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 7
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An old sea captain, who lived near North River and used to pilot vessels, was going down one day on a new ship after launching. He was very anxious about a rock in the river, and being afraid the vessel would strike, sat out on the bowsprit, and kept singing out, "Haul her over to Scit-i-ate ; " by and by he took out his snuff box, and while taking a pinch managed to fall into the water. He arose to the surface shouting and calling out "at the top of his lungs," " Haul her over to Scit-i-ate." He evidently thought she had struck.
Jacob Ames, James Ames, and Altin Porter used to pilot vessels down the river. There was one old pilot, a retired sea- captain, who (like many others, undoubtedly ) used to give his orders in the imperative mood. On the meadow banks on both sides of the river were many men with long ropes from each bow and each quarter to pull or to check, according to the command received from between the "knight heads." "Old Neptune " magnified his office and roared out his orders like the voice of many waters. He was not at all fastidious about his language, and his epithets were not suited to ears polite, but to "Jack Tars" with whom he had had to do. His "Pull away there on starboard how," or, "Hold on port quarter," would have had no moving force without the torpedo snap that made the command tingle with authority. He was a character in his day and has sworn many a good ship from Barstow's Yard down to the mouth of the river. Samuel Hall, who was born 1770, and died 1806, was captain of the packet ship " Dolphin," which plied on North River. Benjamin Keen ran a North River packet ship in 1820.
Asa Sherman of White's Ferry is the oldest North River pilot and packet captain now living. . For 37 years he was in command of Packets running between North River and coast- wise ports. He was son of Asa Sherman of Centre Marshfield Ana Sherman SR. and was born February 28, 1801. Asa, senior, was captain of packets
.
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NORTHI RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS.
running between North River and Boston for about ten years. The first sloop that Asa, Jr., commanded was the " Albion," which was running on the river line when he took her in the year 1827. His next vessel was the " Hanson," built in Pembroke in 1833 by Briggs & Turner. His third vessel was the SIp. "Susan," built in 1834 by the Halls at White's Ferry, which he took in 1837. His fourth was the " Betsey Ransom," which he took in 1844. This vessel was bought from Scituate. His fifth packet was the " Herschel," 1851, bought from Sandwich. His sixth was the " Prompter," bought at Portland, and his last packet was the " Ellen Elizabeth," which was bought in Boston, and which he sailed from 1856 to 1864. The location of the landings he made were as follows : beginning at the mouth of the river, Ist., White's Ferry, 2nd, Little's Bridge, 3rd, Union Bridge, 4th, Hobart's or Briggs' Landing, 5th, Foster's Landing, 6th, Job's Landing, 7th, Alden Briggs' wharf, or the Brick-kiln, 8th Town Landing at No. River Bridge, Hanover. The vessels were owned by the principal business men of the towns border- ing on the river.
Capt. Sherman's regular trips were for carrying freight to and from Boston and occasionally to other places, as Scituate Harbor, Duxbury, Plymouth and any of the towns on the coast from Cape Ann to Cape Cod. Freights to Boston were usually wood, charcoal and farmers' produce ; returning with lumber, ship-supplies, goods for the stores, &c. He made yearly trips to the camp meetings held at Provincetown, where he carried a great number of passengers. He brought the lumber and materials for erecting the original Daniel Webster house and farm buildings. He was an eye-witness of the engagement between the men-of-war " Chesapeake " and " Shannon." Before the battle the British came into North River for provisions ; they took three calves from the farm of Waterman Thomas, on Marshfield Neck, and caused some disturbance among the people in the vicinity. The father of Asa Sherman, Jr., Capt. Sher- man, mustered his company of militia, and went to meet them, but they quickly took their booty and left for their vessel. Capt. Asa Sherman, Sr., was in command of the Slp. " May- flower" from 1824 to 1828, and of the Sip. " Magnolia " from 1828 to 1833. The "Mayflower" was built in Pembroke in 1823, and the "Magnolia" in 1828, at Hanover, by Barker Turner. The Sch. "Nancy," built by Samuel Kent at the Harbor in 1803, was used as a packet on North River, and commanded by Capt. Sherman, Sr.
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NORTH RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS.
Tobias Oakman, of Oakman's Ferry, was master of a packet sloop sailing from North River Bridge, Hanover, to Boston, for over forty years. Capt. David Church was his successor. Capt. Church was well known in his day, and was called by the old settlers " a substantial man." He had many peculiarities, one of which was his manner of dress. With the exception of his boots and shoes, every garment he wore was made in his own house, of wool from his flock of sheep or flax from his field. He wore everything its natural color, and his trousers were always tucked into his stockings. It is said he was never known to wear a dyed garment. The shipbuilders had so much confidence in him that he made nearly all of their purchases. At one time he went into a Boston store where he had not be- fore traded, to purchase five tons of iron, and, while making his inquiries, he noticed that they regarded him with some sus- picion. "Fogs," said Capt. Church, "you look at me as if you had some doubts about me. I want you to understand that I do not come out of North River without five or six thousand dollars about me." He then took a package of several thousand dollars from his pocket. The firm replied, " We are pleased to make your acquaintance, and shall be happy to attend to all your requests.'
Timothy Williamson used to run a packet sloop between Boston and North River. He was a great gunner, and, being usually the only man on board his small craft, he would begin firing his "flint-lock " some time before reaching the draw- bridge, in order to have it opened for him. Those living in the region of Little's Bridge remember hearing the "bang," " bang," " bang," and they always knew it was Tim Williamson coming up the river. He was a high-tempered fellow and a smart workman, and used to pilot vessels out of the river from the yards above. About 1819 he was paid $11.66 for fourteen tides on the ships " Foster " and " Peruvian," built at the Wan- ton Yard. He once had a terrible fight with a shark, near Lit- tle's Bridge, which he finally killed. He ran his sloop from about 1840 to 1846, and finally accidentally shot himself, which injured him for life. Until 1820 or later, every male citizen was obliged to keep a gun and twenty-four rounds of ammunition. Inspection was the first Tuesday in May, and if the gun lacked good order, was not properly oiled, or the flint was not right. a fine was imposed.
There was another queer character, which any sketch of the
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NORTH RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS.
North River pilots should include. This was Uncle Tom Tripp. Of his origin or nationality there is little or nothing known. He was uncle to everybody living on either bank of North River. Rev. William P. Tilden says, " Uncle Tom Tripp seemed an old man when I was a small boy." He was evidently so queer looking that he might have been taken for almost any age. Ile was very short, almost- a dwarf, and wore a slouch hat, long coat, and boots coming up to his middle, which, together with his weather-beaten face, made him a curiosity to look at. He lived on the river, a sort of human muskrat. If a pair of bilge- ways were to be floated from one yard to another, or spars or logs transported from one landing to another, " Uncle Tommy" was the man to do it. Ile would lash the long timbers or spars together, wait for the tide to float them, and then jump on with his water-proof boots, and, with a long setting-pole, keep the " water-logged" craft in the channel, and coax it leisurely down or up with the tide, as the case might be. When the tide turned he would tie his charge to a stake, and cut across the fields to the nearest house for refreshments and lodging. He was a great "story teller," and a very harmless one. There was one place especially where he always found a cordial wel- come. This was the hospitable home of Mr. Sam. Hatch, who lived on the banks of the First Herring Brook. " Uncle
Tommy " could get here by water. Mr. Hatch had a large farm and a yet larger heart. He was a " good liver," as they used to say, and there was always something in his well-filled pantry for any poor waif who might happen along. It was in his spa- cious kitchen, in front of his open hard-wood fire, that " Uncle Tommy" found an earthly paradise. Here he could eat, drink, smoke, and tell stories to his "heart's content." How or when he finally " shuffled off this mortal coil " (a most fitting phrase, by the way, for one so often coiled up in his wet ropes during life), no one appears to know. Perhaps, like his prototype, he went into a hole in the river's bank, and there sleeps sweetly. Let the river, every reach of which he knew by heart, be his monument.
Many will remember the North River packet " PICO." The " Pico " was originally an old North River " gundalow." Capt. Luther Rogers* built on a bow and stern, after which he used to " take his umbrella and go to Boston in her." Calvin Lewis ran a packet between Marshfield and Boston about 1850.
* See Rogers's Yards.
JERRY GUNDERWAY.
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NORTHI RIVER PILOTS AND CAPTAINS.
Jerry Gunderway was a negro, "black as the ace of spades," and a North River pilot, who would pilot anything from a small fishing smack to a " gundalow " of salt hay, or a full-rigged ship. At one time he was quite intemperate, and a great smoker, but during the last forty years of his life he was a slave to neither habit. One day he went to old Mr. Torrey, and asked him if he would come to his house and chain him, as he often did when he felt he was going to have an attack of the delirium tremens. Jerry always knew when he was going to have an attack. Mr. Torrey drove staples in the floor, and locked the chains which bound Jerry to them. Jerry then requested that his wife Cecilia should have the keys, telling her that she must not give them to him, no matter how loud he called for them.
At one time he was confined in the cell of the almshouse. One of the old "rum-sellers" of those days happening along, asked Jerry what brought him there. "Your rum," said Jerry. He used to eat a half a pound or more of raisins a day after he stopped drinking. The habits were broken for the following reasons : He was piloting a " gundalow " of green hay, which caught fire from his pipe, and he came to the conclusion that, if he was such a smoker that he set green hay on fire, and burned it up, he would stop ; and he never smoked again. He never drank after being confined in the almshouse with delirium tremens. He was a sensible fellow, and knew, he said, that then it was time to stop drinking. He was a great dancer. He had many peculiarities, especially in his manner of living. He lived at one time in a little old house in Scrabble Lane, and slept on the hearth with his head on a block of wood ten inches high. The block is now in existence. One of his favorite amusements was getting a party of men and boys, and an ox sled, and going to Coleman Heights or Hills to slide down in the winter time. Once the boys invited Jerry to ride on the tongue, which was turned back over the sled, and they so guided the sled that it should strike a fence ; consequently, the tongue, acting as a lever by the sudden stop of the sled, threw Jerry far over into a snow-bank in the field beyond. Jerry took it in good part, and undoubtedly got square with them later. He once chased a fox off the Fourth Cliff, and, not being able to stop, fell some twenty or more feet. Jerry died many years ago in the So. Scituate Almshouse, where he desired to be when sick, for he was sure of good care. At other times he lived alone, and there was therefore no one to care for him during the latter part of his life.
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CAPT. CHAS. L. TILDEN.
Capt. Charles L. Tilden was the last North River pilot run- ning in the packet line between North River and Boston. He was born May 9, 1819, in East Marshfield, where he now resides, and is still a " live man," though now past his seventh decade. He has a fine home in the village, made more pleasant by a family, who look after his interests and make him forget that he is now on the down grade in years. In seeking an interview with Capt. Tilden, a short time since, we found him busily engaged in a grave-yard, evidently not on his own account, as he shows no signs of needing a resting place there for many years to come. Like most boys that are born within the sight of water, a boat was his first thought, and at a very early age he made daily trips in quest of cod and haddock, which were then so plentiful on our coast. He had learned the trade of a shoemaker, at which he worked during the winters, but with the pleasant days of spring he launched his little schooner " George Washington," and betook himself to his favorite calling. As he grew older, his skill in handling craft gave him command of one of the packets. It required a daring man to run a vessel over the quicksands and shoals, at the mouth of the river, that were con- tinually shifting in storms and tides ; but Capt. Tilden made his trips with great regularity, and his vessel could always be depended upon to arrive at her eight landing-places on the river at nearly her stated hours, under any conditions of weather. He ran the sloop "J. Franklin," (built at East Greenwich), thirteen years, when she was sold. His next packet was the Sch. "Daniel Webster," 43 tons, built for Samuel Hall and Capt. Tilden, at Bath, Me., and his last was the sloop "Trader,"* which was the last packet run on the river. The heavy baggage wagons run between Marshfield, Pembroke, Hanover, and Bos- ton, succeeded in turn by the railroads, caused a decline in the packet business, which eventually had to be discontinued. Capt. Tilden's knowledge as a pilot now came into play, and for a dozen years he piloted the ships built on the upper yards to Boston, and other places, under jury masts, to be rigged and receive their cargoes. His last ship he took from Union Bridge to Provincetown in a fog so thick that eyesight was of little use ; but he got it safely into port a few minutes start of a northeast gale, which, if it had caught him, judging from its power, he thinks would probably have carried him right over the Cape into Buzzard's Bay. Capt. Tilden is blessed with a happy
See Rogers's Yard.
61
ONE OF THIE GOOD OLD FARMS.
disposition, and reminiscences of his early days are to him pleas- ant memories. He and his family are very fond of music, and some forty five years ago he was a member of the East Marsh- field Brass Band, which travelled quite extensively among the towns on the Cape, giving concerts. He also played the bass viol in the church for forty years. The church and headstones in the little graveyard beside it still stand, monuments to prove that his playing was of the mildest sort, and not the real old Orthodox kind that we used to hear, which would scrape the rafters in the church at every draw of the bow.
The schooner "Daniel Webster," spoken of above, is now used as a packet between Provincetown and Boston. Capt. Tilden made eight landings on the river during the most prosperous seasons. The farthest landing up river was Alden Briggs', at the Brick-kilns. Second. Job's Landing. Third. Ichabod's Bank, named after Ichabod Hatch. Fourth. Gravelly Beach. Fifth. Block House, where James's ship-yard was located. Sixth. Union Bridge. Seventh. Stephen's Bank, named after Stephen Rogers. Eighth. White's Ferry. He also made land- ings at North River Bridge regularly when there was freight. He made his last trip as a North River pilot just prior to 1870, and his last trip as a commander of a North River Packet was made since the close of the Rebellion, or only a few years pre- vious to 1870. Below are some verses, written nearly fifty years ago by an old North River ship-builder, descriptive of one of the good old farm-houses where the "latch-string " was always out, and where all were sure of a warm welcome :
Of Green Bush farm 'twill be no harm To take a slight survey ; The tenants next shall be our text, Judge ye of what I say.
Horse, sheep, and cows run loose to browse Throughout the spacious fields ; Turkeys and hogs, hens, cats and dogs, The farm profusely yields.
Munroe and Ben are all the men Who work upon the soil. Old Mr. * * surveys each patch,
And shows them where to toil.
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ONE OF THE GOOD OLD FARMS.
Here peddlers stop to fill their crops, And sell their pretty toys,- Chat with the girls, admire their curls, And scold the little boys.
Thus I have told, with feelings cold, How things out doors appear ; 'Twill be no sin to peep within, And view the dwellers here.
The foremost one for making fun You'll find is Mr. * * * *
For native wit he never yet Has found an equal match.
His form and size none can despise Who like the German caste ; His hands and feet are small and neat, To suit the Chinese taste.
His body large, a spacious charge As all might well suppose, When he in haste, with rapid pace, Like Falstaff puffing goes.
His hair, once light, is now as white As snow-flakes when they fall ; His locks with knack he brushes back Upon his hoary ball.
His whitened pate in size is great, Though odd the shape appears. Above the eyes, how small the size,- How huge behind the ears.
Now let us quiz his noble phiz, - As red as any rose ; A lucifer match would surely catch If rubbed against his nose.
His eyes are gray, most folks would say, With border cherry red ; Like diamonds bright they flash forth light, Though deep sunk in his head.
He's so engaged he seems enraged When stories he does tell ; Your ribs he'll punch, your shoulders hunch, To make you listen well.
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ONE OF THE GOOD OLD FARMS.
To view his mouth, of spacious growth, Would cure a fit of dumps ; To see within, when he does grin, A ghastly row of stumps.
His teeth are few and far between, And I have heard it said, It's rather doubtful if he can show More than seven in his head.
CHAPTER IV.
NORTH RIVER BRIDGE YARDS. - 1668-1836.
DANIEL TURNER, JAMES BARSTOW, WILLIAM BARSTOW, WILLIAM BARSTOW, JR., BENJAMIN BARSTOW, GIDEON BARSTOW, NA- THANIEL OR "BUILDER SILVESTER," NATHANIEL SILVESTER, JR., JONATHAN SAMSON, BARKER TURNER, JEDUTHAN PALMER, ENOCH MAGOUN.
TURNER'S YARD was the farthest point up the river at which any vessels were built. The site is visible from the present bridge, being but a few rods above, in a small ravine or gorge, now somewhat levelled, on the land of the late Horatio Bigelow. It was improved by Daniel Turner, previous to 1699 and later ; but the names of none of his vessels have been ascer- tained. Daniel was a son of Humphrey Turner, of Scituate .* He removed from Scituate to a spot near Barstow's Bridge, which was just above North River Bridge, and in 1665 married Hannah, daughter of William Randall. He probably com- menced the building of vessels soon after this date, and may have resided where Mrs. Bigelow's house now stands. He had a grandson, Amasa, who removed with his family to Lancas- ter. Other descendants of his are now living in Hanover and vicinity.
Previous to the Revolution, James Barstow used this yard, and until he removed to Duxbury, where he engaged in ship- building for many years. He died in Duxbury in 1808, leav- ing a family. His eldest son, James, a ship-builder, was killed at Kingston, in the great gale of Sept. 23, 1815, by the fall of
See Deane's History of Scituate.
65
THE OLD BARSTOW YARD.
a plank from the staging of a ship on which he was at work. His son James, born Nov. 25, 1786, was a ship-builder at Matta- poisett, where he died, leaving a large family, whose descend- ants are now living there.
The next yard was the "Old Barstow Yard," so called. It was located just below the Barstow Bridge, and it is said that the vessels stood on land now occupied by the present abutments of North River Bridge, on the Hanover side. The bows were pointed up on the land now owned by the Bigelows, and the sterns were on land just below the present bridge. The road now passes over the spot where these vessels formerly stood. When the Barstows commenced building larger vessels, they abandoned this yard, and removed farther down the river, he- cause, when launched, their vessels frequently struck against the rocky ledge on the opposite shore. The Old Barstow Yard was next to the oldest on the river, and was first improved by William Barstow. He came to New England in 1635, in the
vessel " Truelove."* He appeared in Scituate (now Hanover) in 1649, and built for himself a house about forty rods back of where the Second Congregational Church now stands, on Oak- land Avenue. The partially filled cellar, and a few old apple- tree stumps, now mark the place of abode of the pioneer of ship-building in Hanover, which business was followed by his descendants for two centuries. He probably began building vessels a few years before his death, which occurred in 1668. From an old paper is taken the following :
" Samuel Prince, Esq , died at Middleborough, Fri., July 5th, 1728. Born in Boston, May, 1649. Married Martha, daughter of Mr. Wm. Bar- stow, of Scituate, 1674, for his first wife. By her had three sons and two daughters."-The New England Weekly Journal.
William Barstow's son William, born 1652, resided in his father's house, and followed the business of ship-building. His son Benjamin, born 1690, occupied the old homestead, and suc- ceeded to the yard at the bridge, where he built for many years. He had three wives and twenty-one children. His son James, born 1734, built in the yard just above his father's, the location of which has been described. James' brother Gideon, born 1738, succeeded his father, Benjamin, at the old yard, but finally removed to Mattapoisett, where he died in 1826, leaving several children. From their brother Thomas, born 1732,
* See Barry's History of Hanover, and Deane's History of Scituate.
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" BUILDER SILVESTER."
descended the Barstows, who built further down the river. It was probably Benjamin's father who decided that it was unwise to remain longer at the old yard, and established one at the " Two Oaks," some time between 1745 and 1755.
After the Barstows left the yard, or about 1745, it was im- proved by Nathaniel Silvester, familiarly known as Builder Sil- vester. He was born in 1718, and about 1743 built the house afterward occupied by Rufus Farnham, later by Zenas Sturte- vant, and now by John Fisher. It belongs to the farm of the late Horatio Bigelow, by whose widow Mr. Fisher is employed. This house was at one time, previous to 1815, a tavern, and kept by Tilden Crocker, or Crooker, who died in Quincy, Nov. 21, 1853, and was buried from Capt. Farnham's house, Han- over. Barry gives a most complete genealogy of the Sylvester family, so it will be but briefly referred to here. " Builder Sil- vester" has four great-grandchildren now living at South Han- over : Elijah W., a skilled house-carpenter; George F., who has a large greenhouse, and does an extensive business as a florist ; Mary T., widow of the late Lebeus Stockbridge, Jr. ; and Elizabeth, who resides with her brother, George F. " Builder Silvester " was brother of Michael Sylvester, from whose son Robert descended a numerous posterity. Michael and Robert, sons of Robert, Sr., are still living. The follow- ing are their descendants :
MICHAEL ROBERT. 1st child of Michael, born June 24, 1825 ; married, July 3, 1849, Emily S. Spear, of Boston, who died, with her infant child, Sept. 21, 1851. He mar. 2d, Eliza- beth T. Waterman, May 31, 1855 ; she died June 26, 1856. His third wife was Maria W. Wright ; married Feb. 12, 1861; by her he had children : 1. Ruthetta M., born July 17, 1862. 2. Emily E., born Dec. 6, 1863. 3. Martha W., born Jan. 25, 1866. 4. Robert W., born Sept. 11, 1868 ; died Dec. 30, 1871. 5. Helen, born Nov. 17, 1869; died Nov. 27, 1869. 6. Robert Irving, born June 10, 1872. 7. Maria W., born Jan. 27, 1876. 8. Herbert R., born July 1, 1878. EDMUND Q., second child of Michael, born April 29, 1827 ; married, first, Dec. 14, 1858, Mary Salmond, daughter of Sanmel Salmond. They had children : 1. Eliza Salmond, born April 15, 1861. 2. Samuel Salmond, born Sept. 13, 1862. 3. Mary, born July 24, 1864 ; died Sept. 8, 1865. E. Q. Sylvester's first wife, Mary, died July 31, 1864, aged thirty-one years, and he mar- ried, second, Feb. 5, 1867, her sister, Eliza S., aged twenty-two
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SYLVESTER GENEALOGY.
years. By her he had children : 1. Edmund Q., Jr. ; died Feb. 12, 1868, in infancy. 2. Edmund Q., Jr., 2d, born July 12, 1869. 3. Joseph Smith, born Nov. 5, 1870. 4. Albert Len- thall, born Nov. 30, 1872. 5. Francis Baldwin, born Feb. 1, 1880. MARTHA R., third child of Michael, was born Dec. 20, 1839 ; married Cyrus C. Holmes, of Hanover, May 14, 1865. He died in Newberne, N. C., June 30, 1879. They had one child, Minnie A., born in Newberne, N. C., Aug. 12, 1866. LEMUEL CURTIS, fourth child of Michael, born May 14, 1842; is unmarried. LYDIA, fifth child of Michael, born Jan. 12, 1845 ; married Henry E. Fuller, of Rockland, Mass., Dec. 1, 1867. They have children : 1. Fred Henry, born March 19, 1871. 2. Mabel Sylvester, born May 3, 1875.
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