History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 49

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706


USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 49


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Whale Fishery .- Some time between the year 1775 and 1783 the schooner " Desire," Capt. George Smith, owned by David Nye, Esq., of Wareham, and Ebenezer White, of Rochester, hailed from Wareham as a whaler. In 1790, schooner " James Banning." In 1794, schooner " Nabby," Capt. Thomas Gibbs. In 1816, ship " Enterprise."


Ship "George Washington," Capt. George Gibbs, sailed Oct. 31, 1832, and arrived home Oct. 19, 1835, with 2950 barrels sperm-oil.


Ship " George Washington," Capt. George Gibbs, sailed Jan. 20, 1836, and returned Sept. 27, 1839, with 2400 barrels sperm-oil.


Ship "George Washington," Capt. Russell, sailed April 21, 1840, and returned in 1844, with 2200 barrels sperm-oil.


Ship "George Washington," Capt. Russell, sailed July 26, 1844, and returned Aug. 3, 1847, with 400 barrels sperm-oil, 1600 barrels whale-oil, and 6000 pounds of bone.


Ship " George Washington," Capt. Benjamin F. Gibbs, sailed Nov. 17, 1847, and returned March 17, 1850, with 200 barrels sperm-oil, 2800 barrels whale- oil, and 34,000 pounds of bone, and lost 100 barrels whale-oil in a gale on the passage home.


Ship " George Washington," Capt. Benjamin F. Gibbs, sailed Aug. 7, 1850, and returned April 24, 1853, with 2513 barrels whale-oil and 27,700 pounds of bone. Sent home during the voyage 172 barrels sperm-oil and 13,683 pounds of bone.


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HISTORY OF WAREHAM.


Allen, sailed Aug. 22, 1853; sent home 252 barrels sperm-oil, 5601 pounds of bone.


Ship "George Washington," Capt. Elihu S. Bright- man, sailed Oct. 1, 1857, and returned May 18, 1861, with 25 barrels sperm-oil. 900 barrels whale-oil, and 8000 pounds bone. Sent home on the voyage 40 barrels sperm-oil. 169 barrels whale-oil, and 5595 pounds of bone. Sold to Honolulu in 1861.


Bark " Pleiades," Capt. Allen, sailed Oct. 2, 1838, and returned June, 1840, with 303 barrels of sperm- oil and 1428 barrels of whale-oil. Bark " Pleiades," Capt. Allen, sailed Aug. 15, 1840, and returned Sept. 11, 1842, with 2032 barrels whale-oil. Bark " Pleiades." Capt. Russell, sailed Dec. 14, 1842, and returned Feb. 18, 1845, with 300 barrels sperm-oil, 2000 barrels whale-oil, and 16,000 pounds bone. Bark " Pleiades," Capt. Russell. sailed June 1, 1845, and returned March 4, 1848, with 900 barrels sperm- oil, and 60 barrels whale-oil.


Brig " Inga," sailed June 17, 1839, and returned Jan. 9, 1840, with 720 barrels sperm-oil.


Brig " Inga," sailed April, 1840, and returned April 7, 1841, with 669 barrels sperm-oil and 12 barrels whale-oil. Brig " Inga," sailed June 1. 1841, and returned April 11, 1842, with 816 barrels sperm-oil. Brig "Inga," sailed June 21, 1842, and returned April 9, 1843, with 750 barrels sperm-oil. Brig " Inga," sailed June 26, 1843, and returned Nov. 24, 1844, with 830 barrels sperm-oil. Brig "Inga," sailed March 25, 1845, and returned June 3, 1846, with 750 barrels sperm-oil. Brig " Inga," sailed Ang. 10, 1846, and returned, leaky, Dec. 23, 1847, with 350 barrels sperm-oil.


Thus this small brig of 160 tons, commanded each voyage by Capt. Elisha G. Cudworth, in a period of little more than seven years, brought home nearly 5000 barrels of sperm-oil. When the smallness of the vessel and the shortness of the voyages are taken into account, it probably has no parallel in the entire history of the whale fishery.


This, thus far, lucky craft was sold to New Bedford in 1848. She sailed from that port May 9, 1848, for the Indian Ocean, under the command of Capt. Barnes, and was captured by the natives of Pleasant Island, who murdered the captain and nearly all the crew. This tragic event took place some time in the month of December, 1852.


Brig " Meridian," Capt. Ricketson, sailed Oct. 1, 1839, and returned July 27, 1840, with 60 barrels sperm-oil and 40 barrels whale-oil.


Brig " Meridian," Capt. Russell, sailed July 23, 1841, and returned July 4, 1842, with 40 barrels sperm-oil.


This brig was withdrawn from the whaling service in 1842.


Brig " Montezuma," Capt. Randall, sailed June 1, 1840, and returned Oct. 3, 1841, with 413 barrels sperm-oil and 224 barrels whale-oil.


Brig " Montezuma," Capt. Shiverick, sailed Nov. 27, 1841, and returned July, 1843, with 400 barrels sperm-oil.


Brig " Montezuma," Capt. Allen, sailed Aug. 29, 1843, and returned Oct. 25, 1845, with 500 barrels sperm-oil, 100 barrels whale-oil, 100 pounds bone. Sold to New Bedford in 1846.


Brig " America," Capt. Lumbert, sailed July 13, 1841, and returned Oct. 1, 1842, with 450 barrels sperm-oil, 30 barrels whale-oil, and 18 barrels am- bergris.


Brig " America," Capt. Bellows, sailed Nov. 23, 1842, and returned May 19, 1844, with 150 barrels sperm-oil.


Brig " America," Capt. Delano, sailed July 9, 1844, and returned Sept. 20, 1845, with 230 barrels sperm-oil. Sold to Mattapoisett in 1846.


Bark " Levant," Capt. Allen, sailed Oct. 6, 1842 ; condemned at Honolulu.


Ship-Building .- In former years, when ship-timber was abundant, ship-building was carried on in this town to a considerable extent. The ships " Poca- hontas," " Jubilee," " Wareliam," " Kutusoff," "George Washington," " Republic," the brig " Wil- liam Richmond," and a large number of smaller vessels for the coasting trade, were built herc.


Oysters .- Wareham oysters have become famous in the markets of the world, and although our shores are skirted with beds of these delicious bivalves (sur- passed in flavor by none), the demand far exceeds the supply. The business gives employment to a large number of men, and in many instances has proved largely remunerative.


Wareham Harbor .- The United States govern- ment has up to this date expended fifty thousand dollars for the improvement of this harbor, and still grants a small appropriation annually for the same purpose. Quite a large fleet of vessels is employed in bringing iron, coal, grain, etc., and they receive in return the product of the numerous factories and mills. The largest coasting vessels can come direct to the wharves with but little delay.


Wareham Bank .- This institution was chartered March 22, 1833, and went into operation the June following with a capital stock of one hundred thou- sand dollars. The first board of directors were as follows : David Nye, Peter Mackie, William Fcaring, Silvanus Bourne, Seth Miller, Jr., Perez F. Briggs,


218


HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.


Charles C. Ellis, Elisha Perry, William S. Eddy, Benjamin Ellis, Theophilus Pitcher, Jr., Ezra Thompson ; David Nye, president ; Thomas R. Miles, cashier. This bank was reorganized as the National Bank of Wareham in 1865. The present board of directors (1884) are Gerard C. Tobey, Alden Besse, Isaac Pratt, Jr., Horace P. Tobey, William Savery, Jr. ; Gerard C. Tobey, president ; Thomas R. Miles, cashier.


Wareham Savings-Bank .- This institution was chartered March 12, 1847, and organized April 13, 1847.


The first board of trustees were as follows : Lewis Kinney, Oliver M. Washburn, Theophilus King, Howard Perry, William S. Fearing, Walton N. Ellis, Isaae S. Lincoln, Joshua B. Tobey, Abisha Barrows, James R. Sproat, Thomas R. Miles, John Savery ; H. G. O. Ellis, president ; T. R. Miles, cashier.


The present trustees (1884) are Abisha Barrows, Theophilus King, Thomas R. Miles, Alden Besse, Jason F. Murdoch, Benjamin F. Gibbs, Caleb C. Sprague, Gerard C. Tobey, Edward A. Gammons, Ansel S. Gurney, George F. Wing, Ezra C. Howard ; Gerard C. Tobey, president ; Thomas R. Miles, cashier.


It is worthy of remark in this connection that the now venerable Thomas R. Miles has served as eashier of the Wareham Bank from the time of its organiza- tion, in 1833, to the present time (1884), with the exception of four years. He has also served as cash- ier of the Wareham Savings-Bank during its entire history, from 1847 to 1884.


He is still found at his post, where he has stood for nearly half a century, and no business man more generally receives or more richly merits the appellation of " good and faithful servant."


Social Organizations .- Social Harmony Lodge, F. and A. M. The charter of this lodge is dated at Boston, the 12th day of March, 1823, and is signed by John Dixwell, Grand Master; Elijah Crane, Senior Grand Warden; Samuel Thaxter, Junior Grand Warden; and Thomas Power, Grand Secre- tary. The charter members aro Isaac Kimball, Calvin Murdock, Alanson Witherell, Jabez Williams, John N. Pierce, Jeremiah Keith, Jr., George Stur- tevant, Timothy Drew, Avery Fobes, Philip Colby, and Job Alden, Jr.


On the 26th day of March, 1823, six of the above-named brethren met at the Academy Hall, in Middleboro', and procecded to organize the lodge, with Isaae Kimball, Worshipful Master; Jabez Wil- liams, Senior Warden ; and Alanson Witherell, Junior Warden. Visiting brothers James W. Crossman,


Samuel Caswell, Jr., and John A. Sturtevant, from King David Lodge, Taunton, were present, and as- sisted them in setting the lodge at work. A lodge of Entered Apprentices was opencd, and Daniel Thomas and Hercules Thomas had the honor of being the first candidates proposed.


Candidates began to present themselves in large numbers. Twenty meetings were held before the year 1823 had closed. For several years the lodge seemed to have a steady and healthy growth. But, beginning with the year 1828, when the anti-Mason storm was raging furiously throughout New England, the number of members present at the meetings began to decrease. But a lively interest in Masonry was still manifested by the few faithful members of the lodge in Middleboro', and in Wareham there were some so bold as to petition the Grand Lodge for a charter of a new lodge to be established at that place. The plan was finally formed of uniting their forces and moving their lodge to Wareham. This was deemed preferable to having two lodges so near each other, neither of which might be able to receive the necessary support.


At a meeting held Sept. 6, 1828, it was "voted to memorialize the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge for the purpose of having this lodge removed to the town of Wareham." At the same meeting eight Masons were proposed for membership and were ad- mitted at the next meeting, September 23d. Five of them were from Wareham, viz., E. W. Hervey, Charles C. Ellis, George W. Christie, Thomas Savery, and Seth Keith. The first meeting held in Wareham was during the month of January, 1829.


From the records of this meeting it appears that the Rev. Jonathan Nye was instrumental in having the lodge removed from Middleboro' to Wareham, for the lodge voted to pay him twelve dollars for his services before the Grand Lodge in effecting the change.


At a meeting held Sept. 8, 1829, was done the last work of which there is any record until the reorgani- zation of the lodge in 1856. At a special meeting held Dec. 2, 1829, it was voted to remove Social Harmony Lodge to Thomas Savery's, in Agawam (East Warcham), and George L. Oakes was author- ized to make an agreement with Thomas Savery for the use of his hall for Masonic purposes. Exactly what transpired after the meeting of Dee. 2, 1829, cannot be learned. Those who were then members have all passed away. No records of any proceed- ings are to be found in the secrotary's book, nor do the records of tho Grand Lodge throw mueh light on the history of that period.


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219


HISTORY OF WAREHAM.


In the early part of 1855 a dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge, and on the 30th day of May was held the first meeting of the new lodge, which was called Agawam Lodge. They continued to work under dispensation until March of the next year, when it was discovered that if enough of the old members of Social Harmony Lodge could be found the charter of that lodge would be restored. They were found. a petition was sent to the Grand Lodge, and the charter restored.


Brother Henry Boyd. who had been intrusted with the duty of presenting the petition, received from the hands of the Grand Secretary the much-coveted charter and records. and proceeded with them at once to Middleboro', where, on the 19th of June, 1856, Brothers Hercules Thomas, Benjamin Leonard, and Thomas Savery, three of the signers of the petition, opened a Master Mason's lodge under the restored charter. The following brethren were proposed and admitted : Henry Boyd, William A. Caswell, Nathan W. Shedd, Charles W. Harris, William H. Borden; Samuel T. T. Sherman. James F. Lincoln, William T. Leach, Lewis D. Perry, and Rufus Lincoln (2d).


The names of the Past Masters are as follows : Isaac Kimball, Isaac Stevens, Jabez Williams, Eliph- alet W. Hervey, John M. Kinney, Henry Boyd, William H. Borden, James G. Sproat, Nicholas J. Sherman. Edward A. Gammons, George F. Wing, John M. Besse, Joseph Jessup, John Huxtable, Frank W. Kingman.


The officers for the present year (1884) are as fol- lows: W. M., Gifford H. G. McGrew ; S. W., George H. Griffin ; J. W., John T. Galt ; Treas., William A. Caswell ; Sec., Edward A. Gammons ; S. D., John M. Besse ; J. D., Benjamin H. Cornwell; Chap., Hiram W. Barrows ; M., Hial Barney ; S. S., George W. Warr ; J. S., Adams B. L. Howard ; I. S., Frank W. Gibbs; Tyler, Charles R. Reeves.


Independent Order of Odd-Fellows .- Wankin- quoah Lodge, No. 119, was organized March 23, 1847, and flourished for several years, but after a while, in the fluctuations of Odd-Fellowship, it weak- ened and died.


May 1, 1878, this lodge was reorganized, and at the present time is in a flourishing condition. The names of those who have served as Noble Grand since the reorganization are as follows: John G. Gammous, Wallace Snow, Clarence H. Stuart, Charles W. Clark, Harvey Crocker, Angus Nicholson, Seth H. Shurtleff.


The present officers are: N. G., Robert T. Delano; V. G., Conrad A. Covill; Sec., William E. Loring; Treas., Clarence H. Stuart; Per. Sec., William C. Davis ; Warden, C. W. Clark ; Con., H. F. Babcock ; | live forever.


O. G .. E. L. Crocker ; I. G., C. H. Sanford ; R. S. to N. G., William H. Cowen ; L. S. to N. G., George P. Bolles ; R. S. to V. G., B. S. Keyes; L. S. to V. G., E. F. Norris ; R. S. S., C. H. Barrett ; L. S. S., A. L. Seaver ; Chaplain, S. W. Nickerson.


Knights of Honor .- Wareham Lodge, No. 1003, was organized April 1, 1878. The Past Dictators have been James G. Sproat, Israel B. Bolles, Fred- erick A. Sawyer, Joseph I. W. Burgess, Samuel J. Townsend, Herbert Randall.


The present officers are: D., George P. Bolles ; V. D., Henry F. Babcock ; A. D., Robert T. Delano ; C., William J. Kane: G., Jotham Goodnow ; Re- porter, A. R. Gurney ; F. R. S., Samuel J. Town- send; Treas., Joseph I. W. Burgess; Guardian, Orrin L. Waters ; Sentinel, Robert C. Randall.


American Legion of Honor .- Everett Council, No. 412. was organized Feb. 8, 1881. The Past Com- manders have been Joseph Jessup, Rufus Lincoln, James H. Allen. The present officers are : Com., George F. Wing; V. Com., N. B. B. Besse ; Sec., William H. Fearing ; Treas., Rufus Lincoln ; Orator, John T. Galt; Chaplain, Noble W. Everett ; Trus- tees, Seth C. Morse, Edward A. Gammons, N. W. Everett ; Guardian, John W. Benson, Jr .; Warden, Joseph Jessup ; Sentinel, Archibald Dakin.


Sons of Temperance .- Wareham Division, No. 108, S. of T., was organized May 4, 1848. Surren- dered charter Dec. 27, 1871.


Sparkling Water Division, No. 151, S. of T., West Wareham, was organized Jan. 10, 1860. Surren- dered charter Oct. 23, 1868.


Agawam Division, No. 125, S. of T., East Ware- ham, was organized May 12, 1863. Surrendered charter March 30, 1867.


There was also a lodge of Good Templars that flourished for a series of years.


These organizations did grand work for the cause of temperance, especially the first named, which maintained an active existence for nearly a quarter of a century. Its charter members were mostly young men full of zeal and energy, whose hearts were in the work, and they spared neither time nor money in extending the interests of the Division. Many con- firmed drunkards were reformed who proved a bless- ing to their families, and were good eitizens the re- mainder of their lives. Financial help was freely given to the families of the needy, and many a " God bless you !" did the members of Wareham Division, No. 108, receive, as they tenderly cared for the sick and dying. Deaths and removals finally caused the surrender of the charter, but the work performed will


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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.


Woman's Christian Temperance Union was formed Jan. 31, 1878, and consisted of twelve mem- bers. The officers at the time of organization were as follows: Pres., Charity F. Edgarton ; V. P., Emily Bryant ; Sec. and Treas., Susan G. Bodfish.


In 1884 the membership is sixty, with the follow- ing officers : Pres., Charity F. Edgarton ; V. P., Emily Bryant and Sarah E. Sproat ; Sec. and Treas., Susan G. Bodfish.


Schools .- There are thirteen primary, intermedi- ate, and grammar schools. The Wareham High School was organized in September, 1867. List of principals : Erastus B. Powers, E. E. Parker, D. N. Lane, F. J. Worcester, C. J. De Merritte, Gifford. H. G. McGrew.


Assistants : Sarah E. Haskell, S. F. Kimball, M. Hyde, A. M. Crossman, Sarah M. Graham, Anna M. Howe, Ellen J. Towle, Alice M. Guernsey.


Population .- We have no record of the popula- tion of Wareham earlier than 1710. From the remains of ancient cellars and chimneys there must have been a time when its farming population was quite numerous. About the year 1742 this town sent out a colony which settled in Sharon, Conn.


What the whole number of this colony was it is im- possible now to ascertain, but the records of the Con- gregational Church show that from 1742 to 1753 there were thirty-five dismissed from it and recom- mended to the church in Sharon. As they departed with their families and neighbors, we may safely con- clude that the colony consisted of more than one hundred souls. There were others who emigrated from Wareham to Lebanon, Tolland, Stafford, and Windsor, in Connecticut, from 1769 to 1779, though not as great as the emigration to Sharon. After this several families removed to the town of Lce, in this State, and about the same time a number went to Maine and settled about the Kennebec River. The emigrations above noticed were special movings, and not those who leave from year to year to look for a better home. Of such we have sent our share, some of whom have been settled in almost every State in the Union, and some returned again to die upon their natal soil. The present population of the town (1884) is three thousand.


Anti-Slavery Times .- One evening during the first weck of the month of October, 1838, Rev. Joseph Marsh, of Sandwich, attempted to deliver an anti-slavery lecture in the Methodist Episcopal Church that then stood a few rods north from where the pres- ent one now stands, and is at the present time occu- pied by L. H. Bartlett for mercantile purposes.


Political excitement ran high at the time, but no


trouble was apprehended. Free spcech up to that date had always been tolcrated in this quiet seaport town. Mr. Marsh had come by invitation, and at the appointed hour proceeded to the church. The pre- liminary services had been concluded, and the lecturer had been speaking about ten minutes, when an infu- riated mob, frenzied by liquor, surrounded the build- ing. There was a window in the rear of the pulpit and a stone soon came crashing through this window, evidently aimed at the lecturer's head, but a heavy window-curtain saved him, probably, from instant death.


Foiled in this attempt, the leaders of the mob, with coats off, came up the aisles of the church, evi- dently designing to seize the speaker and drag him from the pulpit. They had nearly reached the altar, when a sister of one of the leaders, catching sight of her brother, shrieked and fainted, whereupon these blood-thirsty men turned, passed rapidly down the aisles, and joined their comrades on the outside of the church, who were yelling like demons. At this juncture two official members of the church, Asa N. Bodfish and Francis Carr. took the lecturer by the hand, one on each side, and led him out of the church, through the crowd to a place of safety. "Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon," that all this occurred in a town that was originally a part of the old town of Plymouth, the landing-place of the Pilgrims. Some say there is no God and everything comes by chance. Let us see. Of the originators, abettors, and actors that figured conspic- uously in that shameful outrage, but one died a nat- ural death. Several of them tried the virtues of rope and razor, some are buried in the sea, and others are filling drunkards' graves in this and other lands. They quickly perished from the earth, unwept, un- honored, and unsung. Their names are not known to the present generation, while the object of their hate and contempt has since been honored for a series of years with the chaplaincy of the Massachusetts Sen- ate, and during all this intervening time has been preaching and lecturing on the great moral questions of the day, and at the ripe age of nearly ninety still resides at Sandwich, Mass.


The two men who aided him in making his escape from the furious mob still live. One of themn has been a member of the New England Southern Con- ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church for more than thirty years ; the other is, as he always has been, an ornament to the church, and an honored and re- spected citizen of this town. Holy Writ says, " The way of the transgressor is hard," but " Them that honor me, I will honor."


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HISTORY OF WAREHAM.


Log-Cabin Times of 1840 .- Perhaps there was no county town in New England where party spirit ran higher than it did in Wareham during the log- cabin campaign of 1840. On a certain morning of that eventful year two hundred men started with teams for the woods at sunrise, felled the trees, cut and hewed the logs, transported them to the desig- nated spot (a few rods iu the rear of the present Methodist Church edifice), and at sundown of the same day a large and commodious log cabin was com- pleted and ready for occupancy. A tall, elegant liberty-pole was also erected, and the campaign flag thrown to the breeze. Soon after dark the cabin was lighted and a meeting organized, which continued until one o'clock the next morning. The meetings after the formal opening were held almost every evening, and the excitement and enthusiasm was un- paralleled. Soon after another log cabin of much smaller dimensions was built and placed on four mammoth wheels, in which a company of about twenty could be comfortably seated, and this strange vehicle was used mainly in transporting delegations to meetings in other towns.


Local poets were numerous, the most conspicuous being John Maxim (" Bemis"), of Carver, Benjamin Lincoln, and Capt. Nathaniel Crocker, of Wareham. The poetical hits of the latter were exceedingly happy, and always produced roars of laughter. Many distin- guished speakers from abroad were employed, but the local poet almost invariably followed the orator, and usually produced the most merriment. An excellent glee-club added much to the interest of the meetings. It was composed of the following members : Andrew Besse, Capt. Timothy Savery, Jr., Hiram Barrows, Job M. Briggs, James Crocker, John W. Crocker, and others. The leader, Andrew Besse, possessed a wonderful voice. He led the choirs of Wareham for a quarter of a century, and usually sang soprano, no one ever making objection to his singing that part, for his voice excelled any feminine voice in the town in sweetness, richness, and compass. During the campaign he sang at New Bedford, Boston, and other places, and always made a sensation. Lowell Mason pronounced it the best tenor voice he had ever heard. Soon after the erection of the log cabin it was found inadequate to hold the people, whereupon a gallery was constructed of rough boards to hold the boys, who were placed under the supervision of Elkanah Hamlin, who (with a huge Indian war-club that he obtained at one of the islands of the Pacific Ocean) had no difficulty in preserving order among the juveniles, though when they cheered and stamped below they did the same above, making a noise i fession.


almost deafening, amply sufficient to satisfy the most ambitious orator. Joseph W. Pope was the janitor of the cabin, and, although far advanced in years, no boy was more sprightly, and his antics in the choruses of the glee-club convulsed the audience and added much to the enjoyment. There was one occurrence during the canvass that produced great excitement. David Nye, Esq., was the Democratic postmaster, and he, together with his brother, Rev. Jonathan Nye (who was here on a visit), and their brother-in- law, Maj. William Barrows, alternated in performing the duties of the office. On the arrival of a huge bundle of Whig songs, letter postage amounting to ten dollars was demanded. The Whigs refused to take the bundle, and had their revenge. At the next meeting Capt. Nathaniel Crocker came out with a fresh song in regard to it. The ten dollars and the names of "Billy, David, and Jonathan, too," were happily introduced into the chorus, and sang at the close of each versc. Whenever the singers reached the above names, the frolicksome Pope, by voice or gesture, would imitate so perfectly some personal trait or defect of the trio (still keeping time with the music), that the audience shouted until they were hoarse.




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