Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 35

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1399

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts > Part 35

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The formation of the first meeting, or society, of Friends in the town of Dartmouth will be found noticed in the later history of that town, with others outside of Bedford village. A record of October 16, 1728, notes the determination to build a meeting-house at Acushnet, to be "near the bigness of the meeting house at Pembroke." This refers to

1 A high military officer writing of Dartmouth in 1690, said: "They have not a man in the town that seems in the least to be concerned whether we have any military officers or no."

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

the old house removed in 1871. The first meeting-house in New Bed- ford was built in 1785 on the lot donated by Joseph Russell, and was removed to make room for the present brick structure, which dates from 1826. The Monthly Meeting in New Bedford was established in December, 1792, and the first clerk was Thomas Rotch; the first treas- urer was Luthan Wood. In 1793 the Friends living in the eastern part of the town of Dartmouth (now Long Plain, Acushnet and Fairhaven), and those of Mattapoisett, were united with the New Bedford Meeting. This condition continues to the present day. The membership at the beginning was about four hundred.

CHAPTER XVII

THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD .- CONTINUED.

The fires of the Revolution died out in 17831 and New Bedford began to rise from its temporary prostration. The town of New Bedford was incorporated in 1787 and the first town meeting was held on the 21st of March in the Congregational church, where the following officers were elected: Selectmen, John West, Isaac Pope, William Tallman; clerk and treasurer, John Pickens; assessors, Bartholomew Aikin, Joseph Taber, Thomas Kempton; surveyors of lumber, Benjamin Taber, Ben- jamin Dillingham, Bartholomew Aikin, Jethro Allen; inspector of fish, Peleg Huttleston; constable and collector, northwest district, Gamaliel Bryant; northeast district, Samuel Bowerman; southeast district, Jo- seph Damon; southwest district, Abishar Shearman; wardens, Maj. George Claghorn, Benjamin Dillingham, Isaac Drew, Amos Simmons;

1 The ship Bedford belonging to William Rotch, jr., who then lived in Nantucket, sailed for London with a cargo of oil in February, 1783. She arrived in the Downs on the day of the sign- ing of the treaty of peace, and was the first vessel to display the stars and stripes to the mother country. Of this event the following is found in Barnard's History of England : "The ship Bed- ford, Captain Moores, belonging to Massachusetts, arrived in the Downs on the 3d of February, passed Gravesend on the 3d, and was reported at the Custom House on the 6th inst. She was not allowed regular entry until some consultation had taken place between the commissioners of customs and the Lords of Council, on account of the many acts of Parliament in force against the rebels of America. She was loaded With 487 butts of whale oil, is American built, manned wholly by American seaman, wears the rebel colors, and belongs to the Island of Nantucket, in Massa- chusetts. This the first vessel which has displayed the thirteen rebellious stripes of America in any British port."

329

THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.

tithingmen, Zadox Maxfield, William Allen, Pardon Taber; fence view- ers, Samuel West, Silas Sweet, Stephen Taber, Henry Jenne; cullers of staves, Daniel Ricketson, John Shearman, Benjamin Dillingham; hog reeves, Sampson Spooner, Samuel Tupper, jr., Gilbert Bennit, Daniel Smith, Seth Hathaway.

The four districts above mentioned were constituted of the parts of the town separated north and south "by the harbor and river, and east and west by the highway, beginning in the line between this town and that of Dartmouth, at the bridge about twenty rods eastward of the house where James Peckham, deceased, last dwelt, and leading easterly to the bridge at the head of said harbor, and thence still easterly by the dwelling house of Hannaniah Cornish to Rochester line." The first vote of the town of New Bedford for governor gave James Bowdoin, 41, and John Hancock, 171. The sum of $320 was assessed on "the polls and estates for the repair and amendment of highways." In the next year (1788), an additional section of North Water street, the easterly part of Middle street, and North Second street from Middle street north, were opened as highways. From that time forward other streets and highways were opened as necessity demanded, and grad- ually more rapid and frequent mail facilities and better traveling accommodations were provided. For example, in 1793 a post route was established by Samuel Sprague from New Bedford to Barnstable, by way of Rochester, Wareham and Sandwich, returning through Plymouth and Middleboro. Weekly communication was maintained with Boston by stage that left New Bedford every Tuesday morning, arriving in Taunton the same evening. The fare was three pence per mile.

With the disappearance of war and the re-establishment of business along the Atlantic seaboard, and particularly owing to the rapid devel- opment of the whale fishery, the little village of New Bedford soon be- came an active and important business center. For twenty-five years prior to the breaking out of the Revolution the whaling industry had prospered: its growth from the smallest beginnings in small vessels, short voyages and imperfect apparatus, during the twenty-five years mentioned, was amazing. There were annually fitted out during the period named for the northern fishery about two hundred vessels; for the southern fishery about one hundred and forty six, giving employ- ment to 4,500 men. An average of 45,890 barrels of sperm oil and 8,850 barrels of whale oil were taken annually. This fleet sailed from

330

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Nantucket, Wellfleet, Dartmouth, Lynn, Martha's Vineyard, Barnstable, Boston, Falmouth, Cape Cod, Swansea, Providence, Newport, Warren, Sag Harbor, New London and New York. From Dartmouth alone there were annually fitted in 1770-75, eighty vessels of 6,500 tonnage, employing 1,040 seamen. During the war this industry was almost paralyzed. The records show that in 1775-76 only twelve vessels (brigs, schooners, etc.) of the Dartmouth fleet were represented by bonds filed with the State treasurer; no others were recorded during the war. But with the coming of peace the business at once was taken up and soon assumed vast importance. In 1785 the sloop Hero, Capt. Joshua Delano, made a whaling voyage; again in 1787 the same cap- tain made a voyage in the sloop Rainbow. Other voyages were un- doubtedly made about that time from Dartmouth ports. The ship Rebecca made the first whaling voyage to the Pacific, sailing from Dartmouth September 21, 1793, and returned with 750 barrels of sperm oil and 180 barrels of whale oil. The Rebecca was launched near the foot of North street; she was only 175 tons, but was then considered a large vessel; she was lost in the winter of 1803-4 on her homeward voy- age from Liverpool.

The growth of the whale fishery and the development of some other lines of business led to the founding of the first newspaper at a very early date in New Bedford. The first number of The Medley, or New Bedford Marine Journal, made its appearance November 27, 1792, ed- ited and printed by John Spooner, " at his office near Rotch's wharf." The editor said that he " flatters himself, that so long as his exertions tend to scatter the rays of knowledge, of morality, and of refinement among the people, the public will afford him every reasonable encour- agement, in proportion to the utility of his exertions." The advertise- ments in a few of the early numbers of this pioneer paper are of great interest in this connection. William Rotch, jr., " respectfully informs his customers and friends he has for sale, wholesale and retail, at his store in New Bedford, sail cloth of an excellent quality," and names such other goods as coarse and fine sheeting, large and small looking- glasses, twine and cordage, flour and ship bread, pork and salt, iron, etc. The brig Mary was advertised to sail for Havre de Grace, Cor- nelius Grinnell, master. The sloop Mayflower, Gibbs West, master, was noticed to sail for New York and Chesapeake. Caleb Greene in- forms the public that " he carries on and proposes to enlarge the book- binding business in its several branches." He also sold account books,

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NEW BEDFORD IN 1795.

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332

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

paper, ink, etc. John Spooner had just received from London a long list of books, any of which " will be given in exchange for clean cotton and linen rags, old sail cloth, or junk." Joseph Damon offers for sale " a large well built vessel, just launched, 591/2 feet keel, 221/2 feet beam, 9 feet in lower hold, 4 feet between decks."

The Medley continued its interesting career nine years and was dis- continued about October, 1799, when Mr. Spooner sold his printing business to Abraham Sherman, jr. On the 8th of December, 1798, Mr. Shearman issued the first number of the Columbian Courier, which continued its existence until March 1, 1805. Among the early advertisers in this paper were Peleg Howland, European and West India goods; Caleb Greene & Son, drugs and medicines; William Ross, dry goods; Jeremiah Mayhew, dry goods, carpets and crockery ; Howland Hathaway, European dry goods, teas and flour; Henry Dean, Indian cotton : Daniel Ricketson & Son, dry goods and hardware.

It is shown by existing records that the village of Bedford (as it was still called) contained, in 1795, 454 houses and 1,313 inhabitants. In 1796 William Rotch deeded to the Congregational society the lot on the northwest corner of Purchase and Williams streets. This church was an offshoot from the old parish of Dartmouth which had a meeting- house at the head of the Acushnet, and the first steps leading to its formation were taken in 1795. The first regular minister of the old society came in 1708 in the person of Samuel Hunt, and the church was organized in 1716; the meeting-house was built in 1708-09, and the burial ground was in use as early as 1711. This old church has a very interesting history which cannot be followed here in detail.1 Sam- uel Hunt was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. Richard Pierce, who remained sixteen years. During his ministry a new meeting-house was built on a lot deeded to the "people of God called Presbyterians," by John Jenne. The church, however, was never Presbyterian in its sectarian character. The old church edifice was dedicated in 1744 and stood nearly a century. In 1747 that part of Dartmouth around the Acushnet River was set off as the second precinct, the remainder of the town continuing by right as the first precinct. The petitioners to the General Court for this division were the Congregationalists living in the vicinity. Rev. Israel Cheever was pastor of the old church from

1 A complete history of the old Acushnet society and the first Congregational society of New Bedford is embodied in several historical discourses delivered by Rev. William J. Potter, in May and June, 1888.

333

THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.

1751 to 1759, and in 1760 was succeeded by the famous Dr. Samuel West.

When in 1787 the town of New Bedford was formed the parish had the same boundaries as the new town, which constituted the New Bed . ford precinct. After the Revolution the people about the mouth of the river, who had been accustomed to attend church at the Head-of-the- River, became restless and desired a new church more convenient to their homes. This resulted in the building of the Fairhaven church in 1790 and for about a year Dr. West preached for both congregations. In 1792, after considerable opposition, the parish was divided and the Fairhaven precinct chartered as the second precinct of New Bedford. Early in 1795 steps were taken to build a meeting-house in New Bed- ford. While the project still existed only on paper, a sale of pews was made and a subscription paper was drawn and signed by thirty nine persons (mostly those who had bought pews), the proceeds to be used for building a church on a lot north of Joseph Russell's orchard and west of the County road. This plan was abandoned and in May the offer of William Rotch of the lot on the corner of William and Purchase streets was accepted. The first church edifice was about two years in process of erection. In June, 1803, Dr. West retired from pastoral work on account of age and infirmity. The ancient church at Acush- net was used to some extent by the Methodists and others for some years and disappeared in 1837. The Congregational society of later years at Acushnet was organized in 1829. On April 16, 1807, the southerly part of the old precinct on the Bedford side of the river was set off as the Bedford precinct, and in 1824 the title, First Congrega- tional Society, was assumed. 1

1 The conclusion of the congregational church history in New Bedford may be briefly told. In 1836 the Acushnet Church adopted the title, The First Congregational Society in New Bedford, a proceeding which led eventually to much discussion as to which of the two churches had the right to the name. Rev. Mr. Potter's historical account, before mentioned, clearly establishes the claim of the New Bedford society to the name. After Dr. West's retirement for several years there were no regular services held in the Purchase Street church, and gradually the old unanim- ity and singleness of purpose and belief disappeared. Differences arose indicating the " begin- ning of the doctrinal cleavage which was soon to run through the society and through the Con- gregational churches of New England." On August 7, 1810, a division took place in the church which resulted in the establishment of the North Congregational Church, from which later sprang the Trinitarian and the Pacific societics. After several short pastorates Orville Dewey was called in 1823 and remained ten years. During his pastorate a large number of influential Quakers joined the society-a fact of great importance in connection with the ecclesiastical history of the town. The stone church was completed in 1838, being built by individuals of the society, who then sold pews to indemnify themselves. The old building remained in the ownership of the " proprietors and purchasers " and their successors, and after its abandonment and the fixing of the ownership of the various shares, the building was sold to a new organization, raised to form

334

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

The North Christian Church society now occupies the historic build- ing on the corner of Purchase and Middle streets. The founders of the society were formerly members of the Baptist Church of Dartmouth, and were "constituted a Christian Church January 25, 1807." The original members numbered twelve, of whom nine were women. James Hammond was the the first deacon, ordained in 1812; Obed Kempton was treasurer, and Abraham Gifford was appointed "to re- ceive the regular contributions." The first edifice was built on Mid- dle street at the head of Sixth, in 1805, and the first settled minister was probably Elder Benjamin Taylor. On March 14, 1833, a charter of incorporation was obtained and in the same year the present house of worship was erected. 1

a basement, changed in the interior, and called Liberty Hall; it was burned in 1854. On the day succeeding the dedication of the new church (May 23, 1838), Rev. Ephraim Peabody was installed pastor, and continued about seven years. John Weiss was the next pastor for eleven years, and was succeeded in December, 1859, by Rev. William J. Potter. He died December 21, 1893, and was succeeded by Rev. Paul Revere Frothingham.

The North Congregational Church, before mentioned, was formed October 15, 1807. The so- ciety was greatly depleted in 1809-10 by "an unhappy division" which resulted in the formation of two churches, the one Trinitarian, the other Unitarian. Services were held in school houses and in a hall until 1813, when a building was erected near the southwest corner of Second and Elm streets. The church was incorporated January 28, 1827. On May 11, 1836, the corner stone of the present granite edifice was laid and the building was first occupied January 1, 1837. Troubles that arose in the church in 1843 resulted in withdrawals and dismissals of a number of members, who afterwards formed the Union Church of Fairhaven, and the Pacific Congregational Church. The church edifice was extensively improved in 1850-51.

The Trinitarian Church was formally organized in November, 1831, with fifty-nine members, all of whom, with one exception, separated from the old North Church. Rev. James Austin Rob- erts was the first pastor. The society was incorporated February 2, 1832. A church edifice was at once erected and dedicated May 17, 1832. It was extensively repaired in 1879, and was burned March 8, 1890. The present beautiful edifice was erected in 1891.

The Pacific Church, before mentioned, was organized October 8, 1844, with twenty-three mem- bers. It disbanded April 17, 1878, its membership of nearly one hundred going to the North Church and the Trinitarian.

1 In the year 1828, through a little internal dissension, nine members of the North Christian Church were honorably dismissed and organized the Middle Street Christian Church. After worshiping in Obed Kempton's house for a period, the congregation, in 1834, took its present house of worship, which had been vacated in the previous year by the First (or North) Christian society. On January 11, 1845, the church was reorganized and took its present name. William Coe was the first pastor.

The services that led to the formation of the South Christian Church began prior to 1851, and in that and the succeeding year the house of worship was erected. Rev. George H. Eldridge was the third pastor and preached the sermon dedicating the church June 9, 1852.

The Spruce Street Christian Church originated in a Mission Sabbath School society, formed in 1859, to provide instruction for neglected children. The school commenced with fifteen schol- ars, but rapidly increased, and a chapel was built and dedicated in January, 1860. In 1867 all the property was presented to the society, which was incorporated with the name, Spruce Street Mission Society. Preaching by a settled minister began in 1868, and when the society was set off as a separate church, Rev. Nicholas S. Chadwick became the first pastor.

The Advent Christian Church was organized in 1843-4, as a result of preaching by William Miller on the second coming of Christ. In 1847 the edifice previousiy used by the Pacific congre-

335

THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.

The post office was first opened in New Bedford in 1794, with Will- iam Tobey, postmaster. The office was located in the old Tobey house, then standing on the corner of Purchase and Union streets on the site of Lawton's drug store. In 1806 Abraham Smith was appointed post- master and removed the office to a building on Middle street two doors east of the present corner of Water street; the custom house was kept in the same building. A weekly mail came from Boston in the early years, the postage on letters being ten cents; to New York it was 1834 cents and to Philadelphia, 25 cents. The mail receipts for many years, and nearly down to the middle of the present century, were insignifi- cant when compared with the immense quantities received and sent in these days of cheap postage and swift railroads. The post-office passed into the hands of Richard Williams, son-in-law of Mr. Smith, in 1826, and during his administration a penny post was established. This was inaugurated in February, 1832, and under its regulations letters were delivered to recipients on payment of an additional two cents. It was about this time that the office was removed to a building on Union street just east of Tallman's block. There it remained until the erec- tion of the United States Custom House in 1836, when it was removed to that structure.1 The present handsome post office building on the corner of William street and Acushnet avenue was completed and occu- pied in 1893.

In the year 1796 the villages of New Bedford and Fair Haven were connected by the first bridge. The rates of toll in 1800 were four cents for each foot passenger ; twelve cents for each person and horse; twenty-

gation was secured, and services were held there for thirty-two years. In 1879 the present church was built on Foster street.

1 Cyrus W. Chapman was appointed postmaster April 16, 1861, and under his administration the free delivery system was established. The old penny post system was still in operation, when Mr. Chapman on September 2, 1861, placed three wooden boxes for the collection of mail in stores on the corners of Union and Purchase streets, Purchase and William streets, and Pur- chase and Middle streets. From these boxes he collected mail at 5:30 A. M., and 2 P. M. This con- venient plan continued in operation until July 1, 1863, when the free delivery system was ordered by the government. When this change was made David Wood and James F. Tripp, who had been appointed penny-post deliverers, were appointed letter carriers. In 1866 the number of carriers had increased to five; in 1880 to seven. The money order system was inaugurated November 3, 1864, and the first postal note was issued in September, 1883. Following is a list of New Bedford postmasters: William Tobey, January 1, 1794; Abraham Smith, June 20, 1806; Rich- ard Williams, April 4, 1826; Simeon Bailey, June 20, 1840; Edward W. Green, June 13, 1845; Simeon Bailey, June 18, 1849; Thomas Coggeshall, December 30, 1852; Joseph C. Kent, June 8, 1853; John Fraser, April 6, 1857; Cyrus W. Chapman, April 16, 1861; Edmund Anthony, February 3, 1870; Thomas Coggeshall, March 10 1876; Thomas Coggeshall, March 17, 1880; Albert H. W. Carpenter, April 9, 1887; Charles H. Gifford, May 16, 1889; Charles S. Ashley, 1893; David L. Parker, October 1, 1897.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

five cents for each chaise or sulky; thirty-six cents for each coach, phaeton, curricle, or four wheeled carriage for passengers, etc.

The present century opened amid scenes of mourning in New Bed- ford, as well as elsewhere in the country, for the death of General Washington, which took place December 14, 1799. The news reached this town by way of New York on the 22d of December and the sad announcement was made on a handbill issued by the Columbian Cour- ier. The village authorities set apart the 6th of January for a public demonstration in honor of the great man. The ceremonies consisted of the formation of a procession under direction of Colonels Pope, Kempton and Claghorn, and Captain Bryant. During the marching- of this procession, bells were tolled and minute guns discharged. A funeral oration has delivered by Rev. John Briggs, of Tiverton.

The first year of the century saw also the establishment of the New Bedford Academy, which was opened on the 1st of May, under the ad- ministration of Galen Hicks and Miss Sally Cady. Of its later history little is known.

By the year 1803 the village of New Bedford and its business inter- ests had attained so much importance that the need of banking facilities were felt. . This resulted in the founding of the Bedford Bank in that year, with a capital of $60,000-a sum of money which at the beginning of the institution it was believed was larger than could be profitably loaned. In the following year the capital was increased to $150,000. Thomas Hazard was the first president of the bank, and John Pickens the cashier; among the directors were John Howland, Cornelius Grin- nell, William Rotch, jr., and Thomas Nye. This pioneer banking in- stitution was the direct ancestor of the present National Bank of Com- merce.

In 1807 the first number of the New Bedford Mercury appeared, a paper that is still in existence and is described further on.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 35

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub Publication date: 1899 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company Number of Pages: 1399

Author: Borden, Alanson, 1823-1900; Boston History Company, Boston, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Company
Number of Pages: 1399