USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Old landmarks and historic personages of Boston.. > Part 17
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A VISIT TO THE OLD SHIPYARDS.
The captured flags of the Cyane, Levant, Guerriere, and Java are in the Naval Academy at Annapolis, but of her original battery, before which the " wooden walls of Old England " went down, no traces have been found. One of the guns was dented by the enemy's shot ; but we have reason to apprehend that these dogs of war were broken up and treated as so much old iron.
The Constitution carried out Ministers Barlow and Cass to France, and brought home Mr. Livingstone and family. Her flag has been seen in nearly every sea, and her deck has been trod by many noble personages. In 1822, while in the Medi- terranean, she was visited by Lord Byron, who, while endeavor- ing to preserve his incognito, was much embarrassed at finding all the officers on deck in full uniform to receive him. Lord Byron was accompanied by Count Gamba, father of the Count- ess Guiccioli. A beautifully bound volume of his poems was lying on the cabin table, which he took up with evident pleasure at the delicate compliment implied.
An episode of this visit caused Byron to remark, "that he would rather have a nod from an American than a snuff-box from an emperor." This is in pleasing contrast with the surly saying of Johnson, - " I am willing to love all mankind except an American." At this time Commodore Jacob Jones flew his broad pennant on board the old craft.
. After Old Ironsides had emerged a new ship from Mr. Bar- ker's hands, there happened to her an adventure that awakened at the time the most intense excitement in Boston, and which, from its peculiar aspects, was soon communicated all over the seaboard. This was known as the " Affair of the Figure- Head." Andrew Jackson was President, and had been greeted with the consideration due his official station during his visit to Boston of the previous year. Under this outward courtesy, however, was an undercurrent of political antagonism, apparent enough in the public prints of the day. Cheers were raised for Mr. Clay in Faneuil Hall at the time of General Jackson's re- ception there. The old political party which controlled Boston was putting on the new title of "Whig," under which it subse- quently fought. Not even the LL. D. conferred upon the Pres-
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ident at Harvard could reconcile the opposition with the acts of his administration.
The appearance of the frigate Constitution, therefore, with a figure-head of President Jackson was greeted with a storm of disapproval. When it was known that it was the intention of Commodore Jesse D. Elliott, the then commander of the Navy Yard, to thus ornament the frigate's bows, and that Laban S. Beecher, the well-known Boston carver, was at work upon it, threats were freely made that she would not be allowed to go to sea with the obnoxious image. Large bribes were also offered to the artist to destroy his work, but he remained true to his employers, working on the figure-head in his garret, which served alike as his atelier and citadel. Alarmed, however, by the menaces against Beecher, and thinking the head no longer safe in his custody, Commodore Elliott caused its removal by an armed boat's crew to the Navy Yard, where it was placed in the engine-house and finished by Beecher at his leisure. The figure represented the President in the Hermitage scene, holding in his hand a scroll with the motto, "The Union it must be preserved." Beecher was also engaged upon the busts of Hull, Bainbridge, and Stewart for stern ornaments of the frigate.
The graven image was placed at the Constitution's stem, but on the 3d of July (1834) was discovered to have been muti- lated, - the head being sawed completely off, leaving only the body of the Chief Magistrate. The affair caused a great noise. It was committed during the prevalence of a violent thunder- storm, with sentinels pacing the ship's deck, while she herself lay moored between two seventy-fours (the Independence and Columbus) off the yard. The act was a daring one, and con- jecture was for a long time busy as to its author, who, however, maintained a prudent reserve until the excitement caused by the affair had time to cool. What this excitement was may be understood when it is stated that the people of Wheeling, Va., rang the bells, assembled in public meeting, and passed resolu- tions approving the act.
On the night in question, Captain Dewey, a Boston ship- master, obtained a small row-boat, and dropped quietly down
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A VISIT TO THE OLD SHIPYARDS.
with the tide to where the frigate lay moored. Securing his boat he proceeded to his work, in the accomplishment of which he had to cut through a copper bolt. Several times the sentry on deck looked over the bow, - hearing perhaps the noise of the saw, - when the workman ceased his labor for the time. The rain poured in torrents, which, with the intense darkness, favored the bold operator. The head of Jackson, like a victim of the seraglio, fell into a sack. Dewey pulled to the shore and repaired to meet some friends at a public-house, where his success was duly celebrated.
In this plight the Constitution - she was then in commis- sion - proceeded to New York, where, in due time, a second figure-head bearing the same features took the place of the headless one. To secure it from a similar mutilation, a copper bolt of extraordinary thickness was placed perpendicularly in the head. At the Charlestown Navy Yard may be seen the bust of General Jackson from which the original was inod- elled.
In March, 1835, the Constitution sailed from New York for the Mediterranean as flag-ship of Commodore Elliott, since which time her history is that of a useful but peaceful ship. At the outbreak of the Rebellion she was lying at Annapolis, where she would doubtless have shared the fate of the govern- ment vessels at Norfolk and elsewhere, had not our soldiers opportunely secured the place. Edward E. Preble, a grandson of the commodore, was on board the Constitution at this time. After being used as quarters for the midshipmen of the Naval Academy at Newport and Annapolis, she was, in 1871, towed round to Philadelphia and laid up. She will bear a conspicuous part in the centennial celebration of 1876.
From sources already mentioned it is ascertained that she captured eight armed vessels carrying one hundred and fifty- eight guns, and ten unarmed prizes. From this statement it will be seen that her crews shared more hard knocks than prize money.
The next war-vessel built at Hartt's yard was the Boston frigate of seven hundred tons, so called because she was built
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by the subscription of Boston merchants and others, and given a free-will offering to the government. She was designed, probably, by Mr. Hartt, and built under his superintendence. Her rate was to have been a thirty-six, but she mounted only twenty-eight guns. On the 22d of August, 1798, her keel was laid, and in April, 1799, President Adams appointed Captain George Little, of Massachusetts, to command her. June 12 she hauled into the stream, and sailed on her first cruise July 24, 1799. She was declared to be one of the handsomest ves- sels that ever floated.
The names of those persons who contributed to build the Boston are worthy of preservation. A notice appeared in the Centinel of June 27, 1798, that a subscription would be opened in the chamber over Taylor's Insurance Office (corner of State and Kilby Streets) at one o'clock, "where those who wish to join in this testimonial of public spirit " might affix their sig- natures. At this meeting $ 115,250 was raised, of which Hon. William Phillips gave $ 10,000. This subscription was subse- quently increased to $ 130,000 ; the frigate cost $ 137,969. David Sears, Stephen Higginson, Eben Parsons, John Codman, Joseph Coolidge and Son, Theodore Lyman, Boot and Pratt, and Thomas Dickinson gave $ 3,000 each. Samuel Parkman and Samuel Elliott gave $ 4,000 each. Benjamin Joy, James and T. H. Perkins, Thomas Walley, John Parker, Stephen Hig- ginson, Jr., Abiel Smith, and Thomas C. Amory are down for $ 1,500 each. St. Andrew's Lodge gave $ 1,000. Benjamin and Nathaniel Goddard and Josiah Quincy gave $ 500. The givers of smaller sums are not less deserving of mention, but. are too numerous for our limits.
The Boston got to sea during the hostilities with France, and soon distinguished herself on the West India station by cap- turing Le Berceau, a ship of twenty-four guns and two hundred and twenty men ; Les Deux Anges, ship of twenty guns ; three barges, and three unarmed prizes. At this time she was one of Commodore Talbot's squadron. The next year, under command of Captain McNeil, the Boston carried a minister to France and joined the Mediterranean fleet.
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A VISIT TO THE OLD SHIPYARDS.
Captain Little brought Le Berceau, his prize, into Boston early in November. The Frenchman was completely dismasted in the engagement, but was repaired and restored to the French under treaty stipulations. For circumstances attending this capture, Captain Little was court-martialled, the court sitting on board the Constitution, but was honorably acquitted. In her action with Le Berceau the Boston had four killed and eight wounded. The French prisoners were confined at the Castle.
In 1812 the Boston was reported unworthy of repair, and in 1814, when the British were advancing on Washington, she was burned to prevent her falling into the enemy's hands.
The brig Argus, sixteen guns, two hundred and twenty-six tons, was built at Hartt's yard in 1803, at a cost of $ 37,420. She was designed by Mr. Hartly. In August, 1813, having landed Mr. Crawford, our Minister to France, at Havre, she proceeded to cruise off the English and Irish coasts, and cap- tured and burnt so many vessels that the Irish declared the Channel was all ablaze. Between the Shannon and the Liffey she captured twenty vessels, most of which were burnt. On the 14th August, 1813, the Argus fought and was captured by the British brig Pelican, of twenty-one guns. Lieutenant Wm. H. Allen of the Argus was mortally wounded early in the conflict ; he was Decatur's first lieutenant when he took the Macedonian. The Argus had also been a busy cruiser during the war with Tripoli. Both Hull and Decatur had commanded her.
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CHAPTER VII.
COPP'S HILL AND THE VICINITY.
Copp's Hill. - British Works. - Ancient Arch. - Wm. Gray. - Old Ferry. - Reminiscences of Bunker Hill. - The Cemetery. - Curious Stones, Epitaphs, etc. - Old Funeral Customs. - Charter Street. - Sir Wm. Phips. - John Foster Williams. - John Hull. - Colonial Mint. - Christ. Church. - Revere's Night Ride. - The Chimes. - The Vaults, - Legends of. - Major Pitcairn. - Love Lane. - North Latin School. - Prince Street. - Salem Church. - North End Heroes. - Captain Manly. - Massachu- setts Spy. - First Baptist Church. - Second Baptist Church. - Draft Riot, 1863.
W E pursue our way, after our long halt among the ship- yards, around the base of Copp's Hill. The hill itself is the early Mill Field of 1632 and later, so called because the windmill used to grind the settlers' corn was brought from Cam- bridge in this year and placed upon the summit. This was the . first windmill erected in the town. The appearance of Copp's Hill, which name is from William Copp, an early possessor, is very different to-day from what it was in 1800. At that time the hill terminated abruptly on the northwest side in a rugged cliff almost inaccessible from the water-side. Southerly, the ground fell away in an easy descent to the bottom of North Square and the shore of the Mill Pond, while to the eastward a gradual slope conducted to the North Battery. The beach at the foot of the headland, opposite Charlestown, was made into a street with earth taken from the summit of the hill, which was where Snow-Hill Street now crosses it. This made Lynn Street, - our Commercial Street extension, - and afforded a continuous route along the water.
Going north, the rising ground at Richmond Street indicates: the beginning of the ascent. The hill has been known as Wind- mill Hill and as Snow Hill ; but our ancestors were never at a.
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loss for names, as appears in the redundancy of their street nomenclature. The foot of the hill, at the northeasterly side, went in old times by the name of New Guinea, on account of its being exclusively inhabited by blacks. A representation is here given of the kind of windmill used by the first settlers of Boston. Its architecture differs entirely from the mills used by the French in Canada, the old stone mill at Newport, or of the western set- tlements of the French. It is a copy of one set up at West Boston, the de- sign for which may have been brought from the Low Countries.
ANCIENT MILL.
The work erected by the British from which they bombarded the Americans on Bunker Hill and set fire to Charlestown, was on the summit of the eminence, near the southwest corner of the Burial Ground. It was a small affair, consisting, when it was visited in the following year (1776), of only a few barrels of earth to form parapets. Three twenty-eight pounders, mounted on carriages, were left spiked within. The battery was covered by a small earthwork to the rear designed for the infantry. Traces of these works remained until the summit was levelled in 1807.
At the foot of Henchman's Lane, when the work of excava- tion was proceeding at this point, there was uncovered an arch built of brick, of large dimensions, with an opening at the water side. There was originally a high bank at this place, - the arch spanning the then Lynn Street and communicating with the cellar of a house on the north side. About forty years ago, when digging for the foundation of the houses on the east side of the street, the remains of the arch were found, and are still to be seen in the cellar of the house opposite Henchman's Lane.
Those who examined it while it was intact are of the opinion that it was intended as a place of concealment for smugglers and their contraband goods. Many speculations were indulged as to its origin and its uses, the theory that it was a retreat for
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pirates being the favorite one. Time has disclosed that it was built by a Captain Gruchy during the French wars, and used as a place of deposit for captured goods. Perhaps the captain was a free-trader, or fitted out privateers to prey upon the commerce of the French king. Gruchy was a subsequent owner of Sir William Phips's house, his land running down the hill to the water's edge. He built him a wharf of two captured vessels, which he sunk for the purpose. * These old arches were a unique feature of Old Boston, and doubtless began to be built about the time Randolph made the attempt to collect the king's excise. Another is noted built by Edward Hutchinson from ' his house on North Street.
Lynn Street is described in 1708 as from the North Battery northwesterly to the Ferry-way at Hudson's Point ; it retained this name until after 1828. Before it was built into a thor- oughfare this street was only a narrow way around the beach. Henchman's Lane is coeval with Lynn Street in receiving its name, which was from Captain Daniel Henchman, father of the bookseller, who lived within its precincts.
We next come to Foster Street, in the lower part of which was formerly the cannon and bell foundry of Paul Revere. Up to the time of the establishment of these works both cannon and bells were imported ; but Revere cast brass guns success- fully, and some of his bells still hang in our steeples. Hollow- ware, stoves, and a variety of articles for domestic use were manufactured at this foundry, erected previous to 1794.
The rain had been falling as we continued our walk through the filthy street along the water. The air was filled with the stench arising under the warm sun from the mud and garbage of the gutter, and from every door and window of the over- crowded tenements peered forth a swarm of dirty humanity. Some one has called the Irish the finest peasantry in the world, but perhaps he had not seen them herded together in our cities. Musing on these disenchanting features of our antiquarian pur- suit, we cast our eyes upward in the direction of Christ Church steeple, which serves us as a guide and beacon, -
* Mrs. Crocker's Memoir.
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" And lo ! from out a dirty alley, Where pigs and Irish wont to rally, I saw a crazy woman sally, Bedaubed with grease and mud."
The reader knows what a trifle will suffice to collect a crowd in the city. Let a single individual stop in one of our crowded thoroughfares and gaze intently in any direction, he will be instantly surrounded by a curious, gaping multitude. We quickened our pace, and left behind us the throng gathering around the poor creature crazed with drink, blaspheming, and tearing her hair by handfuls. In this manœuvre we were antici- pated by a prudent policeman who turned the corner in our front.
About half-way from the ferry to Charlestown Bridge is Gray's Wharf, built by Hon. William Gray, better known by the so- briquet of "Billy." Beginning at the lowest round of the ladder, he climbed to the highest mercantile eminence, and at the time of his death, in 1825, was the largest ship owner in America, perhaps in the world. He was the owner at one time of sixty square-rigged vessels, whose sails whitened every sea. Mr. Gray, after acting in the State Legislature, was elected lieu- tenant-governor with Elbridge Gerry in 1810. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics, sustaining the embargo, notwithstanding it inflicted a heavy loss upon him. He lived in Summer Street, in the mansion previously occupied by Governor Sullivan.
There were few to whom the face of the old merchant was not familiar. He was an early riser, and performed a consid- erable amount of work before breakfast. Affable in intercourse, unostentatious in manner, Mr. Gray was also a man of practical benevolence. He aided the government largely in 1812, and it is said but for him the Constitution would not have got to sea and electrified the nation by her exploits. Mr. Gray was the first president of the State Bank, the first democratic bank- ing institution that obtained a charter in Massachusetts. After the Treaty of Ghent, Mr. Gray presided over a public dinner given to John Quincy Adams, at which the venerable patriarch, John Adams, was also present. Mr. Gray's old homestead in Salem afterwards became the Essex Coffee House.
Benjamin Goodwin, mentioned in the preceding chapter in
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connection with the seventy-four, lived in a house between Charter and Lynn Streets extending from one street to the other. Goodwin's Wharf extended from a point opposite his house, and was sixty to eighty rods east of the bridge. He carried on a distillery, bake-house, and blacksmith-shop. The premises were seized by order of the British general, and occu- pied by his troops at the time of the battle of Bunker Hill. The soldiers afterwards wantonly destroyed much of the prop- erty and some of the buildings, Mr. Goodwin's damages being estimated at £ 1,500, lawful money.
Hudson's Point, the extreme northwest point of the town, was named from Francis Hudson, the ferry-man. It is first called " ye Mylne Point," in the grant of the ferry to Thomas Marshall in 1635. At this point were established both the ferries to Charlestown and Chelsea. To be exact, the Ferry- way was, in 1720, between Mr. Gee's and Hudson's Point, and Mr. Joshua Gee, the boat-builder, owned the present property of the Gas Company, his residence being in Prince Street, a short distance from his yard. This Mr. Gee was also owner of a large tract on Copp's Hill, between Charter, Prince, and Snow- Hill Streets. The town voted in 1720 to move the General Court to take action about a bridge at this place, but no action followed.
Among the reminiscences of the old Ferry, besides being the probable landing of Winthrop's company and the place where the first white woman jumped ashore, it is noted as the point of debarkation for the British wounded from Bunker Hill. Their admitted loss in this battle was two hundred and twenty- six killed, eight hundred and twenty-eight wounded, though estimates have been made as high as fifteen hundred. In Frothingham's account of the battle is the following description of the harrowing scene : -
" The wounded during the whole night and the next day were conveyed to Boston, where the streets were filled with groans and lamentation. A letter of June 30, 1775, says : 'I have seen many from Boston who were eyewitnesses of the most melancholy scene they ever beheld in this part of the world. The Saturday night and
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Sabbath were taken up in carrying over the dead and wounded ; and all the wood-carts in town, it is said, were employed, - chaises and coaches for the officers. They have taken the workhouse, almshouse, and manufactory house for the wounded.' The physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries of Boston rendered every assistance in their power. The processions were melancholy sights. 'In the first carriage,' writes Clarke, 'was Major Williams, bleeding and dying, and three dead captains of the 52d. In the second, four dead officers ; then another with wounded officers.' The privates who died on the field were immediately buried there, - 'in holes,' Gage's report states. ' On Monday morning,' a British account says, 'all the dead officers were decently buried in Boston in a private manner, in the different churches and churchyards there.'"
Francis Rawdon, afterwards Marquis of Hastings, and George Harris, afterwards a peer, were both officers of the 5th, and wounded. The 5th, 59th, and the Welsh Fusileers were ter ribly cut up.
The first act of the British commander before the Lexington expedition, which had a hostile look, was the hauling of the Somerset man-of-war from the stream where she had been lying into Charles River, so as to command the Ferry-ways. This is stated in the Salem Gazette of April 18, 1775, and was to pre- vent communication of the intended movement to the country. This vessel served to cover the disorderly retreat of the regulars over Charlestown Neck on their return from Lexington and Concord. We shall see that the Somerset's watch was ill-kept, and that a North End mechanic looked into the muzzles of her guns as he carried Warren's errand and spread the tidings abroad. The Somerset went ashore on Cape Cod during the war, and her officers and crew were made prisoners by the militia, and sent to Boston.
When Burgoyne's army was near Cambridge as prisoners of war, some of the officers pushed on over the ferry into Boston ; but their hopes of comfortable quarters and good cheer were speedily dashed, for they were all peremptorily ordered back to the prisoners' camps at Union, Winter, and Prospect Hills, where barracks had been prepared for them. Burgoyne him- self had the privilege of entrée into the town, which he im -
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proved as we have seen, though times were changed since he stood on Copp's Hill and saw his comrades-in-arms advance up the hillside across the river to storm the American redoubt. Burgoyne's graphic account of the battle written to Lord Stan- ley has supplied the best English narration of the battle of Bunker Hill. A rapier once belonging to the general is in possession of a descendant of that Benjamin Goodwin whose property was so ill-used by the king's troops.
Copp's Hill Burying-Ground, first called the North Burying-
Place, was the second place of sepulture within the town. About three acres is enclosed by the cemetery walls, made The up of several tracts. first was conveyed to the town in 1659, and composed the northeastern part. An addi- THE MATHER TOMB. tional parcel was conveyed in 1711 by Samuel Sewall and his wife Hannah, the daughter of John Hull, for the purpose of enlargement. In the convey- ance was reserved "one rodd square in which Mrs. Mary Thatcher now lyeth buried," which they had previously con- veyed to Joshua Gee. The deed also gave the right of way across the burying-ground, so that a small piece of private property, without any restrictions as to its use, exists in the midst of the cemetery. Another strip of land was added on the Hull Street side in after years. On the Snow-Hill Street side the hill has been cut down twenty feet, the cem- etery being there protected by a heavy granite wall. A gun- house once stood in the southeast corner of the new part of the cemetery.
When we are at King's Chapel, or the Granary Burial- Ground, amid the bustle of a crowded thoroughfare, the mind is wholly divested of those feelings of calm and solitude with which we are accustomed to view the last resting-places of the dead. The superstitious do not hurry past, nor do the timid pass by on the other side. The absence of funeral rites for so
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long a time deprives them of the awe and reverence which such mournful pageants inspire ; the living move on in a continual tide, unbroken except in the still watches of the night, sepa- rated only by a narrow barrier from the motionless dead.
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