USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Essex > History of the town of Essex : from 1634 to 1868 > Part 33
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Among the emigrants from Chebacco to various other parts of the country, who have not been already mentioned in this history, was Jonathan Burnham, a son of Jonathan Jr., and Elizabeth Procter Burnham, and a first cousin of the late Capt. Nathaniel Burnham. He was born in 1738. He removed to Rye, N. H., and entered the Revolutionary army from that town. During the war he rose to the rank of Colonel ; and through life was "a man much re- spected and of much influence." He died in Salisbury, Mass., March 17, 1823.
THE CLAM BUSINESS.
For the last twenty years about fifty men and boys have been employed chiefly in the Spring and Fall, in digging clams for fishing-bait. For this purpose the clam-flats in each town, are, by law, free to all its residents, and to no others. Five bushels of clams in the shell, it is usually reckoned, make one bushel of "meats ;" about two and a half bushels of the latter are put into each barrel, and this quantity an able-bodied man can dig in three tides. One bushel of dry salt is used for each barrel. During this period of twenty years, about two thousand barrels of clams have been dug yearly, on the average and sold at an average price of six dollars per barrel. Deducting for the cost of the barrel $1.00, and of the salt for it $0.75, the sum of $4.25 per barrel or $8,500 per year has been earned in this business. The bait is marketed chiefly in Gloucester.
1866. August 31st, died Capt. Winthrop Low. The following sketch of his life and character appeared not long after in the Salem Register :
" Notwithstanding the lapse of time since the decease of Capt. Low, the writer of this sketch is unwilling that his memory should pass quite away, without one small effort to prevent it. Nearly the whole of his fourscore
353
CAPTAIN WINTHROP LOW.
1820-1868.]
years having been passed in his native village, and his habits having been so eminently social, he was a man whom everybody knew, and with more truth- fulness than perhaps is common, it may be said, his loss is one which many will regret.
" In early life Mr. Low was for a time a student at Atkinson Academy, and subsequently, an instructor in the common school. The retirement and oceupations of his father's farm, however, were more congenial with his feelings, ever taking time, however, to inform himself fully on matters of publie inter- est. He was a constant reader even in his youth, of the ablest Boston papers, selecting them with the greatest care. His reading subsequently, however, was by no means confined to the issues of the newspaper press ; this, the monthlies upon his table and the. substantial volumes in his library, abun- dantly show. In a knowledge of the publie finances, both of the State and the nation, it is believed that few were his superiors, and in relation to the theory of government, few it is believed had studied it more assiduously than he.
".The social character of our friend, before referred to, led him to enjoy the discussion of such subjeets as from time to time agitated the publie mind, whether relating to political, moral or educational interests. He was among the firmest friends of Common Schools, acting at times upon the town school committee, and at other times visiting them unofficially. It was about the year 1837, when visiting at Claxton and Wightman's, makers of philosophical in- struments, in company with the writer, that Capt. Low purchased from his own ample funds, a fine case of valuable instruments, which he presented to the Central School in Essex, thus supplying a great necessity and affording facilities for advanced scholars, altogether unknown in the town before.
" One of the noblest chapters in the life of our friend, is that which re- lates to the stand taken by him in the early days of the temperance reform. It was near the commencement of Mr. Goodell's labors, that he presented the subject in Essex, and it may be said too, it was a time when it cost some- thing to raise the temperance flag. When volunteers were called for by Mr. Goodell, at the elose of his address, the first man to rise was Capt. Winthrop Low, followed by six more only, at that time. He never re- ceded from the ground then taken, either in theory or practice, to the last hour of his life, except to make the rule more stringent and comprehensive.
" Capt. Low was a consistent, liberal. supporter of the institutions of re- ligion, according to what is usually called the orthodox faith. Ministers of the gospel were welcome at his house ; indeed for several years last past, his doors were opened to the weekly prayer meeting in its turn.
" His mind was well stored with Bible truth, having always been as wake- ful a hearer, as he was careful a reader. His power of attention was so great, even in his childhood, that he could recolleet particular expressions in the prayers of Rev. Mr. Cleaveland, uttered sixty years before, and repeat them as he did to a grandson of Mr. C., but a short time before he died. In cul-
45
354
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 6.
tivating this power of attention, our departed friend was certainly an example worthy of imitation by all young people.
" I have spoken of Capt. L's fondness for discussion ; but it should not be forgotten or misunderstood, that although he was often earnest and even ardent, it by no means follows that he was passionate. A tendency in this direction is somewhat natural to man, perhaps, and it is not improbable that even he may have found it needful to guard against it. As bearing upon this point, and at the same time expressing a desire paramount in importance to all others, I present the following slip found amongst his papers, and be- lieve it will be regarded by all his friends, now that he is gone, as of inex- pressible value :
"'1818, June 21. I hereby promise through God's assistance, to live in peace with all men. May He be pleased to give me that peace of mind and that hope of a glorious immortality, which is rather to be chosen above all the riches and honors that can be conferred upon me by my fellow-men. WINTHROP LOW.'
" Mention has already been made of Mr. Low's knowledge of the Bible. He usually read without a commentary, not that he undervalued such aids, having had Scott at least always at hand ; but he appeared to prefer the language of the Bible itself. And it was remarked by his watchers and others, in his last illness, that his quotations of scripture were given with verbal accuracy.
" As Capt. Low strongly felt for, and sympathized with the sick and sor- rowful, so he in turn received the sympathies and kind offices of his family and friends in his last sickness with deep gratitude. But he is gone ; and though the. places that once knew him will know him no more, yet there are few who knew him that will soon forget the kind and benevolent heart of Capt. Winthrop Low. He died at the good old age of 81 years, much respected and lamented."
FAMILY RELICS.
In the possession of Capt. Low's family is a cane with a head of bone, encircled by a broad band of silver where it is joined to the cane, which was brought from England. On it is this inscription, " Owned in ye Family, Engª about 1573; D. L., U. America, March 14, 1803." But the most highly prized memorial of antiquity owned by Capt. Low was a copy of the Scriptures printed in 1579, pp. 554, quarto, brought to this country by Capt. John Low and handed down in the family from father to son as an heir-loom. It is, therefore, nearly three hundred years of age, and is undoubtedly the oldest bible in town. " It is what is called the Geneva edition, and was trans- lated by Miles Coverdale, one of the earliest of the English reformers, Wil- liam Whittingham, and other eminent Hebrew scholars. They were more than two years in completing the version, and they very closely adhere to the original tongues. The 23d Psalm commences thus :
"'1. The Lord is my Shepeheard, I shal not want. 2. He maketh me to rest in greene pasture, & leadeth me by the stil waters.'
355
THE GREAT BRIDGE.
1820-1868.]
" The title-page and several leaves at the beginning are missing, but at the close of the Gospels the printer has given his name and the date of publica- tion, of which the following is a fac simile :
Imprinted at Lon- don by Chriftopher Barker, Printer to the Queenes moft excellent Maieftie dwelling in Paternofter Rowe, at the figne of the Tygres head Anno 1579.
" Besides the Scriptures, the book contains the celebrated version of the Psalms in meter, by Sternhold & Hopkins-a rare curiosity-under the fol- lowing title : The whole Booke of Psalmes collected into English metre by Thom. Stern, John Hopkins and others, conferred with the Ebrue, with apt . notes to sing them withal. At London, Printed by John Daye, dwelling over Aldersgate. An. 1578. Cum Privilegio Regiae Majestatis.
"This in part, was the music our forefathers sung. Among the tunes, which are in diamond notes, and consist of the air only, is the ' Old Hundredth,' written nearly as we now sing it. The version of the 18th Psalm which has greatly puzzled the wits of the critics and which one of them avowed that he would rather have made, than to have been Emperor of Brazil, has the two following stanzas which are still retained in some of our hymnals :
'The Lord descended from above, and bowed the heavens hye, And underneath his feete he cast the darkness of the sky ; On cherubes & on cherubins full royally he rode, And on the winges of all the windes came flying all abroade.'
"The volume is also enriched with various comments, tables, indices, etc., which attest the skill and laudable painstaking of the learned translators. It has, also, a valuable chronological record under the following quaint title : "'A perfite supputation of the yeeres and times from the creation of the world vnto this present yeere of our Lord God 1578.'"'
On the blank leaves of the book are written the following names : " Susana Low her Book 1677, May 19;" " Thomas Low his Book " (apparently written about the same time) ; "Samuel Low," and "John Low."
THE GREAT BRIDGE.
The third " great bridge " on the present site was built by Mr. Uriah G. Spofford. The first one, which had no draw, was built in 1811 by order of the Court of Sessions
356
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 6.
by Moody Spofford, Esq., of Georgetown. Up to that time the bridge and the course of the highway had been north- east of the space now occupied by the mills. 'In 1823 a second bridge with a draw twenty-four feet wide, was built by Jonathan Story, Esq. In 1842, all above the piers of this bridge was built anew by Mr. John Choate.
In re-building this year (1866), the abutments remained the same. On the old mud-sills which were two feet four. inches below low water-mark, a new foundation consisting of ten sticks of timber, six of them twenty-two feet long, fourteen inches wide and ten inches thick, was laid across the river, and bolted to the old timbers. Four sills cach thirty-five feet in length, twelve inches thick and sixteen inches wide, were placed on this new foundation and secured by bolts, the vacancies between the timbers filled with stone and gravel, and the whole ballasted with stone.
The frame of the bridge consists of four piers, each having three posts, two of which are ten inches by twelve, and the third ten inches by ten, a cap twelve inches by fourteen, and one tier of girts ten inches by ten. The gird- ers from pier to pier are also ten inches by ten, and there are seventy-two braces in all, each four inches by six. Every part of the frame is of oak, and the timbers are pinned together by seasoned locust pins one and one- eighth inches in diameter. The covering timbers are of the best pine, seven inches by sixteen, except the draw-timbers which are nine inches by fourteen.
The roadway is covered with four-inch spruce plank, and on the sides has a tight board fence. The draw is hoisted in the same manner as before. The length of the bridge between the abutments is seventy-two feet ; the roadway is fifteen feet above the foundation, and twenty-four feet in width, except the draw, which is twenty feet eight inches in width. The cost of the structure was $3,800.
The chief improvement over the old bridge consists in a nearly level roadway, the rise being only four inches. The idea of this was first suggested by D. W. Bartlett, Esq., and the application of it made by the builder. The draw hangings were also invented as well as constructed by Mr. Spofford, the peculiar features being a truss timber ,attached to each draw-timber underneath, and another on the top of each outside draw-timber at the end where they meet.
1867. October 12th, Richardson's Hall was dedicated. It is situated in the Central Village near the junction of the three roads to Ipswich, Gloucester and Hamilton, its
357
FALLS SCHOOL-HOUSE.
1820-1868.]
dimensions are thirty-five by fifty feet, and the cost of the building was $5,000.
December 5th occurred the dedication of a new school- house in the Falls District. This building is located upon the northerly side of the highway leading from Essex to Hamilton, and opposite the entrance to the road lead- ing to the "landing." It is thirty-one feet in width by forty-one feet in length, and two stories in hight ; was com- menced May 9, 1867, and finished November 25th. The builder was Mr. Procter P. Perkins. The cost of the land on which it was erected was $402.50; of the foundation, $360; of the building itself, $3,750; of the fencing and grading, the stoves and other furniture, the blinds and bell, such as to make the whole expenditure nearly $6,000. The two school-rooms contained in it are each thirty feet square, and together can conveniently accommodate one hundred and twenty scholars. The number of pupils in attendance in both departments on the opening of the building for school purposes, was one hundred and twelve. Capt. Francis Burnham presided at the meeting convened for the dedication of the house, assisted by Mr. Perkins Story and Capt. David Low as vice-presidents. The exer- cises were as follows :
Introductory address by the President ; singing by a choir consisting of Nehemiah Burnham Esq., Mr. Coeleb Burnham, Mrs. Lucy M. Burnhamn, Mrs. Mary F. Morris and Miss Susan E. Story ; Historical sketch by Mr. Nathaniel Burnham ; Singing; Poem by Mr. Coeleb Burnham; Singing ; Dedicatory address by Mr. Michael Burnham ; Reading of letters from Wil- liam W. Pendergast, Esq., of Hutchinson, Minn., Capt. Samuel Burnham and Hon. David Choate ; Dedicatory prayer by Rev. J. M. Bacon ; Singing of " America " by the audience.
1868. Daniel W. Bartlett, Esq., was appointed post- master, July 1st, and the post office removed to Richard- son's building on Martin street.
CHAPTER VII.
THE DOINGS OF THE TOWN WITH REFERENCE TO THE WAR OF THE REBELLION,
WITH SKETCHES OF THE SOLDIERS,
COLLECTED FROM THEM, EITHER VERBALLY OR IN WRITING.
BY HON. DAVID CHOATE.
[SOME account of the doings of the Town, and of the soldiers it has furnished, during the late Rebellion, will form an appropriate close to the foregoing History. And it may properly be premised, that in speaking or writing of passing or recent events, DIFFICULTIES must obviously be encountered, entirely unknown and unfelt when dealing with the dead past. And in speaking of PERSONS, reading, thinking persons, the difficulties referred to, are immeasurably augmented, for reasons too obvious to require explanation. The simple fact that one soldier may have but a small space assigned to him, while another, no more meritorions perhaps, may have pages as- signed to him, may sometimes call forth criticisms and perhaps denunciations. A little reflection, however, will show that, for nearly every sketch of those now living, the compiler, from the nature of the case, must be beholden to the soldier himself or his personal friends ; and further, that while many of our brave men kept no journal of events, others did keep them, and more or less full and copious according to their opportunities and fancies. Nothing, therefore, is to be inferred on the score of com- parative merit, from the amount of space allotted to different men. Of some, even the briefest descriptions have been drawn out only after repeated solicitations, while others have furnished statements cheerfully and more fully than could be inserted.
But the difficulties of arrangement have also been quite as insuperable. Like the author of the " Great Rebellion," we must say that "being compelled to write the sketches of the soldiers, just as the materials presented themselves, or could be found, all regard to arrangement was abandoned of necessity." Some substitute for this may be found in the Summary or Recapitulation forming an Index to this chapter ; but such have been the difficulties in this ease, that the compiler can only hope that a generous indulgence will be conceded by every reader, and especially by the soldiers themselves, or their surviving friends.]
THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
It was not until the 3d of May, 1861, that the Presi- dent issued his call for volunteers for three years or during the war. Massachusetts was requested to furnish three regiments of this number; and such was the patriotic ardor in the State, that Gov. Andrew urgently requested that he might be allowed to double that number. The
359
THE FIRST VOLUNTEERS.
1861-1865.]
number of regiments was accordingly increased to seven. And on the 17th of June, 1861, ten more regiments having been offered by the State, were accepted by the general government, and they were all put into the field by the 8th of October in the same year. Under the above men- tioned call, the following named persons, forty-eight in number, enlisted from Essex, viz .:
Andrews, Charles E. Butman, John C.
Lee, John E.
Andrews, Cyrus
Claiborne, George C.
Low, William B.
Andrews, Mon. Misson
Clifford, David E.
Low, William E.
Andrews, Prince A.
Coose, William D.
Lufkin, Charles P.
Andrews, Reuben Crafts, John, Jr.
Lufkin, William
Andrews, Stephen P.
Dodge, George
Martyn, Jolın L.
Andrews, William A.
Duggan, Daniel
MeIntire, Edward E.
Burnham, Harlan P.
Hardy, George C.
Mears, Henry C.
Burnham, John B.
Haskell, James Frederic
Morse, Charles F.
Burnham, Mark F.
Haskell, William P.
Morse, Thomas A.
Burnham, R. W., Jr.
Hatch, Jason
Ross, George
Burnham, Rufus
Hayden, William
Sargent, George H.
Burnham, William H.
Howard, William S.
Sargent, O. H. P.
Burnham, William H. H. Howes, Edwin A.
Story, Aaron Herbert
Burnham, Zenas
Howes, Erastus
Swett, Simeon
Butman, Ancill K.
Jones, Samuel Q.
Wentworth, George S.
TOWN ACTION.
At a legal town meeting on the 17th of June, 1861, it was voted to pay the sum of $1.50 per week to the wife and each of the children, under sixteen years of age, of any inhabitant of the town who has been, or may here- after be, mustered into the military or naval service of the United States, and a like sum to any child, parent, brother or sister of such inhabitant, who, at the time of his enlistment, were dependent on him for support. Also voted to appropriate $1,000 to carry this vote into effect.
Another meeting of the town to aid the families of volunteers was held July 27, 1861, at which it was voted, -agrecably to a report made by O. H. P. Sargent, U. G. Spofford, Oliver Burnham, D. W. Bartlett and Moses Knowlton, Jr., being a committee previously appointed for that purpose,-to pay to any single person dependent
·
360
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 7.
on the volunteer for support, two dollars per week; for two persons, three dollars per week; for three persons, four dollars per week; for four persons, four dollars and fifty cents per week; for five persons, five dollars per week, and provided that in no case shall any family receive more than five dollars per week. And the votes passed at the meeting on the 17th of June, (above recorded) were reconsidered.
On the Ist of June, 1862, a company of cadets from Boston, and a company from Salem, were ordered to Fort Warren to do garrison duty for six months. Capt. Staten of the Salem company received orders to recruit his com- pany with volunteers, and the following named persons volunteered into his company from Essex, viz:
Allen, Joseph G. Bartlett, Jacob Gilbert, John F.
Andrews, Alburn
Burnham, Alfred M. Howes, Webster
Andrews, Ira, Jr. Burnham, Jesse Low, Edward
Andrews, William H. Burnham, Otis MeIntire, William H.
They were ordered to Fort Warren in Boston Harbor on the 30th of June, 1862, for six months.
THE PRESIDENT'S NEXT CALL FOR THREE HUN- DRED THOUSAND MEN.
On the 1st day of July, 1862, President Lincoln issued his next call for volunteers to form new regiments and to fill old ones.
TOWN ACTION.
A town meeting was held on the 21st of July, 1862, " to see what action the town would take to encourage enlistments ;" whereupon, it was voted that a bounty of $150 be paid to each man who should enlist under the President's .call. The following persons enlisted and re- ceived the bounty of $150, viz. :
Andrews, Horatio N. Burnham, David B.
Burnham, Wilbur
Andrews, Timothy, Jr.
Burnham, George S.
Channel, John C.
Burnham, Albert F. Burnham, George W.
Coy, Michael
Burnham, Charles A.
Burnham, James Horace Dodge, William G.
Burnham, Daniel Burnham, Osgood E. Guppy, George F.
1861-1865.]
ENLISTMENTS.
361
Hart, John F.
Mears, Rufus E.
Story, David L.
Haskell, Albert A.
Mears, Samuel, Jr.
Tucker, Joseph W.
Hull, William H.
Parsons, John J.
Varnum, John
Jones, John S.
Poland, Jeremiah, Jr.
Wentworth, George S.
THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST ORDER TO DRAFT THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN.
On the 4th of August, 1862, the President, by procla- mation, ordered a draft of three hundred thousand militia to be immediately called into service.
TOWN ACTION.
. A meeting was held agreeably to legal notice, "to see what action the town would take to fill its quota." It was voted to pay a bounty of $200 to each man, the town's quota being thirty-two, and the following named persons enlisted, pursuant to the President's said call, and to the action of the town, viz. :
Andrews, Israel F. Chase, Lyman B.
Kimball, James B.
Andrews, Lyman B.
Crafts, Franklin
Low, Aaron
Burnham, Albert F. Crafts, John, Jr.
Mahoney, Thomas
Burnham, George F., 2d
Crockett, Charles P. Marston, Charles, Jr.
Burnham, Horace Duggan, Morty
McEachen, John
Burnham, Ira F. Burnham, Lamont G. Hayden, Luther Prest, Robert
Hardy, Alphonso M.
Mears, Francis Gilbert
Burnham, Leonard Howes, Charles Procter, Charles W.
Burnham, Lewis Jackson, Andrew
Procter, Joseph, Jr.
Callehan, Maurice
Callehan, Daniel James, Washington W. Riggs, Solomon A. Kelleher, John
In order to a continuous history of the town in its con- nection with the Rebellion, it may be stated that in the case of this draft, the quota of the State was nineteen thousand, instead of fifteen thousand as before. Gov. Andrew consequently issued an additional order for twenty-six more men from this town. Upon ascertain- ing, however, that the State quota was filled, the Govern- or released the town from responding further. Previ- ously to the filling of the State quota, the town had taken action at a legal meeting for that purpose, and promptly
46
Lander, Edward L.
Story, Asa
362
HISTORY OF ESSEX.
[CHAP. 7.
voted $200 each for the twenty-six men additional, mak- ing $5,200, and placed the same in the Governor's hands for the purpose of securing the extra enlistments above. On discovering the State quota to be full, as before stated, the money was refunded to the town.
SECOND DRAFT OF THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND.
This draft took place July 8, 1863, and the Essex quota was forty-seven ; being one hundred per cent. in addition to the town's true number of twenty-three. The following persons were drafted, to wit :
Adams, Moses -
- Hired substitute.
Andrews, Albert
- Accepted, and sent to the war.
Andrews, Edward N. -
- Exempted.
Andrews, Elias C.
- Exempted.
Andrews, Ezra -
- Exempted.
Andrews, Frederic Sanborn -
- Hired substitute.
Annable, Elisha B.
- Exempted.
Annable, John J.
- Exempted.
Burnham, Daniel
- Accepted, and sent to the war. .
Burnham, Franklin
- Paid commutation.
Burnham, Francis C. -
- Exempted for physical disability.
Burnham, James Howe
- Accepted, and sent to the war.
Burnham, Leander -
- Exempted.
Burnham, Luke Roswell
Exempted for disability and hemoptysis.
Burnham, Nathaniel -
- Exempted.
Burnham, Nehemiah -
Hired substitute.
Burnham, William A.
- Hired substitute.
Burnham, Zenas
· Exempted.
Channel, John C.
· Exempted.
Choate, Francis,
Hired substitute.
Choate, William C.
- Hired substitute.
Cogswell, Charles Berry
- Exempted.
Cogswell, Daniel Webster
- Hired substitute. [physical disability.
Haskell, Francis P.
- Exempted for physical disability.
- Exempted for physical disability.
Haskell, Stephen
- Exempted.
James, John F. -
- Exempted.
Lufkin, Albert E.
- Joined heavy artillery.
Guppy, George F. Haskell, David L.
- Accepted, but afterwards discharged for
- Exempted for physical disability.
Haskell, Oliver S.
- Joined heavy artillery, unattached.
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