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 33
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* See Chapter, North River, Continued.
VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE PRIOR TO 1700. 337
brig't'n "PRIMROSE," 50 tons, Philip Bass, master ; owners, Andrew Belcher, John Eyer, Jeremiah Dummer, William Clarke, Boston, Edw. Shippen of Philadelphia. 1695, ship " SPEEDWELL," 60 tons ; owners, Capt. Thomas Burrington, John Foster, Benjamin Alford, Edward Thomas, Abraham Blish, of Boston. 1695, slp. " SPEEDWELL," 25 tons ; James Seyward of Gloucester, owner and master. 1695, brig't'n "JOHN & ABIEL," 60 tons; owners, John Ireland, her master, Andrew Belcher, John Eyer, George Cable and Jeremiah Allen of Boston, and Richard Clayton and Edward Parson of the Island of Mount Serat. 1696, ship " DOLPHIN," 100 tons ; owners, Capt. Giles Fyfield, Samuel Lillie and Edward Martin, merchants, John Rusk, Samuel Greenwood, Thomas Baker, Nathaniel Henchman, all of Boston. 1696, brig't'n " ADVEN- TURE," 50 tons, Capt. Andrew Rankin ; owners, Andrew Belcher, Daniel Oliver, Andrew Rankin, of Boston, and Isaac Little of Marshfield. 1696, ship " SPEEDWELL," 100 tons, Capt. Robert White ; owners, Samuel Lillie, Edward Martin, Samuel Greenwood, Thomas Baker and John Buck, Boston, and Giles Fifield. 1696, slp. " HOPEWELL," 35 tons, Scit- nate ; owners, William Webster of Piscatag, N. H., and John Linkler, of Boston. 1696, ship " ANDREW & SAMUEL," 80 tons ; owners, Andrew Belcher, and John Colman, merchants, Samuel Lillie, and Daniel Oliver, all of Boston. 1697, slp., afterwards, brig't'n, "HOPEWELL," 60 tons, Capt. Wm. Rouse ; owner, Samuel Lillie, Boston. 1697, brig't'n " MICHAEL & SAMUEL," 60 tons; owners, the Capt., Thomas Lillie, and Samuel Lillie of Boston, and Michael Lam- bert of the Island of St. Christophers, merchant. The follow- ing is a copy in full of the register or oath taken by the owners or builders, viz. :
" 1697-8. Daniel Zachary of Boston in New England, Ironmon- ger, being a professed Quaker did solemnly declare in the presence of Almighty God the witness of the truth of what he said. That the slp. "UNITY," of Boston, aforesaid, whereof Matthew Estis is at present Master, being a square sterned vessel of the burthen of about Forty Tons, was built at Scituate in New England around 1697, and that he the said Daniel Zachary is at present sole owner thereof and that no forreigner directly or indirectly hath any share or part inter- est therein.
Declarat Cor.
William Stoughton & Jahted Brenton, Collectors.
The above Mathew Estes was probably a Hanover man. and
.
-
338
VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE IN EARLY TIMES.
the same that resided on a farm in West Hanover, where a descendant, Henry Estes, now resides, and this latter vessel, built for Quakers, may have been built by Edward Wanton. 1697, brig't'n " HOPEWELL," of the Island of Jamaica in 1699; owners, Capt. John Sadler, Boston, William Smith of Jamaica. 1698, ship " TRYAL," 60 tons, hailing from Taunton, Capt. James Smith ; owners, David Jeffries of Boston, and Morris Hammond and Simon Stacey of Taunton. 1698, slp. "ENDEAVOUR," 20 tons, Capt. John Bowdon ; Benjamin Gallop of Boston, owner. 1698, slp. "FRIENDS ADVEN- URE," 30 tons, Capt. John Tapper ; owner, Robert Evans, of Boston. 1698, ship "JOHN & ABIAL," 100 tons, hailing from Mount Serat ; owners, Capt. John Ireland of Boston, Col. Anthony Hodges and James Donnalson of the Island of Mount Serat, and Thomas Thompson of Pool, in the Kingdom of Eng- land, residing in Boston in 1702, a professed Quaker. As will be seen the above were built during the sixteen hundreds. Commencing with the year 1700 there was built in Scituate, in 1700, the sloop " ELIZABETH," 20 tons ; owners, William Goddard, mariner, and Eleazer Darby of Boston ; also in 1700, the sloop " CONTENT," 30 tons ; owners, Samuel Lillie, mer- chant, and Tobias Greene, mariner, of Boston, and Nathaniel Lommis ; also in 1700, the brig't'n " PRUDENT SARAH," 50 tons ; owners, Capt. Thomas Tomlin and James Allison, of the Island of Jamaica ; and also in 1700, the katch "HOPE," 30 tons ; owner, Capt. Thomas Lasenby, Boston. There was built in Scituate, in 1701, the brig " MAYFLOWER," 30 tons ; owners, Charles Shepard, merchant, and David Jeffries of Boston. In 1703. the brig't'n " WILLIAM & TIIOMAS," 72 tons, Capt. Francis Plaisted ; owners, William Fenton and son, Thomas Fenton, and Jacob Doval of the Island of Nevis ; also in 1703, the sloop "HENNERETA," 20 tons, Capt. John Jarvis ; owner, John Frizell; and also in 1703, the sloop "JOHN & DANIEL," 30 tons ; owners, Daniel Middleton and John Frizell of Boston. In 1704, the sloop " FRANCES," 20 tons, was built at Scituate, before called the " Larke," of Bos- ton ; owners, Timo. Harris, English merchant, in Oporto, and David Jeffries of Boston ; also in 1704, the ship " JOHN & DAVID," 60 tons ; owners, David Jeffries, merchant, and John Frizell of Boston; also in 1704, the brig't'n " DORO- THY," 40 tons; owners, David Jeffries, merchant, and John Frizell of Boston ; also in 1704, the brig't'n " DOVE," 45 tons ; owner, Samuel Lillie, of Boston ; and lastly in 1704, the ship
339
VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE IN EARLY TIMES.
" ADVENTURE," 50 tons ; owner, Nicholas Roberts of Bos- ton. In 1705, the brig't'n "SWALLOW," 30 tons, was built at Scituate ; owner, John Frizell of Boston; also in 1705, the brig't'n " ABIGAIL & SARAH," 60 tons; owners, Edward Martyn and William Hutchinson, merchants, and Thomas Pal- mer of Boston ; also in 1705, the sloop " BENJAMIN," 30 tons, owner, Benjamin Flood of Boston; and lastly in 1705, the sloop " AMITY," 50 tons ; owners, Daniel Oliver, Francis Clarke and William Wellsteed of Boston, merchants, and Nathaniel Oliver of Boston. In 1706, the brig't'n "TYGER," 60 tons, was built at Scituate ; owners, Thomas Palmer and Edward Martyn of Boston ; also in 1706, sloop "BETTY," 40 tons ; owners, Andrew Belcher and Charles Chambers of Charlestown ; and also in 1706, brig't'n "GOOD LUCK," 70 tons ; owners, Samuel Liilie, merchant and John Ruggles of Boston. In 1711, the ship " JOHN & DOROTHY," 80 tons, was built at Scituate ; John Frizell of Boston, owner; and in 1712, the brig't'n "MAYFLOWER," 30 tons ; John Frizell, of Boston, owner. The absence of official records leaves the history of shipbuilding, during the middle of the 18th century, a blank as has been elsewhere stated, but the following petition found among some old MSS. will be read with interest by many :
" To the Honourable Senate & Honourable House of Representa- tives in General Court Assembled: The petition of the under- signed an inhabitant of Scituate respectfully shows. That in the year 1775, he was the owner of & part of a sch. burthened 44 tons, one year old, which was all the property he then had. Said vessel was laid up in a creek of Scituate, in the month of April, 1775. The rigging & sails were taken from their places and stored in the cabin and hold. Some time in June or July of the same year a party of soldiers sent by the committee of Public Safety of the town of Cohas- set went and took said sails and carried them to Roxbury to be used for tents for the Army. Your petitioner was at that time a Militia soldier in actual service. He was afterwards paid the number of dollars his sails were said to be worth in Continental money, the value of which at the time was a mere trifle. He afterwards lent the state a hundred pounds of his own hard earnings and took a note signed Henry Gardner. In about 18 years after, received a State note in lieu thereof for two hundred and ten dollars. The above facts your petitioner is abundantly able to establish before any com- mittee which your Honours may depute to hear the same. He is now SI years of age, infirm & poor, has no relatives or friends of sufficient pecuniary ability to support him. He therefore prays your Honours to take a compassionate view of his case, and award him
340
ROGERS - MERRITT -TURNER.
that justice which to you shall seem meet and proper, and as in duty bound will ever pray.
(Signed) JARED BATTLES."
The first ship-builder, whom it has been found impossible to locate at any particular yard in Scituate, is Asa Rogers, who built here in 1803, the sch. "MORNING STAR," (see Rogers Yards). Another shipbuilder, whom it has been impossible to locate during all the years he built, is Elisha Merritt who lived on the Black Pond Road, South Scituate. He was brother of Consider, whose son Joseph built on the Chittenden Yard. Elisha had two sons, both of whom are now living in North Scituate. They are Joseph H., a wheelwright and Cummings, a blacksmith. Elisha was the son of Elisha and Priscilla Merritt, and a lineal descendant of Henry Merritt, who was in Scituate in 1628, (see Deane's " History of Scituate ") .
Elisha Marit built a fishing schooner, the " Mozart," 40 tons, about 1837, above the tide mill at Cohasset for his brother Francis ; and earlier or in 1829 the sch. "Elizabeth," 57 tons, for James Collier. He also built one vessel at the Harbor at King's Landing by the old carding mill. He was partner at one time with Copeland, Pratt and others at the Fox Hill Yard, * and the following vessels which he built at Scituate, he may have built in this yard. In 1816, the sch. "UNION," 48 tons ; owners, Elisha, Benjamin and Consider Merritt, Jr., Freeman Litchfield, Samuel Hiland, Silvester Clapp and Caleb Bailey of Scituate. 1n 1819, the sch. " LITTLE MARTHA," 55 tons, of Boston. In 1825, the sch. " LAGRANGE," 73 tons; owned by Lemuel Webb, Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., John Beal, Peleg Jenkins and Simeon Bates, Jr., of Scituate. He also built in Scituate, in 1831, the sch. "ELLEN," 61 tons, of Cohasset, afterwards of Orleans.
was a shipbuilder in Scituate during the early part of this century. One report says he built on North River, but an old resident at the harbor says he remembers his building the "Richmond " in the Samuel Kent yard at the harbor. In any case, the
* See chapter on Fox Hill Yard.
341
BROOKS - LITCHFIELD.
following vessels were built by him, and in Scituate. In 1817, the sch. "MONROE," 47 tons, of Boston ; owners, Theodore, Samuel, Jr., and Samuel Turner, Hersey Litchfield, Elias Pincin, Benjamin R. Jacobs, of Scituate, and others. Also in 1817 the brig, "RICHMOND," 116 tons, of Boston. Altered into a schooner in 1828; owners, Jesse Dunbar, Sr. and Jr., Capt. Seth Webb of Scituate, and others. Samuel Turner has one danghter now living, the widow of Frank Brooks, who was son of William Brooks,* who was a ship- builder, and built in Scituate in 1818 the sch. " GOLCONDA," 78 tons, of Boston, but at what yard he built we have been unable to ascertain.
Samuel Rogers built in Scituate in 1817 the sloop " NANCY." (See Rogers Yards. ) There was also built in Scituate in 1818, at some yard unknown, the sch. " FOUR BROTHERS," 53 tons, Leonard Litalife of Boston, by master carpen- ter, who lived in Beechwood, North Scituate. His grandson, John, now lives in North Scit- uate. He has also a grand-daughter, Juliza, now living. The wife of Thomas Lawrence, of Somerville, is a daughter of Leonard. He also had sons Addison, John and Foster.
There was built in Scituate in 1819, at some yard not known, the sch. "FOUR SISTERS," 67 tons, of Boston, by master carpenter. She was
Boston Litequelo
owned by Hall & Billings, and Martin D. and Benjamin Mer- ritt, Lindale Tilden, Elijah Pierce, Silas Clapp and Leonard Litchfield, of Scituate.
The last shipbuilder that comes under this chapter is Cum- mings Litchfield. He had built in company with James S. Burrell, at the Wanton yard, and under the chapter de-
*William Brooks, the shipbuilder, was probably the son of William and Betty Brooks, of Seituate, as they had a son William, b. March 12, 1771.
342
VESSELS BUILT BY CUMMINGS LITCIIFIELD.
voted to that yard, can be found a sketch of his life, and the vessels he built there. In 1852 he conceived the novel idea of building a vessel in his own door yard. He got his timber and plank ready, laid the keel, and went to work on a schooner of 35 tons, and soon had "as handsome a little vessel ready for launching as was ever built three miles from the water ; " the keel being laid on the land between his residence in 1889, and the house of the late Misses Sally and Rachel Lapham. It was named the " ONLY SON," and great preparations were made to get it into the river. The roads in that vicinity arc hard to travel, and most people thought the first rising ground would be the last resting-place of the "Only Son." Not so Mr. Litchfield. He procured four sets of the heaviest axles and wheels, got his vessel well in position, hitched on eighteen pairs of large oxen, and, accompanied by nearly all the inhabitants of Scituate and neighboring towns, slowly moved his cumbersome load to Union bridge, where it was launched without accident. The "Only Son" was named after Wil- liam, the only son of Cummings Litchfield. She is registered as 23 tons, built at Scituate in 1860, and she was owned by Mr. Litchfield. Her first voyage was from Charlestown to Grand Manan freighting. Later, she went to Bay of Fundy cod- fishing, under Capt. Trim. Afterward she was run as a packet from Scituate to Boston, and back to Grand Manan, where she saved forty tierces of wine from a vessel, and got quite a salvage. She was finally sold to Grand Manan to go cod- fishing.
Cummings Litchfield had a ship-yard next to Union bridge, just below on the Scituate side, and here he built one schooner and several " gundalows." He built in 1868 the sch. " PER- FECT," 26 tons, at Union bridge. She was used fishing two or three years under Capt. Israel Merritt; then lumbering. Later, Capt. Litchfield, her builder, took command of her and went to Gloucester and other voyages. She was very fast, and cut a shine in the different ports. His last trip in her was to Bucksport, Me., where he sold her in the spring of the year. Among other gondolas or "gundalows" which he built at Union bridge were the following: "SEA BOY," "EUREKA," and "RED ROVER."
We now come to the vessels whose builders have not been ascertained, neither do we know at what yards they were built ; but it is certain they were all built in Scituate, Mass. There
343
VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE.
was built here in 1786 the sch. " DIANA," 30 tons, of Cohasset ; owners, Joseph Phillips and William Macomber, of Marshfield ; also in 1786, the sch. " CENTURION," 47 tons, Samuel Clapp, owner, of Scituate. In 1787, the sch. "BETSEY," 51 tons, of Boston. In 1787, the sch. "DOLPHIN," 44 tons, " deep waist and a long quarter deck," of Boston, captured and condemned by the British in 1812. In 1787, the slp. "HANNAH," 40 tons, of Boston. In 1787, the sch. " FISH HAWK," 41} tons, of Scituate ; owned by Rowland Thomas, Calvin Litchfield and Calvin Jenkins, of Scituate. In 1787, the sch. " HOPE," 54 tons, owned by Anthony Waterman, Sr. and Jr., of Scituate ; and also in 1787, the sch. "LUCY," 60 tons, of Duxbury; in 1811 foundered at sea. In 1788, the sch. "FRIENDSHIP," 49 tons ; owned by George Morton, Joshua Otis, Jr., Samuel Simmons and Nathaniel Turner, Jr., of Scituate ; afterward sold to Boston ; also in 1788, the sch. " FAVORITE," 64 tons ; owned by Consider and George Merritt, and Bryant Steven- son of Scituate : afterward sold to Sylvanus and David Snow, Jr., of Truro, David Snow, master. In 1789, the sch. "SEA FLOWER," 46 tons, of Boston. In 1789, the sch. " POLLY," 40 tons, owned by Samuel Arnold, Weymouth, innholder. In 1789 the Brig't'n "SWALLOW," 75 tons, of Boston ; and also in 1789 the sch. "LUCY," 50 tons, of Duxbury. In 1790, the sch. "REVIVAL," 44 tons, owned by Caleb Prouty, Jr., Jesse Dunbar and Thomas Prouty, of Scituate; also in 1790 the sch. " BETSEY," 51 tons, owned by Matthew Pierce, James Merritt, and Luther Holbrook, of Scituate. In 1791, the sch. "REVIVAL," 44 tons ; owned by Jesse Dunbar and Eli Curtis, of Scituate. There was also built on North River the whaling ship " WASHINGTON," of Nantucket, and under the command of Capt. George Bunker, was the first to show an American Flag in a Spanish Pacific port. The " Washing- ton " went to Callao on the coast of Peru, and on the 4th of July, 1792, two months after the discovery of the Columbia River, by Gray, displayed the stars and stripes in that port .* Lying there was an English whaling vessel and a French brig, both manned by Nantucket men, who assisted Capt. Bunker in his commemoration of the day. The following vessels were built at Scituate and registered at New Bedford : sch. "BET- SEY," built at Scituate in 1803; bark "RUSSELL," in 1804; ship " HELENA," 1806 ; ship " MODOC," 1810; ship " WIL-
* See accounts of the " Columbia " and " Washington," in chapter on Briggs yard.
344
VESSELS BUILT IN SCITUATE.
LIAM PENN," 1810; sch. "FOUR BROTHERS, 1818. The sch. "MOUNT HOPE," 65 tons, oak, copper and iron- fastened, was built in Scituate in 1827, rebuilt in 1850. Owned in 1865 by B. Clark, Rockland, Me. ; Capt. J. Spauld- ing. The sch. "ANGEL," 71 tons, fisherman, was built in Scituate in 1830 ; owned in 1865 by Stephen Luce, Scituate : Capt. J. Luce. The sch. "JOS. ATKINS," 131 tons, of Prov- incetown, was built in Scituate in 1838. The brig "JOHN B. DODS," 160 tons, of Provincetown, was built in Scituate in 1840. The brig, formerly bark, "SAMUEL & THOMAS," 190 tons, was built in Scituate in 1841, of oak, iron, and copper fastened ; whaler ; owned in New Bedford in 1872 by D. B. Kempton. The brig " Samuel & Thomas" in 1841 was owned by Samuel Soper, of Provincetown, and was named after his sons. She was whaling in the Atlantic Ocean, where she continued until 1850, when she was sold to Mattapoisett to R. L. Barstow and went whaling to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, until 1863, when she was sold to David R. Kempton, New Bedford. In September, 1866, Thomas Parker, the third mate, was killed by falling from aloft. In 1867, Capt. Cromwell had the command of her, and in 1869 she was sold to Talcahuano, Chili, and continued whaling from that port. The sch. "PRESIDENT HARRISON,"65 tons, of Orleans, was built in Scituate in 1841. The sch. "AGNES," of 53 tons, was built in 1842, in Scituate. She drew nine feet, was of oak, iron, and copper fastened. In 1874 she belonged to Francis Culpepper, of the Barbadoes, and was sailing under the Brit- ish flag, Capt. Peter Spencer. She was probably the old Talisman." The sch. "CHATHAM," was built in Scituate in 1844, 65 tons, fisherman, owned in 1865 by J. G. Bowley, Provincetown, Capt. Latham. The sch. "ALEXANDER," 74 tons, oak, iron fastened, was built in Scituate in 1848 ; 60 feet long, flush deck ; owned in 1863 by a Mr. Johnson, Province- town, Capt. Snow. The bark "MARNIX," 225 tons, oak and pine, was built in Scituate in 1849, and was owned in 1861 by G. C. Crommelin, at Deventer, Capt. Wassenaar. The sch. "EMMA V.," 149 tons, was built in Scituate in 1852 ; owned in 1859 by B. P. Burk, and others, of Provincetown. Built of oak and locust, copper and iron fastened ; trunk cabin ; Capt. Cook. The bark "SALEM," 260 tons, was built in Scituate in 1854; owned in 1861 by Goodhue & Co., N. Y .; Capt. Conilard. We will close this chapter with some verses written probably fifty years ago by an old shipbuilder, descrip-
345
A STORY-TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS.
tive of two of Scituate's maidens who died many years ago, and whose relatives have long since followed them.
On Nichols place of ancient date Two maiden sisters live, Enjoying all the happiness, That hogs and cows can give.
- Their father was a plain old man Who lived to need a staff, And lost his eye while toiling hard To help his better half.
But he is numbered with the dead, His wife has followed him, And all that he was worth he left In neat and wholesome trim.
These two young maids came in as heirs And settled on the farm, Well stocked with brutes of every kind And wood to keep them warm.
Now you must know some skill 'twould need To manage every part, And Nabby was the sine qua non To give it her whole heart.
But now methinks some one inquires How may this lady look ;
What is her size and what her form, And is she a good cook ?
Well then to gratify their whims I'll tell her looks and life, In hopes that some will be inspired To choose her for a wife !
Her form is squabbish like the swine, She waddles like a duck, And when the mud is very deep She'll easily get stuck.
Her head a masterpiece in size, A good machine to bunt. Her hair she dresses gracefully, With cowlick right in front.
Her eyes like Cupid's glow with love And glisten like a cat,
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TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS.
And when she laughs, the little balls Seem nearly lost in fat.
Her flabby cheeks like jewels hang An inch below her chin, Her mouth most delicately looks When she attempts to grin.
But O ! ye wise ones who have toiled' With care and anxious doubt Perpetual motion to invent, Lo! we have found it out.
'Tis Nabby's tongue that never tires But clatters all the day, And gabbles worse than cackling hens- Impatient at delay.
Her mode of life comports full well With one whose fate has been, To live in " single blessedness " Amidst so many men.
With taste refined she milks the cow With care she feeds her sheep, And stuff's her pig with sour milk Till it can scarcely creep.
For instance, when she milks her cow She sometimes ties her tail, The cow as often lifts her foot And sets it in the pail.
Now neatness says, turn out the milk, But Nabby says not so ; " The more good things the richer cream, And I will let it go."
But still she does all she can do, Of course she's not to blame For heavy snows sometimes block up This ever active dame.
When summer comes 'tis worth one's while Her dairy to behold, Weil lined with cheese of goodly size, And butter fine as gold.
347
TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS.
But if her head should yield a hair Of most prodigious length, Nobly she toils to work it in, Employing all her strength.
That she excels in making cheese I believe no one denies,
Though all who eat them will confess
They once were friends to flies.
How she can cook, is still unknown Where judgment is required, But for old Indian Johnny Cake She truly is admired.
Her hand has eagerly been sought By many lovesick swains, But like a heroine she has Dismissed them for their pains.
But all coquets soon run their race And often get repaid, So Nabby will give up the ghost A poor forlorn old maid.
Sometimes she muses on her state And envies married dames, Then ! then ! O, Cupid how she sighs ! To marry old John
Now let me for a moment leave This interesting one, And take a view of Cynthia's life To see what she has done.
For scenes of humor, mirth and glee She never was renowned, But in the sentimental parts No doubt she does abound.
Of labor she but little does, But lives in ease and peace ; While Nabby sweats and scrubs and works, Their income to increase.
*
Some years ago a new complaint Deprived her of her wits,
348
TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS.
Made all her friends with horror stare, While she went into fits.
The cause of this affliction sore With truth she could not tell,
But thought that in her stomach lay This new-invented hell.
Instanter she goes right to work To find if aught can cure, And finally alights on what She feels convinced is sure.
And what my friend do you suppose This panacea like?
Why nothing more than drawing smoke Through a tobacco pipe.
*
She fills the bowl up to the brim With Cavendish's best, At every meal she takes a whiff With most delicious zest
But it performed a glorious cure, Her fits entirely ceased, And from that time it must be told Her laziness increased.
Religion now is all the go, Religion is her cry, Religion while she lives, and for Religion she will die.
Many creeds of different kinds In turn she has embraced,
But none save one could bind her fast, On this her hopes are placed.
This is the creed which Calvin taught This is the faith he hailed, It is the genuine Orthodox Which she so lately railed.
*
With philanthropic zeal she tries To warm her sister's heart ;
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TWO SCITUATE MAIDENS.
To make her seek Religion now, And choose that better part.
Sometimes indeed poor Nabby weeps At what she does not know, Though she'll confess that something makes Her feel all over so.
Here then behold these matchless maids Of forty years and more ; Of lovely form and noble size, Whom all that see adore.
A single life they've always led Against their hearts desire : And now with panting bosoms wait For all who may aspire.
Why stand ye back ye single men When such bright hopes arise ? Come choose a partner now for life, The idol of all eyes.
CHAPTER XIX. WHITE'S FERRY YARDS. - 1705-1840.
SIMEON KEENE, SIMEON KEENE, JR., BENJAMIN KEENE, ISAAC KEENE, LUKE HALL, WILLIAM HALL, SAMUEL HALL.
TI `HE Keenes and the Halls built at these yards for many years, but they were probably occupied nearly a hundred years prior to their time. As early as 1705 we find there was built in Marshfield the sloop " MARY & ABIGAIL," 40 tons; owners, Bethia Little, widow, of Boston, Isaac Little, of Marsh- field, and John Henshaw, of Boston. In 1711, the ship " TAUNTON MERCHANT," 70 tons, was built at Marshfield ; owners, James Cooks, of Cullumstock, James Norman, John Blake, Samuel Lucas, and John Southerton, of Taunton, Rich- ard Southerton of Wallington, and Joshua Norman, of Tops- ham ; and in 1713 the sloop "BLOSSOM," 30 tons, was built at Marshfield, Joseph Flood, of Boston, owner. The above vessels were undoubtedly built on these yards, as the next oldest yard in Marshfield was at Gravelly Beach .. The next vessels built here of which any account has been found were those built by Simeon Keene, and later by his sons Simeon and Ben- jamin. Isaac Keene was also interested in a few. Benjamin was captain of a North River packet boat about 1820. The following is the genealogy of the ship-building branch of the Keene family :
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