USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Medford > History of the town of Medford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1630 to 1855 > Part 39
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 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
Immediately on the passage of this Act, the town pro- ceeded, April 2, 1798, to a new step, indicated in the fol- lowing vote: "Voted that the town will let out their fishing-grounds to the highest bidder the present year."' While this vote was based upon the original right of the town to the fisheries within its borders, some minor ques- tions arose, which led the inhabitants, at the same meet -. ing, to choose a committee to inquire into the rights of the town to the fishing-grounds. The result was, that, Jan. 21, 1803, the town "voted that a petition be pre- sented to the General Court, at their present session, to enable the town to let out the right of taking fish in Mys- tic River, within the limits of the town." The Legisla- ture granted the petition ; and Medford then divided the fishing-districts thus : " First, from Charlestown and Mal- den line to Medford Bridge; second, from the bridge to the beach opposite James Tufts's barn; third, from the above-named beach to the Charlestown line westerly."
418
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Among the earliest fishermen were John Cutter, Jona- than Tufts, and Benjamin Teel. In 1803 Cutter paid 'sixty-five dollars, Tufts thirteen dollars, and Teel thirteen dollars, for the right of fishing.
John Cutter fished near the "Dike," or "Labor in Vain ; " Isaac Tufts fished from the bridge to Rock Hill ; and Captain Samuel Teel and his nephew, from Rock Hill to the pond. The names of the fishermen are sel- dom given in the records. Charles, Simon, and Seth Tufts are there.
In accordance with the decision of the Legislature, the town voted, March 14, 1803, to sell their right of fishing in Mystic River. It was sold for ninety-one dollars, at public auction. The next year it was sold, in the same manner, for one hundred and six dollars ; and this equita- ble mode of disposing of it became established, and the premium offered continued for several years to increase.
The vote of the town was generally thus, as on March I, 1824 : "Voted that the selectmen be appointed a com- mittee to dispose of the privilege of taking shad and ale- wives within the limits of said town the ensuing season." In 1855 Joseph L. Wheeler bought the " upper reach," from Marble Brook to the pond, for $27.50 per annum ; and James Rogers bought the "lower reach," from Mar- ble Brook to the eastern border of the town, for $122.50 per annum.
The shad and alewives were abundant till 1815 or 1820, when they began gradually to withhold their visits. A writer says, that, about the year 1800, it was common to take fifteen hundred shad annually at "Little River" (near Fresh Pond), but that in 1852 there was not one taken ; and that, proportionally, a similar statement might be made concerning alewives.
Nothing can frighten alewives, but the shad is an ex- ceedingly shy and timid fish. Its disappearance from our river is therefore attributed to the terrific noises made by railroad cars, as they cross the Mystic at Charlestown. The largest number of alewives taken by one draught from Mystic River was in 1844; and they counted some few more than fifty-eight thousand ! We once saw taken, by one draught from this river, shad sufficient to fill six horse- carts. In Mystic River the bass have wholly disappeared ; though there are those living who remember to have seen them plenty, and some of them weighing more than thirty pounds.
1
419
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
In 1776 a negro, named Prince, was at work on the bank of the river, opposite the shallow where the ford was, a few rods above the bridge, when he saw an enormous bass swimming very slowly up the river. The tide was inconveniently low for the bass, but conveniently low for the negro. Plunge went Prince for the fish, and caught him ! No sooner was he out of the water than a desperate spring, such as fishes can give, released him from hi's cap- tor ; and back he falls into his native element. Quick as a steel-trap, Prince springs upon him again, and again clutches him and lifts him up. The fish struggles, and Prince and fish fall together. Again Prince rises, with his prize in his arms, and then brings him ashore. It weighed sixty-five pounds. Prince thought that such a wonderful fish should be presented to the commander of the Ameri- can forces then stationed on Winter Hill. His master thought so too. Accordingly Prince dressed himself in his best clothes, and, taking the fish in a cart, presented it to the commander, and told the history of its capture ; and the commander gave him six cents !
The shad, of late years, have not been abundant ; only forty or fifty taken during a season. The number of ale- wives has also greatly diminished. Smelts continue to make their annual spring visit in undiminished numbers ; and when, for noblest ends, they stealthily enter our creeks and little streams, they are watched by the hungry boys, who for sport or profit, drive them into their scoop- nets by dozens. In this town, they do not let enough escape to keep the race alive ; and if, in all other towns, they were so destroyed, this beautiful and delicious fish would become extinct among us.
In Mystic Pond, there are few fish at present. The fresh-water perch, which appear in the sun like a frag- ment of a rainbow shooting through the water, are the most numerous. The bream are not uncommon, but their size is very small. The tomcod come to winter there, and are easily taken thus: Some ten or twelve of them gather about a small stone, very near the shore, and each makes its nose to touch the stone. The fisherman sees this unfrightened family circle quietly reposing; and he suddenly and strongly strikes the ice with an axe, directly over the unsuspecting group. 'The blow stuns the fish ; and he quickly cuts a hole, and takes them all out. Of minnows there are scarcely any, owing to the
1
420
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
presence of that fresh-water shark, the pickerel. Eels are taken in winter by means of forked irons, thrust into the mud through holes in the ice; and smelts are taken at the same time, in the river near Charlestown, by means of the common hook.
Oyster-fishing is another branch of trade carried on from Mystic River. In the early settlement of our town, oysters were extensively used as food, and they were easily taken. They so far abounded in that part of the river which is now between Mystic Avenue river-wall and Malden Bridge, that they obstructed navigation. Mr. Wood, speaking, in 1633, of these hinderances, has these words : "Ships, without either ballast or lading, may float down this (Mystic) river ; otherwise, the oyster-bank would, hinder them, which crosseth the channel." This oyster-bank is one of those unfortunate institutions whose fate it has been to be often "run upon," and on which the " draughts" have been so much greater than the "de- posits" that it long ago became bankrupt ; yet, like an honest tradesman, it has never despaired, and within the present century has made some fair dividends.
Lobsters have not frequented our river in great num- bers ; but in 1854 they came up in large companies as far as Chelsea Bridge, and in the warm month of October more than two thousand, of prime quality, were taken from that bridge.
The names of all the fishermen in Medford cannot be recovered ; but, among them, there have been men of that great energy which secures success.
The fish found their market chiefly in Boston; and were sometimes cured, and sent in barrels to the Southern States, as food for slaves, or to the West Indies for com- mon consumption. Many were smoked, after the manner of herring, and eaten in New England; many more were used as bait for cod-fishing on the Banks. Alewives, in early times, were sometimes used as manure; and shad were salted in tubs, and eaten in the winter.
The income from these fisheries may not have been very large, unless we count the support which fish fur- nished as food; and, in such case, we apprehend the income was great indeed. They gave a needed and most welcome variety in that brief list of eatables with which our fathers were wont to be contented.
In 1829, by the enterprise of Mr. John Bishop, the busi-
OCEAN EXPRESS.
-
----
421
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
ness of mackerel-fishing was attempted. Some of the finest schooners from the fleets of Hingham were pur- chased, and fitted out in amplest order. Three schooners were built in Medford for this service. But, before two years had elapsed, it was found impossible to compete with Plymouth, Hingham, Gloucester, and Boston. In those places, barrels and salt were cheaper than at Med- ford, and the common market more accessible, especially in winter.
Fishing continued in Mystic River till about 1865, the town selling the right, and realizing about two hundred dollars per year. At that time fishing in the river was temporarily suspended, as an effort was being made by the State authorities to re-stock the stream with fish. The undertaking was attended by a considerable degree of suc- cess, and would doubtless have realized all the hopes of its projectors, but for the constant pollution of the waters of the river by the inflow of sewage from neighboring towns.
SHIP-BUILDING.
Governor Winthrop sailed from Cowes, in England, on Thursday, April 8, 1630. On Saturday, June 12, he reached Boston Bay ; and, on the 17th of that month, he makes the following record: "Went up Mistick River about six miles."
To this heroic and Christian adventurer belongs the honor of building the first vessel whose keel was laid in this part of the Western World ; and that vessel was built on the bank of Mystic River, and probably not far from the governor's house at "Ten Hills." There is a tradi- tion that it was built on the north shore of the river, and therefore within the limits of Medford. The record con- cerning it is as follows: July 4, 1631. The governor built a bark at Mistick, which was launched this day, and called 'THE BLESSING OF THE BAY.' ".
"Aug. 9, the same year, the governor's bark, being of thirty tons, went to sea."
It cost one hundred and forty-five pounds. The owner said of it, May 16, 1636, " I will sell her for one hundred and sixty pounds."
The second year (1632) witnessed another vessel built by Mr. Cradock on the bank of the Mystic, whose register was a hundred tons. In 1533 a ship of two hundred tons
422
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
was built ; and another, named " Rebecca," tonnage unknown : both built by Mr. Cradock. Mr. William Wood, in 1633, writes : "Mr. Cradock is here at charges of building ships. The last year, one was upon the stocks of a hundred tons : that being finished, they are to build twice her burden." There is reason to believe that Mr. Cradock's shipyard was that recently occupied by Mr. J. T. Foster.
That large vessels could float in the river, had been proved by the governor, who may be called the first navi- gator of our narrow and winding stream. The long pas- sages made by these schooners prove to us, that their form and rig were not after the model and fashion of our day. One of them was "six weeks going to Virginea."
There is a tradition, probably founded on fact, that small sloops, called lighters, fit for the river navigation, were built in the very early times at the "landing " near " Rock Hill," in West Medford. At a later day, one of these was built there by Mr. Rhodes of Boston, and called "The Mayflower," in honor of that vessel of one hundred and eighty tons, which came across the Atlantic freighted to the full with religion and liberty, and which landed our Pilgrim Fathers on the Rock of Plymouth. The registers of this small craft are lost, if they ever existed ; as no trace of them can be found in the records of the Custom House at Boston, or in those of the Secretary of the Navy at Washington. This business of ship-building, begin- ning in 1631, and increasing annually for several years, required many men, who required houses and food within the town.
" Oct. 7, 1641 : General Court. - Whereas the country is now in hand with the building of ships, which is a business of great impor- tance for the common good, and therefore suitable care is to be taken that it be well performed ; it is therefore ordered, that, when any ship is to be built within this jurisdiction, it shall be lawful for the owners to appoint and put in some able man to survey the work and workmen from time to time, to see that it be performed and carried on accord- ing to the rules of their art."
May 29, 1644, the General Court proposed the forma- tion of a company of ship-builders, "with power to regu- late the building of ships, and to make such orders and laws amongst themselves as may conduce to the public good."
Mystic River, having no fatal shoals or rocks within it,
----
1
S art. 20
Thatcher Magaun
423
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
permits the passage of an empty ship of twenty-five hun- dred tons at the highest tides. If we can suppose a sea- serpent to have started from Charlestown for a visit to the country, and a small stream of tide-water to have followed him in his explorations, we can imagine him thus marking out by his many and sudden windings the course of our river from Boston Bay to Mystic Pond, -rendering it thus serpentine in order to present the best accommoda- tions to the greatest number of ship-builders. Where can a little river be found that will afford convenient sites for ten large shipyards within one mile's distance? When, in one of these yards, we have seen from one to three ves- sels on the stocks at the same time, and have listened to that well-known, busy hum that comes from the boring of augers, the cutting of saws, and the driving of bolts, we have felt that a more glorious exhibition of human indus- try could nowhere be witnessed. To the gentlemen who have been at the head of this great enterprise, Medford was deeply indebted. The names of Magoun, Turner, Lapham, Sprague, James, Fuller, Rogers, Stetson, Water- man, Ewell, Curtis, Foster, Taylor, and others, will be held in grateful remembrance for many generations.
Mr. Calvin Turner was esteemed as one of the most skilful and accurate draughtsmen, as well as one of the most faithful builders, in New England. His yard was opposite Cross Street. "He came to Medford in 1804, and rapidly acquired reputation by his genius and fidelity.
Mr. George Bryant Lapham was among the earliest comers connected with ship-building here. By patient in- dustry, sound judgment, and unobtrusive merit, he won confidence, and commanded respect. The same may be said of the other builders : they were all men of excellent business qualities, and by their honorable dealing won the respect of their employees, and the confidence of the public.
Of the pioneer in this eventful movement of ship-build- ing, we may take the liberty of stating a few facts, as they belong to the history of the town.
Thatcher Magoun, Esq., was born in Pembroke, Mass., June 17, 1775, -that red-letter day in Freedom's calen- dar. He early chose the trade of a ship-carpenter, and served his time with Mr. Enos Briggs, at Salem, where he worked five years. He was fond of being in the " mould- room," and soon showed good reasons for his predilection.
424
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
From Salem, he went to Mr. Barker's yard, in Charlestown (the present Navy Yard), where he worked and studied two years, and assisted in modelling. There he made the model of the first vessel he built, which was the " Mount Ætna," of Medford. In 1802 he began to look about him for a place in which he might safely begin, on his own account, the business which was the darling choice of his life. An accident, so called in the world's language, led him, one pleasant day, on a stroll upon Win- ter Hill ; and standing on one of those mounds of earth thrown up by our patriot soldiers, probably on the day he was born, for a rampart, he took a calm survey of Mystic River as the tide gave its full outline. At this moment came into mind the thought that here was a good place to build ships. But many things were to be ascer- tained about it. How deep is the water at high tide ? Are there any rocks or shoals in the bed of the stream ? Can timber be readily got in the neighborhood ? and can land be bought at a fair price? These were inquiries which rushed through his mind, and he felt that they must be answered. As his eye was searching river and woods, he saw the two masts of a schooner which was lying at one of the distill-house wharves, in Medford. He immediately started for her. This was his first visit to Medford. He reached the schooner ; and his eager ques- tion to the captain was, "How much water do you draw?" Answer, "Ten feet."- "What's your tonnage ?" - An- swer, "One hundred and twenty tons." - " Do you go up and down the river often ?" -"Yes, I bring wood for this distillery." -" Are there any large rocks or bad shoals in the bed of the river ?" - " No, it's all clear." - " How deep is the water generally at high tide?" -" I guess from fif- teen to twenty feet." -"Do you think an empty ship of three hundred tons could float down the river ?" - " Oh, yes." After this conversation, he silently concluded to make the trial. He found intelligent and affluent citizens in Medford who were ready to aid him, but he told them "he could not afford to be helped." A young man thus afraid of debts would be likely to succeed without foreign aid. Young Magoun thus illustrated the common remark, that, where fathers do every thing for their sons, the sons do nothing for themselves ; and, where fathers can do noth- ing for their sons, the sons do every thing for themselves ; making the difference between the giant and the dwarf.
425
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
Some advised his beginning to build above the bridge. He accordingly examined the bed of the river, and the depth of the water at low tide, by fording and wading ; and thus decided not to fix himself there. He then weighed the reasons for prefering other places, till he finally concluded in favor of the spot where he first settled, on Riverside Avenue, a little south of Park Street, and where all his ships were built. His convictions being firm, that the river could float any vessel he might build, that the neighborhood could furnish an ample supply of oak timber, and that the site he had chosen could be pur- chased at a moderate price, he made an offer, which was accepted. Thus 1802 saw laid the first keel of that fleet of ocean merchant-ships whose sails have shaded every sea and bay on the navigable globe. Mr. Magoun lived to see his favorite science and art carried to new triumphs, and from which he realized an ample fortune. He built, and occupied for many years and until his death, the house that is now the Public Library building.
Timber was procured from Medford, Malden, Woburn, Burlington, Lexington, Stoneham, Andover, and their ad- joining towns. Mr. Magoun's first purchase of it was trees standing in what is now Winchester. He gave six dollars per ton : the seller was to cut and deliver it. It was more difficult to get the white-oak plank. When the Middlesex Canal was opened, a supply came through that channel; and large rafts were floated into the river through a side lock, which was near the entrance of Mystic Ave- nue. With our first builders, their price per ton for building was twenty-five dollars ; but they furnished only the wood and labor, -every thing else was furnished by the owner.
The increase of size in our Medford ships was gradual. The " Columbiana," built in 1837, was the first of six hun- dred tons ; and the "Ocean Express," the first of two thousand tons. The ship "Shooting Star" was the first clipper built here ; and the "George Peabody," the first vessel that passed the bridges on Mystic River, after the draws had been widened according to the direction of the Legislature.
The Rev. A. R. Baker, pastor of the Second Congrega- tional Church, preached a discourse on ship-building, in 1846, to which is appended a " register of vessels built in Medford." He says, " I have enrolled them so as to pre-
426
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
sent the year of their construction, their description and name, the yard in which they were built, the name of their respective builders and first owners, the residence of the latter, the tonnage of each vessel, the amount of tonnage, and the value of the vessels built here, estimat- ing the hull, spars, and blocks of each at forty-five dollars per ton."
That "register" (which is too extensive for admission here), if continued to the close of the business in 1873, would show that five hundred and sixty-seven vessels have been built in Medford during the present century, with an aggregate of 272,124 tons, and at a cost of $ 12,245,580. The greatest number of vessels constructed in any one yard was one hundred and eighty-five; and in any single year, thirty. That year was 1845.
" The 'tonnage of the vessels built here in that year," says Mr. Baker, "was 9,712 tons ; their aggregate value, as they left our yards, about half a million of dollars. The shortest space in which a vessel was ever built in the town was twenty-six days. Her name was 'The Avon,' a ship of four hundred tons, which, with two others built here about the same period, served as privateers in the last war with the mother country. In the five years preceding April 1, 1837, sixty vessels were built in this town, which employed two hundred and thirty-nine work- men, and of which the measurement was 24, 195 tons, and the value $ 1, 112,970. All those constructed in the county, except eleven, were built here. The value of these sixty was about one-sixth of all the shipping built in the Com- monwealth during the same period. In the year preced- ing April 1, 1845, twenty-four ships were launched here, which employed two hundred and fifty men, whose tonnage was 9,660, and whose value was half a million of dollars. In that year, one-quarter of the ship-builders in the Com- monwealth were employed in this town, and built nearly one-quarter of the ships constructed in the State, one- third of the tonnage, and one-half the value of the whole. From this result, so creditable to our town, it appears that a given number of workmen here build larger and more valuable vessels than those which are commonly con- structed in other parts of the Commonwealth."
The following table records the builders' names, the number built by each, the years of building their first and last ship, and the extremes of tonnage : -
-- - JOHN ANDREW-SON.
LAUNCH ON THE MYSTIC.
427
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
BUILDERS.
No.
FIRST.
LAST.
SMALLEST.
LARGEST.
Thatcher Magoun
84
1803
I836
96
509
C. Turner & E. Briggs
3
1804
I807
100
246
Calvin Turner
25
1807
1816
65
426
James Ford .
2
1814
1815
145
372
Sprague & James
66
I816
1842
36
644
George Fuller
29
1817
I845
35
480
E. & H. Rogers
9
1822
1825
62
362
John Sparrell
I
1829
70
-
Samuel Lapham
20
1830
1854
206
1500
Jotham Stetson
32
1833
1853
I60
106I
Curtis & Co. .
2
1834
1835
550
550
P. & J. O. Curtis
6
I836
1839
504
650
Waterman & Ewell
5I
1836
I845
240
828
Foster & Taylor
22
1838
1845
IOI
700
Paul Curtis
27
I839
1852
203
1080
James O. Curtis
78
1839
I869
72
2000
George H. Briggs
I
I845
100
Peter Lewis
I
I845
98
Henry Ewell .
9
I845
1848
100
616
John Taylor .
12
1846
1851
230
1050
Joshua T. Foster
42
1847
I873
II2
1300
Hayden & Cudworth
39
1847
1866
40
I250
B. F. Delano
2
I85I
185I
400
800
Calvin Turner
I
1854
387
-
The next table will show the rise and decline of this industry in Medford, with the relative capacity of vessels built in the successive decades :-
DECADE.
NUMBER.
AVERAGE TONNAGE.
TOTAL TONNAGE.
1803-1812 .
32
262.77
8,408
1813-1822
62
249. 50 .
15,459
1823-1832 .
83
280.54
23,285
1833-1842
I2I
476.64
57,674
1843-1852 .
185
526.67
97,434
1853-1862
70
825.93
57,815
1863-1873 .
14
860.64
12,049
567
479.93
272,124
The last ship built in this town was launched from the shipyard of Mr. Joshua T. Foster, in 1873. The de- cline of the commercial marine of this country, owing to causes which need not be detailed here, and the cessa- tion of all demand for the class of vessels which had been built in Medford, resulted in the extinction of an industry, which, for more than seventy years, had been a source of prosperity and honor to the town.
428
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
THE MANUFACTURE OF BRICKS.
The large deposits of valuable clay within the town of Medford early directed the attention of the enterprising inhabitants to the manufacture of bricks ; and those made in 1630 for Mr. Cradock's house were the first. Bricks were made on Colonel Royal's estate. Clay deposits were found between his mansion-house and the river. A most extensive and profitable business was carried on in these yards for many years. At a later date, say 1750, bricks were made on land directly north of Dr. Tufts's house. The steep bank now in front of Mr. H. W. Bigelow's house marks the place. This land, called Brick-yard Pas- ture, was owned by Rev. Mather Byles of Boston, and sold by him to Dr. Simon Tufts, March 26, 1761.
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.