USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Old-time Fairhaven; erstwhile Eastern New Bedford, Volume I > Part 7
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Wreck of the "Pavilion," 1863-LOSS OF THE BRIG PAVILION OF FAIRHAVEN, near the island of "God's Mercy."
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It was on the 4th of August 1863. The weather was bitterly cold ; the brig was cruelly crushed by the ice ; the seams of the ship opened and in rushed the water. The members of the crew manned the boats, three in number putting in all the foodstuff they could salvage and landed these necessities on the rocks. There the men remained for eleven days hoping all the while that some means of rescue would be forthcoming. None came, so they started in their boats with the object of getting near a spot, where, perhaps, they might be espied. On the 27th of August they reached Resolution Island where they remained ten days with no better luck than before. They were not sighted. With undaunted courage, they then set out attempting this time to cross Hudson's Strait. A strong wind arose which developed into a gale. The boats were separated and the boat commanded by the third mate was thought to have foundered. On the 9th of September, the boat of the second mate, Mr. Hoxie, landed on the coast of Labrador. Not a single human being was in sight. The place was uninhabited. Then they followed the coast until the 25th when they were sighted by the British bark, Ocean Nymph, from London on the way to Hudson Bay. They were taken aboard. Soon the Captain's boat was sighted. They, too, were taken aboard. The Ocean Nymph landed the crews of both boats at St. Johns on October 27th.
They had been from August 4th to September 25th in their boats, and during that period their only food was ship bread soaked in salt water, and a little pork. The weather was intensely frigid, and the crew suffered greatly. The steward had both feet frozen and was left at the hospital at St. Johns. Some of the men had fingers or toes frozen. Imagine the exhilaration of these mortals as they sat down to a square meal in warm quarters on board the Ocean Nymph! The two boats, one under Capt. Handy and the other in charge of Mr. Hoxie, with their companions, were left at St. Johns to await a vessel with Boston as its destination. That vessel came! In The Daily Mercury, dated New Bedford, November 7, 1863, and signed by H. H. Hoxie we find the following :- "A CARD. The subscriber, second mate of the brig Pavilion, late of Fairhaven, wrecked in the ice in Hudson's strait on the 4th of August last, de- sires for himself and in behalf of his five shipmates, to acknowledge the generous kindness of those merchants of Boston who at the Merchants' Exchange in that city, on Thursday last, contributed the sum of $90 for the relief of the sufferers."
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Wreck of the "Ansel Gibbs," 1872 .- We now read of the final chapter of the Ansel Gibbs :- "Bark Ansel Gibbs, Capt. McPherson, on the 19th of October 1872, in a southeast gale, also parted chains and went ashore near the Orray Taft, but the vessel went to pieces almost immediately, the crew escaping, but with only what they stood in. She had on board 550 barrels whale oil and 10,000 pounds of whalebone. Eighty barrels of oil was afterwards picked up and stored on the island and 3,500 pounds of bone were saved and shipped home in schooner Abbie Bradford."
CHAPTER V
Old Stores
In "Old Dartmouth" Town. - Before us rest the records of Benjamin Akin, tanner and currier, who carried on his vocation, at least according to the day-book and ledger, from 1742 to the Rev- olutionary period. These transactions of nearly two hundred years ago are as legible as the day they were entered into the book. The names of the customers, hundreds of them, mean little to us, but the records show the type of business of those days. The account book is brimming full of records of sales, but in addition to tanning and cur- rying, Mr. Akin sold leather for shoes as well as for pump boxes, and made and repaired all sorts of footwear. Herein are recorded his debtors and the reason for their indebtedness, the transactions being performed in the town of old Dartmouth which, until 1787, included Westport, New Bedford, Acushnet and Fairhaven.
One Jonathan Hussey was a good customer from 1745, and sev- eral pages of indebtedness are recorded. In those days, apparently, the creditors did not press for payment, for in 1775 it came time to settle the account which amounted to 43 pounds, 9 shillings and 11 pence. All had been balanced to 1754, but from that date a full and final settlement could not be made as Mr. Akin's books were not posted to date. Hence settlement was postponed until all items had been carried to the ledger.
In attempting to make settlement on July 20, 1759, it was found that Paul Russell could not produce his credit slip for the bark (for tanning) delivered to Mr. Akin. It was remembered by Mr. Akin that the first delivery, which took place in 1757, consisted of a cord and a quarter, and that the second load, which was delivered in 1758, consisted of three quarters of a cord. Instead of making a final settlement, in the absence of the credit slips, they both signed a stip- ulation that if it were found that Mr. Akin had paid too much, Paul Russell "was to pay back again what it fell short of two cords."
The vocation of tanner and currier was passed on from genera- tion to generation in this wise: - In October 1750, Mr. Benjamin Akin charged thirty pounds for teaching Walter Taber the art, trade and mysteries of currying.
We glean the following detached items from the account book : -"In 1755 George Cadman, Grammar schoolmaster, is to have
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twenty-four pounds per year, and to be paid once a quarter." A notation in the book runs thus: - "1755 - The great earthquake, the first that ever I heard, being the 18th day of November, at 4 of the clock in the morning, and lasted for the space of 4 or 5 min- utes." Numerous earthquakes and earthquake waves were exper- ienced during the same month throughout Europe and America. Again, "On March 27, 1758 John Simon, Indian, bought for 10 shillings, 31/2 yards of broadcloth." In April 1759 James Smith was a debtor to one ticket in the York lottery, and on July 6th he pur- chased a second ticket, each at a price of 4 pounds.
When we read in local history that William Wood deeded to El- nathan Eldredge a tract of six acres at the Point nearly 190 years ago, it seems in the dim past, but when we peruse a ledger of ac- counts kept by a creditor storekeeper, finding accounts of these two gentlemen and scores of others, with the various items for which they became debtors, it seems as if they were doing their trading today. That particular ledger kept by Bartholomew Akin is before me, and I note that William Wood was debtor for provisions, oars, labor, etc., transactions of 1784, 1785 and 1787. No settlement is recorded. Elnathan Eldredge in 1776 purchased window frames, labor, linseed oil, etc., amounting to 39 pounds, 5 shillings and 81/2 pence. This was paid in cash, two payment in 1776, and two in 1777.
We find on page 65 the name of Eleazer Allen, who came to Oxford in the Revolutionary days. His occupation was boat-build- ing which trade was followed by four generations, Eleazer, Bart- lett, James M. and James M. Allen Jr., the latter dying in 1915. Eleazer in 1788 started an account running through 1793, amounting to 31 pounds, 14 shillings and 9 pence. He partly settled with a boat and a barrel of fish. The account was completely settled in April 1797.
We return to Oxford leaving Main street, turning west through Oxford street until we reach the wharf near which ships were built and to which ships were tied. On the north was the store and on the south was the common. Near the old wharf Elnathan Eldredge & Co. had a store of West India goods, groceries, etc. from 1765 to 1780.
Being guided by a map preserved at the Millicent Library, drawn in 1791, or 26 years after Oxford was founded, we find very exact- ly where lived Thomas Nye (1777), Seth Tobey (1776), Joseph Whitfield (1788), Peleg Huttlestone (1786), Reuben Jenne (1792), Benjamin Tilson (1782), Lewis Taber (1778), Joseph Bennett
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(1787), Cornal Wilkey (1789), and others. We mention these for they are no longer mere names but living personalities, going in and out of the headquarters of Bartholomew Akin, making purchases and paying bills at his place of business. The dates after the names signify the time when they began to be debtors of Mr. Akin.
Peleg Huttlestone, it would appear, began to make purchases here in 1786, settling for his indebtedness in 1788. The next entry appeared in 1794 and continued until 1797 when the bill was paid in full. He purchased lumber, provisions, oars, iron hoops, etc. For Peleg Huttlestone, Mr. Akin worked 31/2 days on Sloop "Success" receiving 15 shillings and 9 pence.
We learn that a new schoolhouse became a debtor to Mr. Akin in the year 1802. Boys were boys then, for he was employed again and again setting squares of glass in this institution of learning. A note at the end of the account reads: - "1819 - I have gone all over this bill and as near as I can find it stands, there is due the schoolhouse $6.34." In the year 1807 Mr. Akin received of Thomas Clark $40.00 for 21/2 years rent. Bartholomew Akin furnishes coffins. One to John West in February 1778 for his son Stephen. On September 18th, he purchased one for himself, and on March 25, 1781, he bought one for his wife. Each coffin cost 10 shillings and 8 pence.
Mr. Akin furnished provisions for, or worked on, the following sea-going vessels: - Schooners ; Polly (1787), Lydia (1789), Isaac (1787), Ruth (1786), Friendship (1788), Diana (1795), Seaflower (1787), Abigail (1793), Lively (1796), Adventure (1777), George (1785), Rainbow (1794), Huldy (1788).
Mr. Akin provisioned, or worked on, the following sloops: Silva (1788), Betty (1786), Jenne (1789), Oxford (1802), Dartmouth (1795), Neptune (1778), Delight (1777), Freedom (1774), and the Providence (1777).
Then there were the Speedwell (1785), the Brig Triton (1785), the Brig Hamilton (1777), and the Ships Columbia (1796) and President (1799).
Besides those mentioned above, Mr. Akin enjoyed the trade of the following: - Samuel Perry, Doctor, (1786) ; Bartholomew West, from 1782 to 1788; John Alden from 1780 to 1794; Isaac Drew, 1791; Isaac Terry, 1781; Robert Bennett 1786; Abner Pease 1800; Capt. William Taber 1786; Capt. Henry Jenne 1789; Zeruiah Wood
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1776; Mr. Wood purchased a coffin for his father in 1778, costing 3 pounds.
At the head of one ledger account, we find the name, many times commented upon in local history, of "Yet Seth Pope". This account which began in 1785 was balanced in 1788. In 1792 a new account began, headed "Seth Pope Yet." On February 1, 1808 the account was settled.
In 1817, Seth Stevens, the Second, bought a coffin for his wife at a cost of 3 dollars. In October 1783 Abner Howard purchased a coffin for his father costing 13 shillings.
Rum, including West India rum, was a commodity purchased by many customers whose names appear in the account book which had accounts recorded until 1821.
In another ledger of a business house we find the names and ac- counts, among others, of Ephraim Pope, Capt. John Alden, Mr. Yet Set Pope, Capt. Seth Alden, Capt. Asa Swift, Capt. Seth Delano, Capt. Obed Freeman, Capt. Warren Delano, Hardy E. Hitch, Lot Besse, Ebenezer Delano, Dr. Jeremiah Miller, Rufus Allen, Jr., Amos Rogers and John Taber.
The town of Fairhaven was a debtor - the first entry being - To one gallon N. E. Rum, .70. Further purchases of the same NECESSITY were made by town officials. The date of these trans- actions was from 1819 to 1828.
Among these transactions we note the following prices :- But- ter, 25 cents per pound; Sugar, 15 cents per pound; W. I. Rum, 17 cents per pint ; N. E. Rum, 54 cents per gallon ; Snuff, 40 cents per pound ; Coffee, 30 cents per pound ; Flour, $8.00 per barrel ; Gin, 23 cents per quart ; Eggs, 12 cents per dozen; Tea, 75 cents per pound. One customer, not mentioned above, made 42 purchases of rum and gin.
In still another set of bookkeeping books, overflowing with in- formation of those days, kept during the Revolutionary days, we find the names of scores of sloops, schooners and brigs. Among many customers we note the names of Isaac Drew, Peleg Huddle- stone, William Wood, Zeruiah Wood, Levin Stott and Daniel Egery.
In Oxford Village. - Beginning in 1816, the store at the north- west corner and Main and Oxford streets was conducted by John Howland & Co., and continued for more than twenty years. Then, under the date of 1840, we find that Bartholomew Taber & Son
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(Joseph B. Taber) formed a partnership, succeeding John How- land & Co. Under the date of March 12, 1861, the Standard car- ried this notice :
"NOTICE. The copartnership heretofore existing between Bar- tholomew Taber and Joseph B. Taber, under the name of Barthol- omew Taber & Son, terminated in consequence of the death of Bar- tholomew Taber, on the first day of January 1861. The affairs of the late firm will be settled by the remaining partner. (Signed) Joseph B. Taber. N.B. All persons indebted to the late firm are particularly requested to call and settle the same."
This store was conducted by Joseph B. Taber for thirteen years. This, with the number of years he was a member of the firm of Bartholomew Taber & Son, shows that he was an active grocery- man at Oxford Village for a period of thirty-four years. Under the date of September 14, 1874, we read:
"CHANGE OF FIRM. Having leased the store, No. 274 Main street, Fairhaven (occupied by me for the past thirty years as a first-class grocery and provision store) to Asa Dunham, Esq., of New Bedford, I take this opportunity of thanking my numerous friends and patrons for their many kind favors during the years that we have dealt together, and I regret that my health at present will not permit me to serve you longer. I recommend to you my successor, Mr. Dunham, and trust that you will in the future extend to him the same liberal patronage which in the past you have so generously bestowed upon me. All who are indebted to me will confer a favor by settling their accounts as soon as possible, either with Mr. Gidley at the store or with me at my house. (Signed) Joseph B. Taber. Fairhaven, September 14, 1874."
The press comment was as follows: "BUSINESS. Mr. Asa Dunham, of New Bedford, has leased the store, No. 274 Main street, Fairhaven, and will continue the grocery and provision business which has been heretofore conducted by Mr. Joseph B. Taber. Tuesday, September 29, 1874."
Mr. Taber lived for ten years after retiring from the grocery business, dying on May 26, 1884, aged 76.
Under the date of Tuesday, February 1, 1876, the Standard states: "SUDDEN DEATH. Asa Dunham, of this city, who has lately been keeping a grocery store at Oxford Village, Fairhaven, was taken with a fit while returning to this city early last evening in
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his wagon. He was taken to his home, 24 Ash street, and died about one o'clock this morning, in his 58th year."
About two months thereafter the Standard stated: "R. Wash- burn has leased the store formerly occupied by the late Asa Dun- ham, corner of Main and Oxford streets, Oxford Village, Fair- haven. A good stock of Flour, Grain, and Family Groceries will be kept to suit customers. We ask a share of patronage. April 11, 1876."
Under the date of Friday, July 27, 1877, the Standard con- tinues : "ICE CREAM. The polite and accommodating Mr. Reuel Washburn has opened an Ice Cream saloon at Oxford Village, and will succeed, if attention to the wants of customers will command success."
Mr. Reuel Washburn was burned out in February 1878, de- scribed as follows: "FIRE. About 111/2 o'clock Saturday evening (February 9, 1878), the grocery store of Reul Washburn, at the northwest corner of Main and Oxford street, Oxford Village, Fair- haven, was discovered to be on fire, and though the flames were promptly extinguished by Relief Engine, No. 5, before they had time to find vent, the inside of the building, was considerably burned, and the stock was badly damaged by water and smoke. The building appeared to have been set on fire in two places, probably by some person who concealed himself inside when it was closed for the night. A room upstairs was occupied for lodgings by Mr. Wash- burn's son except on Saturday nights, and the incendiary was prob- ably aware of this fact. The stock was insured for $1,200, and fur- niture up-stairs for $300, in the Merchants' and Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. of Worcester, through I. S. Cornish. The building is the property of Joseph B. Taber, who for many years has kept the store."
In the same journal, under the date of February 18, 1878, we find: "GROCERIES, etc., at auction. Will be sold by public auc- tion, on Thursday, February 21, at 10 o'clock, A.M., at the store of Reuel Washburn, at Oxford Village, Fairhaven, a lot of groceries, woodenware, tinware, earthenware, etc. (Signed) George H. Taber, Auctioneer."
Under the date of March 6, 1878 the Standard continued. "RE- PAIRING. The store in Oxford Village, owned by Capt. Joseph Taber, which was recently damaged by fire, is thoroughly repaired and is soon to be occupied by Mr. Frank Wilde of Fairhaven, who will conduct the grocery business there." Mr. Wilde was an adver-
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tiser in the first volume of the STAR, as follows: "GROCERIES, Provisions, Corn, Meal, Salt Meats, Vegetables, Crockery, etc. Goods delivered in any part of the town. (Signed) H. F. Wilde. Cor. Main and Oxford streets, Oxford Village, Fairhaven. March 22, 1879." This store was continued by a son, Lorenzo Frank Wilde who died on November 11, 1942.
Thus seems to end the century-and-a-quarter history of the store on the northwest corner of North Main and Oxford streets.
In Fairhaven Village. - Coalitions of grocers and marketmen were in existence three score years ago, as the following discloses: "NOTICE. We, the undersigned, do hereby agree to close our places of business every evening at eight o'clock (Saturday except- ed), from December 15, 1873, to April 1, 1874. (Signed) Whiting & Lewis, Obed F. Hitch, Williams & Sisson, K. S. & S. H. Eldredge, Joseph Millett, Jas. S. Robinson, Alfred Nye, S. S. Swift & Co., Fairhaven, December 11, 1873."
For the sake of record, let us review the locations of these busi- ness houses. Whiting & Lewis conducted a meat market in the build- ing which stood on the north side of Center street, second door east of Phoenix Block. At this some store Mr. Whiting entered the em- ploy of Sumner D. Snow as clerk in 1865. Under the date of No- vember 1, 1867, we read :
"FAIRHAVEN AHEAD. In the window of S. D. Snow's market may be seen two squashes weighing, one 118 pounds, the other 114 pounds, raised by J. G. Card, of Fairhaven." Under the date of January 22, 1868, The Standard states: "HANDSOME BEEF. Mr. Sumner D. Snow has at his market in Fairhaven, a pair of oxen fatted in Little Compton, which dressed off more than 2,500 pounds." In 1869 Mr. Whiting and Obed Lewis assumed charge, and under the date of February 14, 1873, we read: "Ye People of Fairhaven. All lovers of a good dinner will do well by leaving their orders at Whiting & Lewis', 42 Center street, Fairhaven, from which place all orders will be delivered free of charge."
Whiting & Lewis entered into partnership along other lines about this time. Mr. Elisha S. Whiting and Sarah F., daughter of A. D. Bourne, were married by Rev. A. S. Walker, on October 7, 1869. "In Fairhaven, 9th inst. April, 1871, Ella G., daughter of Elisha S. and Sarah Whiting, 11 months, 19 days. Funeral tomorrow, April 11th, at 2 P. M. at No. 5 Privilege street." Mr. Obed B. Lewis, of Fairhaven, and Miss Charlotte A. Case, of New Bedford, were married on March 10, 1870. W. & L. advertise as follows: "Pass
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in your orders for your dinner tomorrow, to Whiting & Lewis, 42 Center street, Fairhaven, Mass. The choicest bits and vegetables in their season. Our aim is to please all our patrons." July 20, 1872.
After the firm of Whiting & Lewis had been in existence about half a decade, the following was published: "COPARTNERSHIP NOTICE. The copartnership, under the title of Whiting & Lewis, is this day dissolved by mutual consent. Parties owing the above firm, or those having demands are requested to make settlement. (Signed) E. S. Whiting, O. B. Lewis, Fairhaven, February 24, 1874." "E. S. Whiting will continue the business at the old stand, No. 42 Center street."
Evidently Mr. Lewis had decided to try his fortune in a larger field, for under the date of February 28, 1874, we read: "Obed F. Lewis has taken the old stand of Thomas Caswell, No. 80 Purchase street, where he will continue the business of marketing meat, poultry and vegetables; with strict attention to business he hopes to please all who may purchase of him. Goods delivered to any part of the city free of expense."
Here, however, Mr. Lewis did not long tarry. Under the date of April 1, 1876, we read: "A CARD. I have this day purchased of Obed B. Lewis, the Novelty Market, 78 Purchase street, where, with close attention to the wants of the old customers and the public in general, I solicit your patronage. (Signed) Charles H. Wood."
Within our remembrance Obed F. Hitch, one of the coalition mentioned above, was carrying on the grocery business in Phoenix Block. Before that period we find that the partnership of William F. Howland and Fred M. Fuller had been dissolved. Mr. Fuller conducted the grocery store on Main street in the store in which the front part was the former ice cream parlor of the Browne Pharmacy, the office and store room of which, making up the remainder of the grocery store area in addition to a portion that opened to the north and was directly east of the old-time meat market (now the Ideal Fish Market), and opened into the Phoenix Block yard on the east. Mr. Fuller was appointed justice of the peace for the county in April, 1870. He sold his dwelling house to Russell Hathaway in June, 1873, for $2,000, and his grocery business to Obed F. Hitch in 1872. Mr. Hitch conducted this store about a decade, removing to Falmouth. He lived in the house directly north of the Methodist church building, recently burned.
The mention of the name of Fred Fuller brings forth still fur- ther events of the day: "CRYSTAL WEDDING. The fifteenth
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anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, of Fairhaven, was duly observed last evening, Monday (April 17, 1871). About thirty couples were present, and all were 'fuller' of enjoyment than they have been for a long time. There were many elegant and useful presents of glassware."
"PERSONAL. Mr. Frederick M. Fuller, of Peabody, formerly of Fairhaven, has been appointed agent of the Fall River railroad in Fall River, and has entered upon his duties there today." Febru- ary 29, 1876.
"Mr. Frederick M. Fuller, formerly of Fairhaven, but of late ticket agent of the Fall River railroad at the station in Fall River, died suddenly in that city yesterday, (Sunday, May 21, 1876), of pa- ralysis of the heart. He was about 45 years old (44-8) and leaves a family. Funeral at the residence of his mother, 53 William street, Fairhaven, Tuesday, at 2 P. M."
Williams & Sisson carried on the grocery business where the Center street bakery is now located. Indeed that place has been the home of a number of business houses. We mention a few, the last one opening here more than 50 years ago. The number then was 43 Center street. George F. Tripp, Jones & Sears, Sears & Barlow, Williams & Sisson, Leavitt & Taber, J. W. L. Hillman, Jotham Good- now, S. S. Bumpus.
Charles F. Williams, son of Frederick Williams, of Chestnut street, died on October 10, 1889, in his 37th year. Frank W. Sisson and Etta M. Westgate were married March 4, 1873.
K. S. & S. H. Eldredge were at this time proprietors of a gro- cery store located on the first floor of the Fountain Hall building, still standing. Here they remained until 1883, when they removed to the store vacated by Job H. Wilcox, who succeeded E. A. Bates in 1882, who succeeded Obed Hitch in 1881, who succeeded Fred M. Fuller in 1872.
"Mr. Samuel H. Eldredge, one of Fairhaven's oldest residents, died at his residence on William street on Monday, January 14, 1895, after a month's illness, of la grippe. Mr. Eldredge was born in this town, in the year 1807, and after attending the public schools, entered the employ of his father, a cooper, who carried on business at the foot of Eldredge's lane. A few years later, when Mr. Eldredge's father retired from the business, he, with his brother, the late Kelley S. Eldredge, continued to carry on the business at the old stand. Later Mr. Eldredge purchased an interest in a store in Fall River, but after carrying on the business for about four years he returned to Fair-
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haven, and with his brother, purchased the Union Grocery Store of Herbert Damon, in the building now occupied by Forrest & Long, tinsmiths. He carried on business here for several years when this firm, known as Elbridge Bros., bought out the store owned and con- ducted by Obed Hitch, now occupied by H. D. Burke & Co. They carried on the business here until a few years ago, when they sold out to Messrs. Burke & Co." all found in The Fairhaven Star of January 19, 1895.
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