USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Ould Newbury: historical and biographical sketches > Part 41
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" Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same,
"SECTION I. That James Hudson, Thomas Jones, Jonathan Parsons, William Friend, Samuel Newhall, Michael Hodge, David Coats, William Stickney, William Noyes, Joseph Stanwood, Moses Hale, William P. Johnson, Nathaniel Nowell, Joseph Noyes, Henry Friend, Joseph New- man, Nicholas Johnson, Moses Brown, James Johnson, William Wyer, William Nichols, the members of said Society, be incorporated and made a body politic for the purposes aforesaid,'by the name of the Marine Society at Newburyport in New England ; and that they, their associates and successors, have perpetual succession by said name, and have a power of making by-laws, for the preservation and advancement of said body, not repugnant to the laws of the government, with penalty,- either of disfranchisement from said Society or of a mulct not exceeding twenty shillings,- or without penaltys, as it shall seem most meet ; and have leave likewise to make and appoint their common seal; and be liable to be sued, and enable to sue, and make purchases, and take donations of real and personal estate for the purposes aforesaid," etc.
Captain William Davenport, the landlord of the Wolfe Tavern, died Sept. 2, 1773. In the records of the society is the following announcement : "No meeting this month by reason of M' Davenport laying Dead in the House."
After Anthony, the son of William Davenport, had been
589
NEWBURYPORT MARINE SOCIETY
duly licensed inn-keeper, the society again voted to hold its meetings at the tavern. Gradually its entertainments be- came more expensive and elaborate. Oct. 31, 1782, the so- ciety " voted to provide a supper for the next annual meet- ing." Oct. 27, 1785, the same vote was repeated ; but, Nov. 30, 1786, it was " voted to provide a dinner for the next an- nual meeting, instead of a supper as has been customary." And twenty years later, after the tavern had passed into the hands of Prince Stetson, the Newburyport Herald, under the date of Dec. 11, 1807, makes the following announcement : -
The Newburyport Marine Society celebrated their anniversary yes- terday at the Gen. Wolfe tavern, and partook of a well provided dinner prepared by Mr. Stetson.
Captain Jonathan Parsons, Jr., was the first president of the society. He resigned, however, after one week of ser- vice, and Captain James Hudson was chosen to fill the vacancy Nov. 20, 1772. Captain Hudson was annually re-elected to that office until Nov. 29, 1781.
In September, 1774, the inhabitants of Newbury and New- buryport were active and earnest in their efforts to aid and encourage the American colonies in the approaching struggle with Great Britain.
Among the independent companies formed was one by the Marine Society of Newburyport, then but two years old, and consisting of seventy-six persons, who formed themselves into a Company, called the Independent Marine Company, with Capt. James Hudson as their Com- mander. Their colors were expressive not only of their profession, but combined the insignia of the State, and their sentiments in regard to war; the standard being a blue anchor on a red field, supported by a pine tree and olive branch. One excellent rule they adopted, viz : - that every neglect of duty by an officer should be subject to double the penalty imposed on a private .- History of Newburyport, by Mrs. E. Vale Smith, page 82.
In 1779, a committee appointed by the society made a survey of some dangerous ledges in the vicinity of Great Boar's Head, and published in nautical books and charts the
HALL OF NEWBURYPORT MARINE SOCIETY.
591
NEWBURYPORT MARINE SÓCIETY
information they had obtained for the benefit of navigators along the coast.
In 1783, they erected two beacons on Plum Island to serve as landmarks for the guidance of vessels during the day ; and they also provided, with the assistance of some of the Newburyport merchants, for the maintenance of lights at night until light-houses were erected at the expense of the national government.
In 1787, the society erected two small houses on Plum Island to shelter shipwrecked mariners and protect them from dangers to which they were exposed. The houses were destroyed after some years of service ; but more com- modious and substantial ones have recently been erected by the United States government and placed under the care and control of life-saving crews, who are always ready to render assistance in case of danger or disaster.
The Newburyport Marine Society has invested funds to the amount of $50,000, and also owns a brick building on State Street nearly opposite Middle Street. In the second story of this building the regular business meetings of the Society are held, and the third story is occupied with a col- lection of curiosities gathered from all parts of the world. In this ethnological and zoological collection are household utensils illustrating the home life of the early New Eng- land settlers, old portraits and Revolutionary relics, coins and medals, stuffed birds, fish and reptiles, manuscripts, log- books and nautical journals, marine paintings and models of naval architecture, " bric-a-brac and curios" from Manila, China, and Japan, all arranged in cases or displayed upon the walls. Visitors are admitted free from ten to twelve o'clock A. M., and from two to four P. M. daily, Sundays excepted.
The collection is not large and no attempt has been made at classification ; but, if those who have articles of historic value would present them to the society,- especially paint- ings, engravings, and models of ships, and, in fact, everything that relates to commercial life and progress,- the gifts would
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be gratefully received and the collection itself would be made still more interesting and attractive.
For more than a century the society was in a prosperous and flourishing condition, but the membership is now con- stantly decreasing. The decline in American commerce has very materially reduced the number of ship-masters who are eligible and qualified to take the places made vacant by death and other causes. But the society still continues its chari- table work, and annually distributes the income from its invested funds for the benefit and support of those mem- bers, and widows of deceased members, who may be sick or destitute.
ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE.
In the year 1790, travelers on their way from Newbury and Newburyport to Salisbury and Amesbury crossed the Merrimack River by March's ferry at the foot of State Street, by Hook's ferry at the foot of Moulton's hill, oppo- site the mouth of the Powow River, or by Webster and Swasey's ferry in the vicinity of Bartlett's cove. The ferry at Carr's island, long before that date, had fallen into disuse and was practically abandoned on account of its remoteness from the regular line of travel.
In 1791, active efforts were made by some of the inhabi- tants of Newbury and Newburyport to organize a company for the purpose of building a bridge from Newbury to Deer Island and thence to the Salisbury shore. The following subscription paper was circulated and signed by the persons whose names are affixed : -
NEWBURY PORT, May 30, 1791.
Whereas a bridge over the Merrimack River from the land of the Hon. Jonathan Greenleaf in Newbury to Deer Island, and from said Island to Salisbury, would be of very extensive utility by affording a safe Conveyance to Carriages, Teams, and Travellers at all Seasons of the year and at all Times of the Tide.
We, the subscribers, do agree that as soon as a convenient Number of Persons have subscribed to this, or a similar writing, we will present a petition to the Hon'ble General Court of the Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts, praying for an act incorporating into a body politic the sub- scribers to said Writing with liberty to build such bridge and a right to demand a toll equal to that received at Malden bridge and on like terms; and if such an Act shall be obtained, then we severally agree each with the others that we will hold in the said bridge the several shares set against our respective names, the whole in two hundred shares being divided, and that we will pay such sums of money at such
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times and in such manners as, by the said proposed Corporation, shall be directed and required.
S. L. Tyler, 20 shares ; Dudley A. Tyng, 15 shares ; Stephen Hooper for Miss Sarah Roberts, Nath'l Carter, Jr., Tristram Dalton, Timothy Dexter, Edward Rand, George Searle, Joseph Tyler, and M. Brown, each 10 shares.
Andrew and B. Frothingham, Thomas Cary, and W. Combs, each 6 shares.
Wm Wyer and Stephen Hooper as guardian to Thomas W. Hooper, each 5 shares.
Richard Pike, Joseph Swazey, E. Sawyer, James Prince, Thomas White and Sam. Bailey, each 4 shares.
Joshua Toppan, Joseph Cutter and Hannah Dummer, each 3 shares.
Elizabeth Roberts, Wm Teel, Wm H. Prout, Wm H. Prout, Jr., Tristram Coffin, Steph. Cross, Nathaniel Healy, True Kimball, Samuel Gerrish and Jacob Brown, each 2 shares.
Moses Hoyt, Daniel Horton, Rob't Long, Wm Ingalls, John Mycall, S. Emerson, E. Wheelwright, E. Titcomb, J. Burroughs, Jere Pearson and Jon. Marsh, each one share.
To meet the preliminary expenses, an assessment of six shillings per share was levied upon the stockholders of the corporation and made payable July 11, 1791.
Coffin, in his History of Newbury, under date of June I, 1791, says : " Nathaniel Carter of Newburyport and eight others petitioned for liberty to build a bridge over Merrimac river at Deer Island."
A map of the river and the islands in the immediate vicinity of the proposed bridge was prepared and presented with the petition to the General Court. On the opposite page the reader will find a copy of this map taken from the original drawing now on file at the State House in Boston.
Nov. 4, 1791, the town of Newbury voted to oppose the construction of the bridge, and November 30 reconsidered that vote ; and again, December 15, reconsidered their recon- sideration, and instructed their representatives to oppose the incorporation of the company. In January, 1792, the town sent a long remonstrance to the General Court objecting to the proposed obstruction of the navigation of the river.
Notwithstanding this strong opposition, an act of incorpora- tion was passed Feb. 24, 1792, with an additional act, June
595
ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE
22, 1792, modifying the restrictions and limitations of the first act, as regards length of arch, height above high water mark, width of draw, etc. New and original plans submitted by Timothy Palmer, of Newburyport, a skilful and ingenious mechanic of that time, were accepted by the stockholders of the corporation and the work of construction, under the direc- tion of William Coombs, was promptly executed and the bridge opened to the public Nov. 26, 1792.
Salisbury
-
Creek
Brown's Landing
Gunner's Point.
Rocks
Ship Channel
Merrimac River
" Kittle's Rocks
Deare Island
A Reef of Sand
Rock
High Rock
Point of Rocks
Wharf
Point of Rocks
Scale.
Grove
Creek
32 rods to inch.
Newbury
JOSEPH SOMERBY, Sur.
June 6, 1791.
MAP SHOWING LOCATION ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE.
It was built of wood, with heavy timbers forming an arch, or arches, resting on piers, on either side of Deer Island, and extending to the Newbury and to the Salisbury shores.
The principles upon which it was constructed were novel and hitherto untested ; but the beauty and strength of the structure, when completed, demonstrated their practical value and utility. A portion of the bridge, extending from Deer Island to the Salisbury shore, remained in use until 1882, when it was superseded by the new iron bridge now standing there. The other section, however, connecting the island
Eagle Island
A Reef of Sand
BRIDGE ERECTED IN 1792 FROM PLANS FURNISHED BY TIMOTHY PALMER.
4
597
ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE
with the Newbury shore, was removed in 1810 and replaced by a chain suspension bridge. This step was doubtless ren- dered necessary by the strong and forcible expressions of dis- satisfaction among the boatmen on the river at the alleged obstruction of navigation by the projecting piers that sup- ported the long and heavy wooden arch.
The half-tone print on the opposite page, taken from the " Massachusetts Magazine and Monthly Museum for May, 1793, Printed at Boston by Isaiah Thomas and Ebenezer T. Andrews, 45 Newbury Street," gives a full view of the bridge as it was at that date, while the engraving on page 598, taken from an old and rare book printed in Charleston, S. C., in 1794 by Harrison & Hume for John Drayton, a resident of that city, evidently represents only that portion of the bridge which connects Deer Island with the Newbury shore.
A brief description of the drawing in the Massachusetts Magasine reads as follows :-
Essex Merrimack River Bridge contains upwards of six thousand tons of timber; and is formed of several arches and solid piers, the dimensions of which are as follows, viz. Abutment on the Salisbury shore 124 feet ; water course, 50; pier, 45 ; water course, 60; pier, 50; draw, 40; pier, 50; arch, 113; abutment on the north shore of Deer Island, 60; abutment on the south shore of Deer Island, 93; arch, 160; abutment on the Newbury shore, 185 ; whole length of the bridge, 1,030; width of the bridge, 34; average depth of the water at high water mark, 30; height of the arch between Newbury and Deer Island above common high water mark, 37 ; height of abutment above common high water mark, 30. . . .
The two large arches (one of which is superior to anything of the kind on the continent) were both of them invented by Mr. Timothy Palmer,* an ingenious house wright of Newburyport, and appear to unite elegance, strength and firmness beyond the most sanguine expectation.
* He was a native of Boxford, Mass. His wife, Anna, died July 21, 1786, in the thirty-second year of her age. He died Dec. 19, 1821, aged seventy. They were both interred in the Old Hill burying ground, Newburyport.
In the New England Palladium for Dec. 25, 1821, is the following obituary sketch : " In Newburyport, Mr. Timothy Palmer, age 70, for many years a surveyor of the highways in New- buryport, and long distinguished for his taste and skill in the erection of bridges. Among the proofs of his merit in this respect it is sufficient to refer to the bridges on the Schuylkill, the Potomac and the Merrimack, which he designed, and whose erection he superintended, especially the first bridge over the Merrimack; and Newburyport will always have cause to be grateful to him for improving and beautifying its streets."
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John Drayton, in his journey through New England, passed over this bridge, and in his book says :-
Two or three miles beyond Newburyport is a beautiful wooden bridge of one arch, thrown across the Merrimac river, whose length is 160 feet, and whose height is 40 feet above the level of high water. For beauty and strength it has certainly no equal in America, and I doubt whether as a wooden bridge there be any to compare with it elsewhere. The strength of the bridge is much increased above the common mode in use by pieces of timber placed upon it and shouldered into each other. They run upon the bridge in three lines parallel with the length of the bridge and with each other, so as to make two distinct passage ways for carriages. These braces are some feet in height, and are connected on
LONG ARCH OF ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE.
the top by cross pieces, affording sufficient room for carriages to pass underneath without inconvenience. It is said that the upper work has as great a tendency to support the weight of the bridge as the sleepers upon which it is built. I had not time to stay there longer than five minutes, so must be excused in a sketch which I have taken of it, and that was not done upon the spot, but only by recollection. If in so doing I should persuade others to inquire more particularly respecting it, and to adopt what may be good in its mechanism, my object will be gratified. The river over which it is built is subject to freshets : it is therefore high from the general current of the water, and as being proper for that, I apprehend would not be unsuitable to similar rivers in Carolina.
The treasurer's books show that the total cost of the bridge was £10,919 7s., equal to $36,397.90 at that time.
599
ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE
William Coombs was paid £300 for his services as superin- tendent.
The first dividend, 22s. per share, was declared Feb. 25, 1793, and paid to the following persons : -
Edmund Sawyer
3 shs
John O'Brien
2 shs
George Searle
8 4
Joseph Cutler 3
66
Joseph Tyler
8 Enoch Sawyer, Jr. I
Searle & Tyler
I
Timothy Dexter 30 6
Edward Rand
3
John Burrough
1
Nathan Hoyt I
6
Jonathan Smith
I 66
William Coombs
4
66
Ezekiel Evans
1
66
Gorham Parsons 2
Joshua Toppan
I
66
Eben Wheelwright
I
66
Samuel Eliot
14
6
Dudley A. Tyng
J
66
Richard Pike
3
Jonathan Marsh
I
66
John Pettingell
6
66
Joseph Stockman
I
66
Tristram Coffin I4
Edward Wigglesworth
I
66
John Coffin Jones
9
Nathaniel Carter
15
William Smith
6
66
Nathaniel Carter Jr.
I
Benjamin Joy
1
66
Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts 2
Oliver Wendell
2
66
Moses Brown 5
6
Lady Elizabeth Temple 3 66
Thomas Cary
6 4
Thomas Dickerson 20
66
William Bartlett
5 44
John Amory
6
66
Jeremiah Pearson
I
Moses M. Hays I
66
Daniel Horton
I
6
127
66
73 shs
73
66
200
William Wyer
2
Robert McGregor
2
.6
The total amount received for tolls for the year ending Nov. 27, 1793, was £801, and the average receipts for the next ten or fifteen years were in excess of $4,000 per annum. Timothy Dexter added to his stock in the corporation from year to year, until, at the time of his death in 1806, he was the owner of one hundred and ten shares.
The forty-eighth dividend was paid in May, 1807. The forty-ninth was not declared until November, 1810, and was made payable Feb. 23, 18II. The long interval between these two dividends was undoubtedly occasioned by heavy expenditures for needed repairs and also by a desire to retain in the treasury funds sufficient to meet the cost on some con- templated improvements.
66
ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE, FROM LAUREL HILL.
601
ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE
The construction of a suspension bridge from Newbury to Deer Island, in accordance with plans furnished by James Finley, of Fayette County, Penn., was considered and favor- ably reported upon by a committee of the stockholders early in 1810. The Newburyport Herald for Dec. 14, 1810, con- tains the following announcement of the completion of the work : -
The chain bridge, recently, thrown over the Merrimac, three miles from this town, is now open for the accommodation of travellers. As the principles and mode of its construction are novel in this part of the country, (being the first of the kind erected east of the Schuylkill), a particular description may be interesting to some readers. It consists of a single arch of 240 feet span, and 40 feet at its greatest elevation from the water. The abutments, 49 x 25 feet at the base, 45 x 20 feet at the top, and 37 feet high, are constructed entirely of rough and split stone, the latter of which is used in the exterior walls, each stone vary- ing from one-half to two and one-half tons in weight, and from 3 to 14 feet in length, connected together and secured by iron bolts. The whole quantity of stone is 4,000 tons. On the abutments at each side of the river, framed piers or uprights are erected, of a sufficient height, and capped with stout timber to support the chains, from which the flooring of the bridge is supported. The chains; ten in number, are passed over the caps of the uprights, and extended or slackened so as to pass under the two middle cross joists of the flooring and to describe a sinking or curve, the entire distance of which, from a right line, is one-seventh part of the span; these are tripled where they bend over and rest upon the caps; are each 516 feet in length and 256 feet along the curve line between the uprights. The ends descend from the uprights, (with an angle of the same inclination that the curve makes inwards), to a space below the surface of the ground, and there secured sufficiently to coun- terbalance the bridge of any possible weight that may be brought thereon. The whole quantity of iron used in chains, securities, etc., is 22 tons. The two middle cross joists of the flooring rest upon the chains, and the other joists are attached to them in nearly a horizontal line by suspenders from the curve. On the joists the string-pieces are laid lengthwise, which receive the plank. The whole flooring admits two passages, 15 feet wide, rises 3 feet in the centre, is firmly connected and strengthened by a stout railing, and has a very light and agreeable appearance. Horses with carriages may pass upon a full trot with very little perceptible motion of the Bridge. The whole weight of flooring, chains, suspenders, etc., commonly supported, does not exceed 100 tons, transient weight, the third part of which it is presumed can never be brought upon the bridge at the same time. The total cost is about
ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE.
603
ESSEX-MERRIMACK BRIDGE
$25,000. To John Templeman, Esq., of the Territory of Columbia, the contractor, under whose superintendence this work was constructed, and for whose unremitting attention, ingenious talents, and the many valu- able improvements suggested and adopted by him in its progress; like- wise to Mr. Carr, the master carpenter, whose knowledge in bridge archi- tecture is well-known and appreciated,- the public are much indebted, and we congratulate them upon the approbation of all those who have viewed it since its completion. The principle upon which this work was con- structed was originally invented by James Finley, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and patented to him in 1808; it has since been consider- ably improved. As its chief materials are iron and stone, the wood work being an inconsiderate part, very light, and its mode of construction peculiar, its superiority to timber bridges is obvious, and consists in simplicity of construction, durability and ease and cheapness of repair. It is particularly adapted to the bold features of the New England States, where rivers have high, precipitous banks, rapid tides and deep waters, and where, after fair experiment, we hope to see it generally adopted.
Feb. 6, 1827, the chains, supporting the span on the New- bury side, gave way, and a loaded team, with two men, four oxen and one horse, fell, with the bridge, into the river below. The horse and men were saved, but the oxen were drowned.
After the accident the bridge was rebuilt on substantially the same plan, but with additional chains to strengthen and support it. The frame-work and flooring of the driveway was made in two separate divisions, or sections, each independent of the other. These sections, placed side by side, extend from the mainland to the island, and are suspended from chains expressly constructed for that purpose.
The bridge was reopened for public travel July 17, 1827, and remained under the care and control of the Essex-Merri- mack Bridge Corporation until the fourth day of August, 1868, when it was laid out as a public highway under the provisions of an act passed by the General Court in the month of June preceding. Since that date it has been main- tained and kept in repair by the towns of Amesbury and Salisbury and the city of Newburyport.
The half-tone print on page 600, taken from a negative made ten or fifteen years ago, gives a view of the bridge as seen from Laurel hill. Between Deer Island and the Salis-
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bury shore, a portion of the original structure, designed by Timothy Palmer, was then standing with the driveway covered to protect it from the weather. A few years later the wooden arches and some of the piers on that side of the island were removed and a new iron bridge erected.
On the southerly side, the long arch, of two hundred and forty feet span, extending to the mainland in Newbury (now Newburyport), was first erected in 1810 and rebuilt in 1827. Its graceful shape and picturesque appearance have attracted considerable attention ; and students of history assert that it constitutes, in point of fact, one of the first suspension bridges erected in America.
The half-tone print on page 602 gives the outlines and pro- portions of this arch, as it now appears, after nearly seventy years of constant service.
NEW HILL BURYING GROUND.
In 1799, the town of Newburyport appointed a commit- tee, consisting of William Bartlett, Moses Brown, Abraham Wheelwright, Stephen Cross, and Moses Hoyt to consider the question of purchasing a suitable and convenient piece of land for a burying ground, with instructions to report within one year the result of their deliberations.
At the meeting held March 24, 1800, the report of this committee was " deferred to some future time"; but, in the warrant issued July 7, 1800, calling upon the inhabitants to assemble for the transaction of public business, the following article was inserted : -
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