USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Marion > Lands of Sippican on Buzzards Bay > Part 15
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A Sippican boy, alone with his problem, while the great seas wash by.
But he is Captain of his ship!
"Finding him disposed to make trouble & that he was using everything with a don't care principle, having used up a number of things already that was calculated for a 16 months voyage & his making such remarks as he didn't care where the ship went, and giving me insulting language at various times I deemed it best for all concerned fearing that his repeated complaints to & before the men might get them dissatisfied & breed a disturbance perhaps mutiny & behaving in the manner he did the last gale (see Dec. 12) I should not dare to trust him in another such time, and other things here set down & other things not related, I deem it my duty to put him off duty to be returned when I see fit, and have therefore done so.
I will relate an instance of his insulting language during the last gale, the cargo shifted very badly and after it moder- ated the ship lay down so the copper was out of water one side
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and on the other the white streak was almost in the water. I gave him orders to let the men go down and shift some of the cargo, he says 'which way do you want them shifted now' in a very sulky manner." And the young captain adds as he writes in his diary for that day:
"Ends smooth and pleasant."
"Friday, Dec. 28. This is one of the most pleasant days I have spent for months as I feel as though I could have every- thing done without growling."
The next day "the mate came and wished to be put on duty again, but made no acknowledgments of his past conduct & I think best for him to remain off duty a time longer."
Trouble! Trouble! and Dec. 31, 1855 he is writing in the little book that he thanks the Lord for his goodness in bringing him up to port - for there are four men in irons!
He discharges coal day after day; is boarded by Whale- men from the Cachelot of New Bedford, 16 months out with 535 bbls. sperm oil, and they talk of whaling and home.
Days go by, and some of the crew with the cook, desert, but on Feb. 22, the new mate arrives from New York, and on Feb. 27, he proceeds to sea again, making his way, leaving no track around the globe. .
While the months are rolling by, the young wife in Sip- pican is planning with "much trepidation" a voyage to Liver- pool to meet her young husband as he circles the globe home.
At last the day comes Sept. 11, 1856, and with "Hopes and doubts" as "shadows of her heart" she leaves New Bed- ford on the Potomska for New York.
When she is safely on the ship in New York with Mary, Capt. Allen's daughter, she is much relieved and is looking forward with "high hopes and joyful anticipation and longs to experience the wonders of old ocean". "I almost feel in- spired to sing 'A life on the ocean wave, a home on the rolling sea', but will refrain now until I know how I am able to endure when my courage is put to the test" she writes in a fine hand in her blue leaved "Journal".
"Day closes quietly and pleasantly" this captain's wife writes, and she adds a comment on what she has heard about
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London .. "We have actually had a foretaste of London in a glass of water and a boiled potatoe." She and Mary ven- ture from the ship to go to make some needed purchases, but she finds that "the noise, stir, and confusion is almost be- wildering." It is strange to her eyes to see so many beggars "objects of charity, misery and degradation & appeal on the streets. Every appeal seems to be made directly to me" writes the young wife from quiet Sippican.
But at last "The sailors are cheerfully singing while they are heaving up anchor."
The ship moves out to sea, and in the stained diary we read
"Now looking behind, still lingering with those fond ones we have left to meet no more at present. In looking forward the ocean lies between us & the objects of our hopes, and desires. At all times it is a privilege to commit ourselves, our interest to the Father of Mercies; but how blessed is the privilege at this moment of trial to be permitted to look to Him & invoke His mercies for us and ours," and she adds
"Have not yet experienced the dreadful sensations we have made such great preparations for."
The ship plunges along twenty-four hours out to sea, and down in the diary she writes
"Oh the pitchings and plungings and tossings of the ship. We are tossed and tumbled about as though we were of little consequence" and to calm herself she reads "the memoir of Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, missionary to Syria. Find it intensely interesting and hope the perusal may prove profitable as well as entertaining."
There are rough ways on the ships!
"Ran into the Captain's room & on looking out of the window, saw a sight that filled me with fear and trembling; for I did not know what would be the result of such an affair. A sailor, who was raging with anger was prostrate on the deck - they were screwing on handcuffs. For a slight offense the sailor had drawn a knife & attempted to stab the mate."
But the ship sails on; winds blow; whales spout and por- poises and petrels are near.
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"Our rebellious sailor has promised obedience & is now released & at work."
She reads Scott's and Burn's Poems, and after many, many days - land!
"To me it appears nothing more than a cloud." "Sails in all directions."
Up the river at last!
"We are again permitted to rise from our beds in health & comfort." She sings with English soldiers "My Country 'tis of thee" to their "God save the Queen" as they "embark to India on a large frigate."
It was Sept. 11, 1856 when Sophie left Sippican for the long voyage at the caprice of wind and calms.
On Tuesday, May 20, 1857. "We are in the dock at London. My cup of happiness is almost full this morning for I have heard of the safe arrival of my husband at Liver- pool. From a telegraphic dispatch I learn that I may expect to see him this night."
The globe is circled, and the Sippican captain and his bride proceed to see the sights of London - "Can almost persuade myself that I am a new creature this morning. I'm in London & this is a new revelation to me, and what is more interesting my husband is here with me arriving last night."
The ship must be refitted and the cargo stowed. And to Liverpool to stay in lodgings - "Another smoky morning, and I hear remarks about the remarkably fine weather we are having!"
Captains and their wives arrive from home, but, to her distress, no mail for her.
Bells ring for the ascension of King Charles the Second, and it is her child's fourth birthday in far away Sippican.
On Wednesday, June 26, she is writing about the "Frigate Niagere which is now at anchor in the river Mersey preparing to receive the electric wire which is to be laid in the Atlantic Ocean & telegraphic communication established between Great Britain & the U. States. Both nations are waiting the result with great interest for the project is a wonderful one & the suc- cess of the enterprise will be a greater wonder.",
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At last they sail for home!
Buffeted and baffled, the ship is slow for the anxious young mother. She is wearied by the "constant adverse winds", but she can't complain "it would be against Him who holds the winds in His fists and the waves in the hollow of His hands."
"Strong winds from the Westward with a heavy squall. Am unable to rise this morning. Ship's course is changed frequently, but we make little or no progress towards our des- tination, but I am constantly hoping and looking for fair winds, at night so rough as to make it difficult to lie in our berth."
Two weeks out!
"Wind still ahead and very rough. It seems to me that Columbus (Whose life and adventures I've just been reading) never looked out for land with stronger hopes than we have had for more favorable winds since we sailed -. We have been wishing that we may be soon permitted to enjoy a Sab- bath in our own native place with the congregation with whom we have united so often & whose faces we love to recall to memory."
Dear village; but three weeks out, and still head winds and hardly one fourth of the distance! Four weeks and half- way across the tumbling Atlantic!
"Passengers' provisions getting short. Second & Third mates had a fight on deck this morning, and made such a dis- turbance as to alarm me very much."
Almost a year since she left home to meet her captain husband.
At last Aug. 28, 1857, at eight, they come to anchor off the Battery.
"A delightfully cool clear sky; & the whole scene illumined by the light of a half grown moon. Thy works praise thee, O God!" "I feel that I cannot be too grateful for all the favors and mercies granted unto me through the goodness of God."
Aug. 29, 1857, she writes "Passengers are up early mak- ing preparations for leaving the ship. At ten a steam tug came to take them to Castle Garden where is the emigrant office. Was sorry to learn of the failure in the attempt to lay the telegraphic cable in the Atlantic."
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And then the young Sippican captain and his wife are home again and going to the meeting house, and out to tea, and to call on uncles and aunts, to house raisings, and ship launch- ings! The dear life of home!
But a captain's road is an ocean road and it leads far from the fireside, and captains' wives are used to farewells.
The ports of the world! In 1860 Monday March 26, Capt. George is writing in his diary in Sydney, N. S., Wales, "Arrived yesterday from London."
May 1, 1860 "Took dinner at the Consuls with the Amer- ican Captains in port", and on May 6, Sunday he writes, "We are spending a Holy Sabbath upon the mighty deep. May our Heavenly Father be with and protect us from any danger on the passage and grant that we may arrive in safety at our dis- tant port."
By June 19, 1860 he is on the coast of Peru. "Went up to Lima." Homesick for New England elms "Saw nothing of note" he writes.
He comes up from Peru, overland to Panama, and then sails for New York.
And on this trip, he sees Cape Hatteras for the first time! But he is 35 years old, an old captain now!
The little Philopena ring was of his youth!
Both far away.
One under the Cape Horn seas!
ยท
CHAPTER XII.
AND IT SHALL HAIL AS "MARION".
"To Daniel Hall, Constable of the Town of Rochester in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Greeting . you are hereby directed to notify and " warn the inhabitants of the town of Rochester
WARRANT, TOWN MEETING, MARCH 6, 1837.
While the seas foamed in far. oceans and the air was full of the rising of the winds, creaking timbers and shouts, and the distant muttering of thunder for the sons of the lands of Sippican, there was a growing restlessness at home.
"The Lands of Sippican" that had stretched from Dart- mouth to Plymouth!
It was as though a great hand with a giant's scissors clipped here and there!
On June 11, 1714, bounds had been established between Rochester and Tiverton; July 10, 1739, clipped for the new town of Wareham; April 9, 1836, a part given to Fairhaven and bounds established.
What next, rich comfortable Rochester-Towne-in-New Eng- land? A township of 4,017 people, with farm lands, and ship building, and whalers putting out from her wharves, and merchantmen, and retired clipper ship captains rich from pros- perous voyages, why make any change?
The richest of the Rochester villages was growing im- portant in its own eyes. It had the most whalers, the biggest ship yards, and many captains building large houses. Early in the century there were signs of restlessness, and the Center was like a hen clucking after a fat chicken.
Bustling Mattapoisett grumbling about the six, eight, twelve miles the voters had to ride to town meeting; wagon
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wheels sinking to the hub in mud, and horses foundering almost, after a storm.
But the town had been fixing roads for Mattapoisett since 1772 when it had voted to alter the road that went through "Towser's Neck" (where the old chief held his fort after the death of Philip) "past the Haunted House so called" so it should enter Mattapoisett in "Such a Place as shall be most convenient for same to be laid and to bee opened."
Mattapoisett village had had one selectman ever since 1697. In 1796 she had had all three of them. What more did she want?
From faint grumbling through the years it grew into noisy bickerings at the taverns, the blacksmith shops, the wharves, the out-fitters, even far out at sea, until there it was posted on the meeting house doors in the villages - what Mattapoisett wanted!
"to Daniel Hall, Constable!" The call for the town meet- ing for March 6, 1837.
Article 12th. "To hear request of the First Parish in said town in regard to moving the town house and repairing the same, and to pass any vote the town may see fit in regard to the whole matter."
And below to the amazement of the Center meeting house could be read an unnumbered article
"To decide if the town will hold their town meetings in Mattapoisett village for the term of one year from the 20th of March 1837."
The town meeting not at the Center!
Sippican and the Old Landing were amazed!
Why the Center was the Center. The Probate and Jus- tices Courts set there; and the dignitaries of the County had come along the "Rhode Island Path", and the "King's High- way", horse back, and in stage coach, to the Center.
Judges, grave dignitaries of New England, Daniel Web- ster among them.
The Center had the finest of everything. The largest houses, Major Haskell's among them where there were rare mementoes of great doings in Washington and foreign ports.
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A goblet from a banquet where Napoleon had touched the glasses with his lips to present to the guests! The Center was the home of the belle of the county, Miss Eugenia Haskell, bringing home from Baltimore and Philadelphia fresh laurels!
And the stage coaches rolling in with the mail! The Center was the Center!
That was a busy, talkative Spring in old Rochester-Towne. The town meeting! It overshadowed the banns on the meeting house, the temperance question, whaling, everything!
And when March 6 arrived feeling ran high!
Abraham Holmes describes the scene
"The day arrived and Mattapoisett poured forth her legions thick as the locusts of Egypt. They had procured car- riages from Bedford to bring up the aged and infirm and had engaged in their services foreigners not belonging to the town and some from other states. Stole a fishing pole which they made a flag pole of from which they impaled a canvas flag which they hoisted from a large stage coach which they had procured from Bedford and exhibited every specimen of insult short of bears."
An exciting "town meet!"
Article after article they dismissed until they came to "When the meeting be adjourned to be adjourned to the First Christian Meeting House in Mattapoisett Village, and that all the town meetings be held in the village of Mattapoisett for one year from the 20th of March, 1837."
And it was so voted!
The Center felt as though she had lost her moorings, but on April 3, the town meeting was held at the Meeting House in Mattapoisett.
The Rochester voters sent down a full crew.
The town records of the stormy meeting read:
"Reconsidered the vote about the town meetings being held in Mattapoisett and adjourned the meeting to the 17th of April at the Town House at the Center."
299 in favor, and 296 against.
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The old diary reads "They put up our horses and gave us our dinner but we got together the votes and adjourned back to the town house."
How the two villages worked for votes, with special com- mittees appointed. Even Dr. Robbins was dragged into the "unpleasant affair". He writes in his diary of the "great strife for the place."
"Apr. 17. Rode with company to Rochester by the par- ticular desire of my people, and attended town meeting, and voted on the question of holding the meeting a part of the time in this village. The only time I have ever voted in a town meeting since I was settled in the ministry."
A crowded town meeting that immediately voted on re- consideration and adjournment to Mattapoisett.
"It was moved that the vote as above, should be taken by yea and nay."
Such a crowd that the younger men were sent out into a field and the votes were taken as they came back through the bars, while the aged and infirm voted in the town house.
There were 324 nays to 278 yeas. A majority of 46 in favor of holding the meetings in the Center.
The town had so much surplus that they voted to pay for the poor house in full, and "Ballance to be invested in Bank Stock."
They then adjourned for one week to 1 P. M. April 24. That day was very cold, with a raging northeaster blowing, and many could not get to the meeting. The Mattapoisett people were able to muster two more votes than the Center when the motion to adjourn to Mattapoisett came before the meeting.
Motion made "to adjourn to the Rev. Thomas Robbins Meeting House in Mattapoisett Village, April 26"; and it was carried 139 to 137 against.
Two days to ride around and drum up votes. Two days of riding horseback, and in the farm wagon and chaise, over deep rutted roads, so the Center decided to stay away and let Mattapoisett have its will at the next "Town meet."
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Mattapoisett couldn't think of much to do except to elect Ebenezer Holmes, assessor, to please Sippican, and then vote to adjourn to July 10.
On July 10, they voted that "the meeting be dissolved." The feeling in the villages grew more intense.
Abraham Holmes wrote of the voters against the Center being united only in one way, and he gives a picture of the different beliefs that had crept into the villages.
"They are a party of men who have long been antagonistic to one another, composed of Van Burens and Whigs whose an- tipathies are as unreconcilable as that of elephants and rhin- oceroses, the Universalists and the believers in eternal punish- ment, the Congregationalists and the Quakers, the Baptist, or- thodox and the free willers, the natural people of experience and the mind theory - 'Let that people alone and their union would crumble to pieces.'"
The whole year the villages crackled with excitement over the matter, and at the meeting of March 20, 1838, at the town house, the Mattapoisett people lost on the motion to adjourn to that village, but the feeling between the two villages was grow- ing so bitter, that Sippican began to feel that there should be something done, so a committee was appointed to settle the question of the "town meet."
Charles J. Holmes, Esq., Nelson Barstow, Esq., Philip Crandon, Esq., and Capt. James Delano were appointed and the meeting adjourned for three weeks.
The committee reported on May 17, 1838. After fixing a bounty on crow's heads, Charles J. Holmes, Esq., rises to read the report. There is a shuffling of feet, a clearing of throats and silence as the words are said
"The committee to whom was referred the subject of future town meetings have considered the same and submit the following report: In territorial extent, Rochester is among the largest towns in the commonwealth. For a century after its settlement agriculture was almost the exclusive pursuit of its inhabitants and the population was scattered with great equality over its surface. In later times this primitive occupa- tion has given place to other modes of obtaining subsistence
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and acquiring property. The fact has been that while popula- tion has remained nearly stationary in many parts of the town, in others flourishing villages have sprung up and population greatly augmented. This increase has been principally mani- fested in the south west division of the town."
And old Rochester stares straight ahead, while Matta- poisett village heads nod and cast side glances.
And then comes an argument for the village of Matta- poisett with 1200 inhabitants, ship building, etc., and the vil- lage many miles from the town house, and the many proposi- tions that had been made in regard to lessening the cause of dissatisfaction which was "the distance of travel to the place of meeting."
Distance! This modern generation of 1838 whose great great grandfathers and mothers jogged every Sabbath Day over the trodden paths horse back to the Center, and whose grand- fathers and mothers must have their own meeting house nearer, and now even once or twice a year is too far to ride to the Center.
Distance! It is a bustling little sea village feeling its importance!
Why should it ride over muddy roads, turning its back to the sea, to vote how to run its affairs!
"The evil complained of might be diminished by placing the town house nearer the center of travel, and opening roads for convenient access to it, and if this measure would be sat- isfactory as a permanent arrangement, the committee would recommend it to the favorable consideration of the town; but if it should be deemed inexpedient to adopt this mode of re- lief, and the opinion of those who feel that the existing state of things has so much more of evil than advantage that its longer continuance may not be endured, and that the only remedy is by change of public meetings, then the committee respectfully recommend that measures for a division of the town be adopted."
And there in the silent meeting of the children of the vil- lages of Old Rochester-Towne-in-New England, "the lands of Sippican" are slashed again. Not with scissors this time but with a dagger thrust.
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"The committee have not arrived at this conclusion but with difficulty and regret. They would not recommend this painful remedy for evils imaginary or unreal, but to avoid those that seem to be certain, enduring, and more to be deprecated. A state of things that shall annually or oftener bring together the citizens, and array them against each other under local banners, and keenly excited feelings when mutual confidence and respect are made to give place to jealousy, distrust, crim- ination, and reproach, is more to be deplored, while it endures, than separation; in which, in all probability, after many strug- gles with alienated feelings and lasting enmity, it would ter- minate. In behalf of the committee.
David Hathaway, chairman". This resolution was like a cannon ball crashing through their gathering and the meeting was immediately "dissolved", by motion of Major Haskell, seconded by Capt. Peckham.
On the town records it stood that town meetings were to be held in Mattapoisett village for one year from Feb. 1839, and yet the warrant was posted for the spring meeting in 1839 for Rochester Center.
An article read "To reconsider any votes passed in said town at any previous meeting for holding town meetings at any place except the town house."
Another read "To hold the meetings one third of time in Mattapoisett village."
But the 16th Article was what turned the crew of the ship against Mattapoisett.
It read "To see if the town will petition the legislature of this session to divide said town of Rochester by setting off Mat- tapoisett and including or excluding that part known by the name of Sippican, as the town may think proper; if included, the line to run between the Old Landing so called, and the lower village, and running westerly across Bartlett's hill, so called" (where the old chief lay under the great split rock) so in a westerly course to the dwelling house of Jeremiah Randall, thence westerly till you come to dividing line between Roch- ester and Fairhaven."
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At this meeting "the town voted to reconsider all previous votes that had passed at any meeting held in said town for hold- ing town meetings at any place except at the town house."
Mattapoisett voters had not turned out and "a protest was then presented against the proceedings of the meeting signed by several of the local voters of said town -
"To the selectmen of the town of Rochester. The legal voters of said town assembled in town meeting under authority of warrant issued by town of the selectmen, under date of the 16th of February, 1839 for a meeting to be held at this time and place, the undersigned legal voters of said town believe, inasmuch as there has been a previous town meeting which instructed the selectmen to issue warrants for town meetings to be held in Mattapoisett village for one year from Feb. 1839, that this meeting is illegal, anti-republican, unjust and oppres- sive. We therefore solemnly protest your proceedings and that we shall not consider ourselves under any obligations to conform to or comply with any acts or doings of this meeting."
Mutiny on the ship of state of Rochester; it must be quelled, and law and order prevail, and Capt. John Pitcher writes his name with the other 247 signers.
They then voted that the next town meeting should be held at Mattapoisett, then for two years at the town house, and at the end of three years the town shall be divided upon fair .and equitable terms in all respects."
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