USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > History of the Fire Department of the city of New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1772-1890 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16
At this fire, at the Allen house, one citizen, anxious to do what he could to save property, rushed up stairs eagerly and seized a chair, but seeing a table of more value, dropped the first, took up the second, changed that for another article, and so on, till he actually came out of the house empty handed. Mr. Frederick S. Allen told me this story of himself.
In 1832 several reservoirs were built, and in 1833-4, the Purchase street engine house was erected.
In 1833, Perry Russell's Prussian-blue works, then located on the northwest corner of William and Sixth streets, took fire in the night and burned to the ground. The house re- cently torn down by the Y. M. C. A. was in great danger, and would have been consumed but for the vigorous efforts of the firemen. One of these, Capt. Humphrey W. Seabury, helped drag one of the engines into the yard, and, finding the well had given out, took the contents of one of the vats to supply the engine. The owner of the house had the satisfaction next morning of seeing his house saved from the flames, and of finding it blossomed out with a new color-a beautiful blue. His feelings were somewhat of the same shade when he saw how hastily and freely it had been applied.
On Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1834, occurred a destructive fire, an account of which I take from the Mercury :
41
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
" Yesterday morning at an early hour a fire broke out in the build- ing on Water street partly owned (and occupied on the lower floor) by James Wady, as a boot and shoe store. The fire had previously made such progress that the building was almost immediately enveloped in flames, and notwithstanding that our firemen and citizens repaired to the spot with accustomed alacrity, their efforts to subdue it proved una- vailing until after several buildings in the vicinity were entirely con- sumed. A violent gale from the east prevailed at the time, and such was the power to accelerate and extend the flames that the scene pre- sented at one time was truly appalling. Fortunately a rain during the night assisted to prevent the destruction which would otherwise have inevitably ensued.
" The following is an enumeration of the buildings destroyed: On Water street (west side) a valuable dwelling house, owned and occu- pied by Capt. William Blackmer.
"A two story building adjoining on the south, also owned by Capt. Blackmer, and occupied as a millinery on the lower floor, and by a family in the chambers.
"A three story building also adjoining on the north, owned by Capt. Isaac Vincent and occupied as a dwelling by several families, and in the basement as a victualling establishment by James Carver.
"On the east side, the shop of James Wady, with a stock in trade valued at about $7000, and heavy outstanding accounts.
" A building owned by J. & J. Howland and occupied as a bakery by Messrs. Sayer & Dunham.
" A building owned by John Easton and occupied by him as a store house for casks, etc.
" A building owned by Mr. Thomas Howland and improved as a dwelling house.
"On First street (in the rear of Mr. Vincent's building) a dwelling house, owned and occupied by Capt. Eph. Hathaway.
" Two small tenements owned by Mr. Richard Johnson, and occu- pied by families ; and also another building occupied as a dwelling house.
" We have not been able to ascertain with correctness the amount of property destroyed. It cannot, however, be estimated at less than $20,000. Insurance on a part of the property had been effected as fol- lows : At the Bristol Co. Mutual Ins. Co., by Capt. Blackmer, on dwelling house, $2700; Joseph Wady, on building, $1100 ; J. & J. Howland, on bakehouse, $2100; at Manufacturer's office, Boston, by James Wady, on stock, $2000 ; Isaac Vincent, on building, $2000 ; W. Blackmer, on furniture, $1000; Thomas Howland, on building, $600. None of the properties were fully insured and the loss by several of the sufferers will be felt with severity. To such we hope the benevo- lence of our citizens will be cheerfully extended.
Some difficulty was experienced in removing a piano from one of the burning houses. The problem was solved by saw- ing off the legs in order to more easily get the piano through
42
HISTORY OF THE
the door and down the stairway. It did not occur to these enthusiastic firemen that the legs could be unscrewed.
From 1835 to 1843 the following citizens served the fire de- partment as firewards :
Andrew Robeson,
C. W. Morgan,
William H. Taylor,
James B. Congdon,
James D. Thompson, Edward Gardner,
William W. Swain,
E. N. Chaddock,
Dudley Davenport,
Thomas S. Hathaway,
David R. Green,
Geo. Howland, Jr., John Baylies,
Alex H. Campbell, Jeremiah G. Harris, Sampson Perkins,
Peleg Butts.
1836.
William Phillips, Henry H. Crapo, Joseph Grinnell.
Calvin Staples,
1837. George B. Worth, Abraham H. Howland.
1838. James Durfee. 1839.
Shubael H. Gifford, Z. Hillman, A. D. Richmond.
1840. Timothy G. Coffin. 1841. Matthew Luce,
Edward Merrill,
Samuel Watson.
Jonathan Smith,
Thomas M. Bush,
1842. William Durfee, Gamaliel Taber,
Slocum Allen.
1843. William W. Jenney.
Thomas Mandell, Stephen Merrihew,
Philadelphia, No. 7, was ordered by the selectmen Dec. 17, IS33, and Mr. William Durfee was sent to Philadelphia to make the contract, the selectmen deeming his experience and
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
. 43
advice very important. Through him a contract was made with Messrs. Merrick & Agnew, and in March, 1834, the ma- chine was received. It was built of mahogany, double cham- ber, 6} inch diameter; patent pumps, constructed on the lifting and forcing principle, well equipped with pipes, nozzles and suction hose, at a cost of $750. The new engine was sta- tioned on Fourth street, and the company formerly attached to Independence, No. 1, took charge of it, while the latter engine, after being repaired, was held as a reserve.
The first company on record is for 1835 :
Foreman, Samuel Watson.
E. L. Goddard,
William Cannon,
W. H. Stowell,
John H. Watson,
Alex. Wall,
Luther Simmons,
William Wilkins,
George Raymond,
John Parkhurst,
Thomas Nelson,
Peter Brownell,
W. H. Manchester,
F. W. Russell,
T. R. Ricketson,
Nathan Norcross,
Charles Hitch,
Henry Mills,
Clement Webster,
M. E. Bartlett,
William Hall,
William H. Jenney,
James Dunnell,
I. C. Parmenter,
George W. Chaplin,
Benjamin Irish,
Edward S. Cannon,
M. G. Sears,
Daniel Pert,
G. W. Church,
James L. Barrows,
William H. Pratt,
Robert Luscomb, Jr.,
William Cushing,
Seth Martin,
F. S. Dole,
Tilson Wood,
William M. Allen,
Joseph Devol,
Joseph L. Burrows,
Seabury Pierce,
William C. Taber,
Philip Bailey,
George C. Coffin,
James H. Perkins,
H. H. Sowle,
William Wrightington,
John A. Lewis,
George Wilson,
Paul Ewer,
Ellery Remington,
Elisha Jennings,
Nathaniel Shepherd,
Channing Russell,
Hezekiah Coleman,
James Munroe,
William B. Russell,
B. S. Perkins,
David B. Wilcox.
An act to establish a fire department in the town of New Bedford was passed by the Legislature on Jan. 30th, 1834. It was perhaps the first formal organization, and though it seems
44
HISTORY OF THE
simple in form and of limited scope, in the light of the present thoroughness of system, it was a great advance from the chaotic condition of previous years. The governing power was vested in the board of firewards, who elected three engineers. This board consisted of eighteen members, with full power to ap- point engine men, to control apparatus, to establish rules as to carrying of fire, fire brands, lights, matches, etc. To be chos- en a member of this board was deemed a great honor, and the long list of distinguished names that appear from time to time emphasizes this statement. Confident that the list of the entire department at this stage of its history will be in- teresting, I present it in full :
JOHN AVERY PARKER. (Chief Engineer, 1834.)
45
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Engineers-John A. Parker, Andrew Robeson, Stephen Merrihew.
James Arnold,
William H. Taylor,
William W. Swain,
Ebenezer N. Chaddock,
Edmund Gardner,
Thomas S. Hathaway,
Thomas Mandell,
David R. Greene,
Charles W. Morgan,
Jonathan R. Ward,
Timothy G. Coffin,
Charles Covell,
Ivory H. Bartlett,
James D. Thompson,
Dudley Davenport,
James B. Congdon.
Clerk of Board, Killey Eldredge.
INDEPENDENCE, NO. I. Captain, Charles Haffords. Clerk, Joshua Richmond.
Charles Sanford,
John H. Watson,
Samuel Watson,
William H. Hills,
William H. Jenney,
Charles Hitch,
Nathan Reed,
Thomas Jouvette,
Isaac Bliss,
Shubael Coffin,
Samuel Ricketson,
Sylvanus G. Nye,
Aldred C. Briggs,
James H. Cook,
Jonathan Bourne, Jr.,
Henry Mills,
William Manchester,
Walter D. Swan,
Benj. T. Ricketson,
Horatio Bly,
Asahel Polly,
Richard Rau,
Isaac D. Hall,
Reuben Nye,
Harvey Mandell,
William Howland,
E. L. Goddard,
James H. Perkins,
William H. Stowell,
John Parkhurst,
Freeman Snow,
James L. Barrows,
Benjamin Wilson,
Henry Bonney, Thomas Tobey,
Isaac Irish,
William Pope, Alexander Wade, Asa Gifford,
Charles Evans,
William H. Holmes,
Samuel C. Bishop,
Elisha D. Bearse,
Avory T. Harris,
Benjamin C. Watson,
Benjamin Irish.
CITIZEN, NO. 2. Captain, Anthony D. Richmond. Clerk, Edward Munroe.
Edward Cannon,
Peleg Butts, Edward P. Freeman, Philip Groves, Alonzo Cory,
W. A. Munroe, A. S. Davis, A. L. Luce,
W. B. Taber,
D. E. Payson,
David Weaver,
Isaac C. Taber,
Henry B. Smith,
Nathan Northrop,
46
HISTORY OF THE
Henry Walker,
James H. Tallman,
Arphaxed Simmons,
John Wood,
John W. Folger,
William Watkins,
Geo. W. Bosworth,
W. B. Thurston,
Thomas R. Robinson,
Marshall Gilbert,
Joseph M. Shiverick,
William Tucker, Jr.,
Albert Tobey,
George F. Barker,
Edward Howland,
James M. Staples,
Andrew G. Hayes,
Charles S. Macomber,
George Perry,
Seth K. Aikin,
A. S. Cleaveland,
Edward S. Wilcox,
Ichabod S. Holmes,
Francis M. Taylor,
James Dole,
J. B. King,
William D. Burgess,
Sampson Shearman,
Paul Ewer,
A. B. Brownell,
Nicholas Davis,
Henry C. Kelley,
James Simmons, Jr.,
Gordon A. Cannon,
Joseph Seabury,
William Coffin, Jr.,
John H. Thompson,
John Coffin,
Samuel Bonney,
Willard Nye,
Josiah S. Bonney,
I. H. Cheeney,
Albert D. Hatch,
George Macomber,
George Love,
Peleg Hall,
Daniel S. Cobb,
W. B. Burdick,
S. E. Nye.
ENGINE NO. 3 (Head-of-the-River).
Captain, Shubael H. Gifford. Clerk, Jireh Swift, Jr.
Philip T. Davis,
William Spooner, Jr.,
Isaiah Parlow,
Erastus Merrick,
Thaddeus M. Perry,
Obed Nye,
B. Harlow,
Isaac Terry,
Thomas P. Terry,
Obed Gifford,
Samuel Spooner,
R. B. Smith,
Mark Snow,
Levi Hawes,
James Spooner,
Silas Stetson.
PHŒNIX, NO. 4.
Captain, Slocum Allen. Clerk, Benjamin T. Congdon.
John B. Taber,
Perry Brownell,
Benjamin Lindsey,
James Brown,
W. A. Cranston,
Robert C. Topham,
Alfred Woddell,
Richard Williams, Jr.,
Zephaniah Pease,
Francis Hart,
Franklin Tobey,
Benjamin Swain,
Samuel Southgate, Allen Case,
James L. Butler, Zephaniah S. Butler,
P. Haskins,
47
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Alanson Williston, Arnold Carr, T. Howland,
Levi N. Goff.
George B. Williams,
Benjamin Popple,
Edmund Woddell,
Hiram M. Hammond,
Samuel E. King,
Abner Durfee,
David S. Bradlee,
Andrew J. Bennett, Harvey Josselyn,
Wright Brownell.
COLUMBIAN, NO. 5. Captain, Zachariah Hillman. Clerk, Luther G. Hewins.
Thomas R. Bryant,
Henry Sanford,
Francis Bowman,
Fred P. Shaw,
Joseph Clark,
John P. Dunham,
Elisha W. Kempton,
Perry Cornell,
John Wrightington,
Jonathan D. Howland,
William C. Cannon,
Edward H. Potter,
James Foster,
Nathan Cary,
Silas Swift,
John Bryant,
Peleg Potter,
Samuel Simmons,
Job Bryant, Ezra Dyre,
Hezekiah Coleman,
Josiah Johnson,
Braddock D. Hathaway,
Joseph R. Dunham,
Henry N. Dean,
Isaac M. Richardson,
Alden G. Snell,
John S. Chadwick,
Arvin Smith,
John D. Handy,
Henry Robinson,
Benjamin F. Spooner,
William Dyre,
Merritt Bates,
Smith Jenney,
Ebenezer Tirrell,
Ellery Records,
Humphrey Shaw,
James M. Snow,
James L. Martin,
Thomas M. Weaver,
Enoch Burroughs,
James Davis,
Jonathan Smith,
Franklin Gifford,
Dennis Smith,
James Drew,
Ellery Willcox,
James S. Davis,
Leander H. Taber,
James Tripp,
Samuel Damon,
Charles Parker,
Benjamin B. Covell,
Henry Trowbridge,
Pardon Potter, Jr., Uriah P. Allen,
Lewis Farewell,
Alonzo Hill,
Nathaniel S. Purrington,
William Whitcomb,
Nathaniel Stetson,
Isaiah Potter,
John G. Harden,
Alvin Coleman,
Wilson Drake,
Charles D. Capen, Simpson Hart, William F. Bryant,
48
HISTORY OF THE
MECHANIC, No. 6. Captain, James Durfee. Clerk, Gamaliel Taber.
William Durfee, O. B. Burgess,
Michael Hathaway, 2d,
Ambrose Vincent,
W. H. Seabury,
C. C. P. Tobey,
James Davis,
Ezra K. Delano,
John E. Cornall,
William Bain,
Alden Braley,
R. H. Gifford,
Hillard Sawyer,
Corbin B. Lucas,
D. M. Baker,
Anthony Hathaway,
O. G. Pierce,
Daniel Pease,
Caleb L. Ellis,
Job Sisson, Jr.,
Joseph H. Wade,
Benjamin Maxfield,
Levi Nye,
J. A. Westcott,
Benj. Thompson,
Allen Taber,
W. H. Shaw,
W. L. Edwards,
Benj. C. Watson,
Joseph Allen, Jr.,
Charles M. Pierce,
Isaiah Ellis,
Joseph Hicks,
Otis Manchester,
Isaac Kempton,
Daniel Wardsworth,
S. G. Edwards.
Othniel Moulton, John Whitford,
George Ainslee,
Lemuel T. Pope,
Anthony Gardner,
C. A. Davis,
Micah Eldred, John Bailey, George G. Gifford, Jona. Devoll,
Hervey B. Keene,
Henry K. Davis,
C. C. Munroe,
William G. White,
I. B. King,
Otis N. Pierce,
Timothy Weston, William Noyes,
W. H. Burgess.
PROTECTING SOCIETY.
Captain, George Randall. Secretary, John R. Thornton.
James Cannon, W. T. Hawes,
Timothy Ingraham,
Robert Gibbs, Asa Wood,
Zach. Cushman,
Lemuel Kollock,
Joseph H. Allen, Robert Bennett, Alfred Gibbs,
David Silvester,
Mark B. Palmer,
Thomas Nickerson, Wm. Howe,
Benj. Russell,
Samuel Little,
Geo. W. Cushing,
John M. Taber,
A. W. Winslow,
Leonard Taber,
Stephen Parker, Gifford Taber, P. B. Brownell, Wing Russell,
W. Francis, Jr.,
49
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Thomas Cook,
Simeon Bailey,
Henry P. Willis,
Jacob Parker,
Francis Taber, Jr.,
Caleb S. Tobey,
W. T. Cook,
Geo. Russell,
B. Thompson, Jr.,
William Knights, Stephen Potter, 2d,
W. A. Wall,
B. D. Almy,
Jona. Fuller, Joseph Taber,
Oliver Swain,
Wm. Swift,
Alex. H. Campbell,
Henry Cannon,
James H. Howland,
James H. Collins,
W. R. Taber, Wm. Little,
J. H. Crocker, P. Davenport, Geo. G. Randall,
Geo. F. Hussey,
Joshua E. Gage,
Wing Russell,
Dennis Wood,
L. W. Hawes.
HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY.
Robert Tripp, A. Tompkins,
Henry Dedrick,
Afred Leonard, John Little, Charles P. Maxfield,
Timothy D. Cook.
The first general celebration of the glorious Fourth of July occurred in 1835, in which the fire department appeared for the first time in parade.
The Novelty, No. 8, was built by Mr. William Durfee, and purchased by the town March 23, 1835, for $450. It was furnished with rotary pumps, worked like the cap- stan of a ship, the men pushing the bars having a jolly "walk around." This was fine exercise on a cold night, but it must have been wearisome in the warm summer days. This was a powerful machine, one of the most useful in its day. While its power of throwing water was moderate, its drawing qualities were immense, and the machine was often used to furnish the water for the other engines.
Why was this engine called the " Old Cider Mill?" Well, I will tell you ; and in explaining why this undignified name was given, I must again allude to those dreadful Corsicans across the river, for to them belongs the credit. Mr. George G. Gifford, who was captain at the time, is my authority for the story.
50
HISTORY OF THE
One night a fire occurred at Oxford village, on the east side of the main road, too far from the shore for the Fairhaven engine to draw water. So the Novelty was placed on the river bank and furnished the water supply, while the Fairhaven engine was stationed on the main road, near the conflagration.
WILLIAM DURFEE. ( Builder of Novelty, No. 8.)
Now Capt. G. happened to hear one of the Oxford firemen ask, rather contemptuously,, " What thing that was trying to supply water, but which couldn't 'run her over.'" He quietly walked down to the Novelty, held some private conversation
51
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
with his men, and strolled leisurely back. Pretty soon the water came lively, and in spite of all efforts their engine was deluged. The boys were in sad need of rubber boots, which they didn't have, and so to keep out of the impromptu river, they pulled down a fence and built a platform to stand upon.
GEORGE G. GIFFORD. ( Captain of Novelty, No. 8.)
Finally, one more curious than the rest, went down to the river, and soon returned with his eyes protruding like those of a lobster, exclaiming, " Good gracious, boys, they've got an old cider mill down there that's doing this business." And so
52
HISTORY OF THE
ever after the Novelty was known by that name, which was a novelty indeed, only paralleled by the name given to the Jolly Rope Maker.
In 1837, the interest of the citizens began to wane, and the apathy became so alarming as to call for special action on the part of the firewards. It was difficult to obtain members enough to man the engines. A full complement of the fire department called for 490 men, but the whole number enrolled was but 200. At a meeting of the firewards, April 15, 1837, it was voted " That George Howland, Jr., and Thomas Man- dell be a committee who shall, through the medium of the newspapers, acquaint the public with the present alarming de- ficiency in the number of men attached to our engines, and with the necessity which exists that immediate and vigorous measures be taken to fill up the ranks of the different compan- ies, and that said committee be instructed to accept the services of any of the citizens who may volunteer their aid, in the pre- sent emergency, until the results of the efforts for filling up the ranks of the companies shall have been determined. William H. Taylor, chairman ; Henry H. Crapo, clerk, Board of Fire- wards." This action produced good effects, and the rolls for the following year showed a marked increase of membership ; and in 1839 the department had a full complement of men.
In 1840 the annual report of the board of firewards speaks in satisfactory terms of its condition. At this time there were 15 public reservoirs so situated as to be available in whatever quarter of the village a fire might break out. An apparatus was provided for using powder in blowing up buildings, should occasion require.
In 1841 the hook and ladder company had dwindled in num- bers to such an extent as to compel the firewards to furnish horses in dragging the apparatus to a fire. The ladders, hooks, etc., were so large and unwieldly, the weight of the loaded carriage so heavy, that it made the boys tired, and so they left. For a year there was no organized company for the hooks and ladders. This was but a foreshadowing of what became an
53
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
alarming condition of the whole department, for it soon be- came thoroughly demoralized. It became difficult to get men to hold membership in any of the companies. In the annual report of 1841 this was the statement of the board of firewards : " That the New Bedford fire department as at present organ- ized has failed to accomplish the design for which it was established."
CHAPTER V.
J.N April, 1842, the fire department was reorganized with a force of 378 men, each entitled to $10 a year for his ser- vices. This plan was favorably received and its wisdom was soon manifest, for in a short time each company had a full roll.
HENRY H. CRAPO. ( Clerk of Board of Firewards from 1834 to 1847.)
During this year a fire occurred on Elm street, in Ripley's barn. A funny incident happened at this conflagration, re- lated to me by Rev. Samuel Fox, for many years chaplain at our Seamen's Bethel.
55
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
On Elm street, just above Second street, and on the southern side, there was a livery stable, a low, one-story affair, with a shallow mow for hay. The hay in the mow was discovered to be on fire about 4 P. M. The horses were safely got out. The flames quickly burned through the roof and ignited the walls of a two-story dwelling house that stood near by. In the lower tenement a lady and her adult daughter were entertain- ing other ladies who were expected to stay to tea. The conver- sation had turned upon cookery and various dishes had been commented on, among others apple pot-pie, of which the visit- ors expressed themselves remarkably fond. To please and sur- prise them, one of the young ladies had slipped away to the cellar kitchen and commenced the preparation of the pot-pie. With wondrous promptness the fire department subdued the flames. Order measurably restored, ordinary matters again came to the surface, but where was that pot-pie? The concoctor said she had left it on the crane-it was the old fash- ioned fire-place. Surely no one would take it. However, there was no help for it. Pot and pie were gone, so other tea preparations must be made. Just before sitting down to tea, there was a knock at the door. The damsel who was to have cooked the favored dish answered the door call, and there stood a man with the pot in hand who calmly said: "Here is your pot-pie."
" Why, where did you find it? What does this mean !"
"My dear young lady," was the reply, "I did not find it ; you ran into the street with it, and thrusting it into my hands, you said . For pity's sake, Mr. -, take care of that.'"
The mystery was solved, but doubtless the pie was spoiled.
July 31, a scorching fire occurred at Alanson Gammons' stable on Elm street. It was very disastrous, several valuable horses perishing in the flames. During this year many fires took place, and the condition of matters became so alarming that the selectmen increased the number of patrolling watch- men and issued a communication to the board of firewards recommending them to increase the number of fire engines,
56
HISTORY OF THE
etc. It received their immediate attention, and at the town meeting $3000 was appropriated.
The Philadelphia, No. 7, built by Messrs. Merrick & Ag- new had proved so satisfactory that two of their engines were contracted for, and in 1843 Hancock, No. 9, and Franklin, No. 10, were received and placed in commission. I give the roll of their first organizations :
HANCOCK, No. 9.
Foreman, George Perry. First Assistant, Daniel B. Croacher. Second Assistant, William L. Edwards. Clerk, Arphaxed Simmons.
Arvin Smith,
Horatio T. Bly,
Ansel Landers,
Sam'l Mckenzie,
John Wrightington,
Henry M. Smith,
Rodolphus Beetle,
Joseph Wing,
Stephen D. Haskins,
Jabez M. Pierce,
Willard Shaw,
Frederick P. Howland,
Allen Case,
Levi Salisbury,
Shubael G. Edwards,
Henry P. Nye,
Hattil Kelley,
David B. Kempton, Jr.,
Lewis Hathaway,
William P. Taylor,
James C. Tripp,
Joseph Swift,
Israel F. Bryant,
Borden Hathaway,
John C. Taber,
Edmund A. Tallman,
Peter Peters,
William M. Gifford,
William Bates, 2d,
Laban P. Chambers,
Wing Spooner,
William Bly,
Lazarus Moulton,
Eli Manchester,
James Drew,
Davis Landers,
Thomas Sowle,
Hiram Sherman,
Asa Gifford,
James Marble,
Tillinghast Tompkins,
Nathaniel Andrews,
Nathaniel S. Purrington,
Sampson Sherman, W. R. Barker,
Charles Simmons,
Joseph Sherman,
Corban B. Lucas,
Joseph Wheaton,
John C. Hervey, Caleb T. Jenney,
E. L. Foster,
Robert S. Dodge,
Nathan Phinney.
FRANKLIN, NO. 10. Organized in Grove School-house, May 3, 1843. Foreman, Tillson Wood. First Assistant, Oliver M. Brownell.
Henry A. Purrington,
57
NEW BEDFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Second assistant, Alanson Williston. Clerk, Wanton T. Drew.
Lorenzo Pierce,
Sylvanus Churchill,
John Pierce,
Jacob Polly,
Amos Bosworth,
William B. Winslow,
Charles Grant,
Bradford G. Hathaway,
David Nye,
Peter Brotherson,
Henry F. Davis,
George M. Mosher,
Robert C. Topham,
L. S. Jennings,
Seabury Pierce,
Benjamin Durfee,
Albert Reed,
Henry M. Allen,
Samuel Leonard, Jr.,
David Pierce,
Oliver Harding,
Benjamin Popple,
Franklin Perry,
Abijah Cook,
Thomas Albert,
George Jennings,
Henry Parker,
John Butts,
Thomas Murphy,
Alex. Bliss,
C. D. Hathaway,
Benj. W. Spooner,
Caleb Miller,
Gustavus Delano,
Solomon Chadwick,
Hiram Wheeler,
Jeremiah Crapo,
N. S. Booth,
Thomas Nye,
Charles Briggs,
William Gibbs,
A. C. Wilbor,
Elihu Briggs,
Benjamin Davis,
Samuel Fellows,
Robert Sherman.
Membership in these companies was eagerly sought, and among the applicants was a colored man, who desired very much to belong to No. 10. So much did he wish it that he offered Mr. - a box of soap if he would secure his elec- tion. His name was duly proposed and he was elected. When the company found out that their new member was a colored man a general row ensued, and it was made very un- comfortable for Mr. -. The prejudice against the col- -. ored people in those days was very strong, socially, notwith- standing the reputation of our city as a hot-bed of anti-slavery ideas. Mr. - , finding himself responsible for such a com- motion, and being willing to make some sacrifice in the mat- ter, waited upon the colored gentleman and offered him half a box of soap to withdraw his name. The offer was good, but whether it was accepted or not I am unable to say.
March 19th, 1844, a fire occurred in John C. Haskell's house, northeast corner of County and Bush streets. One of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.