USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of shipbuilding on North river, Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with genealogies of the shipbuilders, and accounts of the industries upon its tributaries, 1640 to 1872 > Part 23
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232
SHIP "GLOBE."
the second mate, and he was pulled up on the deck and thrown over while yet alive, after practising cruelties the harrowing details of which one would loathe to relate. Is it strange the rest of the company were stunned with fright, fearing lest they might be dealt with in the same manner? Comstock and Payne had accomplices who were in the plot. Among these was Wil- liam Humphrey, the former steward, who was hung, by order of Comstock, on Jan. 29, to a studding-sail boom, rigged out eight feet upon the fore yard, for treachery to his leaders, though it was not proved. Not daring to go to any civilized port, it was decided by the mutineers to run the vessel ashore on one of the Mulgrave Islands, and, after taking out the pro- visions, and stripping her, to burn her to the water's edge, and live the rest of their days with the natives. While unloading in the harbor, and before all the effects and provisions were ready to divide, Comstock gave some of the clothing and other articles to the natives. This caused trouble, and, fearing lest he would lead the natives against them, they shot him on the morning of Feb. 17, 1824, and Payne nearly severed his head from his body with an axe. Thus ended the life of the blood- thirsty leader of the mutineers, twenty-two days from the be- ginning of his hellish career. The ship "Globe" was this day put in charge of six men, under Gilbert Smith, and, during the night, they made sail and escaped from the island, leaving their murderous companions, and some of the innocent ones, behind. After a long and boisterous passage, they arrived, in June, at Valparaiso, where the " Globe " was taken possession of by the American Consul. From here she sailed for Nantucket, where she arrived Nov. 21, 1824. Of the men left at the Mulgrave Islands, all but two were massacred by the natives. Cyrus M. Hussey, of Nantucket, and William. Lay, of Saybrook, Conn., were saved by friendly natives, and finally rescued by the U. S. man-of-war "Dolphin," Capt. John Percival, after living twenty- two months on these islands. The " Globe " was sold out and broken up at Buenos Ayres in 1828.
On Sept. 21, 1815, Foster & Co. received $520 to bind a contract to build a schooner for Caleb Nickerson of Chatham. It was finished in 1816. In 1816, Samuel Rogers, * of Marsh- field, was taken into the firm, and the same year
* See Roger Yards
233
VESSELS BUILT BY SETH & SAMUEL FOSTER & CO.
Walter Foster
and Samuel Rogers built the "BETSEY PIERCE," 73 tons, of Scituate, named for Walter Foster's wife. In JJan., 1817, Seth, Samuel, and Walter Foster, and Samuel Rogers, agreed to build a schooner in company, under the firm name of Seth & Samuel Foster & Co. To show the interest that each had in the firm, the divisions made on a ship in 1821 were as follows :
Seth Foster,
3
parts.
Saml. Foster,
34
Saml. Rogers,
Walter Foster,
1}
Elisha Foster, Jr.,
Total,
10
July, 1817, they contracted to build a sloop for Capt. Caleb Nickerson, at $29.50 per ton. There was built here, in 1816, the seh. "BANKER," 73 tons, of Chatham, Seth & Samuel Foster, master carpenters ; also in 1816, the sch. "OCEAN," 73 tons, of Chatham ; Seth & Samuel Foster, master carpen- ters. Samuel Tolman, Jr., did joiner work for Capt. Seth Fos- ter & Co., June 1, 1817, on the sch. "GOV. BROOKS," 72 tons, built for Capt. Atkins of Provincetown ; June 14, sch. " BETSEY & MARY ; " June 3, sloop "NANCY." On Sept. 10, 1817, was launched the sloop "RAPID," 48 tons, of Seit- uate, later of Chatham. She was built by Seth & Samuel Fos- ter. The "Rapid " was at one time a Boston and Nantucket packet. There was also built here, the same year, the sloop "BEDBUG," and the sch. "BETSEY & POLLY," 51 tons, probably for Capt. Harding. It will be seen from the above that the Fosters built six vessels in 1817, which was the largest number of vessels built at any yard on the North River during any one year (Smith's Yard, Hanover only excepted). This year, Joseph R. Tolman disposed of his interest in Foster's vessel, built probably during the war, as a receipt of which the following copy states :
" SCITUATE, Jan. 11, 1817.
This will certify that I have sold all my concerns in Mr. Foster's war ship to Samuel Tolman, Jr., by agreement between Seth Fos- ter and myself. (Signed) JOSEPH R. TOLMAN."
234
VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS.
In 1818, the Fosters built two vessels which were the talk of the town while they were being built, one in each yard. They were the ships " PACIFIC," 314 tons, and "PERUVIAN,"334 tons. Oak, ash and pine were used in their construction. Also in the "Pacific " were used twenty-two spruce knees, bought of Thatcher Magoun, Pembroke. One thousand " trunnels" or tree-nails bought of Jonathan Sampson for $7.84 and a but- tonwood log. The ash came from Pembroke. Capt. Luther Tilden put the lower deck in the "Peruvian" for $190, and Matthew Tower furnished the capstan for $25. Samuel Curtis was paid $1.14 for twelve gallons of cider for the launch- ing of both ships. Matthew Tower was a direct descendant of Benjamin Tower of Hingham, whose son Benjamin had a son James, who was father of Matthew. John, the common ances- tor, mar. Margaret Ibrook, a remarkably handsome woman, sister of Mrs. Hobart, whose husband, Rev. Peter Hobart, edited "Hobart's Journal." (See Briggs' Yard. ) Matthew had brothers and sisters, viz. : 1. John, 1st, killed at Charles- town. 2. Lynde. 3. John, 2nd, died in Dartmoor Prison. 4. David, who was father of John Tower, editor of the "North River Pioneer," spoken of elsewhere in this book. 5. Solo- mon. 6. Lucy. 7. Mary. 8. Rachel ; and others, many of whom left children who have families in Hanover, Scituate, and Hingham. (See "History of Hingham.") The "Pernvian " cost, to build, $10,428.86; and the " Pacific" cost, to build, $8767.69. The " Pacific" was lost on Kodiac, near Alaska, in 1866, then owned in Nantucket. The "Peruvian " was whaling in the Pacific, in 1820, under Capt. Christopher Wyer, and belonged to C. Mitchell & Co., of Nantucket. In 1827, she lost her first mate, Paul Bunker. He harpooned a black fish, which struck and killed him. She continued whaling in the Pacific until 1857, when she was broken up at New Bedford, thirty-nine years old. Early the same year, or in January, 1818, the firm contracted for, and began to build, the sch. " MINERVA," of 70 tons, for Capt. Atkins of Provincetown, who used her whaling off the Western Islands. Also, in 1818, the sch. "WELCOME RETURN," 77 tons, of Boston ; and in 1819, the sch. "RANGER," 57 tons, of Boston, of which Wal- ter Foster was the master carpenter. The same year, 1819, the firm built a ship which they named after the family, the ship "FOSTER," 317 tons, that cost to build, $10,057.03. The bottom of the " Foster" was pierced by a horn-fish on her first voyage, and the horn was left there. When they sawed it off
235.
VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS.
in the hold, the water rushed through the opening one thousand strokes per hour. This was in the Pacific Ocean. In 1820, she was at the Hawaiian Island, on a voyage to China .* In 1825, she was sheathed partly with leather. In 1847, when under Capt. Francis C. Coffin of Nantucket, she shipped eight thousand gallons of oil to London, and was condemned at the Seychelle Islands, near Zanzibar. The Fosters built, in 1820, the sch. " COMBINE," 99 tons, of Boston ; and the same year, 1820, the brig " MARGARET,"185 tons, of Duxbury ; owners, Seth, Samuel, and Elisha Foster, Sr. and Jr., and Cushing Otis of Scituate. Nathan Tilden worked joinering on the "Margaret." In 1821, they built the ship "LION," 326 tons, for Christopher Mitchell & Co., Nantucket. She was lost, during her first voyage, on the rocks, while making Fanning's Island, in the South Pacific. Also in 1821, the Fosters built the ship "CY- RUS," 328 tons, which lasted until 1845, when she was con- demned at Rio Janeiro. The next year, 1822, they built a "high deck schooner," the "NEW PRISCILLA," 125 tons, of Chatham. Also in 1822, the ship "JAPAN," 332 tons, of Boston. She was afterward sold to Paul Mitchell & Sons, Nan- tucket, and in 1825 was whaling in the Pacific, under Capt. Shubael Hussey. In 1846, she was owned by Barker & Athearn, and still whaling in the Pacific. She, however, came home soon after, and sailed for San Francisco in 1849, where she was broken up in 1851. F. C. Sanford writes: "I am happy to say that I was there about that time. There were a thousand ships in port, from every part of the world, and of every rig, from a Chinese junk to a line-of-battle ship." Seth and Samuel Foster & Co. built the sloop " ALBION," in 1823, which was used as a North River and Boston packet for many years. Like some other North River packets, she had one-half as many owners as she was tons large. In 1823, Samuel Tol- man, Jr., bought of Seth and Samuel Foster, one-fifteenth part of the hull of the sloop " Albion," for $66. The sloop "Albion" was 28 tons, of Scituate, and owned by Constant F. Oakman, Marshfield ; Benjamin Rogers, Pembroke ; Samuel Deane, Eb- enezer T. Fogg, Seth and Walter Foster, Lemuel Turner, John Nash, John Thaxter, Joseph Oldham, Thomas Cushing, Aaron or probably Anson Robbins, Consider Merritt, Jr., and Samuel Tolman of Scituate. This important boat was afterward sold.
* For account, see Sanford's article on " History of Noted Vessels," Boston Daily Advertiser, Dec., 1871.
236
VESSELS BUILT BY THE FOSTERS.
to Boston. The Fosters also built, in 1823, the brig " NEP- TUNE," 214 tons ; David Ellis, of Boston, owner. They built, the next year, the brig "Pioneer," at the launching of which fifteen pounds of lamb, bread, and sauce are charged on the books at $3.00. Brig "PIONEER," built in 1824, 231 tons, of Duxbury, was owned by Seth, Samuel, and Elisha Foster, Sr. and Jr., of Scituate, and others. She was sold to Ezra Weston, and by him to New Bedford parties. Elisha Tolman did the planking, and Daniel Hall the joiner work. Later, she was changed into a bark, and in 1872 was held at Mauritius for several months, by the United States Consul, but was released, and finally sold to France when over fifty years old. The ship "JULIAN" was built at Foster's Yard before 1825 ; Capt. Benjamin Smith, commander. She was sold to New York by her New Bedford owners in 1862. The Fosters built, in 1825, the brig " DIANA," for the launching of which vessel twelve pounds of tallow were bought for $1.20, to use on the ways ; and in May, 1825, "Pork, bread, sauce, etc., for the launching of the brig .Diana,' $4.25." Nathaniel Eels worked on the "Diana." The launchings were attended by all the people around ; schools closed, and business was generally suspended. A spread was always given by the builders, which was usually substantial, with plenty of lemons, sugar, water, etc., to wash it down, as is seen by the entries in the old account-books, and the parties for whom the vessels were built often sent liquors or refresh- ments for the launchings. In 1825, the Fosters built the " SMYRNA," which became famous ever after she carried the American Stars and Stripes into the Black Sea for the first time. She was owned by Ezra Weston of Duxbury, and commanded by Capt. Seth Sprague, one of the old school ship-masters liv- ing in 1889, in South Marshfield, and one of Neptune's old vet- erans. He has had a varied experience on the great deep, from his first enlisting as a sailor, in his youthful days, until his riper years found him in command of as proud a ship as at that time sailed the ocean. Capt. Sprague was b. in Marshfield, Mass., Aug. 6, 1798. He mar., in 1825, Miss W. L. Ford of Marsh- field, and he says, "From that time on success attended me." His first voyage was at the age of seventeen, with Capt. John Southard, in the good ship " William & James." On account of his excellent conduct and seamanship he was promoted to the office of mate, and but a short time elapsed before he was offered the command of the "SMYRNA," by Ezra Weston of Duxbury, for whom he sailed twenty-four years. He accepted,
237
THIE FIRST AMERICAN FLAG IN THIE BLACK SEA.
and sailed her for five years. While in command of the " Smyrna," he carried, in 1830, the American Flag into the Black Sea. This was the first time the American Flag ever floated orer this sea. He was next commander of the ship " Renown," built at Duxbury. In her he went to Richmond, Va., and other Southern ports, after which she was sold to New York parties. His next ship was the " Minerva." In her he made two trips to New Orleans, and one from South Carolina to Liverpool and London. His fourth vessel was the staunch ship " Vandalia," of 480 tons. In this ship, which he com- manded two years, he made four voyages across the Atlantic, from New Orleans to Liverpool, and to other ports in the United States and elsewhere. His fifth and last vessel was the ship " Mattakeesett," of 500 tons, also built at Duxbury. In her he made many voyages from Boston to New Orleans, Pensa- cola, Havre, and other ports. It is many years since Capt. Sprague retired from active life with a competence for his de- elining years, and now, at the great age of ninety-one, he takes his daily walk to the Post Office, and chats freely and enter- tainingly with his neighbors, and strangers, about the days when to be master of a ship of five hundred tons was as great an honor as any ambitious man need seek.
In 1826, the ship "LAGODA," 340 tons, was built by Seth and Samuel Foster, and owned by them and Thomas Otis of Scituate. Sold afterward to Boston. In 1841, she was pur- chased by Jonathan Bourne of New Bedford, who owned her forty-five years, during which time she made twelve successful whaling voyages. She is now owned by William Lewis and others, and whaling in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, from New Bedford, in her sixty-fourth year. She arrived in San Fran- cisco in August, 1889, from the Arctic, with a cargo of oil and bone, and returned to the Arctic soon after. Some of the men who worked or furnished material on Foster's Yard, from 1807 to 1827, were : Elnathan Cushing, boring holes ; Anson Rob- bins, painter and varnisher, grandfather of Jas. A. R. Under- wood of Rockland ; Warren Sylvester, Mr. Knights, Samuel Tilden, Jr., Joe Barell, Samuel Rogers, Joe and Jonathan Mer- ritt, William Nash, (Danl. Merrit, for boring 648 holes, $3.24), Tom Lapham, Thomas Ruggles, Jr. ; Moses Parsons, planker ; Laban Souther, Howland and Zac Rogers, Jonathan Oldham, Tom Rogers, spar-maker ; Joe Clapp, A. Ewell, John and Ira Bryant, Warren Hatch, Christopher B. Jones, who used to make pumps and dead-eyes ; Timothy Church, Samuel and
238
ELIJAH BROOKS ENTERS THE FIRM OF FOSTER & CO.
Israel Turner, Elisha Briggs, Martin Rogers, planker ; Elisha Tolman, joiner ; Simeon Keen, George and David Torrey, in 1810 ; Asa Rogers, and others. In 1827, the brig "CAMILLA," 233 tons, of Boston, was built by Seth and Samuel Foster. Also the brig " BOSTON," probably built by them in 1827, 242 tons, for Thomas B. Wales & Co., Boston. The following 1827.
are some of the voyages made by the "Boston :" Charleston to Amsterdam. 1828. Matanzas to St. Petersburg ; Charleston to Amsterdam. 1829. Matanzas to Antwerp. 1830. Havana to Marseilles. 1831. Matanzas to Hamburg. 1832. 1833. Sa- Savannah to Hamburg, and Havana to Hamburg.
vannah to Hamburg, and Baltimore to Bremen, with logwood,
1835. lignum vitæ, etc. 1834. Charleston to Rotterdam. Charleston to Amsterdam. Samuel & Walter Foster built, in 1828, the brig "RUSSIAN," 222 tons, of Boston ; and the next year, 1829, a vessel well known in Scituate, the brig "MARSHAL NEY," 192 tons, of Boston, named after Napo- leon's General, who was afterward shot. The " Marshal Ney" was rigged at the yard, taken to Boston, and Capt. Crowell of Chatham there took charge of her. George Foster was very anxious to go in her, and finally persuaded the captain to allow him. They took a cargo and sailed for the West Indies, but, when five days out, struck on Handkerchief Shoals, and were. nearly a total loss. George Foster came home from his long voyage after two weeks absence. The vessel was raised, taken to Boston, and repaired on the Marine Railway. The under- writers threw her on to the owners, and the captain lost all of his property. After Capt. Seth Foster died, Samuel and Wal- ter took in Elijah Brooks as partner for a time. About 1830, the Fosters built the brig " MAGNOLIA," about 250 tons, and about the same time a ship of about 300 tons, which broke down on the ways, and had to be dug out and got off on rollers. The hollow can be seen at the present day. They built, in 1831, the brig, afterward the sch., "TOKEN," 141 tons, mixed wood, iron fastened ; sold to New York. Repaired in 1859. Owned in 1861 by Tracy and others, St. George, Me., Capt. Tracy. Samuel Foster was the master carpenter.
In 1831, Turner Foster and Joseph Clapp formed a partner- ship, and built on that part of the yard known as the "Old Curtis Yard," probably so named after some Curtis who may have owned the land .* Samuel Foster occupied the yard
* See Chittenden Yard.
239
VESSELS BUILT BY FOSTER & CO.
adjoining at the same time, and in 1832 built the brig " CHICK- ASAW." 171 tons, of Boston. Joshua Turner Foster, or Tur- ner Foster, as he is commonly called, was born in So. Scituate, January, 1810, where he remained until he was sixteen, when he went to Medford to learn the ship-carpenter's trade, enter- ing the yard of Sprague & James. Here he served his time, and at twenty-one, when he became free, returned to Scituate, and built four vessels in partnership with Joseph Clapp, under the firm name of Clapp & Foster. They were the brig " WATER-WITCH," 167 tons, built in 1831, for B. C. Clark, Boston, of which Joseph Clapp was master carpenter ; in 1832, the bark "MADAGASCAR," of 242 tons, built for Curtis & Hall of Boston, Clapp & Foster, master carpenters; and in 1833 the brig " GANGES," 250 tons, owned by William C. Fay and John H. Pierson, and lost on the Spanish Main, under Capt. Raymond, about 1848. The last vessel built by this firm was in 1833, the brig " ATTILA," 206 tons, of Boston, named after the famous Hun leader. Mr. Clapp then went into part- nership with Samuel Foster and brothers.
Turner Foster, who had now reached his twenty-fifth year, returned to the Sprague & James Yard, in Medford, as fore- man. He mar. Ellen Sprague, dan. of a member of the firm, and they had five children and three now dead. 4. William T., who has two sons ; 5. Laura, who mar. Edward H. Parker, and has one son. Before Mr. Foster left Scituate, the first time, he used to help his father at the store, and often carried the " black-strap" (rum, sweetened with molasses, ) down to the yards, but, during the seventy-eight years of his life, has never used tobacco, nor tasted spirit save as a medicine. He used to play the clarionet, and, together with Uncle Sam Rog- ers, went to singing school in Pembroke. At that time Mr. Rogers was courting a Miss Standish, and Mr. Foster was obliged to wait for him to go to her house and do his courting, before they went home, as Mr. Rogers had the team, and it was a long walk. Mr. Foster has built in Medford, as successor to Sprague & James, on the same yard, sixty-four vessels, from 1250 tons down, building the last one, the "Pilgrim," in 1872, which was also the last vessel built in Medford. He has held many positions of trust, being Ensign at nineteen, and Captain at twenty-four years of age, of the old Medford military com- pany, holding commissions signed by "old Gov. Honest John Davis " and Gov. Levi Lincoln. He has been on the School Com- mittee, and Selectman for eleven different years, Assessor four
240
CLAPP GENEALOGY.
years, and Representative to the Legislature in 1883 and 1884, the latter year being the oldest man in the House. He ean now dance with as light a step as a boy of sixteen, and is as bright and clear in his mind as he ever was.
An epitaph eurrent in connection with this yard reads as follows .
" Under this greensward pat, Lies the hulk of old * Shepherds rejoice, and do not weep, For he is dead who stole your sheep."
The deceased was noted for putting other farmers' sheep into his own flock, and marking them with his private mark. We have no proof as to the identity of the writer, but the lines are not inconsistent with Mr. Foster's jovial disposition.
Joseph Clapp was a direet descendant of Thomas Clapp, who was born in Dorchester, Eng., in 1597, and came to Dorches- ter, Mass., with the early settlers of that place. His grandson, Thomas, born 1703, was one of the most distinguished men of his time. Thomas was President of Yale College from 1740 until 1764, when he resigned and returned to Scituate, where he died the following year. He wrote many books, among them a valuable history of Yale College. A notice of the death of his brother Nathaniel's child appears in an old paper, as fol- lows :
" We hear from Scituate, that on Monday Morning last (Thurs. Aug. 16. 1770) a promising Youth, about 14 Years of Age, Son to Nathaniel Clap, Esq. of that Town, driving a Cart down a steep Hill, one of the Wheels taking the rising Ground overset the Cart, and killed the Lad instantly on the Spot."-The Mass. Gazette and Boston Weekly News-Letter.
The new firm of Samuel Foster & Co. built, in 1833, the brig " BOSTON," 170 tons, of Gloucester, whaling off Califor- nia in 1857. Also in 1833, the brig " BALTIMORE," 169 tons, of Boston, afterward of New Bedford, a whaler; in 1834, the bark " NIAGARA," 232 tons, of Boston ; in 1835, the bark "SARATOGA," 289 tons, of Boston. Also in 1835, the bark " NEPTUNE," 231 tons, of Boston. Joseph Clapp was the master earpenter of the "Niagara" and "Saratoga." The " Neptune " appears to be the last vessel built by the Fosters, and, excepting those built by Litchfield & Burrill, was proba- bly the last vessel built at these yards. "Hayward's New Eng- land Gazetteer," 1839, says, under "Scituate," that the
241
LITCHFIELD & BURRILL.
"North River is noted for the fine ships built on its banks, the value of vessels annually built being $40,000. These vessels are of superior mechanism, and are built of native white oak, remarkable for its durability. During the year ending April 1, 1837, Scituate had twenty-two vessels engaged in fishing, and took 6500 barrels of mackerel, valued at $46,000."
The Wanton Yard, after the Fosters left it, was next occu - pied by Cummings Litchfield and James S. Burrill. James S. Burrill was born in Weymouth, Mass., and was son of Isaac, who was also born in Weymouth. He married Martha Stock- bridge of Scituate, Mass., and finally moved to Medford, Mass. Cummings Litchfield was son of Bernard and grandson of Eli- jah Litchfield. He was born in 1815, and has been a most active man. His education has been acquired chiefly by expe- rience and observation He left school at the age of ten, and went fishing with his father in the sch. "Hope." His first trip was made in three weeks, when they returned to port with a full fare, two barrels being credited to young Litchfield. His next adventure was in the sch. "Beaver," cod-fishing. In making the run home from the Bay of Fundy, in a storm, they endeavored to make a port near Cape Ann, but were run into and sunk. The crew was saved by the colliding vessel, and safely landed. The next day Mr. Litchfield took the packet for Boston, and walked home, barefooted. IIe continned fish- ing, summers, until he was seventeen, and made occasional trips to Southern ports during the winter, in the coasting trade. He went to Medford and learned the ship-carpenter's trade of builder Jotham Stetson. He served three years or more with Mr. Stetson, and his first job afterward was at Grand Island, N. Y., where, with Mr. Delano, he helped build a steamboat. He then returned to Massachusetts and worked in the Navy Yard three months, when he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., and helped repair the United States ship " Ohio." We next hear of him in the British Dominions, just over our eastern boundary, where he helped build a ship of 1200 tons, all of white oak, being the first ship of that material built at that place. In 1838, he commenced building vessels on his own account, on North River. This year he built, in company with Mr. Burrill, the seh. "LITCHFIELD," 65 tons, one deck and two masts, of Boston. She had a billet-head, which was afterward substi- tuted by a figure-head. Capt. John White was at one time master of her. She was in the Curacoa fruiting trade, and was lost, in about five years, on the back side of Cape Cod. The
242
LITCHFIELD & BURRILL.
crew were saved. Mr. Litchfield and his partner built at this yard, in 1839, the sch. "LYDIA KING," 22 tons, owned by Capt. Bernard and Cummings Litchfield and James S. Burrill, at Scituate. Mr. Litchfield afterward sold one-half of her to Oakes Lawrence. Later she was sold to Martha's Vineyard, and ran as a packet to Boston. She was at one time owned in Dartmouth, and was finally run into and sunk in Vineyard Sound. This firm also built, at this yard, a brig, in 1840; probably the "FRANKLIN," 172 tons, of Provincetown. The firm dissolved, and thus ended the ship-building on this yard, possibly for all time. Cummings Litchfield built near his pres- ent residence in So. Scituate in 1852, and later at Union Bridge .* In the meantime he worked at the different yards on the river, and also went to sea. He is now living in Norwell, where he carries on an extensive farm.
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