USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 50
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > History of old Braintree and Quincy : with a sketch of Randolph and Holbrook > Part 50
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Thomas Morton came to Mount Wollaston, in 1622, two years after the Pilgrims landed, and he relates that the brooks, rivn- lets and the coast shore abounded with the most delicious fish.1
1. " Among Fishes, First I will begin with the Codd, because it is the most commodious of all fish, as may appeare, by the use which is made of them in foraigne parts.
"The Codd fishing is much used in America, (whereof New England is a part) in so much as 300 Sayle of shipps, from divers parts, have used to be in- ployed yearely in that trade. .
"I have seene in one Harboure next Richmond Island, 15 Sayle of shipps at one time, that have taken in them driyed Codds for Spaine, and the Straights, and it has bin found that the Saylers have made 15, 18, 20, 22, p. share for a common man.
"The Coast aboundeth with such multitudes of Codd, that the inhabitants of New England doe dunge their grounds with Codd; and it is a commodity better than the golden mines of the Spanish Indies; for without dried Codd the Span- iards, Portingal and Italian would not be able to vittle of a shipp for the Sea; and I am sure at the Canaries it is the principall commodity, which place lyeth neere New England very convenient, for the vending of this commodity, one hundred of these being at the price of 300 of New Found Land Codds, greate store of traine oyle, is mayd of the livers of the Codd, and is a commodity that without question will enrich the inhabitants of New England quickly; and is therefore a principal commodity.
" The Bass is an excellent Fish both fresh and salte, one hundred whereof salted (at a market) have yielded 5 p. They are so large, the head of ono will give a good eater a dinner, and for daintinesse of diet, they excell the Mary-
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FISH BUSINESS.
Whale-fishery business was established at Germantown and at Quincy Point about the same time. The first vessel fitted out, of any note, at Germantown, was the Cambrian, in 1839-a top- sail schooner, which sailed on, a cruise of eighteen months under Capt. Holmes, of Germantown. The Cambrian made quite a successful voyage, having procured twenty whales and secured four hundred and twenty barrels of sperm oil.
The Ontario sailed under the command of Capt. Prior; also, the John Bove Dodge, the Curacoa and others, which were equally as fortunate in supplying their owners with oil from these greasy monsters. The Cambrian was probably the first whale-ship that sailed from this port. The Creole, under the
bones of Beefe. There are such multitudes, that I have seene stopped into the river* close adjoyning to my house with a sand at one tide, so many as will loado a ship of a 100 Tonnes.
" Other places have greater quantities in so much as wagers have bin layed, that one should not throw a stone in the water but that he should hit a fish. I my selfe, at the turning of the tyde, have seen such multitudes passe out of a pound, that it seemed to mee, that one might goe over there backs drishod. These follow the bayte up the rivers, and sometimes are followed for bayte and chased into the bayes and shallow waters, by the grand pise; and these may have also a prime place in the Cataloghie of Commodities.
" The Mackarels are the baite for the Basse, and these have bin chased into the shallow waters, where so many thousands have shott themselves a shore with the surfe of the sea, that whole hoggesheads have bin taken up on the sands; and for length they excell any of other parts, they have bin measured 18 and 19 inches in length, and seaven in breadth, and are taken with n drayle, (as boats use to passe to and froe at sea on businesse) in very greate quantities all along the Coaste. The Fish is good salted, for store against the winter, as well as fresh, and to be accounted a good Commodity.
"This Sturgeon in England is regalis piscis, every man in New England may catch what he will, there are multitudes of them, and they are much fatter then those that are brought into England from other parts, in so much as by reason of their fatnesse, they doe not looke white but yellow, which made a cooke presume they were not so good as them of Roushea; silly fellow that could not understand that it is the nature of fish salted or pickelled, the fatter, the yellower being best to preserve.
" For the taste, I have warrant of Ladies of worth, with choice pallats for the commendations, who liked the taste so well, that they esteemed it beyond the Sturgeon of other parts, and sayd they were deceaved in the looks, therefore let the Sturgeon passe for a commodity.
*This river was probably Black's Creek, as Morton's house was near this stream of water.
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FISH BUSINESS.
command of Capt. Cook, the principal owners of which were Messrs. Calvin White of Braintree, Simon Gillett, Ebenezer Woodward, Daniel Baxter, Isaiah G. Whiton and Charles A. Brown, of Quincy, sailed the latter part of the year 1840, for the Western Islands, where she was fortunate in securing a fine cargo, consisting of five hundred and forty barrels of sperm oil and ten of black fish, which liberally remunerated all those con- nected with the vessel and voyage. She was absent nine months and a half. The brig Eschol also sailed as a whaler.
For some years New Bedford was the largest whaling port in the world, but of late years this branch of business has materi- ally decreased. The most popular instrument for catching whales has been the harpoon; other ingenious methods have been used, but have never become popular with the whalemen.
" Of Salmons there is greate abundance, and these may be allowed for a Com- modity, and placed in the Catallogue.
" Of Herrings there is greate store, fat and faire, and (to my mind) as good as any I have seene, and these may be preserved and made a good commodity at the Canaries.
" Of Eeles there is abundance, both in the saltwaters, and in the fresh; and the fresh water Eele there, (if I may take the judgement of a London Fish- monger) is the best that hee hath found in his life time, I have with jieele potts found my howsehold, (being nine persons, besides doggs) with them, taking them every tide (for 4 moneths space) and preserving of them for winter store; and these may prove a good commodity.
"Of Smelts there is such abundance, that the Salvages doe take them up the rivers with baskets, like sives.
"There is a Fish, (by some called shadds, by some alewives) that at the spring of the yeare passe up the rivers to spaune in the ponds, and are taken in such multitudes in every river that hath a pond at the end, that the inhabitants doung their ground with thein. You may see in one township a hundred acres together, set with these Fish, every acre taking 1000 of them, and an acre thus dressed will produce and yeald so much corne as 3 acres without fish, and (least any Virginea man would inferre hereupon, that the ground of New England is barren, because they use no fish in setting their corne, I desire them to be remembered, the canse is plaine in Virginea) they have it not to sette. But this practice is onely for the Indian Maize (which must be set by hands) not for English graine, and this is therefore a commodity there.
" There is a large sized fish called Hallibut, or Turbut; some are taken so bigg that two men have much adoe to hale them into the boate; but there is such plenty, that the fisher men only eate the heads and finnes, and throw away the bodies; such in Paris would yeeld 5 or 6 crownes a peece; and this is no dis- commodity.
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FISII BUSINESS.
One process was, " that a glass tube containing prussic acid should be so placed in the shaft of the harpoon, that the mo- ment the cord or line was pulled taught, it would be broken in the animal's body, and occasion instant death.
" Another mode of employing prussic acid was, to enclose a glass tube containing it in a hollow rifle bullet about four inches long, which was fired from a rifle made for that purpose. The bullet also contained an explosive substance connected with a fuse, which ignited as the rifle was fired, so that the bullet ex- ploded immediately after penetrating the whale, and spread its deadly poison through the flesh. The bullet is made of zinc, because it breaks into fragments more angular than any other metal. The success of this method is found to be perfect, but sailors object to its use, dreading to touch the carcass of a whale which has been killed by so powerful a poison, for a whale struck by a bullet charged with prussic acid, only disappears for about
"There are excellent Plaice and easily taken. They (at flowing water) do almost come ashore, so'that one may stepp but halfe a foote deepe, and pick them up on the sands; and this may passe with some allowance.
"Hake is a dainty white fish, and excellent vittell fish, and may passe with other commodities, because there are multitudes.
"There are greate store of Pilchers at Michelmas, in many places, I have seene Cormorants in length 3 miles feedinge upon the Sent.
"Lobsters are there infinite in store in all the parts of the land, and very excellent. The most use that I made of them, in 5 years after I came there was but to baite my Hooke for to catch Basse, I had bin so cloyed with them the first day I went a shore. This being knowne, they shall passe for a commodity to the inhabitants, for the Salvages will meete 500 or 1000 at a place where Lobsters come in with the tyde, to eate, and save dried for store, abiding in that place, feasting and sporting a month or 6 weekes together.
" There are greate store of the Oysters in the entrances of all Rivers; they are not rounde as those of England, but excellent fat, and all good, I have seen an Oyster banke a mile at length.
"Mustles there are infinite store. I have often gon to Wassagnscus, where were excellent Mustles to eate (for variety) the fish is so fat and large.
" Clames is a shellfish, which I have seene sold in Westminster for 12 pe. the skore. These our swine feede upon, and of them there is no want, every shore is full, it makes the swine proove exceedingly, they will not failo at low water to be with them. The Salvages are much taken with the delight of this fisho, and are not cloyed (notwithstanding the plenty ) for our swine we finde it a good commodity.
" Raser fishes there are. Freeles there are. Cockles and Scallopes, and divers other sorts of Shellfish very good foode."
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FISH BUSINESS.
five minutes, and rises to the surface dead. Strychnia has been used instead, and with similar result.
"The greatest number of whales known to have ever been captured by a single vessel in a season, was forty-four, yielding two hundred and ninety-nine tons of oil, of two hundred and fifty-two gallons each; this was in 1814. The fortunate vessel belonged in Petershead, Scotland, and the oil alone, according to the price that year, which was about one hundred and sixty dollars per ton, was worth the nice little sum of forty-eight thousand, eight hundred and forty dollars."
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JOHN ADAMS GREEN.
NEWSPAPERS.
ยท
The Quincy Patriot, the weekly journal so welcome to our homes and firesides, was established Jan. 1st, 1837. The editors and proprietors were John A. Green and Edward B. Osborne. The senior member, Mr. John A. Green, was a native of Quincy and son of Mr. John Green. He was born Aug. 1st, 1814, and selected printing as a business. After acquiring his trade at Ilingham, he was engaged as editor of the Oswego Republi- can of New York. The copartnership between Messrs. Green and Osborne was of short duration, as the latter gentleman with- drew at the end of three months. The Patriot from that time was conducted by Mr. Green, for about fourteen years. July 1st, 1851, Mr. Green disposed of the Patriot to Mr. Gideon F. Thayer and Mr. George White, the present Judge of Probate for Nor- folk County. Judge White was a native of this town, and son of Nathaniel White. He fitted for college with William M. Cornell, LL. D., and at Exeter Academy, N. H .; graduated from Yale College in 1848, and from Harvard Law School in 1850; studied law with Hon. Robert Rantoul, Jr., in Boston ; admitted to Suffolk Bar, and became partner with Mr. Rantoul in 1851. He was a member of the Constitution Convention from Quincy in 1853. Appointed Judge of Probate and Insol- vency in 1858, which office he still holds.
Gideon French Thayer was born in Watertown, Mass., Sept. 21st, 1793, and was adopted and brought up by Gideon French, a tallow chandler, of Boston. His orphan boyhood was passed in Brookline and Boston ; his school education was acquired in the Grammar Schools of those towns. At the age of 14, he was placed as a salesman in a retail shoe store. In 1820, he commenced a private school with one scholar, but by his char- acteristic energy his school became flourishing. Mr. Thayer purchased a site for a school house in Chauncey place, now
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NEWSPAPERS.
Chauncey street, where he opened what is now known as the Chauncey Hall School, in 1828. This noted school under Mr. Thayer became a success. In 1855, he resigned his charge of the school on account of failing health, and accepted the Presi- dency of the Prescott Insurance Office. He resigned his position in the Insurance Office to prevent threatened apoplexy, and the remainder of his life was passed with his friends, at Keene, N. II., where he died March 27th, 1864, aged about 71 years.
April, 1852, Mr. Thayer sold his interest in the paper to Judge White, who continued it until April, 1853, when he sold all right and title to the Patriot, to its former editor and proprietor, Mr. John A. Green. Mr. Green continued to publish it until his death, which occurred July 11th, 1861. Messrs. Thayer and White not being familiar with conducting a country journal, sank from one to two thousand dollars in the experiment. After . the death of Mr. Green, his widow assumed the responsibility of the office. In 1869, Mr. George W. Prescott, the former busi- ness manager, entered into copartnership with Mrs. Green, and from that time to the present, the Patriot has been published under the firm name of Green & Prescott. The first twenty- five years, or until a year or two after the war broke out in 1-861, the Patriot was not a financial success. Its publishers were obliged to work hard, late and early, to make both ends meet.
The Patriot has always been published as an independent paper in a folio form. Its size at the time of its first publication was twenty by thirty inches, about one-half its present size. The original size of the paper appears rather diminutive com- pared with the present sheet, still it was as large as its editor desired for the poor remuneration he received for its publication.
The Patriot has been enlarged three times. Messrs. Thayer & White increased its size to twenty-two by thirty-two: It con- tinued in this form until 1866, when increasing business cansed its publishers to make another addition to it, which increased its size to twenty-four by thirty-six inches. In 1872, it was again enlarged to its present size of an eight-column paper, twenty-six and one-half by forty-one inches. May the Patriot be as gra- ciously received for the forty-one years to come, as it has for forty-one years past.
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NEWSPAPERS.
The next newspaper that was published in Quincy was called the Quincy Aurora. This paper was established by Mr. Charles Clapp, a native of this town, Jan. 1st, 1843. In politics, it was an ardent supporter and an able advocate of the principles of the late Whig party.
The Anrora was a six-column paper, of the size of twenty-two by thirty-two inches. This paper was frequently in bitter con- troversy with the Patriot, which finally ended in a libel suit at law, and in all probability shortened its days, as it was discon- tinued after an existence of a little over three years and one month. The following extract from its valedictory will give the editor's version of the cause of its demise :-
Feb. 12th, 1846. " This is the last number of the Quincy Aurora that we shall issue. We need not mention in detail the various considerations that have influenced us in coming to this conclusion. It is enough to say, that our patronage from the beginning has not been sufficient to enable us to make the paper what we wished to make it, or to yield us an adequate compensation for our time and labor. Additions, it is true, have been made to our list of subscribers from year to year, but three years experience has fully convinced us that no paper of the kind which we would be willing to edit can be fairly sup- ported in this place."
The publishing office of the Aurora was on Hancock street, over Mr. Briesler's store, now kept by the firm of Whitney & Nash. Its subscription price was two dollars a year in advance.
On Saturday, Sept. 7th, 1878, the first number of the Quincy Free Press was issued by Mr. N. T. Merritt, who is editor and proprietor. The Free' Press is published as a county paper; its principles are in sympathy with those advocated by the Demo- cratic party. It is an eight-column paper, twenty-four by forty inches, and is published in Temple Block, on Temple street, at two dollars per annum.
RANDOLPH.
The first newspaper established in the town of Randolph was the Randolph Transcript and Advertiser. This was published
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NEWSPAPERS.
weekly as an independent family and business journal, at one dollar a year. The first specimen number was issued March 14th, 1857; the first number of the first volume was published March 28th, 1857. Samuel P. Brown was the editor and proprietor. April 2d, 1859, the same publisher changed the name of the paper to the Randolph Transcript and New Eng- land Advertiser, and also increased the yearly subscription to one dollar and a half. It continued to be published by this title, until April 7th, 1860, when it assumed the name of the Ran- dolph Transcript and Norfolk Co. Advertiser. From June 14th, 1862, only small supplements were issued for seven weeks, but not numbered in the volumes, which again began regular Ang. 2d, 1862, with No. 12, Vol. VI, but Aug. 23d of that year, Mr. Brown, its editor and proprietor, announced its discontinuance. Aug. 31st, of the same year, it was revived under the name of the Randolph Advertiser, and was printed on a small sheet at fifty cents a year. April 4th, 1863, the Randolph Transcript and Advertiser was enlarged by its editor and proprietor, Mr. Samuel P. Brown. Oct. 10th, 1863, it was discontinned. The following is the valedictory :- " Six years and six months we have published this paper, though never a source of profit. In taking leave of our patrons, we will say, that as much has been done by some of them for the encouragement of a local paper as is done in any place. They have been more than just-they have been generous. By words and deeds they have cheered and helped us, and we shall never forget them. As to the com- munity generally with whom we have come in contact, we have had from it our share of commendation and condemnation ; probably of the former as much as we deserved-the latter we will forget, or try to, as much as cannot be made beneficial for ns all to remember."
Mr. Brown, Jan. 7th, 1865, issued a new series of the Tran- script and Advertiser, and July 8th, enlarged it. The price of it at that time was one dollar and a half. Oct. 1st the paper changed hands; Mr. Joseph Jones became editor and proprietor, and called it the East Norfolk Register; published at two dollars per year.
July 5th, 1867, Elmer W. Holmes became editor and propri-
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NEWSPAPERS.
etor; Mar. 19th, 1869, Stillman B. Pratt and David S. Hasty became editors and proprietors under the firm name of Pratt & Hasty ; April 22d, 1871, E. Marchant assumed control ; Aug. 19th, 1871, it passed to Ichabod N. Fernald; Jan. 20th, 1872, E. Marchant again assumed control ; Oct. 5th, 1872, Charles M. Vincent became the editor and proprietor, and remained as such until March 15th, 1873, when Daniel HI. Huxford assumed that office, which he still ably fills.
BRAINTREE.
News paper business in Braintree has not met with much suc- cess. It being a sparsely populated town, it has given but a feeble support to local papers. Three attempts have been made to establish a paper in Braintree, but they have only received a limited encouragement.
In 1869, a paper called the Braintree Reporter, was published by Charles G. Easterbrook, editor of the Weymouth Gazette, but before two years had passed, he felt compelled to stop it.
In April, 1875, a newspaper was started by C. Franklin David, a resident of Braintree. It was called the Old Colony Bulletin, and issued semi-monthly. In October, about six months after the Bulletin was started, Mr. David purchased the Abington Journal and moved his type and presses to that place.
In January, 1878, a third attempt was made to establish a newspaper in this good old town. A handsome sheet, called the Braintree Observer, was started by Daniel II. Huxford, editor of the Norfolk County Register, and edited by William MacEwan, of Braintree. Although ably conducted it does not receive the support it deserves.
MISCELLANEOUS.
1640. This was the year the town of Braintree received her act of incorporation as an independent municipality. It was a gloomy and inauspicious time for the inhabitants. No money or demand for their home productions; emigration had in a great measure ceased. Winthrop says, "Corn would bring noth- ing; a cow which last year cost twenty pounds might now be bought for four or five, and many are going out of the country, so no man could pay his debts, nor the merchants make return into England for their commodities, which caused many of them to speak evil of ns." This change was brought about by the great reform in State and Church by the home government ; the Earl of Stafford had been beheaded, the Archbishop-the great enemy of the Colonies,-and many other dignities of the realm imprisoned, which produced an utter stagnation of all business. So great had this evil become that the General Court was obliged to pass an order to try and alleviate their troubles, as follows, viz .:- "Oct. 7th, 1640. It is ordered, that after the last day of this month no man shall bee compelled to satisfy any debt, legacy, fine, or any other payment in money, but satisfac- tion shallbee accepted in corn, cattle, fish, or other commodities, at such rates as this Court shall set down from time to time, or in default thereof, by apprizement of indifferent men to be ap- pointed by the officer; provided, that this order shall not extend to any debts or payments due or arising upon any contract, or other original cause proceeding the last day of this month afore- said. And this Court doth order, that Indian Corn merchanta- ble, shallbee so payable at the rate of four shillings the bushel, summer wheate at six shillings, rye at five shillings, barley at five shillings, and pease at six shillings, hemp and flax seed at twelve shillings a bushel, and all these prizes to bee intended of such corn and seed as shall grow in this jurisdiction."
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MISCELLANEOUS.
The first entry found transcribed on the town records is, the partly illegible record of the Coddington School Fund grant to the town of Braintree. No business transactions of the town appear to be regularly recorded on the town books,1 but we see by the Colonial Records that the Colonial tax on Braintree at this time was twenty-five pounds.
" Martin Saunders, Ri. Right and Al. Winchester were ap- pointed to value horses, mares, cows, oxen, goats and hoggs, and they were to value them under their worth, rather than above their worth." By the General Court, the first magistrates were appointed for the town of Braintree, Oct. 7th, 1640, as follows, viz. :- " Richard Right, Alexander Winchester and Will. Chees- bro, to end small business at Braintree under twenty shillings."
1641. This year we find the first vote in reference to the old grist mill :- May 1st, " it is ordered, that there shall no other mill be built in the plantation without the consent of Richard Right, or his heirs, so long as the mill remain in their hands, which was built by the said Richard Right, unless it evidently appears that the sd mill will not serve the plantation, and that he or
1. For years the records of the town were not kept in chronological order, and some not at all. The first business transaction of the town recorded in the town's book was in 1643; and what should have been the first matter recorded at the opening of the business of the town, was not entered until 1656, and that had reference to the laying out of the Plymouth Turnpike. It is evident that the minutes of the proceedings of the town meeting were kept on slips of paper and subsequently recorded. The same discrepancy, as to the chronological order of dates, is also to be found in the marriages, births and deaths. Tlie first record on the book of registration is in 1643, as follows, viz :- " Solomon Curtis, son of Decodatus Curtis and Rebeekah Curtis his wife, born the eighth day of June, 1643." Subsequently, the following entries are made :- " Mary Newcomb, the daughter of Francis Newcomb, and Rachel his wife, was born March 2d, 1640. Jonathan, the son of Jolin Hoidon and Susanna, his wife, was born the 19-3-1640; Hannah Niles, daughter of John and Jane, born 16-12-1636; John Niles, son of John and Jane, born the 4-1-1638. The first marriage we find recorded is Henry Adams and Elizabeth Pain, who were married the 17-8-1643. The following appear to be the first deaths recorded :- 1643,-Mary Pain, buried 2d day of the fourth mouth, but is not recorded on the book until 1732. 1646-8-8, Henry Adams was buried, and is registered on the town book, at page 144 of the original records."
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