USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Ould Newbury: historical and biographical sketches > Part 35
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501
WOLFE TAVERN
William Davenport died Sept. 2, 1773, and was buried on the crest of the Old Hill burying ground, near the Hill Street entrance. His children were as follows : --
Mary, baptized March 1, 1741.
Grace, born Sept. 12, 1743 ; baptized Sept. 18, 1743.
Mary, born June 1, 1746; baptized June 1, 1746. Moses, born Feb. 20, 1747-8; baptized Feb. 28, 1747-8. Elizabeth, baptized March 4, 1750.
Anthony, baptized March 22, 1752.
Sarah, baptized May 19, 1754. Moses, baptized July 24, 1757.
In the inventory of his estate, taken Oct. 3, 1773, the fol- lowing interesting items appear, with the appraised values annexed : -
one negro woman £3. 0. 0
one ditto child 7. 0. 0
160 gals. West India Rum 21. 6. 8
18 gals. Wine 4. 16. 0
20 gals. Cherry Rum 2. 0. 0
8 gals. Spirits
I. I. 4
9 bbls. Cider .
4. 14. 0
I gun
12. 0
William Davenport was also the owner of considerable real estate within the limits of Newbury and Newburyport. One lot, several acres in extent, just beyond the New Hill burying ground, is still known by the name of Davenport's hill. Feb. 13, 1771, William Davenport purchased this land of the estate of Oliver Clark. The deed of conveyance is recorded in the Essex Registry of Deeds, book 128, page 209. The land afterward came into the possession of Anthony Daven- port, his son, by inheritance and by purchase from other heirs (book 139, page 167).
Letters of administration were granted Anthony Daven- port in October, 1773, for the settlement of his father's estate. He was then only about twenty-one years of age, but seems to have conducted the business of the old tavern successfully until his brother Moses was old enough to serve
WOLFE TAVERN.
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WOLFE TAVERN
in his place, and was licensed as an innholder by the court at Ipswich.
Under the management of Moses Davenport the business continued to prosper and the number of patrons increased.
In 1782, Marquis de Chastellux, who served in the Revolu- tionary army under Rochambeau, made Davenport's Inn his headquarters during his stay in Newburyport, and briefly mentions the fact in the published account of his travels through New England.
An old almanac, printed in 1788 by Nathaniel Low, gives the names of the most noted innholders on the road from Boston to Portsmouth. In the list is " Putnam of New- bury " and " Davenport of Newburyport." The first-named undoubtedly refers to Oliver Putnam, who kept a tavern in what is now known as the Ilsley house, on High Street, near the head of Marlborough Street.
A skilful artist, by the name of Aiken, residing in New- buryport, made about this time an admirable engraving of the old Wolfe Tavern, which has been reproduced by the half-tone process for the illustration of this sketch. The artist himself subsequently acquired considerable notoriety by the retaliatory measures he adopted to mortify and humiliate a fellow-townsman (Edmund M. Blunt, the publisher of Bowditch's Navigator and Coast Charts), with whom he had quarrelled.
In 1804, Thomas Perkins, after some years of service with Moses Davenport, was licensed as an innholder, and assumed control of Wolfe Tavern on his own account. He was born in Topsfield May 28, 1773, and married Elizabeth Storey, of Essex, Feb. 16, 1804. His son, Henry C. Perkins, after- ward an eminent physician of Newburyport, was born in one of the upper chambers of the tavern Nov. 13, 1804.
The columns of the Newburyport Herald contain some ad- vertisements that seem to indicate that Mr. Perkins did not occupy the position of landlord for more than three years. Under the date of June 8, 1804, the following announcement appears : -
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OULD NEWBURY
The mail stage from Portsmouth will leave Perkins' Tavern (formerly Davenport's), Newburyport, at half past 12 o'clock P.M. every day (Sundays excepted).
BENJAMIN HALE.
The paper for March 31, 1807, has this notice : -
The Proprietors of the southeast division of the Fourth General Past- ure in Newbury and Newburyport are hereby notified and warned to meet at the house of Mr. Thomas Perkins, innholder, in Newburyport, on the 14th day of April next.
May 15, 1807, "Emperor Francis," a tonsorial artist of some celebrity, announced that he had opened rooms on State Street, Newburyport, " one door above the celebrated General Wolfe Tavern, now kept by Mr. Stetson."
It is evident from the above citations that between the thirty-first day of March and the fifteenth day of May, 1807, Mr. Prince Stetson took possession of the house, and was duly established therein as landlord. He continued to serve the public in that capacity until the great fire of 1811. His son, Charles Stetson, was afterward connected with the Astor House in New York City, and was exceedingly popular with the patrons of that famous hostelry.
In the list of buildings burned in Newburyport May 31, 18II (published in the columns of the Newburyport Herald), will be found " the dwelling house and barn of Prince Stet- son." Two weeks later (June 14, 18II) " Prince Stetson informs his friends and the public that he shall open his Tavern on Monday next in the House of Col. Bartlet, State St., where he solicits their favors."
Colonel Stephen Bartlett's house was on the lower, or easterly, corner of Temple and State Streets ; and the brick addition on Temple Street was built about this time to accommodate the patrons of Wolfe Tavern.
On the corner-of State and Harris Streets was a spacious brick house owned and occupied by Colonel John Peabody, uncle of the eminent banker, George Peabody, of London. Colonel Peabody had built this house at great expense, and resided there until, owing to losses by the great fire and
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WOLFE TAVERN
the general stagnation of business, he decided to remove to Georgetown, D. C. Jan. 20, 1812, he gave a quitclaim deed of "the land with the buildings thereon " to Ebenezer Wheelwright and Thomas M. Clark (Essex Deeds, book 195, page 168). Jan. 1, 1814, Ebenezer Wheelwright and Thomas M. Clark sold the property to Benjamin Hale for $7,500 (book 202, page 290).
The alterations and additions required to render the estate suitable and convenient for the entertainment of travellers were speedily provided for, and the property was then leased to the proprietor of Wolfe Tavern. Since that date, not- withstanding frequent changes in ownership, there has been no change in the location of the tavern.
In the Registry of Deeds at Salem the following addi- tional conveyances of this estate are recorded : - -
July 16, 1828, Benjamin Hale to the Eastern Stage Com- pany (book 251, page 224).
Feb. 1, 1838, Eastern Stage Company to Simon P. Drake (book 306, page 229).
June 18, 1838, Simon P. Drake to the Ocean Bank (mortgage) (book 306, page 230).
Aug. 31, 1840, possession taken and title to Ocean Bank perfected (book 321, page 19).
March 22, 1844, Ocean Bank to Enoch Tilton, innkeeper, for $7,000 (book 342, page 264).
While the property was in the possession of Mr. Tilton, the building was enlarged on the westerly side by the addi- tion of a dining-room, parlors, etc .; and the brick dwelling- house adjoining, then owned by Mr. Francis Todd, was pur- chased, and connected with the tavern by a covered bridge.
April 15, 1867, Mr. Tilton sold the tavern, with the land under the same, to Moses S. Little, retaining for his own use the dwelling-house formerly owned by Mr. Todd (book 722, page 87).
June 1, 1871, Moses S. Little sold the property to Ephraim Tebbetts and George Montgomery, of Gilmanton, N. H. (book 829, page 59).
Feb. 19, 1872, Ephraim Tebbetts sold one-half the prop- erty to Dr. George Montgomery (book 848, page 5).
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OULD NEWBURY
Oct. 7, 1873, Dr. George Montgomery sold the tavern with land under the same to Henry S. Shattuck, of Concord, N. H. (book 890, page 223).
The will of Henry S. Shattuck, proved in December, 1883, devised the real estate above described to his wife and chil- dren.
July 30, 1887, Nancy A. Shattuck, widow, George H. Shattuck, James A. Shattuck, and Mary E. Shattuck, single woman, conveyed the property to Edward P. Shaw (book I203, page 566).
Nov. 16, 1891, Edward P. Shaw sold the land with the buildings thereon to Daniel H. Fowle and William Richard Johnston, the present owners and occupants of the tavern (book 1327, page 493).
After the great fire in 1811 Messrs. Anthony and Moses Davenport built the stores now occupied by the Misses Wil- kinson, Sampson Levy, and C. W. Wingate, on the site of the old Wolfe Tavern at the corner of State Street and Threadneedle alley. Aug. 18, 1825, partition deeds to and from Anthony and Moses Davenport were recorded in book 238, pages 263 and 264. These deeds state that the land then occupied by the brick store or stores " was purchased by their honored father of Jonathan Dole," which statement is corroborated and confirmed by the conveyances to which reference is made at the beginning of this sketch.
The quaint old sign that hung on its lofty pedestal in front of the old tavern narrowly escaped destruction during the Revolutionary War. Public opinion denounced and con- demned everything that savored of royalty in those patriotic days. Even the names Queen and King Streets were changed to Market and Federal Streets in obedience to the will and wishes of the people. The Essex Journal, bold and vigorous in its comments on public affairs, declared in its editorial columns that the sign bearing the portrait of Gen- eral Wolfe, displayed in the very centre of the place, "is an insult to the inhabitants of this truly republican town." Fortunately, however, the views so vigorously expressed were not acceptable to the more conservative members of the
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WOLFE TAVERN
community ; and the obnoxious sign was allowed to hang in its accustomed place until long after the close of the war.
Tradition asserts that the head and bust of General Wolfe, surrounded by an elaborate wreath of scroll work, were carved upon the sign and appropriately painted and gilded. The workmanship was effective ; and the head and bust, cut in profile, were said to bear a close resemblance to the form and features of the distinguished commander of the English forces at Quebec. As Captain William Davenport was by trade a carver, he was fully competent to do work of this kind, and probably exercised his own skill and taste in the production of this unique sign. In the great fire it was par- tially, if not wholly, destroyed, When Wolfe Tavern was removed to the corner of State and Harris Streets in 1814, a new sign bearing the portrait of General Wolfe, painted by Moses Cole, an artist of some distinction at that time, was placed in front of the house where it has since remained, with the exception of a brief interval when it was withdrawn from public view, and the name of the hotel itself was changed to " Merrimac House."
In 1887, the old name was restored, and the sign painted by Moses Cole was again hung in its accustomed place. Renovated and improved, the ancient tavern still furnishes entertainment for man and beast, and with its interesting history and associations connects the living present with the old colonial days.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN MEETING-HOUSE.
Sept. 30, 1740, Rev. George Whitefield preached in New- bury for the first time. He addressed a large audience assembled in the Third Parish meeting-house, then located near the foot of Fish Street, in what is now known as Market Square. The enthusiasm aroused by this noted preacher resulted in the organization of a new religious society, whose first place of worship was on the easterly side of High Street, just below the corner of Federal Street.
Rev. Matthias Plant, then minister at Queen Anne's Chapel, in a letter to Rev. Dr. Bearcroft, secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Lands, under date of Feb. 15, 1742-3, says :-
Since my last of July 23, 1742, There is erected a new meeting house by those People called the new lights, and their Dissenting teacher received 53 into Communion in one day of those who were of that way of thinking.
Mr. Joseph Adams, of Byfield, a graduate of Harvard College, was employed as a stated preacher in the new meet- ing-house, and the number of worshippers steadily increased. On the thirty-first day of October, 1743, thirty-two male members of the Third Parish asked dismission in order that they might be gathered into a new Congregational church. After a long delay a meeting of the. parish was held Feb. 14, 1744, which resulted in a vote to the following effect : -
First, That the separating brethren had no right to vote in the case then pending. Secondly, That the reasons given by the brethren with- drawn from Communion were not sufficient to Justify their separation or for this Church to grant them a dismission. Thirdly, That a Com-
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THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN MEETING-HOUSE
mittee be appointed to prepare, in the name of the Church, an admoni- tion to the brethren of the separation. Fourthly, That if the separate brethren shall slight the admonition which shall be given them, to return to communion, this Church will in due time proceed to such further censure as is directed in the Gospel.
Meanwhile the disaffected members of the First Parish church, after a long and violent controversy with Rev. Christopher Toppan, relating to their separation from the church, decided to call an ex parte council of the neighboring churches and ask for letters of dismissal. After several in- effectual attempts to carry this plan into execution, a council of eight churches was finally convened July 24, 1744. In the absence of Rev. Christopher Toppan and his friends, who declined to take part in the council, all the evidence presented was in favor of the disaffected members of the parish. As the result of this investigation, the pastor of the church was censured ; and the aggrieved brethren were ad- vised, in case all proper efforts to obtain satisfaction should fail, "to seek more wholesome food for their souls, and put themselves under the care of a shepherd in whom they could with more reason confide."
Dissatisfied with these proceedings, Rev. Mr. Toppan and his friends called another ex parte council (Aug. 31, 1744), which after due deliberation reversed the decision of the previous council, and advised the brethren who had with- drawn from the church to renew their covenant vows, and accept the ministrations of the faithful pastor who had served them for nearly fifty years.
July 16, 1745, Rev. John Tucker was invited to assist Rev. Mr. Toppan in the work and ministry of the First Parish. He accepted the invitation, and was ordained Nov. 20, 1745. Protesting strongly against the doctrinal views of the new preacher, many members of the parish united, with some of the personal friends of Rev. Jonathan Parsons, in an effort to maintain religious worship in the new meeting- house recently erected on High Street, near the head of Federal Street. A subscription paper, dated Newbury, Nov. 25, 1745, gives the names of one hundred and two persons interested in this movement. It reads as follows : -
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Upon the mature consideration of the many Difficultys we have long laboured under on Religious accounts, we look upon it, for many and weighty Reasons, our Duty, & not only so, but that it would be much for our Spiritual advantage & edification, and for the advancement of the Interest of the Redeemer's Kingdom among us, to unite in a New Society for the Settlement of a Gospel Ministry among us ; and it hav- ing pleased God in his Providence to give us an opportunity of Hearing the Rev. Mr. Jonathan Parsons, whereby we have had some tastes of his Ministerial abilities and Qualifications, from which we can't but think, if it should please God to incline him to settle among us in the Ministry, we have a prospect opened to us of obtaining these blessed Ends, looking upon it allso our Duty to provide an handsome, suitable support for such a Ministry. Upon the Rev. Mr. Parsons Accepting our Invitation, We, the Subscribers, do hereby for ourselves covenant, engage, & agree to pay for the Support of the said Rev'd Mr. Parsons yearly & every year while he continues in the Ministry among us. the several Sums which we have herein subscribed for. We also covenant and agree to pay towards his Settlement the several sums which we have subscribed for, as they are set in the following Lists, which are both in the Old Tenor, as witness our hands affixed thereto : -
THOMAS PIKE,
BENJ. NORTON,
SAMUEL HALE, MOSES NOYES,
TIMOTHY TOPPAN,
SAMUEL CRESEY,
MOSES BRADSTREET,
JONATHAN GREENLEAF,
DANIEL GOODEN,
ENOCH SAWYER,
NEHEMIAH WHEELER,
NATHAN PEABODY,
ENOCH TITCOMB,
WILLIAM HARRIS,
JOHN LOWDEN,
CHARLES PEIRCE,
BENJ. PIERCE,
RALPH CROSS,
DANIEL NOYES,
SIMON NOYES,
JOHN NORTON,
RICHARD TOPPAN,
SAMUEL TOPPAN,
JOHN HARRIS,
JOHN BROWN,
SAMUEL LONG,
JOSHUA COMBES,
WILLIAM BROWN,
MOSES COFFIN,
JOSHUA GREENLEAF, JR.,
NATHANIEL ATKINSON, JONATHAN PLUMER,
NATHAN BROWN,
JOSEPH ATKINSON,
JOHN PLUMER, JR.,
LEMUEL JENKINS,
EDWARD PRESBURY,
SAMUEL HARRIS,
NICHOLAS PETTINGLE,
ENOCH TOPPAN, JOSEPH HIDDEN,
JOHN POOR, HENRY TITCOMB,
DANIEL LUNT, JR., JOHN HARBUT, SAMUEL SHACKFORD,
BENJAMIN ROGERS,
PHILIP COMBES,
JACOB KNIGHT,
ALEXANDER MORRISON,
BENJ. MOODY,
MOSES PEIRCE,
STEPHEN KENT,
NATHANIEL KNAP, MOSES TODD,
HENRY SEWALL, EDMUND MORSE, DANIEL RICHARDS,
ENOCH TITCOMB, JR.,
ELEAZEAR KEAZEAR,
DANIEL WELLS,
JOSHUA GREENLEAF,
JOHN FISHER,
SAMUEL TODD,
JOHN GREENLEAF,
ZECHARIAH NOWELL,
MOSES ORDWAY,
TIMOTHY GREENLEAF,
JOSEPHI BAYLEV,
DANIEL SANBORN,
JONATHAN BECK,
JOHN BERRY,
JOSEPH COUCH, JR.,
EBENEZER LITTLE,
SILVANUS PLUMER,
DANIEL WOSTER,
SPENCER BENNETT,
PARKER NOYES,
5II
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN MEETING-HOUSE
ROBERT MITCHEL, JOSEPH CHENEY,
BENJ. PIERCE, JR.,
BENJ. FROTHINGHAM,
JAMES SAFFORD,
JOSEPH RUSSELL.,
GEORGE GOODHUE,
CUTTING PETTINGLE, JR., JAMES MACKMILLION,
JOSEPH GOODHUE,
HENRY LUNT, JR.,
SAMUEL PEIRCE,
ISAAC JOHNSON,
CUTTING PETTINGLE,
BENJ. KNIGHT,
JONATHAN KNIGHT,
SAMUEL PETTINGLE,
BEZ'D KNIGHT,
WILLIAM NOYES,
MOSES PETTINGLE,
ROBERT COLE,
DANIEL HARRIS, RICHARD HALE,
JOHN PIKE, JR.
A true Copy from the Originall. Taken this 16th of Dec'r 1745.
Attest JOHN BROWN, Clerk.
On the twentieth day of December, 1745, the disaffected members in the First Parish addressed a communication to the church, which concluded as follows : -
Wherefore, brethren, on these considerations, for the peace of our consciences, our spiritual edification and the honor and interest of relig- ion as we think, we do now withdraw Communion from you, and shall look upon ourselves no longer subjected to your watch and discipline, but shall, agreeable to ye advice given us, speedily as we may, seek us a pastor who is likely to feed us with knowledge and understanding, and in whom we can with more reason confide.
And now, brethren, that the God of a full light and truth would lead both you and us into the knowledge of all truth, as it is in Jesus, is and shall be the desire and prayer of your brethren.
This communication was signed by Charles Pierce and twenty-two other prominent and influential men who were at that date living within the limits of the Parish.
On the third day of January, 1746, nineteen persons, who signed the above communication, affixed their names to the following covenant : -
We, the subscribing brethren, who were members of the first church in Newbury, and have thought it our duty to withdraw therefrom, do also look upon it our duty to enter into a church estate, specially as we apprehend this may be for the glory of God and the interest of the Redeemer's kingdom as well as for our own mutual edification and comfort.
We do, therefore, as we trust in the fear of God, mutually covenant and agree to walk together as a church of Christ according to the rules and order of the gospel.
In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this third day of January, 1746.
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CHARLES PIERCE
THOMAS PIKE
MOSES BRADSTREET
DANIEL WELLS
EDWARD PRESBURY
JOSEPH HIDDEN
JOHN BROWN
NATHANIEL ATKINSON, JUNIOR
RICHARD HALL
JONATHAN PLUMMER
BENJAMIN KNIGHT
DANIEL GOODWIN
WILLIAM BROWN
SILVANUS PLUMER
BENJAMIN PIERCE
SAMUEL HALL
DANIEL NOYES
CUTTING PETTINGELL.
MAJOR GOODWIN
In the month of January, 1746, they extended an invita- tion to Rev. Jonathan Parsons,* of Lyme, Conn., to become their pastor. Considerable opposition was aroused by those who were unfriendly to the new church, and vigorous efforts were made to prevent the installation of Mr. Parsons. On the 19th of March, however, the members of the society as- sembled in the meeting-house ; and the pastor-elect preached a sermon from the text, " Steadfast in the faith " (I Peter v : 9). At the close of this discourse some letters and testimonials were read, upholding and defending the theological views and opinions of Rev. Mr. Parsons ; and the question of pro- ceeding with his installation without calling a council of the neighboring churches was considered, and decided in the affirmative by the unanimous vote of those present. The pastor-elect, standing with uplifted hand, then said, "In the presence of God and these witnesses, I take this people to be my people "; and the clerk, rising, and speaking for the church and congregation, said, " In the presence of God and these witnesses, we take this man to be our minister."
On the 7th of April, 1746, the organization of this inde- pendent Presbyterian church was completed by the election of six ruling elders ; and Sept. 15, 1748, the members of the society voted, unanimously, to unite with the presbytery of Boston, reserving to themselves the right to choose the elders of their church annually.
* Rev. Jonathan Parsons was born at West Springfield, Mass., Nov. 30, 1705. He gradu- ated at Yale College in 1729, and was installed as pastor of the church in Lyme, Conn., in 1731. In December of that year he married Phebe Griswold, daughter of Mr. John Griswold. Oct. 28, 1745, he removed from Lyme to Newbury, Mass.
513
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN MEETING-HOUSE
March 28, 1746, thirty-eight members of the Third Parish, who had absented themselves from communion for nearly three years, again asked for letters of dismissal and recom- mendation to the new church. This request was refused ; and a second petition, dated April 6, 1746, having met with a similar fate, the dissatisfied brethren determined to act on their own responsibility, without waiting for the approval of a majority of the parish. On the 9th of June following they applied for admission into Rev. Mr. Parsons' church ; and after due deliberation the request was granted Oct. 16, 1746.
The society was encouraged and strengthened by this ad- dition to its membership ; but the First Parish, as well as the Third Parish, insisted on the right of taxation, regardless of the fact that individual members contributed to the support of religious worship elsewhere. A long struggle to obtain release from these exactions followed.
Oct. 26, 1748, in a petition to the General Court, Enoch Titcomb and Ebenezer Little state that they were appointed by Charles Peirce, Esq., and others of the town of Newbury to present a petition that they may be freed from taxes to the parishes to which they now belong, and incorporated as a distinct parish. The petitioners, in conclusion, say "they are able to support one minister ; but, if held to the taxes, there is danger that they will either be obliged to attend under a minister they cannot in conscience hear or be de- prived of public worship. They ask that the taxes be stayed until the matter is decided " (Massachusetts Archives, volume 12, pages 506, 507).
Nov. 11, 1748, " A petition of the inhabitants of the First and Third parishes of Newbury, who now attend the ministry of Rev. Jonathan Parsons," states that they verbally em- powered Enoch Titcomb and Ebenezer Little to petition the General Court for their being set off from the said parishes, and freed from taxes in them, and pray that any petition presented by Enoch Titcomb and Ebenezer Little may be regarded as the act of the subscribers. The petition was signed by Charles Peirce and one hundred and twenty-two others (Massachusetts Archives, volume 12, pages 513, 515).
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In a petition, dated Newbury, Nov. 9, 1748, Charles Peirce and one hundred and twenty-five others, inhabitants of the First and Third Parishes, state that they have separated from their respective societies, and have formed a new society, and settled a minister after the manner of the kirk of Scot- land ; that they have applied for dismission from their former parishes, and have asked to be freed from taxes there, but have been refused ; that the court has also refused to grant their petition ; that they are entitled to the indulgence granted Quakers and Anabaptists, and desire to be dismissed from their former parishes, released from taxes, and granted parish powers and authority (Massachusetts Archives, volume 12, pages 508-510).
Nov. 10, 1748, Governor Shirley, in a message to the council and house of representatives, says, with reference to the above petitioners, "They appear to be a competent number to support a minister, and their leaving the old parishes will not weaken them much; and, as I am averse to laying anything grievous upon any people because of their Religious Sentiments, I desire you would once more take it (the petition) into consideration " (Massachusetts Archives, volume 12, page 512).
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