USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Ould Newbury: historical and biographical sketches > Part 33
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His daughter Fanny, born May 16, 1797, married Moses Lord, who was postmaster of Newburyport from 1812 to 1840. To Mr. Alfred W. Lord, son of Moses and Fanny (Titcomb) Lord, these old letters, with other papers relating to Colonel Moses Titcomb, have been transmitted.
After the capture of Louisburg, Major Titcomb was ap- pointed to the command of the troops stationed at Falmouth (now Portland), Me. He accepted the position, and was on duty there from May until October in 1747. When peace was restored between France and England, Major Titcomb returned to Newbury, where he remained until the renewal of hostilities between the two rival powers in 1755. He then re-enlisted in the service, was made colonel of a regiment, and ordered to report at once for duty.
Rev. John Lowell, pastor of the third church in Newbury, preached a sermon, May 22, 1755, before Colonel Titcomb and the men under his command, just previous to their de- parture for the seat of war. This sermon was subsequently published, with some brief introductory remarks commending the courage and heroism of Colonel Titcomb. The text was taken from Deuteronomy xx : 4: " For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."
The names of the officers of this regiment, with their terms of service, were entered on the pay-roll now in the Massachu- setts Archives (volume 95, page 96) ; but this official register does not contain the names of those who served in the ranks.
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COLONEL MOSES TITCOMB
Bancroft's History of the United States (volume 9, page 210, edition 1854) has a plan of the battle ground at Crown Point, showing the position of Colonel Titcomb's regiment. He had command of the extreme right wing of General John- son's line. In the height of the conflict, when the battle was raging furiously, " he got behind a large pine-tree, about one rod distant from the end of the breast-work, where he could stand up and command his men who were lying flat on the ground, and where he could have a better opportunity to use his own piece. Here, he was insensibly flanked by a party of Indians, who crept around a large pine log across a swamp about eighty yards distant, and shot him. Colonel Titcomb and Lieutenant Baron stood behind the same tree, and both fell at the same fire. This was about four o'clock in the afternoon of Monday, the eighth day of September, 1755" (Coffin's History of Newbury, page 222).
The news of this sad event was received in Newbury with expressions of profound grief. Memorial exercises were held in the meeting-house in Market Square ; and Rev. Mr. Lowell delivered a sermon from the text, " Moses my ser- vant is dead," to be found in the first chapter of Joshua and second verse. This sermon was published in 1760 by Messrs. Edes and Gill, of Queen Street, Boston.
Colonel Titcomb owned, and his family occupied at the time of his death, a house in Newbury (now Newbury- port ), on the northwesterly corner of Merrimack Street and a way leading to High Street, now known as Olive Street. Administration was granted on his estate in 1755, but divi- sion of the property was not made until 1767. At the last-named date there was set off to his eldest son, Moses Titcomb, "that part of the mansion house known by the name of the old part with the land under the same, bounded easterly on the lot (next described) called the new end of the house, and westerly on the field set off to lot (third next described) at the west end of the barn, northerly on Bradbury's land, and southerly on the ... way which is left to be used in common." To his son, Nicholas Titcomb, was awarded " that part of the mansion house known by the
RESIDENCE OF COL. MOSES TITCOMB.
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COLONEL MOSES TITCOMB
name of the new end with the land under the same and adjoining, bounded easterly on Merrimack Street, northerly on Bradbury's land, westerly on the old house set off to lot (described next preceding), and southerly on the ... common way." This old house was standing until the summer of 1895, when it was taken down, and a new house erected on the spot.
The photo-engraving of Colonel Titcomb that accompanies this sketch is taken from a portrait now in the possession of Mr. Robert Frothingham, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who is a son of the late Mr. Henry Frothingham, of Newburyport, and grandson of Andrew Frothingham, who married, April 10, 1772, Lois Titcomb, daughter of Colonel Moses Titcomb.
The name of the artist and the place where, and the time when, the portrait was painted are unknown. It was the property of Andrew Frothingham during his lifetime, and has remained in the possession of his descendants ever since. A copy of this portrait, in oil colors, hangs in the Public Library building in Newburyport.
THE DALTON HOUSE.
-
THE DALTON HOUSE.
Philemon Dalton came to New England in 1635, with his wife Dorothy and one son, Samuel, then about six years of age. He settled first at Dedham, Mass., but soon removed to Hampton, N. H. As early as Dec. 24, 1639, he was granted one hundred acres of land within the limits of the last named town ; and in April, 1641, he was a member of the commit- tee appointed to confer with the authorities at Newbury and Salisbury in regard to the ferry across the Merrimack River established soon after that date by George Carr.
Samuel Dalton, son of Philemon, married Mehetabel, daughter of Henry Palmer, of Haverhill, Mass. He was a man of considerable ability and influence in the town of Hampton, and held many offices of trust during his life.
His son Philemon, born Dec. 15, 1664, married Abigail, daughter of Edward Gove, Sept. 25, 1690, and had ten chil- dren. Their youngest son, Michael Dalton, was born Feb. 22, 1709. He came to Newbury when quite a young man, and entered upon a sea-faring life. He soon attained com- mand of a ship, and made several successful voyages. He married Feb. 5, 1733-4, Mary Little, daughter of Tristram Little. A few years later he established himself in business as a merchant, and purchased a house on the northerly side of Market Square for the sum of £1,000. At this date Tristram Little lived on the southeasterly side of the square, near the present corner of Liberty Street.
Michael Dalton was an active and influential member of St. Paul's Church, and contributed largely to its support. He was elected one of the vestrymen of that church in 1743, and was annually re-elected to that office until 1770, with the exception of two years, 1756 and 1757, when he served as warden.
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May 15, 1746, he bought of "Gideon Bartlett, of Alms- bury, tanner, with consent of his wife Abigail, for £1,600, old tenor," about three acres of land in Newbury, bounded " Westerly on Greenleaf's lane or Fish Street, southerly on ye land of Nathan Hale, Esq., in part and partly on ye land of John Newman, easterly on sª Newman's land and ye land of M' Anthony Sumersby, northeast or northerly on land of ye heirs of ye late James Peirson, deceased, with ye house & houslins thereon " (Essex Deeds, book 88, page 109).
On this land Michael Dalton erected a fine house, with a
DALTON HOUSE.
spacious barn and court-yard adjoining. Fifteen or twenty years ago the barn was removed to make room for Garden Street and for the contemplated improvements in that vicinity ; but the house is still standing, and is now the property of Mr. Timothy Remick, of Boston.
Michael Dalton was evidently a man of large means, and interested in agricultural pursuits. He bought a large farm of nearly two hundred acres on Pipe Stave Hill, in West New- bury, which after his death was occupied by his son Tristram as a country seat. In 1765, he purchased some wharf prop- erty at the foot of Market Street, then called Queen Street, and established a distillery there. He was also extensively
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THE DALTON HOUSE
engaged in the importation of foreign goods and the exporta- tion of domestic products. He died March 1, 1770, and was buried in St. Paul's churchyard. His widow married Cap- tain Patrick Tracy March 25, 1773, and died Dec. 10, 1791, aged seventy-eight. She also was buried in the churchyard by the side of her first husband.
Previous to the organization of the parish of St. Paul's and the erection of a church building on the corner of Queen and High Streets, Captain Michael Dalton and his wife, Mary (Little) Dalton, were members of the Third Church in New-
T
DALTON HOUSE STABLE.
bury, now the First Religious Society in Newburyport. From the records of this society it appears that
Mary,* daughter of Captain Dalton, was baptized Dec. 22, 1734. Michael, t son of Captain Dalton, was baptized Nov. 7, 1736. Tristram, son of Captain Dalton, was baptized June 4, 1738.
Tristram was born in Newbury, now Newburyport, May 28, 1738. He graduated from Harvard College, in 1755, in the class with John Adams. He read law in Salem, but on the completion of his studies returned to Newbury, and joined his father in business. He married, Oct. 24, 1758, Ruth
* Mary Dalton was born Dec. 2, 1734, and died Nov. 18, 1736.
t Michael Dalton was born Nov. 1, 1736, and died Oct. 3, 1841.
TRISTRAM DALTON.
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THE DALTON HOUSE
Hooper, daughter of Robert Hooper, a rich merchant of Marblehead.
On the death of his father he inherited a large estate, amply sufficient to satisfy his wants and expectations. In a sketch of Tristram Dalton, read by the late Hon. Eben F. Stone Feb. 20, 1888, before the members of the Essex Institute at Salem, Mass., the personal appearance of the man who ultimately represented Massachusetts in the United States senate is described as follows :-
There is a portrait of him in the possession of his great-grand- daughter, taken when he was eighteen years of age, just after he graduated, which is supposed to have been painted by Blackburn. It appears from this that he was tall and well-formed, with a fine, clear complexion and a smooth, open brow. He had full, dark eyes, rather a long nose, and a firm, well-set mouth and chin. The general expression of his face is open and intelligent. His dress, after the fashion of the time, short clothes and knee-breeches: coat with standing collar and deep, broad lapels faced with silk; white satin waistcoat, cut deep and long ; ruffled shirt bosom and deep lace cuffs ; his hair tied in a queue and puffed on each side: all this gives such an appearance of age and dignity to the figure that it is difficult to believe it is the portrait of one so young. In the latter part of his life his figure was very strik- ing and imposing. It has been said by one who saw him about 1816, in Newburyport, that he was then perfectly erect and firm, with a florid complexion, white hair, and a fine presence. He was fond of music, and, when young, played on the flute. He was a fine specimen of the gentleman of the old school. Naturally refined, fond of literature, easy, affable, and dignified in his manner, he was well fitted to take a leading part in the best of New England society, as it was constituted in the colonial era. From the time his father died until he was elected to the Senate in 1788 he maintained at his mansion on State Street, in New- buryport, and at his country seat at Pipe Stave Hill, a most generous hospitality.
A copy of the portrait referred to above, painted by Thomas B. Lawson, of Lowell, Mass., now hangs in the rooms of the Historical Society of Old Newbury ; and from that copy the half-tone print that accompanies this sketch, is taken.
Tristram Dalton was actively interested in public affairs previous to the Revolution, and his name frequently appears
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in the records of the town. He served on important com- mittees, and gave considerable time and attention to the revision of the public school system of Newburyport. In 1774, he was one of the delegates to the Provincial congress, and in 1776 he was elected representative to the General Court.
During the war he was an ardent and patriotic supporter of the continental government, and heartily in sympathy with the men who were struggling to secure American indepen- dence. From 1782 to 1785 inclusive, he was an active and influential member of the State legislature, and in 1783 he was chosen speaker of the house. In 1784, though again chosen to that office, he declined to serve. In 1786, 1787, and 1788 he was a member of the State senate, and also a delegate from Newburyport to the constitutional convention of 1788. He was active and energetic in his efforts to reconcile political differences, and zealously advocated the adoption of the constitution of the United States.
After a long and protracted contest the advocates of the new constitution were successful, and Tristram Dalton and Caleb Strong were elected senators to the first congress from Massachusetts. The long term fell, by lot, to Caleb Strong. After the expiration of two years Tristram Dalton was a candidate for re-election ; but, owing to the strong party feeling prevailing at that time and the lack of una- nimity among his own friends and supporters, he was de- feated, and soon after retired from the public service.
The result of this election was evidently a serious dis- appointment to him ; but his letters, written at this time, do not show any signs of anger or ill-nature, although malicious and unfounded reports, derogatory to his character, had been circulated by his enemies during the campaign.
He retained his residence in New York until congress removed to Philadelphia, when he engaged a house in that city, and made a home for himself and family there. When Washington, D. C., was selected as the permanent seat of government, he decided to sell his real estate in Essex county, Mass., and invest the proceeds in Washington city lands.
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THE DALTON HOUSE
In 1796, he sold to Joseph Stanwood, of Newburyport, his great farm at Pipe Stave Hill for £3,700, and at the same time he conveyed to Moses Brown his mansion house, stables, and land under and adjoining the same on State Street, and
HALL AND STAIRCASE, DALTON HOUSE.
to William Welsted Prout and Samuel Gyles Parsons all his interest in the old Tristram Little place, on the southeasterly side of Market Square, which he had inherited from his mother.
His household goods were carefully packed and shipped by a sailing vessel bound to Georgetown, D. C. The vessel was
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wrecked on the way ; and he lost a large part of his furniture, books, and pictures. "The anticipated rise in value of real estate at Washington did not take place. His agent was dishonest. The speculation proved a failure ; and Dalton, with nearly all the others engaged in the enterprise, lost his property, and was reduced to such a condition that he was forced to accept a situation in the Boston custom-house for his support. He removed to Boston in 1815, and died very suddenly, two years after, on the 30th of May, 1817."
During his residence in Newburyport he was an active and devoted member of St. Paul's Church, and contributed gen- erously to its support. In 1760 and 1761, he served as warden of the parish, and from 1765 to 1788 (when he removed to New York) he was annually elected one of the vestrymen.
His grave is on the southeasterly side of the church, where his wife, Ruth (Hooper) Dalton, and five of his children are buried. Only three of his daughters lived to mature age. Mary, the eldest daughter, married Hon. Leonard White, of Haverhill, Mass., at one time a member of Congress. Ruth married, July 21, 1789, Lewis Deblois, a merchant of Boston. Catherine was never married.
Hon. Eben F. Stone, in the paper read before the Essex Institute at Salem, Mass., from which many important facts and incidents have been drawn for publication in this sketch, gives some interesting extracts from the letters of Tristram Dalton relating to the men and measures prominent at the first session of congress after the adoption of the constitu- tion, and closes with the following careful and discriminating analysis of his life and character : -
Physically, he was well-built, large, and robust, with a fine, erect figure, an open, benevolent, and handsome face, and that natural air of superiority which implies a fine organization. His mental powers, though good, were not remarkable. Sensible, intelligent, and refined, there was nothing in the force or capacity of his mind to distinguish him from those of the class who had enjoyed, like him, the advantages of culture and of the best society. His moral nature was of the highest order. Kind, generous, temperate, upright, truthful, and unselfish in the social and domestic relations, he was a model man, a dutiful son,
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THE DALTON HOUSE
a kind father, a good citizen, and an ardent patriot. A man of emo- tions rather than of ideas, the warmth and depth and sincerity of his feelings lifted him above all personal considerations, and gave to him that elevation and nobility of character which appeal so strongly to our regard and affection. Take him for all in all, he was a fine specimen of an accomplished Christian gentleman of the old school, of the class which was the best product of the colonial period, and which perished under the influence of the democratic ideas introduced by the Revolu- tion.
NATHANIEL KNAPP.
Surmounting, and firmly secured to a stone post, on the corner of Middle and Independent Streets in Newburyport, is a large cast-iron bomb-shell, thrown from a mortar at the second siege of Louisburg, and brought to Newbury, Mass., by Nathaniel Knapp, who served as a soldier as well as carpenter and ship-calker with the land and naval forces assembled for the capture of the city in 1758.
Nathaniel Knapp was a grandson of Isaac and Ann (Eaton) Knapp, of Salem. His father, Nathaniel Knapp, Sr., was born in Salem May 4, 1713. He came to Newbury when a young man, and married Sarah Hart, daughter of Charles and Rebecca (Kent) Hart in 1734. He was, like his son and namesake, a calker by trade, and is so styled in the deeds of conveyance executed by him during the next ten or fifteen years.
He purchased, Dec. 15, 1736, of John Webster, Jr., a lot of land, with a dwelling-house thereon, on the northwesterly corner of Middle and Independent Streets, at that time desig- nated as "a lane of two rods wide " and " as a way of one and a half rods wide " respectively (Essex Deeds, book 73, page 224). Three years later he bought two lots of land, with two dwelling-houses on the same, on the southeasterly corner of the same streets or public ways, "in the Third Parish in Newbury " (Essex Deeds, book 78, page 93, and book 81, page 45). To one of these houses he removed with his family.
His children at this time were Hannah, born in 1735, died in 1736, and Nathaniel, born March 30, 1736. Nine other children were subsequently born to Nathaniel Knapp and Sarah, his wife. Sarah Knapp died in 1754; and he mar-
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ried, Sept. 18, 1754, widow Elizabeth (Gerrish) Moody, by whom he had one daughter, born Dec. 3, 1757, died Oct. 5, 1758.
Nathaniel Knapp, Jr., married, Jan. 14, 1757, Mary Mirick, of Newbury, and the next year joined the armed forces assembled at Halifax under General Amherst for the capture of Louisburg. His diary, recently published by the Society of Colonial Wars, gives some very interesting facts and incidents connected with the campaign. A few brief extracts, relating more especially to his own personal move- ments, will be of interest to the readers of this sketch :
Monday, March ye 27, 1758, Set out for Portsmouth, Newhampshire, from Newbury by water on board Will Gerrish Scooner & got in at one a clock afternoon. Lodged at Mr. hoiets.
1758, Monday, April 3 day.
Sailed from portsmouth 2 th Clock in ye Snow Halifax, Capt Wells Comander, with ye wind at N.W. teusday 4 day we met with a Snow from Lisband bound to Marblehead, Capt. John Lee Comander, he gave an accompt that ye King of Prussia had a fight & took 50000 Prisoners.
1758, Saturday, April 8th made Lehave, the wind at N. N. W., about 8 o clock Saw a Ship 4 Leagues to Leward at 12 Clock. She came up with us, & proved to be the province Ship, Capt. hollaway comandar, they veard a boay a Stern to take our Cable on board them for to tow us in to hallifax, & she toed us Between 7 & 8 nots, & yt is 2 or 3 more than Ever She went before thick of Snow & Squally.
1758, Tuesday, April II, we hove up this Morning, & Came up to Dartmouth and Came to an anchor about noon, in ye afternoon we went a Shore & Vieued the place & houses.
1758, Sunday, May 28, Sot sail at roth Clock & went out with ye whole fleet, wind N.W. I was very sea Sick.
1758, friday ye 2 June fell in with some o the fleet, thick & foggy, we Espied under ye land a brig, & ye bumb Catch Gave Chase & Drove her ashore. She was a french brig.
1758, Wednesday, June 7, Clear weather. Spoke with a frigat & She said ye fleet had got in & we was 15 Leags Distance, & Dam'd us & then he Left us.
1758, Saterday, June 10, made ye land & took it to be to leward of Cape briton, then we spied Some Ships, 2 men of war & three or four Scooners & Sloops, & they bore away, & we followed them, & went in
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to Gabiroose, the wind blew verry hard, they told us ye Soldiers was landed a thirsday, but we did not know ye Particulars till we Landed.
1758, Sunday, June II is fair weather. I left 6 dollars with paul Gerrishes & he 8 with Capt. wells, we all went ashore in ye forenoon. when the army Landed, the Boats Got within 3 or 4 Rods of the Shore before they Saw any & then they Rise up & fir'd a Vally on them with Cannon & Small arms, ye Cannon Loden with Small Shot, the Regulars & Hilanders landed in ye front & the Rangers Landed on the left up ye Bay, & they Kild & wounded a bout a hundred, there was 2 or 3 boats Sunk by the mens being so eager & filling ye Boats so full, ye Rangers Started them first, they Ran & hollow'd & fir'd on behind them & they left their Brest work : they had 10 or 12 cannon I : 24 pounder which was one of the tilburys Guns, their Brest work was from one End to the other was 4 mile, they had 2 Morters fix'd & did heare Some Shell X: in ye afternoon we built some Camps to Lye in, & then we went almost over to ye City & Saw Some Men without, they had burnt all ye out houses, then the Soldiers took 5 horses & brout them in.
1758, Wednesday, July 26. Last night there was a number of men of war men got boats and went and boarded the 2 Ships that Lye in ye harbour, one Ship they toed up ye harbour, & ye other Ship which was ye Commodores Ketcht a ground, so that they Could not get her of, & they Ketcht her on fire & she burnt down, in ye forenoon there was a flag of truce Came out & Sot with our officers, & About Eight at night they agreed to our terms, & at nine a clock our people went in & took possession of ye town.
1758, thirsday, July 27, this morning there was three Companys of Granideers Draw'd up & went Close to ye town, & about Eleven of ye Clock they marchtd in, ye first Comp that went in is ye Royal Scots, ye 2 is hopsons, ye 3 was General Amihust, at twelve a Clock ye English Coulers were hoisted, the Wagons Came down to Carry away ye bag- gage, and all ye afternoon they were a hauling away Guns & other Stuff, the Centrys were Sot all around ye City that there Should Nothing be Caried out but what was Caried into the Kings Store.
1758, Sunday, July 30, Went to work at ye City a getting down ye west Gate & a building a bridge at ye west gate, yesterday I put a gun on board of one Mchard Sloop, to carry home, & I went round in ye City to View it, & there was hardly a house but what had a shot.
1758, tuesday, August ye 1, General Wolf went in to ye City, & he was Saluted with about 20 Canon: no work to do to Day, walk about ye City. Nothing more New to day.
1758, friday, ye 10 November, this Day it being ye Kings births we Did but Little work. It is very cold. Ye four Regiments were all mus-
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NATHANIEL KNAPP
tred with new Regimentals on, & at one of ye Clock they fir'd three Volleys. All the garrison Guns were fir'd, & all ye Shiping in ye har- bour fir'd the Ships: they fir'd first, then ye Garrison, & then ye Soldiers. Ye Generals Regm was at ye great perade, warbeton was at ye perade in ye old Barrucks, & hopsons near ye East gate & Brags at ye west gate.
1758, Monday ye 25 December, this day it being Crismas Day the Governor gave our Compe ye Day for to Divert our Selves. Ye fore- noon I went a guning : it is a fine Pleasant Day. Had a good Diner of Roast Beef. Capt write sail'd.
1759, Sunday, June ye 17th, this Day fair Weather. There is near thirty Sail of Ships and Small Craft Sail'd for the River Snt Larance. one frigate Capt. Beachem Sailed for Newbury, I put an Iron on board by David Coats. We went to the Govenor to Day for our Discharge, but we Could not Get a Direct Answer. He wanted us to tarry until we had Relief Sent us from Boston. Capt. Devenport Sail'd for Canada to day.
1759, thirsday, ye 5 July, this Day fair. Received 15 Dollars of Sec- retary. Sot Sail 32 Carpenters with a fair wind. Got out of ye harbour Between 3 & 4 clock, Capt homer of Boston Comander.
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