and the following officers were chosen: Dr. Frank A. Hale, president ; Nathan D. Dodge and Alexander Dixon, vice presidents ; Charles F. Smith, recording secretary ; Frank O. Woods, treasurer ; Charles E. Page, gen- eral secretary ; and Sylvester B. Carter, auditor.
June 21, 1890, the corner-stone of the building on State street, at the corner of Harris street, was laid, the Right Rev- erend Thomas M. Clark, bishop of Rhode Island, delivering
248
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
an address appropriate to the occasion in the meeting house of the Whitefield Congregational society. The building, erected by the family of the late George H. Corliss of Providence, R. I., was completed early in the following spring and dedicated April 17, 1891. It is a substantial structure of brick and stone, conveniently located, and exceedingly attractive from an architectural point of view. As a memorial gift it commemo-
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING.
rates the life and character of a distinguished friend of the association, and contributes to the moral growth and develop- ment of the young men of Newburyport.
The officers of the association for the year beginning May 12, 1905, are as follows : Dr. Alphonso B. Brown, president ; Charles A. Bliss and Paul A. Merrill, vice-presidents ; Frank O. Woods, treasurer; Thomas E. Medcalf, recording secre- tary ; and John H. Wheeler, auditor.
AT WORK ON THE JETTIES.
250
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
JETTIES AT MOUTH OF THE MERRIMACK RIVER.
In November, 1879, Eben Moody Boynton, who was inter- ested with others, in the navigation of Merrimack river and the transportation of coal from Newburyport to Lawrence and Lowell, applied to the secretary of war at Washington for a preliminary survey of the mouth of the river for the purpose of ascertaining the cost of building jetties to increase the depth of water and prevent the accumulation of sand on the bar.
In March, 1880, Hon. George B. Loring, representative from the sixth Massachusetts district, brought the subject to the attention of congress, and a few days later Michael H. Simpson, Esq., a native of Newburyport, residing in Bos- ton, offered to contribute fifty thousand dollars toward the cost of building the jetties. Although this offer was not accepted, the committee to whom the subject was referred suc- ceeded in securing an appropriation, June 14, 1880, for the purpose of deepening the water on the bar, at the mouth of the river, according to plans prepared by Brigadier-General George Thom, lieutenant-colonel of engineers, in charge of the Eastern district.
In April, 1881, the first load of rubble stone was dumped on the north jetty which is to be extended nearly half a mile in a southeasterly direction from Salisbury beach. The south jetty is to run, when completed, in a northeasterly direction from Plum island to within one thousand feet of the north jetty.1
Each of these jetties is to be fifty feet wide at the base and fifteen feet wide at the top. They are to be built of rough stone, irregular in size and shape, and when completed will be at least four feet above the surface of the water at high-tide.
The work of construction has proceeded slowly, during the summer months, since 1881, having been frequently interrupt- ed and delayed by the failure of congress to make the necessary appropriations.
The half-tone prints on pages 249 and 25 1 show the pres- ent condition of the jetties, the way they are built, and the barges at work dumping stone into the sea.
1 Newburyport Herald, April 25, 1881.
.
1
CONSTRUCTING THE JETTIES.
CHAPTER VI.
CHURCHES AND PASTORS.
THE bounds and limits of the Third parish in Newbury were established by the General Court December 18, 1725. A meeting house, however, had been erected on a triangular lot of land at the foot of Fish (now State) street, and dedi- cated June 25, 1725. On the twelfth day of January, 1725-6, a church was organized and, seven days later, Rev. John Lowell was ordained pastor.
The prominent facts and incidents connected with the his- tory of this church have been printed elsewhere and need not be repeated here.I
When the Third parish in Newbury, with some additional territory, was set off and incorporated as a separate town, by the name of Newburyport, the church under the pastoral care of Rev. John Lowell was within the limits of the new town, and since that date has been known as " The First Religious Society of Newburyport."
Rev. Mr. Lowell died May 15, 1767, and Rev. Thomas Cary, who succeeded him, was ordained pastor May II, 1768.2 He was the son of Samuel Cary of Charlestown, Mass., and married, in Newburyport, June -, 1775, Esther, daughter of Nathaniel Carter.3
In 1780, some alterations were made in the meeting house, for which additional land was needed. The inhabitants of Newburyport voted, on the ninth day of March, to grant the petition signed by Jonathan Jackson and others, "provided
1 "Ould Newbury," pp. 430-447; History of Newbury (Currier), pp. 377-378.
2 The First parish in Newbury voted, May 8, 1768, to unite with the First church in Newburyport in ordaining Rev. Mr. Cary, although theological differ- ences subsequently interrupted the friendly relations of the two churches.
3 Rev. Mr. Lowell's intention of marriage was filed with the town clerk of Newburyport May 6, 1775. The Essex Gazette, published in Salem, announced his marriage June 8-15, 1775.
(252)
253
CHURCHES AND PASTORS
the Porch intended to be built by them shall not exceed twelve feet in length for said meeting house."I
In 1788, Rev. Mr. Cary, on account of serious illness, was obliged to ask for clerical assistance, and Rev. John Andrews of Hingham was ordained associate pastor of the church on the tenth day of December of that year.2
At that date, the inhabitants of Newburyport were taxed for the support and maintenance of public worship, and the money raised was paid over to the several religious societies according to the third article of the declaration of rights in the constitution of the state of Massachusetts, adopted in 1780.
February 22, 1794, "the members of the Religious Society whereof the Rev. Thomas Cary and John Andrews are minis- ters," were incorporated by the name of the First Religious Society. in Newburyport, and were authorized to choose as- sessors to appraise the pews in the meeting house and levy a tax on the same for the support of the minister and other nec- essary charges.3
In 1794, an organ was purchased and set up in the gallery of the meeting house. On the fifth day of November, the following notice appeared in the editorial columns of the Morning Star, a newspaper published in Newburyport :-
Tomorrow the elegant organ now erecting in the Meeting House of the First Society in this town will be completed : on which occasion a discourse will be delivered and several pieces of sacred music performed by one of the first organists in these parts. This organ (which is cer- tainly the most elegant of any in New England) is about fifteen feet high, ten feet in breadth, and seven feet from front to rear ; was built by Dr. Josiah Leavitt, an ingenious organ builder of Boston, for whose ben- efit there will be a contribution after service is over, which is to begin at precisely half past two o'clock in the afternoon.
1 Newburyport Town Records, vol. I., p. 325.
2 Rev. John Tucker, pastor of the First Parish church in Newbury, represented that church at the ordination of Rev. John Andrews.
The Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet, a newspaper printed in New- buryport, published the following notice September 9, 1789: " Married last even- ing, at Cambridge, the Rev. John Andrews, of this town, to Miss Margaret Wig- glesworth, only daughter of Doctor Edward Wigglesworth, professor of divinity at Cambridge University." (American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.)
3 Acts and Resolves, 1793-1794, ch. 44.
MEETING HOUSE OF THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY, ERECTED 1801.
255
CHURCHES AND PASTORS
June 12, 1800, the members of the society were authorized to sell the old meeting house and build a new one elsewhere.1 A lot of land on Pleasant street was purchased and a com- mittee was appointed to superintend the erection of a new building. Services were held in the old meeting house, Sun- day, September 27, 1801, for the last time. Rev. John An- drews officiated in the morning and Rev. Thomas Cary in the afternoon.2 The next day the steeple was taken down, the pulpit and pews removed, and a few days later the heavy tim- bers supporting the roof were cut away and the whole struc- ture fell to the ground. The land under and adjoining this house of public worship was purchased for eight thousand dollars, and now forms a part of Market square, the town of Newburyport paying forty-four hundred dollars and the own- ers of land in that vicinity contributing the balance.
The new meeting house on Pleasant street was dedicated Thursday, October first. The exercises were interesting and attracted a large audience. Rev. John Andrews preached from the text: " Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise : be thankful unto him and bless his name." Psalm, c: 4. A substantial dinner was provided for the visiting clergymen and invited guests. In the afternoon, P. A. Von Hagen, an organist of some celebrity, gave a con- cert of vocal and instrumental music that was attended by members of the society with their friends.
Tradition asserts that Timothy Palmer, who built the Essex- Merrimack bridge in 1792, was the architect who drew the plans for this new edifice, but the fact cannot be established beyond a reasonable doubt. Ambrose Palmer and Daniel Spofford, under the firm-name of Palmer & Spofford, fur- nished lumber and labor for the building, but there is no evi- dence that Timothy Palmer was employed by them.
The proprietors of the meeting house voted, September 21, 1801, " to dispose of the old bell and purchase a new one," but this vote was subsequently reconsidered. The bell was
1 Acts and Resolves, 1800-1801, chs. 6 and 62.
2 Newburyport Herald, September 29, 1801.
256
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
hung in the belfry soon after that date, but in 1819 it was re- placed by a new one cast by Revere & Son, Boston.1
Rev. Thomas Cary died November 24, 1808. On the twenty-sixth day of November, the members of the Merrimack Humane society, the preceptor and trustees of Dummer academy, and friends and relatives of the deceased, assembled at his dwelling house on High street and proceeded, in solemn procession, to the meeting house on Pleasant street, where funeral services were held, with music by a select choir, prayer by Rev. John Snelling Popkin of Newbury, and a ser- mon by Rev. John Andrews. The pall bearers were Rev. James Morss, Rev. Daniel Dana, Rev. John Giles, Rev. John S. Popkin, Rev. Charles W. Milton and Rev. Samuel Spring.2 Rev. Mr. Cary was buried near the Pond street entrance of the Old Hill burying ground.
Rev. John Andrews remained in charge of the society until May 5, 1830, when, on account of ill health and bodily infirmities, he resigned his pastoral cares. Since that date, the following-named persons have been settled pastors of the church and society :-
Rev. Thomas B. Fox, from August 3, 1831, to April 1, 1846.
Rev. Thomas W. Higginson, from Sep- tember 12, 1847, to September 16, 1849.
Rev. Charles J. Bowen, from November 29, 1850, to June 10, 1853.
Rev. Artemus B. Muzzey, from September 3, 1857, to November 1, 1864.
Rev. Joseph May, from July 21, 1868, to December 15, 1875.
STEEPLE, 1801.
1 The weathercock on the spire, one hundred and fifty-nine feet from the ground, was taken from the old meeting house in Market square and placed in its present position in 1801. Newburyport Herald, July 12, 1839.
2 Newburyport Herald, November 25, 1808 ; New England Historical and Gene- alogical Register, January, 1854.
257
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
Rev. George L. Stowell, from April 12, 1877, to September 8, 1879. Rev. Daniel W. Morehouse, from April 8, 1881, to December 5, 1887. Rev. Samuel C. Beane, from April 14, 1888, to May 15, 1905.
For further details relating to this church and society the reader is referred to the report of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its organization, October 20, 1875 ; the histor- ical address delivered on that occasion by Amos Noyes, Esq .; and the pamphlet containing the address of Nathan N. With- ington, Esq., October 31, 1901, on the one hundreth anni- versary of the dedication of the meeting house.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
The early history of Queen Anne's chapel, erected in 1711, and St. Paul's church, erected in 1739, forms a part of the history of the town of Newbury.1 When Newburyport was incorporated, in 1764, Rev. Edward Bass had been for more than ten years minister in charge of the chapel and church. At the beginning of the Revolutionary war, Mr. Bass was placed in an embarrassing position by his oath of allegiance to the king and to the church. In answer to the request of his wardens and vestrymen to omit from the service pre- scribed by the Prayer book " all prayers, collects or suffrages which relate to the king, royal family, or government of Great Britain " he replied as follows :-
July 16, 1776.
GENTLEMEN :- As it is your opinion that it is necessary to the exist- ence of the church in this place, that all prayers in our liturgy relative to the king and royal family and British government be omitted, and there- fore request me to omit those prayers in my future ministrations, I think it incumbent on me, for so important an end, to comply with this request during the present state of our political affairs ; and remain with great esteem and affection, yours to serve in every reasonable respect.
EDWARD BASS.
Objectionable words and phrases in the Prayer book were erased as shown in the half-tone print on the following page.
1 History of Newbury (Currier), pp. 369-377; " Ould Newbury," pp. 368-390, and 396-419; Life and Times of Edward Bass, by Rev. Daniel D. Addison.
258
HISTORY OF NEWBURYPORT
Without attempting to control or influence the political opinions of his parishioners, Mr. Bass remained at his post all through the war, holding services on Sundays and on other days appointed by congress for fasting and prayer, although many Episcopal ministers in Massachusetts deserted their par- ishes and fled to England or to the Province of Nova Scotia.1
" A Prayer for the High Court of 'Parliament, to be read during their Sefion.
M humbly befeech thee, as 1 OST gracious God, we
for this in general, fo. aral Coun Hefpecially for the F
at this time afembled ; That thou wouldeft be pleafed to direct and profper all their Confulta- tions to the advancement of thy Glory, the good of thy Church, the fafety, honour, and welfare, of that all things may be fo ordered and fettled by their endeavours, upon the beft and fureft foun- dations, that peace and happi- nefs, truth and juftice, religion and piety, may be eftablithed among us for all generations. Thefe, and all other neceffa- ries, for them, for us, and thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and mediation of Jefus Chrift, our moft bleffed Lord and Saviour. Amen.
A Collect, or Prayer for all Con- ditions of Men, to be used at fuch Times when the Litany is not ap- pointed to be faid.
ERASURES IN PRAYER BOOK.
all Nations. pray for the Catholick C be fo guide thy good S profefs *and Chriftians, 1 way of truth in unity of of peace, ar of life. Fin to thy Fatl thofe who a ed or diftref or eftate .[* € those for w prayers are that it may thee to co) them accor ral neceffitie tience unde and a happ their afflicti beg for Jef Amen.
T A Prayer .¿! any of
O God, proper mercy and t our humble though we P with the dad
At the close of the war, the Episcopal church in the United States was thoroughly disorganized. Repeated attempts were made to secure the con- secration of a bishop and establish by ecclesiastical law the rights and priv- ileges of the clergy and the laity. At a conven- tion of clerical and lay deputies, held in Salem, October fifth and sixth, 1790, to consider the disorganized condition of the church and devise a plan for uniting the scat- tered parishes in New England, Rev. Edward Bass was chosen presi- dent, and Dudley Atkins Tyng, secretary. “An Ecclesiastical Constitu- tion for the Government
1 Rev. Winwood Serjeant was minister of the church at Cambridge, in 1775, when that building was seized and turned into barracks for the colonial troops. In order to escape persecution and perhaps imprisonment, Mr. Serjeant fled from the parish and may have been concealed for a short time in Newburyport. Edward Bass, in a letter to the secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, wrote as follows :-
" NEWBURYPORT, January 9, 1784.
". . When the late Mr. Serjeant of Cambridge fled from his dwelling with such effects as he could carry with him, Cudworth's system, part of the society's library, fell into my hands where it now remains. It shall be disposed of accord- ing to the society's directions."
259
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH
of the Episcopal Churches in this Commonwealth and such other churches as may be Admitted and Accede to the same" was prepared by a committee appointed for that purpose, and subsequently adopted at a convention, held in Boston in Jan- uary, 1791, at which the Episcopal churches in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island were represented.
The half-tone print on the next page, reproduced from a broadside, printed in Newburyport by John Mycall, now in the possession of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass., gives the facts substantially as stated above.
The members of the religious society " whereof the Revd Edward Bass is minister," and the members of other religious societies in Newburyport, were authorized by an act of the General Court, passed February 22, 1794, to raise money by taxing the owners or occupants of pews for the support and maintenance of public worship.1
Several years previous to that date Rev. Edward Bass had been elected bishop of New Hampshire and Massachusetts, at a convention of Episcopal clergymen held in Salem, but objec- tions were made to his consecration and it was found necessary to re-elect him at a convention of clerical and lay deputies held in Boston May 24, 1796. He was consecrated May 7, 1797, in Christ church, Philadelphia, by Right Reverend William White, D. D., of Pennsylvania, Bishop Provoost of New York and Bishop Clagett of Maryland assisting. "The diocese over which the bishop presided was extensive territorially, but not strong in the number of its parishes. It included Massa- chusetts and Rhode Island and New Hampshire, though his. jurisdiction over the last named was not formally recognized until August, 1803."2
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