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 6
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The moss covered bucket which hangs in the well.
Samuel Woodworth, the author, was a descendant of Walter Woodworth. The female branch of the Woodworth family is still represented in Scituate in the families of Merritt and Sylvester.
Between Little's Bridge and the sea there flows into North River from Marshfield, first a brook on which was located WALKER'S NAIL FACTORY and which rises near East Marshfield village. BRANCH CREEK enters the River below TROUANT'S ISLAND. BROAD CREEK enters the River from North River marshes and LITTLE'S CREEK enters the River about 125 rods north of L. ROGERS' WHARF at White's Ferry.
After we leave the First Herring Brook the next point of interest on North River is WHITE'S FERRY at " New Harbor Marsh." This was called White's Ferry as early as 1768 as the following tends to show, taken from The Boston Chronicle 1768, April 4-11.
J. Fildet Fast Post Office.
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MAP SHOWING THE MOUTH OF NORTH AND SOUTH RIVERS.
KEENE'S SHIP-YARD.
-
1. Stevon. .
W. E. Lute
I Taule
ALSO HALL'S, FORMERLY
Loring
Wid. A. Hatch»
A. Sterman
. Clapp
45
WIIITE'S FERRY.
" A few days ago, Jacob Lincoln, a lad about 20 years of age, apprentice to Mr. Thomas Dillingham, blacksmith of Scituate, going in a ferry boat to a whaling vessel lying at White ferry, in North River, in jumping up to send off, unfortunately fell down between the vessel and boat and was immediately carried out by the tide ; his body was found at the Hummocks nine days after."
In 1638 a ferry was established at North River by Jonathan Brewster of Duxbury. This ferry was at a place called " New Harbour Marsh," and it is now called " White's Ferry." Jonathan Brewster of Duxbury was the first ferryman. In 1641 Mr. Brewster sold his ferry privilege to Mess. Barker, Howell and others for £60. In 1645 it was kept by Ralph Chapman, who, in 1656 implored the court to excuse him "as it would bring him to extreme poverty " &c. He was excused "except on special occasions as bringing the magistrates over who dwell there." At "New Harbour Marsh " North River is very wide and contains many islands. Here it approaches the sea as if to burst through the beach, but turns almost at right angles to the east, and flows nearly south, parallel with the seashore for nearly three miles, before it finds its outlet, leaving a beach 20 rods wide and about 20 to 40 feet high, composed of round smooth pebbles. South River, a shorter but more rapid tide stream, flowing from Marshfield and uniting with it near the sea, aids in causing a shifting of these rivers' mouths to which must be added. the mighty effect of the heaving and restless ocean, the conflict of winds, of tides, and contexture of the immediate shores. North River has at its mouth during full tide but nine feet of
water, owing to the bar. Its embouchure shifts, advancing south a half mile, then receding as far, sometimes having one outlet and occasionally two, which was the fact in 1815. Vessels of over 200 tons were lifted up by gondolas lashed to the vessel at low tide or heaved with kedges .* At White's Ferry there was a wharf for many years where vessels built at the yards above would receive their rigging. Ships were built here by the Halls and Keens. Vessels wintered in Fourth Cliff Bay in early times, finding good moorings at " PINCIN'S BANK." John Barker, who purchased the ferry of Jonathan Brewster in 1641, was drowned there in 1652. The colony records gave the verdict of the jury on the death of Isaac Robinson of Scituate, who was drowned in Barnstable as follows. Verdict :
"Drowned in going into a pond to fetch two geese, the pond beinge full of weedy grasse."
* See Chapter on North River Pilots.
46
THIE EARLY FISHERIES.
John Rose of Marshfield died while gunning on the beach in 1676. Verdict :
" Perished by the severity of the weather."
In the Colony Records under date of July 31, 1656, is the fol- lowing verdict :
" Wee finde that this present day John Phillips Jr. came into his dwelling house lately known or called Mr. Buckley's house in good health as good wife Williamson affirmeth and sat upon a stoole by the chimney and by an immediate hand of God manifested in thunder and lightning the said John came by his death."
Deane takes from the Colony Records the following : "Richard Berry, Jedediah Lombard, Benjamin Lombard and James Maker fined for smoking tobacco at the end of Yarmouth Meet- ing House on the Lord's Day," and referring to tradition Deane says, "the early settlers were greatly addicted to smoking and that they would often disturb divine service by the clicking of flints and steels to light pipes and the clouds of smoke in the church." Hence the colony passed a law in 1669, viz : "It is enacted that any person or persons that shall be found smoking of tobacco on the Lord's day going to or coming from the meet- ing within two miles of the Meeting House shall pay 12 pence for every such default," &c.
The will of Capt. Williams gives his brother-in-law his two boys, "George and Thomas whom I obtained with my sword and my bow." These were undoubtedly Indian slaves. Mary White, a resident of Scituate married about 1690 an African slave named James Newell, and from them there descended quite a numerous posterity.
The company that arrived in the ship " William," set up a fish- ing station at Scituate in 1633 and from that time the fisheries of Scituate were very important. North River was also notcd for its fisheries, a principal station for herring fishery being at Gravelly Beach. Most of the vessels used in the fisheries from Scituate were built on North River. For twenty years prior to 1830 an average of twelve or more vessels were built per year of from 40 to 400 tons each, and the average cost of getting them out of the river was $1.00 per ton. Lindsay in his "History of Ancient Commerce" asserts that in 1572 "the largest merchantman that sailed from the Port of London was only 240 tons register."
47
THIE FIRST VESSEL BUILT IN MASSACHUSETTS.
Only one of the vessels that composed the squadron of Columbus in 1492 had a deck, and the "Mayflower" that brought over the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620 was of but 180 tons burthen. The advantages to be derived from the encourage- ment of shipbuilding in New England were early appreciated by the managers of the Massachusetts Bay Company in London. In their first letter dated April 17, 1629, they state that six shipwrights had been sent to New England of whom Robert Moulton was chief. The first vessel built in the Massachusetts Colony was launched July 4, 1631, into the " Mistick " River at Medford. This was the Bark " Blessing of the Bay," 30 tons, owned by Governor Winthrop. In 1636 she was valued at £160. Richard Hollingsworth launched a ship of 300 tons at Salem in June, 1641. At Gloucester a ship was built in 1643 by a Mr. Stevens and others. In 1724 so important had ship- building become in Massachusetts that sixteen Master Builders belonging to the Port of London petitioned the Lords of the Committee of Plantations "not to encourage shipbuilding in New England because workmen were drawn thither." The war of the Revolution brought business to a standstill. Ships could no longer be built on English account and the danger of capture rendered navigation of the sea extremely hazardous. When the independence of the Colonies was fully established shipbuilding again became active. William Vassall in writing to Rev. John Wilson of Boston, June 7, 1643, describing his and Mr. Hatherly's and other farms said :
"Our lands reach ten miles or more to the Southwestward, by which runneth a faire river navigable for boats ten miles and hay grounds on both sides and hath an outlet into the sea about four miles from the meeting house."
The forests of white oak, which the early settlers found here, have long since been converted into ships. The black walnut has entirely disappeared, the spruce nearly so, and but few white oaks of any size are now cut. Pine, ash, becch, maple, birch, sassafras, and walnut are now common in our forests. A number of ship carpenters went from the North River to Beaver Harbor, N. B., to work on a vessel. Where they boarded there was a male cook, who used to take too much liquor. One day, when in this condition, he got offended with " Uncle Sam," whom many will remember, and tried to seald him. "Uncle Sam " gave him a black eye ; and when the cook appeared, the next morning, he was asked how he came to have such a black
48
EARLY SHIPBUILDING ON NORTH RIVER.
eye. "A horse kicked me," he replied, "and a mighty smart beast it was, too."
Constant Oakman built a schooner some time between 1821 and 1826 on North River. Below are given the names and his- tories, so far as can be learned, of some vessels that are regis- tered as having been built on North River ; but it is impossible to ascertain at what yards any of them were built: 1769. Sch. "SALLY," 35 tons, of Boston, George Homer, merchant, owner. This vessel was destroyed in 1803. 1774. "MI- NERVA," which was in China trade, and afterward whaling, and broken up at Nantucket in 1821. 1777. Sch. "BEE," 33 tons, William Boardman, of Boston, owner. 1781. Sch. "IN- DUSTRY," 31 tons, of Wellfleet. 1781. Sch. "SALLY," 25 tons, had a deep waist and a short quarter deck ; of Boston ; owned by Joshua Torrey of Weymouth. 1783. Sch. " SUC- CESS," 30 tons, owned by Eben Parsons, merchant, Boston. 1784. Sch. "JENNY," 63 tons, of Boston. 1784. Slp. "WELLFLEET," 25 tons, of Wellfleet, Thomas Melville, Sur-
vevor. 1784. Sch. "WILLIAM," 56 tons, of North Carolina. 1785. Sch. "MOLLY," 55 tons, of Barnstable. 1785. Sch. "NEPTUNE," 67 tons, of Cohasset. 1785. Sch. "ESTHER." 1785. Brig't'n " HOPE," 134 tons, of Boston. 1786 Sch. " DILIGENT." 81 tons, Robert Gray, owner, of Boston. Probably lost on a voyage to Guadaloupe in 1807. 1786. Sch. " LUCY," 58 tons, James Tisdale, of Boston, owner. 1786. Brig " FRIENDSIIIP," 118 tons, of Boston. 1787. Sch. " FLYING FISH," 32 tons, Eben Parsons, merchant of Bos- ton, owner ; James Taylor, master. 1787. Brig't'n " LADY WASHINGTON." 118 tons, of Boston. 1789. Sch. "RUBY," 85 tons, of Boston. Condemned at Sandwich Islands in 1824. 1789. Sch. "PHOENIX," 68 tons, of Hingham, George R. Cushing, of Hingham, owner. 1790. Brig't'n "HANNAH," 130 tons, of Boston. 1790. Ship "UNION," which was the first ship that ever had whaling agreements for proportions of captured oil, etc. Prior to this time men shipped by contract by word of mouth, - no writing. She made two voyages, and on going out, in 1807, was supposed to have been sunk one night by a whale. The crew took to their boats, and in twenty days reached Fayal. 1791. "WASHINGTON." 1791. " HEC- TOR." 1792. Brig "PEGGY," 134 tons, of Boston. 1793. Slp. "CATHARINE," 85 tons, of Boston. Lost near Mt. Desert in 1816. Ship "COMMERCE," 241 tons (?), Capt.
49
HISTORY OF THE WHALE SHIP " ESSEX."
Hardy, was built on North River in 1795. Probably the same " Commerce" that was condemned at Tonningen in August, 1810. 1796. Sch. "SALLY," 24 tons, of Kingston.
In 1796 there was also built on North River the whaleship " ESSEX." Pollard, who was master of her, was an officer on Fulton's steamer in 1807. The "Essex " was bought from Salem by Nantucket merchants in 1804. She and her crew have quite a history, which is given in a book published by Capt. R. B. Forbes in 1884. The " Essex " sailed from Nan- tucket Aug. 12, 1819, under command of George Pollard, Jr. They had an uneventful passage around Cape Horn into the South Pacific, but Nov. 20, while in Lat. 40° So. Lon. 119° W., they sighted a school of whales, and all the boats were sent in pursuit. Owen Cha-e fastened to a large whale, which smashed his boat, but he stuffed cloths in the hole and reached the ship. A large sperm whale was lying quietly on the ship's weather- bow, which spouted and went down, but came up again and slowly made his way toward the vessel, but increased his speed, and struck with great force with his head just forward the fore chains, throwing those on board off their feet. He disappeared, and was next seen, apparently in convulsions, about a hundred rods to leeward. Finally, after much manœuvreing, he again came at the ship at full speed, and struck her directly under the cathead and completely stove the bow. The ship was now fill- ing rapidly, and there was only time to snatch two compasses, two quadrants, two Bowditch navigators, muskets, powder, files, rasps, nails, turtles gotten at Galapagos Islands, and about six hundred pounds of dry bread, and each boat had sixty-five gallons of water. The ship soon fell over on her beam ends, full of water. The allowance of food was one bis- cuit and a half pint of water a day for each man. Washboards were fitted to the sides of the deeply laden boats. On Dec. 9th, some flying fish struck against the sails, dropped into the boat, and were devoured, bones, scales, and all. On Dec. 16th, the allowance of bread and water was reduced one half. Some relief was found by bathing in the sea. This led to the dis- covery of barnacles on the boat's bottom, which were eaten with a relish. On Dec. 20th, land was seen, and upon examina- tion of their "Bowditch," it was found to be Ducies Land. Lat. 24° 40' S., Lon. 124° 40' W. Eggs, birds and shell-fish were found and devoured raw. Two days afterward they found a spring, and nearly died from drinking the water in excess.
50
HISTORY OF THE WHALE SHIP "ESSEX."
The only vegetable was pepper-grass. By Dec. 27th, they had exhausted everything on the island, excepting the water, and departed, leaving behind them William Wright and Seth Weeks of Barnstable, and Thomas Copper of Plymouth, England. They now headed for Juan Fernandez. Jan. 10th, M. P. Joy, the second mate, died. This was the first death. Jan. 12th, the three boats were separated in Lat. 36º 16' S., Lon. 112º 20' W. The allowance of bread was now an ounce and a half per day in Chase's boat. Jan. 20th, Richard Peterson died, and was committed next day to the sea. Feb. 8th, Chase says, " Our speech and reason seemed impaired." Isaac Cole became mad and soon died. Consultation was held, and the terrible verdict rendered that he must serve for food. Chase's journal says : " We separated his limbs from his body, cut off all the flesh, took out the heart, sewed up the remains in canvas, and committed it to the deep, and, making a fire, partook of it and preserved the remainder for future use. The next morning, 10th of February, we found the flesh spoiling, and made a fire to cook it to prevent its being wholly lost. For six or seven days we lived on it. On Feb. 15th, our stock of flesh was exhausted, and we were down to the last two cakes. Our limbs had become swelled, and pained us exceedingly." On Feb. 18th, Chase's boat was rescued by the brig " Indian," Capt. William Crozier, of London, in Lat. 33º 45' S., Lon. 81º03' W. In Capt. Pollard's boat a like necessity obliged them to sustain life by eating the body of a colored man, Charles Shorter. Stephen Shepherd, colored, died in the second mate's boat, and Samuel Reed, colored, in the captain's boat, and were used as food. The second mate's boat became separated from the cap- tain's Jan. 28th, in Lat. 35º S., Lon. 100° W., and was never heard from. In Capt. Pollard's boat, he and the three remain- ing men cast lots to see who should be sacrificed, and the lot fell to Owen Coffin, cousin to Capt. Pollard, who wished to take his place ; but Coffin claimed the right to be sacrificed to save his comrades, and submitted to his fate with great fortitude. Lots were drawn to see who would be his executioner, and it fell to Charles Ramsdale. On Feb. 11th, Brazilla Ray died, and on these two bodies the captain and Ramsdale subsisted until the morning of the 23d, when they were rescued in Lat. 37° S. by the whaleship " Dauphin," Capt. Zimri Coffin, of Nan- tucket, and arrived at Valparaiso on March 17th. At Val- paraiso, Capt. Downs, of the U. S. frigate " Macedonian," bargained, for one thousand dollars, with an English ship bound
51
HISTORY OF SHIPS BUILT ON NORTH RIVER.
to Australia, to stop at Ducies Island, which she did, and res- cued the three men left there. Such were the sufferings of the crew of one of the North River built vessels. There are no survivors of the ill-fated "Essex " now living. Capt. Robt. B. Forbes gives a most elaborate account of this vessel, the sub- stance of which the author has endeavored to state in the fore- going sketch.
There was built on North River, in 1804, the "SAMUEL," a whaler. Robert Jnott, who commanded Fulton's steamer in 1807, was master of the "Samuel." She was condemned, full of oil, at Rio Janeiro, 1822. 1805. "BROTHERS," which was lost on the coast of Brazil in 1824. Also in 1805, ship "CHARLES," which was lost in a " Norther" in 1823, at Val- paraiso. In 1809, the " THOMAS," condemned at Woahoa, Sandwich Islands, 1825. In 1816, "GEORGE." She was condemned in 1857, at Woahoa, Sandwich Islands. In 1817, "GOVERNOR STRONG ;" in 1823 sold to Uruguay. Also in 1817, the "VULTURE; " sold to New York, and in 1826 con-
demned at Gibraltar. In 1818, "EQUATOR; " about 1851 broken up at San Francisco. Also in 1818, "EAGLE;" in 1837 she was broken up at Nantucket. Also in 1818, "RAM- BLER ;" condemned at Apia, Navigator Islands, one of the Hervey Group, in 1852. F. C. Sandford owned, and in 1838 went around the world in her. In 1818, the " HERO ; " she made many good voyages, and in 1856 was condemned at the Cape of Good Hope. 1819, "COLUMBUS; " broken up in California in 1851. F. C. Sanford saw this ship broken up by Chinamen alongside the ship "Cadmus," that in 1824 brought Lafayette to America. 1821. "LOPER ; " made a sperm whale voyage in the Pacific Ocean in 1830, bringing 2270 barrels of sperm oil in fourteen months, twenty days. Most oil in given time. In 1835 she was lost off Marinam, W. I. 1822. "KING- STON;" in 1850 sold to Sydney, N. S. W. Also in 1822, "FALCON;" on her second voyage she went ashore at Society Islands, and was a total loss in 1826. Coffin Chase, now living at Philadelphia, aged ninety-two, was on her when she was lost. Sch. "SPECIE," 72 tons, was built in 1827 on North River ; commanded by Capt. Smith ; owned in 1865 by Smith & O., Philadelphia.
CHAPTER III. NORTH RIVER PILOTS.
CAPT. ANTHONY COLLAMORE, WANTONS, SAMUEL DOGGETT, JOHN DOGGETT, MARK HATCH, CAPT. BARDIN SYLVESTER, BENJA- MIN HATCH, BENJAMIN DAMON, JAMES ELDREDGE, FREDERICK HANDERSON, JOB YOUNG, BENJAMIN HOUSE, JR., JACOB AMES, JAMES AMES, ALVIN HALL, SAMUEL HALL, BENJAMIN KEENE, ASA SHERMAN, ASA SHERMAN, JR., TOBIAS OAKMAN, CAPT. DAVID CHURCH, TIMOTHY WILLIAMSON, UNCLE TOM TRIPP, CAPT. LUTHER ROGERS, CALVIN LEWIS, JERRY GUNDERWAY, CAPT. CHARLES L. TILDEN.
IN the earliest records North River was recognized as being the most important stream in the Colony, not only for its fisheries and the shipbuilding on its banks, but as an outlet to a large inland country. Packet lines were established prior to 1700, and trade carried on with coasting vessels which found their way up this branch of the sea. The population of Scituate at various periods was as follows: In 1638, freemen 22, townsmen 19, total male population 41; in 1643 males from 16 to 60 years, 100. By the United States census of souls in 1800 there were in Scituate, 2728, number of houses 421.
In 1681 the bark " ADVENTURE," 40 tons, sailed from North River for the West Indies. She was owned by Scituate and Marshfield parties. Capt. Collamore and the Wantons carried on a considerable trade on the North River previous to 1670. Capt. Anthony Collamore was wrecked while on a coasting voyage from North River to Boston, and lost on Scituate Beach December 16, 1693, at a place now called Collamore's Ledge.
Samuel Dogget sailed from North River about 1700 .* He
* See Chapter on North River continued.
53
EARLY NAVIGATION.
owned the sloops " DOLPHIN " and " SWAN." John Doggett, the son of the first Thomas, had a grandson John, the son of his son Thomas, who kept Doggett's Ferry, now Little's Bridge, in 1730. He was also a mariner and sailed at one time as captain of the sloop " Patience," as appears in the following :
" March 19, 1728-9 John Holbrook Jr., of Scituate secures Thomas Doggett of Marshfield on a bond by a Bill of Sale of § of the decked sloop " Patience," Capt. John Doggett, about 60 tons now filled for sea and at anchor in North River."
There entered at the port of Plymouth, Mass., from North River during the year 1773 the following vessels .
March 19, 1773. Mark Hatch enters Slp. "RANGER," 65 tons, from North River, with 3 bbls. cider.
This is probably the same sloop referred to in the following receipt.
"Hanover, July 12, 1777. Rec'd of Samuel House and Atherton Wales £133 six shillings eight pence in full for one quarter part of ye sloop cal'd ye " Ranger " and one quarter of her cargo consisting of lumber now on a voyge to ye West Indies Together with one quarter part of ye net proceeds of sd. voige. We paying one quarter part of ye men's wages & victuling ye sd. vessel commanded by Capt. Barden Sylvester. Caleb Turner."
March 19, 1773. Benj. Haten enters Slp. "PATTY," 20 tons from N. River, with 12 cords of wood.
April 6, 1773. Benj. Daman enters Slp. "HANNAH," 25 tons, from Marshfield, with 12} cords of wood.
May 14, 1773. Jas. Eldredge, enters Sch. "DOLPHIN," 24 tons, from North River, with Ballast. Fred'k Handerson, enters Sch. "SPEEDWELL," 15 tons, from No. River, with Ballast. Benj. Hatch, enters Slp. "POLLY," 18 tons, from No. River, with 12 cords of wood.
May 15, 1773. Benj. Daman, enters Slp. "POLLY," 18 tons, from No. River, with 11 cords of wood.
May 28, 1773. Benj. Daman, enters Slp. "HANNAH," 25 tons, from No. River, with 11 cords of wood.
May 28, 1773. Benj. Hatch, enters Slp. "POLLY," 18 tons, from No. River, with 9 cords of wood.
54
PILOTING VESSELS OUT OF THE RIVER.
June 3, 1773. Job Young, enters Slp. "UNION," 15 tons, from No. River, with 2 tons Pott Iron.
July 28, 1773. Benj. Daman, enters Slp. "HANNAH," 35 tons, from No. River, 20 cords of wood.
Jan. 5, 1774. Benj. House, Jr., enters Sch. "DEFIANCE," 25 tons, from Scituate, with 150 bbls. mackerel and 3 cords of wood. These packets are all said to have been built on North River.
The captains of these vessels were of necessity skilful pilots, as only those who were thoroughly acquainted with the shoals, rocks and bars could navigate North River with safety. Vessels coming into the river from other ports and those built on the river were piloted by North River Pilots, few of whom are now living. In getting large vessels down and out of the river the pilots had to work very quickly and bury an extra "kedge " ahead before they had " heaved up to" the previous one, or the vessel would lose steerage way and drift to the shoals on either bank. Below Little's Bridge the channel is very crooked, and near the mouth of the river is a bar, through which at times it was necessary to cut the vessel's keel. On the way down river the vessels were kept in the channel by four guys, two from the bows to each bank, which were called breast lines, and two from the quarter decks, called quarter lines.
When a vessel drew so much water that it was necessary to cut her keel through the bar, they would go to the beach beyond and bury heavy planks in the sand five or six feet deep, laying them at right angles with the position of the vessel, and from their centre attached chains, which they carried along in covered trenches until some distance from the planks, where they would lay them on the surface. The process of burying these planks was called "burying niggers." A tackle would be attached to the end of the chain and carried up the river to the windlass on the bow of the vessel. Seows also were invariably lashed, just below the bow and stern at low tide to help raise the vessel. With much tackle and large blocks, and often with fifteen men heaving at the windlass, they would get the vessel inch by inch through the bar, or shoals. Sometimes vessels could not be gotten out during one course of tides and would have to lay until the next course of high tides. A very singular feature of North River is the shifting of its mouth from Beetle's Rocks, which are located about a quarter of a mile south of the present
55
PILOTING VESSELS OUT OF THE RIVER.
mouth of the river, to the shoals, a shallow place, where the tide is strongest, and which was the cause of great annoyance in navigation. Vessels grounded about half a mile from Beetle's Rocks, it requiring sometimes several days to get them off. Within Capt. Asa Sherman's remembrance, the mouth of the river has worked its way nearly to the shoals and back agam, and is now coming north.
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