USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Ould Newbury: historical and biographical sketches > Part 20
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The new owner was active and industrious. He extended the business at remunerative rates, and served the town acceptably as miller for twenty-five years. The executors of his will, under a license of the court granted in July, 1784, sold to Stephen Hooper, of Newburyport, "two grist mills with lands adjoining the same, dam, &c." The deed is dated June 2, 1786, and recorded in book 146, page 158.
Stephen Hooper, of Newbury, for $2,700, sold to William Dandridge Peck, of Kittery, Me., April 16, 1800, about eight acres of land on the road leading to "Emery's mill," also twelve acres "bounded westerly on the Artichoke River," "together with a grist mill, saw mill, hulling mill, mill dam with privilege of the whole stream, a dwelling house, barn, &c." (book 166, page 217).
William Dandridge Peck was born in Boston in 1763, and graduated at Harvard College in 1782. While owner of these mills, he was chosen Professor of Natural History at Harvard College, and was authorized to visit Europe for the purpose of obtaining information and familiarizing himself with the course of instruction and methods of study pursued there. Aug. 7, 1820, he sold "to Samuel Curson of New- buryport, merchant," the land above described, " with a grist mill, saw mill, house, barn, &c." (book 224, page 99).
Since that date the property has remained in the posses- sion of Samuel Curzon and his descendants. The mill is still in good order and condition ready to meet the require- ments of the original grant as regards the grinding of corn.
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Its interesting history and the picturesque beauty of the landscape in that immediate vicinity has attracted the atten- tion of artists, of national as well as local reputation, who have reproduced on canvas, from almost every point of view, the prominent and characteristic features of the old mill and its surroundings.
OLD SHIP-YARDS.
The building and sailing of ships stimulated and accel- erated the growth and prosperity of Newbury, and became at an early day one of its leading industries. As a means of support and source of wealth, it ranked next in importance to farming and fishing. With an abundant supply of pine and oak timber near at hand, and a constantly increasing demand for small vessels suitable for the coasting trade, it is evident that the banks of the Merrimack River were soon made available for ship-building purposes.
It is possible that sloops and shallops were built on the river Parker previous to the year 1700, as the first settle- ment was made in that vicinity, but there is no evidence of the fact.
Duncan Stewart was a skilful and experienced shipwright. He occupied for some years a farm at Newbury Falls be- longing to the estate of William Dummer (Ipswich Deeds, book 4, leaf 370). Soon after the division of that estate, Nov. 23, 1680, he removed to Rowley. If he gave any attention to ship-building during his residence in Newbury, he undoubtedly made use of the first convenient and favorable location for building purposes below Thorlay's bridge * on the river Parker.
Jonathan Woodman, son of Edward Woodman, was also a ship-builder in Newbury at a very early date, as will appear from a perusal of the following official document on file at the state house in Boston : -
* Coffin, in his History of Newbury, says there was a ship-yard, and ships were built at Thor- lay's bridge in 1723. Rev. Moses Parsons, of Byfield, wrote in an interleaved almanac : " Aug. 6, 1751. Vessel launched at Thorlay's bridge."
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To Edward Michelson, marshall Generall, or his Deputy
You are hereby Required in his magisties name to sumon & raquire Bartholmew Stratton of Boston in New England, marriner & master & one eighth Pts. owner of the late Ship Salumander, togither with Elisha Hutchinson of Boston, Merchant, for himselfe & Elisha Sanford, owner of the one moyety, or two quarter pts of said Ship with Jno Poole, merchant, owner of one other quarter part of said Ship, & Mary, the Relict & administratrix to the Estate & goods of the late Henry Kemble of Boston, Smith, that was owner to the other eighth part of the said Ship, & take Bond of them or as many of them as you can meet withal, to the value of 400 pounds money with sufficient surety or sureties for them ; to make yr several & respective appearances at a Court of Admiralty called & to be held at Boston on 29th day of this Instant March at nine of the clock of ye morning, then & there to An- swer, as owners of the late Ship aforesaid, the complaint & libell ex- hibited & presented to the said Court by Jonathan Woodman of New- berry, Shipwright & Builder, for that the said Bartholmew Stratton, master, in behalf of himself & owners aforesaid, confermed to by Elisha Hutchinson for himselfe & Elisha Sandford for their proportion & Jno Poole for his proportions of said Ship as abovesaid have broken their covenants made withim the said Woodman by said Stratton in behalf of himself & them, the said owners aforesaid, as by respective papers & evidences will & may appear; & since the said Stratton, master afore- said, hath received said above mentioned Ship into his custody & pos- session in behalf & for the use of sd owners aforesaid & accordingly carried or removed the said Ship away from his place. Nevertheless both one & all the said owners aforesaid hath denied & still doth Re- fuse to make satisfaction & payment to the said Woodman for the said · Ship, according to their first and after ingagement, putting the said Woodman to great loss, charges, damages, which by the whole account will appear no less than two hundred sixty eight pounds seaventeen shillings sixpence money and goods or thereabouts & still from said Woodman doth detayn the same or value thereof according to their Respective proportions as owners aforesaid for which their bonds & securities aforesaid is to be ; that the above said owners shall not only appear & attend their respective concernes in said Court, but shall re- spond & abide the decree thereof, so make a true returne hereof under your hand. Dated in Boston 23 March, 1675-6.
By the Court EDWARD RAWSON, Sec'y.
That this is a true Copie Compard with the originall on file as attest
EDWD RAWSON, Secry.
Endorsed
So far as I am concerned I shall appear by virtue of this Atachment witness my had this 23rd March 1675-6. P me JNO. POLE.
-
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OLD SHIP-YARDS
So far as I am concerned I shall appear by vertue of this Atachment witness my hand 23ª March 1675-6.
P me BARTHOLMEW STRETTON.
I, Mary Kemble, administratrix to my husband, Henry Kemble, doe engage to appear, according to the within written Sumons, as my hand this 23rd March 1676.
MARY KEMBLE.
That what is above written is a true copy of ye marshalls Endors- ments as above. EDWARD RAWSON, Sec'y .*
Jonathan Woodman married Hannah Hilton July 2, 1668. March 25, 1681, he received from his father, Edward Wood- man, a deed of land, dwelling-house, etc. (Ipswich Deeds, book 4, leaf 425).
Sept. 24, 1681, Jonathan Woodman, shipwright, “in con- sideration that my uncle Stephen Greenleafe, Tristram Coffin & Nathaniel Clarke, all of Newbury, have bound themselves to my father, Mr. Edward Woodman, senior, and to my mother, to pay within two years 535 for me, I Therefore convey to them my now dwelling house, houses and barnes, orchard & pastures, and all my land and meadow, which was lately made over to me by my ffather, vizt all my plow land and pasture lying by and adioyneing to my dwelling house, as also all the plow land upon the north west syde of the street, lying upon the westward syde of my house, the sayd street being called the new streete, as also three acres of meadow, &c." (Ipswich Deeds, book 4, leaf 434).
Nov. 8, 1695, Jonathan Woodman gave a mortgage deed of all his real estate to Tristram Coffin (Ipswich Deeds, book 4, page 431) ; and May 7, 1697, Tristram Coffin reconveyed to Jonathan Woodman all the property covered by this mort- gage deed, " including seven acres of upland bounded north- easterly by ye River Merrimack, southeasterly by ye land of William Titcomb, southwest by ye land of Isaac Bayley, & northwest by ye lane commonly called Mr : Woodman's Lane" (Essex Deeds, book II, page 254).
His ship-yard was probably located near the foot of that
* Maritime Records, Massachusetts Archives, volume 61, page 126.
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lane which was laid out in 1788 by the town of Newburyport, and named Kent Street. His will, dated Nov. 15, 1706, and proved Feb. 3, 1706-7, gives to his son Jonathan " one half that ship timber I bought at Haverhill this Fall."
In the division of the estate of George Carr, who died previous to April 10, 1683, Carr's Island, with dwelling-house, etc., was given to his widow during her lifetime; and mention is also made of an old building yard, and "the privelege of the dock below the lowest building place for laying of vessels, graving and laying of boates."
Richard Carr, son of George Carr, continued the business of ship-building on the island. Among the original papers and documents on file at the Essex Institute, Salem, Mass., is a written contract, of which the following is an exact copy : -
Articles of Agreemt made and Concluded this fourth day of Novem- ber, Anõ Domi sixteen hundred ninty & six & in the eighth year of the Reigne of our sovring Lord William the third by the grace of God of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland King Defendr of the Irish Iles Between Maj John March of Newbury in the County of Essex in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England of one pty And one Richard Carr of Salisbury in the county & province aforesd Ship- wright of the other pty
Wittnesses
That the sd Richard Carr doth hereby oblig himself his heyrs ex- ecuts and Administratrs to deliver to the sd Majr John March his heyrs executrs administrat's a good vessell of about forty foote by the Keele and about sixteen foote by the beame and about eight foote & four inches deepe in the Hold, wch said vessell stands now on the stocks on the Iland knowne by the name of Mr. Carrs Iland in Sals- bury, the said vessell to be by the said Carr compleatly finished, as to the Hull or body as also wth Masts yards and Boomes & Bowsprit sutieabel for a Briginteen, the said Majr March to provid all Iron work excepting Deck rayles and other rayles, the said vessell to be delivrd a floate to the sd Majr March compleatly finished as to the carpenter work to a cleete, at or before the last day of January next ensuing the date heerof on the forfeiture of three hundred pounds in good and Lawful mony of New England. The sd Majr John March, his heyrs, execut's and adminstrs to pay or cause to be paid to the said Richard Carr, his heyrs, executrs, administrs or Assignes the full & just sum of
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OLD SHIP-YARDS
one hundred & sixty pounds in form & mañer following, viz yt he ye sd Carr to allow the sd Majr March so much as he stands now indebted to him for dealing formerly between them and twenty pounds in good and Lawfull mony of New England at the sealing heerof & twenty pounds in good and Lawfull mony of New England at or before the last day of this instant November, and twenty pounds in good and Lawful mony of New England at or before the sixteenth day of January next, and the remainder of the said sum of one hundred & sixty pound to be paid upon the delivery of sd vessell compleatly finished as above sd, the Hull or body of the afore sd vessell wth all masts, yards, boome, Bowsprit & all other carpenters work finished to ye sea - to a cleete to be delivrd to sd March or his order a floate in Merimack River. In confirmation of all & singuler the premises the partyes above named to these articles of agreement have heerunto set theyr hands & seals the day & year above sd.
Signed, sealed & interchangeably delivered in presens of us JAMES MARCH EDWARD CARLETON THOMAS CARLETON
(.) allso the sd Carr doth ingage before by : sealling hereof to calke; recalke and grave the above sd vessell : and doe all ye above sd worke work- man like :
RICHARD CARR (Seal)
Richard Carr had charge of the ferry at Carr's Island, and was also engaged in ship-building until his death Sept. II, 1727. In the inventory of his estate mention is made of "a sloop on ye stocks valued at £60 1Is." For further informa- tion see the pamphlet entitled " Historical Sketch of Ship- building on the Merrimack River," published in 1877, page 17.
At this date there were at least twenty-five or thirty ship- yards on the west bank of the Merrimack River, between Colonel Daniel Pierce's farm and Bartlett's Cove. Most of these old yards have long since been absorbed by other in- dustries ; only a few at the present time remain unoccupied.
Commencing at the lower end of the town, near the foot of Marlborough Street was the building-place occupied by Gideon Woodwell and afterward by his son and grandson. Vessels varying in size from fifty to one hundred and fifty tons' burthen were built there a century and a half ago.
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At the foot of Bromfield Street, extending from Merrimack River to Hancock Street, was the yard where Mr. William Gerrish carried on the business of ship-building for many years.
Between Bromfield and Franklin Streets was another ship- yard, occupied at the beginning of the present century by Messrs. Coker, Atkinson, Hunt, and Pierce.
Ralph Cross came to Newbury about the year 1728. He bought land at the foot of Lime Street, and established him- self in business there as a ship-builder. His house was on the lower side of Water Street adjoining his building-yard. He died Jan. 4, 1788, aged eighty-two, and was buried in the Old Hill burying ground. After his decease Jacob Tucker, Elias Cook, and others continued the same business in the same place for twenty-five or thirty years. Two small dwelling- houses, and a grocery store owned by Mr. Isaac Poor, now occupy the Water Street front of this old ship-yard ; and the land in the rear is a part of the lumber yard of Edward Per- kins & Co.
In 1695, Thomas Johnson built one or more ships at the foot of Chandler's Lane (now Federal Street), between the Merrimack River and the land of Colonel Daniel Pierce ; and, in 1698, Ezra Cottle occupied the yard, and built several vessels there. In the year 1700, John Stickney was granted land for a building-yard " near the place where Mr. Johnson built a vessel at the lower end of Chandler's Lane."
At a later date, between Federal Street and Fair Street, on land afterward used as a mast- and spar-yard by Messrs. Tit- comb & Lunt, was the building place owned and occupied by Stephen and Ralph Cross, sons of Ralph Cross, Sr. During the Revolutionary War the frigates "Hancock," " Boston," and " Protector " were built in this yard for the Continental Government.
The Middle Ship-yard, near Watts' Cellar, was for many years after the settlement of the town merely a landing- place, for the unloading of hay, lumber, and other merchan- dise. Subsequently this "river lot" of common and undi-
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OLD SHIP-YARDS
vided land was rented by the proprietors of Newbury to ship-owners and ship-builders, and vessels were built here from time to time until the close of the last century. Under date of March 11, 1711-12, the town "voted that Major Henry Somerby, Capt. Sergant, & Lieut. Titcomb shall have power to let ye building yard near Watts cellar (so called) unto Col. Patridge and Mr. Fawn Clement and Mr. Hodge on such terms as they agree for."
March 5, 1768, a committee of the proprietors of the town of Newbury, consisting of John Brown, Joseph Coffin, and Thomas Woodbridge, for £200, gave a deed of the Middle ship-yard to Samuel Gerrish (book 127, leaf 190).
May 30, 1771, another deed confirming and ratifying the above conveyance was made by Moses Noyes, Moses Little, and Samuel Noyes, committee, to Samuel Gerrish (book 130, leaf 7).
March 8, 1768, Samuel Gerrish leased to Thomas Wood- bridge for ten years "that tract of land in Newburyport known by the name of the Middle ship yard."
It would be impossible within the limits of this sketch to describe in detail all the ship-yards established in Newbury subsequently to the year 1700. In addition to those already named, Samuel Moggaridge owned a yard near the foot of what is now Forrester Street. This yard was afterward occupied by Jonathan Merrill, Nathan Merrill, and Orlando B. Merrill, and at a later date by Stephen Jackman and George W. Jackman, Jr. During the war of the Rebellion the gunboats "Marblehead " and " Ascutney " were built here, and in 1866 and 1867 the large ocean steamers, " Erie " and "Ontario," were launched from this yard.
In 1807, Elisha Briggs came to Newbury from Pembroke, Mass., and established himself in business as a ship-builder at the foot of Ashland Street. His yard was afterward en- larged, and occupied by Messrs. William Currier & James L. Townsend, who built there many famous clipper ships. Subsequently Messrs. Charles H. Currier & Co., Colby & Lunt, John Currier, 3d, and George E. Currier continued
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the work of ship-building in that locality down to a very recent date.
At the foot of Oakland Street Eben Manson built many ships and barks from the year 1853 to 1873, and Messrs. Atkinson & Fillmore carried on a prosperous and successful business at the foot of Titcomb Street from 1868 to 1885.
JOHN CURRIER, JR.'S, SHIP-YARD, 1857.
The yard on Poore's Lane (now Merrimack Court) was laid out and prepared for ship-building purposes in 1833. It was part of the estate of Samuel Poore previous to the year 1700, and after his decease twelve acres of this low meadow land were sold to Samuel Moggaridge.
Nov. 11, 1766, John Moggaridge, son of Samuel Mogga- ridge, sold to Abel Merrill, of Newburyport, shipwright, for the sum of £365 12s. 6d., land extending from Moody's
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OLD SHIP-YARDS
Lane, so called, in a northerly direction, to land sold by Rachel Poor to Timothy Remick, and thence easterly to the Merrimack River (Essex Deeds, book 121, page 197).
Feb. 28, 1795, Anna Coffin, of Andover, widow, Anna Brewer, of Andover, woman, and Elizabeth Coffin and Sarah Coffin, both of said Andover, single women, for £360, con- veyed to Ebenezer Savory, of Methuen, tanner, twelve acres and thirty rods of land, and house and barn thereon, in Newbury, bounded northeasterly by Merrimack River, south- easterly by a driftway, southwesterly and westerly by a two- rod way running to Moggaridge Point, so called, and northerly by a public landing-place, being the same tract of land which John Moggaridge conveyed to Abel Merrill Nov. 17, 1766 (book 159, leaf 54).
May 28, 1833, Ebenezer Savory sold to John Currier, Jr., of Newbury, shipwright, a portion of the above described premises, beginning at the westerly corner of Poore's Lane, so called, thence running south by land of George W. Jack- man, thence by land of the grantor, thence by the Merri- mack River and town landing, thence by the said Poore's Lane to the bound begun at, containing about five acres and thirty-six rods (book 268, leaf 299).
In 1831, Mr. Currier commenced work as master-builder in the yard previously occupied by Jonathan and Nathan Merrill, and three years later removed to the land purchased as above. This lot, with several acres adjoining, was im- proved and occupied by him, as a ship-yard for more than fifty years.
John Currier, Jr., was born April 14, 1802. He was the son of John and Hannah (Coffin) Currier, of Newbury, and a descendant, of the seventh generation, in a direct line, from Richard Currier, who settled in Salisbury in 1639. He married Clarissa Carr Dec. 28, 1830, and died Sept. 2, 1887.
During his long and active life he built nearly one hundred large vessels, with a total registered capacity of more than 90,000 tons. In April, 1883, he launched the ship " Mary L. Cushing," owned by John N. Cushing, Esq., and others
JOHN CURRIER, JR.
PEABODY LIBRARY. 1852 PE ABODY, MAS S.
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OLD SHIP-YARDS
of Newburyport. This ship was the last merchant-ship built in the state of Massachusetts. Since that date the business has steadily declined, and is now practically extinct on the Merrimack River.
In the pamphlet previously mentioned, giving a brief sketch of ship-building on this river, the reader will find a list of the vessels registered in Newburyport from April I, 1793, to the close of the year 1876. Since the publication of the pamphlet the missing records, from the organization of the United States government to April 1, 1793, have been supplied by the treasury department at Washington ; and the names of the vessels built in this revenue district during that period are printed in the appendix to this volume.
SCENE OF THE INDIAN DEPREDATIONS AT TURKEY HILL.
INDIAN ATTACK ON THE FAMILY OF JOHN BROWN AT TURKEY HILL.
Thomas Brown, weaver, came to Newbury, in 1635, from Malford, England. His son Francis Brown married Mary Johnson Nov. 21, 1653, and settled in the vicinity of Turkey Hill.
In the Proprietors' Records of the town of Newbury are the following entries : -
At a Generall meeting of the Towne may 7th 1659
Francis Brown proposed to Exchang about an hundred acres of his ffarme that lyeth in or about the Owle swamp to be laid out upon the southwesterly part of Turkey hill. The Towne Granted it, and ap- pointed Richard Knight, Archelaus Woodman, William Titcomb & John Bayley to veiw it and to lay it out so it be not prejuditiall for the Towne.
According to the order of the Towne May 7th 1659 we have veiwed ffrancis Brownes land by Turkey hill, and we find at the Swamp called the Owle Swamp a parcell of land joyning to Georg Littles on the west and so Joyning unto the Comon on the other Quarters.
Which in Consideration of ffrancis Browne his resigning up into the Townes hands one hundred and three acres of Land in the place afore said, which he doth by these presents, We have laid out unto ffrancis Browne an hundred and three acres of land as followeth (that is to say): begining by a Marked tree by a stake on the side of Turkey hill and so ruñing on a south west poynt unto a wall nut tree by a Brooke one hundred and twenty Rod, being in all on the Northwest poynt two hun- dred and twelve Rods, and from thence runing easterly an hundred and twelve rods unto an other marked tree, and from thenc runing Northerly eighty rods unto a white oak marked uppon a little Hill by the Birchen meadows, and from thenc runing over the meadow to the old bounds, and so ruñing to a poynt wher we began.
RICHARD KNIGHT ARCHELAUS WOODMAN WILLIAM TITCOMB JOHN BAYLEY pr ANTHONY SOMERBY
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Francis Brown had nine children. A son, John Brown, born May 13, 1665, married Ruth Huse Aug. 20, 1683, and lived with his father on the farm on the southwesterly side of Turkey Hill.
On the afternoon of Oct. 7, 1695, a party of Indians, not more than five or six in number, secreted themselves near the house ; and, after the male members of the family had departed with a load of farm produce, the Indians left their place of concealment, and, stealthily approaching the house, tomahawked a girl standing at the front door, seized such articles of household furniture and wearing apparel as they could conveniently take away, and hastily departed with nine captives, all women and children. It is probable that some members of Francis Brown's family were included in this number. The names and ages of the children of John and Ruth Brown at this time were as follows : -
John, born Oct. 27, 1683, twelve years old. Isaac, born Feb. 4, 1685, ten years, eight months old. Thomas, born Jan. 1, 1689, five years, ten months old. Joseph, born Nov. 5, 1690, nearly five years old. Abel, born April 4, 1693, two years, six months old. Ruth, born July, 1695, three months old.
Only one inmate of the house, a girl, escaped capture ; and, after the departure of the Indians, she gave the alarm. Colonel Daniel Pierce, of Newbury, immediately notified Colonel Appleton and Colonel Wade, of Ipswich, that assist- ance was needed, and requested that men be sent to range the woods toward Bradford and Andover, to prevent the escape of the Indians, if possible.
According to tradition, the captives were recovered on the northwesterly side of Pipe Stave Hill, near a small stream that empties into the Merrimack, now known as Indian River. The number killed or seriously injured is somewhat uncertain, as the reports of the attack and pursuit are contradictory and confusing.
Cotton Mather, in volume 2, book 7, article 23, of the " Magnalia," says :-
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THE FAMILY OF JOHN BROWN
The Indians entered the house of one John Brown at Newbury, carry- ing away nine persons with them. Captain Greenleaf, pursuing the murderers, was wounded by them, but retook the captives. The Indians, however, had beaten them so unmercifully that they all after- ward died except one lad who was only hurt in the shoulder. Some of them lingered for six months, and some for more than a year, suffering from their wounds.
Judge Samuel Sewall in his diary says : -
Oct. 7, 1695, Jno Brown's family of Turkey hill are led captive. All are brought back save one boy that was killed ; knock'd the rest on the head, save an infant.
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