USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Essex > History of the town of Essex : from 1634 to 1868 > Part 32
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" In the private circle, Mr. Choate had the admiration of his family and friends for his social qualities. He was, of course, more open and accessible to immediate friends and associates, than to others, and who is not? But who ever had occasion for even a business interview with him, without feeling, at the close of it, that he had formed a valuable acquaintance? You always knew where to find him. What he said, he said ; and notwithstanding his premises were often laid down and his conclusions drawn, with almost light- ning quickness, yet he was rarely under the necessity of making a second de- cision upon the same subject. There, is, perhaps, no man who does not have occasion to change his opinion sometimes, but our departed friend saw truth so intuitively, that it may be said, as before, he rarely had occasion to alter an opinion once formed. The Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, late of Salem, after such an acquaintance as often springs up between counsel and client, is re- membered to have often spoken with admiration of. Mr. John Choate, of Essex.
" Mr. Choate was benevolent above many. This trait of character, however, did not expend itself by throwing down a shilling and then forgetting it ; but it led him to give employment to people in humble circumstances. Even here, however, he would not squander his sympathies upon unworthy objects, but they were always judiciously bestowed. His most agreeable manner on such occasions was always such that no one ever felt himself degraded by receiv- ing anything from him. Even when he was laying you under the deepest obligations, the manner was so alleviating, that the objects of his favors would go away with a smile, feeling that the giver was almost as much indebted to them for receiving, as they were to him for giving
343
MR. JOHN CHOATE.
1820-1868.]
" Mr. Choate, in his more public capacity, will long be remembered for his devotion to the interests of the town. He was for many years Chairman of the Board of Overseers of the Poor, and as such, contributed largely to the public interest. In a day when paupers are so easily and so often sent from town to town for trifling causes, there is frequently need of such an officer as a standing Solicitor to examine cases legally, and few laws are more difficult to be administered than pauper laws. Mr. Choate consulted the decisions of the Supreme Court upon these matters with all the assiduity of a student of law, and frequently with quite as much success. While he held the office of over- seer, the number of paupers was somewhat, and most justly, reduced, and it is believed to have been largely owing to the almost gratuitous labors of himself.
" And as Mr. Choate sought and promoted the interests of the town, so he was equally devoted to that of the Parish and Society where he worshiped. His views of religion were those usually denominated orthodox, and he is believed to have derived the strongest consolation from the faith he professed for more than thirty years. He once remarked to the writer of this sketch, that, as he sometimes stood and looked upon the broad sheet of water adjoin- ing the islands which constituted his farm, in some calm morning when the whole surface was like a mirror, it gave him, as he thought, a good idea of the full ocean of God's love, in which the soul of the Christian would lave itself after the winds and storms of life were over. We believe he is now enjoying the full fruition of that vision which then presented itself to his mind.
" Mr. Choate was a man of great originality of character. No justice ean be done to this element in this brief space. Indeed originality did not seem to be an element of his mind, but was rather the mind itself. While his views on ordinary subjects, would to some extent, be modified of necessity, by those of other men, yet they were often strikingly peculiar. He seemed many times to take a kind of poet's view of men and things, and then ex- press himself in corresponding language-language which, though highly fig- urative, was, nevertheless, perfectly natural as well as striking. His peculiar style of expression upon many subjects will long be remembered, as it made him to be greatly admired. If his early inclinations had led him to prepare for professional life, it is believed he would have stood without a rival ; for, although not much given to public speaking, even in town affairs, yet the usual training he would have had, with the strong mind and affluent and metaphorical language which was so natural to him, would have qualified him to shine at the Bar. The lines of Gray are applicable in his case :
" ' Full many a gem of purest ray serene, The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear.'
" Let no one, however, suppose that these elements of greatness led him to exercise any feeling of superiority over others ; for whoever else might be led to view him in the light we have attempted to describe, no suspicion of such a thing ever seemed to have entered his mind. He was the firm and consist- ent friend of the Temperance cause in the day when its friends were few, and
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HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 6.
remained so through life. In short, he lived the supporter of good order, and died in hopes of a happy immortality, through the merits of a Redeemer. Four daughters and two sons remain to mourn his loss-a loss for which they have the sympathies of all who knew him."
1864. June 21st. Hardy's Hall and the engine-house opposite, at the easterly end of the causeway, were des- troyed by fire. The next year a new engine-house was built, at a cost of $1,130.
December 26th. The Sabbath-school of the Congrega- tional Church celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its es- tablishment, by public exercises in the afternoon and eve- ning. The pastor presided, and an historical address was delivered by the superintendent.
1865. The town statistics were as follows :
Population, 1601. Number of persons of foreign birth, 82 ; of colored persons, 21; of persons over eighty years of age, 21 ; of deaf, dumb, blind or insane, 15 ; of paupers, 5 (three of them over eighty years of age) ; of legal voters, 442; of families, 434; of dwellings, 319; of schools, 9; of pupils between the ages of five and fifteen, 342.
Value of real estate, $568,378; of personal estate, $318,168; total $886,546. Value of the town property, $8,000. Town debt $20,760.51, of which all but $1,535.91, was incurred during the War of the Rebellion Number of aeres of land taxed, 7,917. Number of horses, 137 ; of oxen, 118 ; of cows, 315. Amount of money raised by taxation, $13,688.31, viz: State tax, $4,700 ; county tax, 1,049.90 ; towards the payment of the town debt, 2,000; for schools, $2,000 ; for other town charges, $3,500; over- laying $396.50; highway tax of non-residents, $40.25; delinquent high- way tax, $1.66.
V VESSEL BUILDING .*
Mention was made on pages sixty and sixty-one of the location of the first public yard granted by the town in 1668, for vessel-building and of the origin of this business. But it was not until the early part of the present century that it began to be one of any considerable importance. Even then it was confined almost entirely to the construc- tion of "standing-room," "pink-stern " boats of ten or twelve tons burthen. These had two masts, but no bow- sprit. They were decked over with the exception of a
* Furnished by Caleb Cogswell, Esq.
345
VESSEL BUILDING.
1820-1868.]
space in the middle, where were two rooms across the boat nearly to the sides, for the crew to stand in while fishing. In rough weather these rooms were covered with hatches. The deck had no railing. The stern was sharp like the bow. The building yards then were for the most part near the dwellings of the builders, in some instances not more than twenty feet from the front door. Some of the yards were more than a mile from the river. The vessels when completed were loaded on two pairs of wheels with string pieces, one on each side, to keep them steady and upright. When hauled to the launching place the wheels were run into the river until the vessel was " water-borne," and then she unloaded herself. The largest vessel hauled and launched in this way was one of fifty-five tons, built by Charles Choate on the premises now owned and occu- pied by Jonathan Low. These yards were gradually given up as the demand for larger vessels increased ; and " boat- haulings " went out of vogue about the year 1835. The last pink-stern vessel was one of thirty-five tons, built in 1844 by Ebenezer Burnham. Y
The first square-stern vessel was built by the late Parker Burnham, Ist.# The largest square-stern vessel before the last war with England was the brig Silkworm of two hundred and twenty tons, built in 1811 at Hardy's Point in the North District, by Capt. Parker Burnham.t As the fishing business in which the people had been largely engaged, decreased and was gradually given up-cod-fishing about the year 1825, and mackerel-fishing about ten years later-vessel- building was entered into more extensively. The road to the Falls landing was opened in 1823 to furnish additional
* Parker Burnham, 1st, was born in a house near Chebacco Pond, and lived there the most of his life, but was a member of the family of his son, David Burnham, in the Central District, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1856, when he had reached the age of ninety-two. It is said that he was never under the care of a physician for a single day in his life. Mr. Burnham was considered one of the best constructors and master carpenters of his day, and in later years was frequently con- sulted by builders who needed the benefit of his experience and skill.
+ Parker Burnham, 2d, (son of Enoch and nephew of Parker, 1st.) He made sev- eral voyages, as master, in this brig, the first one to Lisbon.
44
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HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 6.
facilities for the growing business, and for many years the work was carried on there. Vessels of a larger class also began to be more commonly built-barks, brigs and three- masted schooners-some of them of upwards of three hun- dred tons measurement. In 1828, forty vessels were built and for four years up to 1834, the average amount of ton- nage annually built was two thousand five hundred tons. The average price per ton then was $25.
The prosperity of the business has greatly varied, but not a single year has passed in which at least one vessel has not been built. From November, 1851, to November, 1852, sixty vessels, of seventy-five tons burthen on the average, were built-the largest number in one year. The average price per ton was $35; the number of workmen employed, about one hundred and fifty. The greatest number built in one year, by one man, was thirteen, viz., by Andrew Story. In 1856-7, Aaron Burnham, 2d, built twenty-two vessels in twenty-two months. The shortest time in which a vessel has been entirely built, was one month. It was the schooner " July," of fifty tons, built by Capt. Parker Burnham, in the month of July, 1837. The largest vessel ever built in town was the ship " Ann Maria" of five hundred and ten tons. It was constructed in 1842, at Clay Point, by a company of workmen, of which Ebe- nezer Burnham was the agent, and Jacob Burnham, 2d, the master-carpenter. The next in size, was a three-masted schooner of four hundred and seven tons, built by James & Mckenzie on the " corporation " wharf, in 1855. For ten or twelve years past, the vessels have generally been of a larger class than formerly. In March, 1864, there were twelve on the stocks, the average measurement of which was one hundred and ten tons.
The yards now used are ten in number, and are on or near the main road through the town from the Central to the East District. It is estimated that the amount of capi- tal employed in the business, for the last twenty years, has been from $150,000 to $200,000.
347
VESSEL BUILDING.
1820-1868.]
In the construction of these vessels, all kinds of oak timber are used. The stem and stern posts are usually of white oak. Rock maple is used for keels. Birch, maple and elm are also used in the frame. The top-timbers and the " out-board " plank are of white oak. The "in-board" plank is of the same material, of a cheaper quality. The deck-plank, masts and bowsprits are of white pine and the small spars of spruce. For the most part, the tim- ber used has been obtained in this State. Some of it has come from Maine and New Hampshire. For several years before the late war, much of the white oak planking was brought from the Southern States. The masts and small spars are obtained chiefly in New Hampshire. Sticks for bowsprits, and trees suitable for deck-plank, are still found to some extent in our own woodlands. Half a century ago, rigging for vessels was made in town by Capt. Nathaniel Burnham and Mr. Samuel Hardy. Anchors also were made here by our blacksmiths. But for many years past, rigging, sails and anchors have been procured and brought here by the purchasers of the vessels.
The two most active and prominent builders for forty years from the close of the war with England in 1815 have been Mr. Abel Story and the late Mr. Adam Boyd. Mr. Boyd built, in all, about two hundred vessels-a larger number than any other man. Other builders from 1816-20 to 1840 have been as follows :
John Boyd, Benjamin Burnham, 2d, Eli F. Burnham, Gilman M. Burnham, Issacher Burnham, John S. Burnham, Michael Burnham, Moses Burnham, 3d, Nathan Burnham, Nathan Burnham, 3d, Noah Burnham, Parker Burnham, 2d, Samuel Burnham, Zaccheus Burnham, Charles Choate, Dudley Choate, John Choate, Joseph Choate, John Dexter, John Hardy, Thomas Hardy, Enoch Low, Joshua Low, Charles Roberts, David Story, Epes Story, Ephraim Story, 2d, Jacob Story, Jonathan Story, 3d, Michael Story, 2d, Perkins Story.
Builders from 1838-40 to the present time and still en- gaged in the business (with the exception of Parkhurst & Courtney ) are as follows :
Aaron Burnham, 2d, Ebenezer Burnham, Jeremiah Burnham, Luke Burn- ham, Oliver Burnham, Willard R. and Daniel Burnham, James & MeKenzie, Job Story, Joseph Story and Brothers, Benjamin Courtney, Charles B. Parkhurst.
348
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 6.
EMIGRANTS FROM ESSEX.
The many and valuable contributions which this town has made to the population of other places from time to time, particularly during the last century, should not be forgotten or overlooked in its published annals. The sons and daughters of old Chebacco and their descendants are scattered throughout New England and in many of the Middle and Western States. Several towns have been in part, settled by them. Among these is Dunbarton, N. H., the centennial celebration of whose settlement occurred September 13th of this year. On that occasion, Rev. A. W. Burnham, D. D., of Rindge, N. H., delivered an address commemorative of the early inhabitants, some extracts from which, with other facts furnished by him, are as follows :
" The Storys and Burnhams came from Ipswich, Mass., Chebacco parish, the hive of these names, and were trained under the ministry of Rev. John Cleaveland, one of the " new lights " and able preachers of his day, a dis- ciple of Whitefield. They emigrated from Chebacco about 1765-70, and settled in a cluster in one neighborhood in the beautiful southern section of this town. They were all respectable and useful citizens, and have left good families.
" The Burnhams were Asa, Nathan and Thomas, who were brothers, and Abraham, John, and Samuel cousin to John. Samuel Burnham was the son of Samuel, and was born in Chebacco, October 5, 1744. He married Mary Perkins. They had fifteen children, all but two of whom lived to ma- ture years. At first, after their settlement in Dunbarton, they with two chil- dren were wont to ride one horse seven miles to meeting on the Sabbath ; and were obliged to send their children two miles on foot through the woods to school. Of their seven sons, four were educated at Dartmouth College. These were Samuel, fitted for college on the plow-beam, graduated in 1795, the first college graduate from the town, a teacher, and the first principal of Pinkerton Academy, Derry, N. H., who died in 1834, aged 67; Rev. Abra- ham, D. D., graduated in 1804, pastor of the Congregational Church, Pem- broke, N. H., forty-two years, died in 1852, aged 77; John, graduated in 1807, a lawyer, a man of uncommon energy and an accomplished scholar, died in 1826, aged 45; and Rev. Amos Wood Burnham, D. D., born Au- gust 1, 1791, graduated in 1815 and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1818, the first principal of Pembroke Academy, N. H., pastor of the Con- gregational Church in Rindge, N. H., from November 14, 1821, to November
349
DAVID STORY, ESQ.
1820-1868.]
14, 1867, forty-six years, and then dismissed at his own request. Of the forty college graduates from this town of less than a thousand inhabitants, one-half are descendants of Samuel Burnham.
" The wives of the brothers David and Daniel Story who emigrated to Dunbarton at the same time, were also Burnhams, sisters of Abraham. Da- vid Story, Esq., was a son of Stephen and grandson of Jacob Story. He was first cousin to Jacob (father of Mr. Abel Story ), and to Jonathan (father of Esq. Jonathan Story). Of a sound and well-balanced mind, looking well to the interests of the town and acting always according to his convictions of duty, he was a leader in all public affairs through life. He was seventeen times moderator in town-meeting, town clerk eleven years, selectman six years, representative to the Legislature six years, and one of the two justices of the peace for a long period. Rev. Dr. Harris of this town (Dunbarton), pronounced him among the best citizens, and the best magistrate within his knowledge. Like Samuel Burnham, he was a staunch old-fashioned Fed- eralist. He was a man of rather impressive presence. As the custom then was, we boys made our bows to every passer by, whether in the road or around the school-house. In this matter we were very exact when Esq. Story passed, on his stately horse, with whip in hand in perpendicular position ; and we felt honored by his invariable response, ' brave boys-brave scholars.' He had three sons, David, Warren and Abraham Burnham Story, Esq., (who graduated at Brown University in 1799,) and five daughters."
Somewhat later, several Chebacco people migrated to Londonderry, in the same State, of whom the following statement is made in the history of that town, published in 1851:
" About 1785-90 the town received a valuable accession of settlers from Ipswich, Mass. They were of the true Puritan race and retained all those excellences of character, that distinguished the pilgrim band which settled that ancient town. They had been trained up under the ministry of Rev. Messrs. Rogers, Cleaveland, Frisbie and Dana, men distinguished for learn- ing and piety. Many of them became distinguished not only as intelligent and useful citizens, but as efficient members of the church, and their descend- ants are among the most valuable inhabitants of the town."
Of the twelve emigrants mentioned by name in that history, seven were natives of Chebacco : John Burnham, Aaron Choate, James Choate, William Choate, Joseph Cogswell, Benjamin Procter and Joseph Procter.
John Burnham was a brother of the Samuel who set- tled in Dunbarton, and was born in Chebacco, December
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HISTORY OF ESSEX.
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10, 1749. ' The following account of his services in the Revolutionary war is derived from his own statement :*
Soon after the battle of Lexington, he was appointed first lieutenant in a company raised in Gloucester, marched to Cambridge the last of May and was in the battle of Bunker's Hill. His company reached the fort just as the action began, and fought bravely to the last. In 1776, he was in the battles of Long Island and of Trenton. January 1, 1777, Lieut. Col. Brooks appointed him captain, and gave him recruiting orders. "Next morning, having traveled about eight miles, heard firing and supposing the armies had come together, returned and went out to the advance party. Fought on a retreat till we came into Trenton. The next night we marched to Princeton, and took the enemy there. Then I went to Gloucester, and raised a company. In the Spring, was ordered to the Northern army, where Col. Brooks ap- pointed me captain of the Light Infantry company in his regiment, the Eighth Massachusetts. Was in all the actions until the surrender of Burgoyne, in- cluding the storming of the works at Saratoga."
The next winter we find Capt. Burnham, in Washington's army at Valley Forge ; and in the following campaign in the engagement at Monmouth, and in the storming of Stony Point, in which daring and successful assault, he was the second in command in his regiment. In the campaign of 1780, he served first under Lafayette, and then under Gen. Greene. In the siege of Yorktown, "I had the honor to be in a party under Col. Alexander Ham- ilton, which stormed one of the two batteries, which were first taken from the British." Early in 1782, his regiment was quartered near the Hudson River. On one occasion while there, it was paraded for inspection by Baron Steuben, the Inspector General. After the other formalities of the inspection, " he told me to order my company to 'search arms.' At the word, the men opened pans, drew ramrods, and letting them down with a little force, they rebounded very well. The Baron lifted up both hands, and exclaimed, ' Mine Gott ! It is all silver.' He then said to the officers with him, ' Come here and help me admire this companie.' Next, turning to me, he said, ' You need not show me your books. I will not inspect your companie. I will admire it.'" The general orders, of the day following a general review of the army, soon after, contained this high compliment. " The commander- in-chief, (Washington) did not think he ever saw a company under arms, make a more soldier-like and military appearance than did the Light In- fantry company of the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment." His Colonel (Brooks, afterwards Governor of Massachusetts) subsequently said, " I knew Capt. Burnham well. He was one of the best disciplinarians and most gal-
*The year before his death, being then totally blind but with mental faculties unimpaired, he dictated a narrative of his experiences in the war, the whole of which is of thrilling interest, and which was published in the Farmers' Monthly Visitor, Manchester, N. H., in 1852.
351
MAJ. JOHN BURNHAM.
1820-1868.]
lant officers of the Revolution." Gen. and Gov. Pierce, (father of ex-Pres- ident Pierce,) also said, " Capt. John Burnham was a most excellent disci- plinarian. He was not second to any man in the army of his rank. Duty, with him, superseded every other consideration. I was in the Eighth Regi- ment with him about six years, and a witness to his indefatigable services." On the 9th of January, 1783, " after having commanded this beautiful com- panie six years, and been with them in every action, I was commissioned Major." January 1, 1784, he was discharged, when the last regiments were disbanded ; leaving behind him a record of service for his country, of which his family and his native Chebacco may well be proud.
After the close of the war, Maj. Burnham married Abby Collins of Gloucester, and for a time lived on the same homestead as his ancestor, Dea. John Burnham, the first settler. Towards the close of the last century he removed to Derry. In 1798, he was dismissed from the Chebacco church to the church then about to be formed in that place, and in 1810 was chosen deacon of it. He died June 8, 1843, aged 94. His children were six in number, Samuel, John, George, and three daughters, one of whom, Mrs. Abigail, wife of Jonathan Ireland, Esq., of Dunbarton, is still living. Maj. Burnham is remembered in Derry, as a robust, soldierly-looking man; and by those most compe- tent to judge, was very highly esteemed as a man of well- balanced and vigorous mind, unflinching integrity and decision, of unblemished moral character and a stern pa- triot. He has left a precious memory in the town of his adoption.
Of the other emigrants to Derry, the following facts have been collected :
James Choate, who served under Maj. Burnham, was a son of Humphrey Choate. After the battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776, when Washing- ton's army was to effect a retreat by water, under cover of night, from close proximity to a victorious enemy, he was one of those who were " detailed for boat service, being so much of a sea-boy," and aided in rowing the troops across from Brooklyn to New York. Of the scenes of that night, (August 29,) he was wont to give his children vivid descriptions in after years, as he would also of the execution of Andre, which he witnessed. Mr. Choate married a Miss Perkins of Chebacco, and removed to Derry in February, 1786. He was selectman seven years, and filled other important offices. Two of his
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HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 6.
sons, Nehemiah and Humphrey, are still living. William Choate was a second cousin of James, and married his sister. He was several times rep- resentative to the Legislature, and was often moderator of town meetings and selectman. His son William, still living, was for nearly a quarter of a cen- tury moderator of town meetings, treasurer of Pinkerton Academy, and in all town affairs a very active citizen. Aaron Choate was a first cousin of James, and they married sisters. He was also a soldier of the Revolution. He went to Derry a little later than James, and like him was prominent in civil affairs.
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