Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 48

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 48

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452

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

The Fall River Mill was finished in October, 1813, and stood at the head of the third fall from tide water; its size was 60 by 40 feet, three stories high and intended for 1,500 spindles. The lower story was stone and the two up- per of wood. The fact that this mill, which was the first in operation in the vil- lage of Fall River, was ready to run sev- en months after the inception of the en- terprise, has suggest- ed that possibly part of the machinery was taken from the Reho- both mill.

Avery Borden, ad- ministrator of the es- tate of Simeon Bor- den, on December 13, 1812, obtained con- sent of Court to sell to Clark Chace for $5,500 about six acres of land; the deed was dated March 9, 1813. On this date Chace DAVID ANTHONY. sold to the following persons : John Martin, Swansea, $110; William Slade 3d, Somerset, $165; Benjamin and Edward

John P. Hellen, a crockery dealer in Providence. In 1808 he obtained employment with Samuel Slater, of Pawtucket, in his cotton-spinning mill. There and with the Wilkinson brothers in the same business, Mr. Anthony gained the knowledge and experience which was to prove so useful in future years. In April, 1812, he went to Rehoboth, where Dexter Wheeler and others were operating a small factory. In March, 1813, he settled in Fall River. Joining with Dexter Wheeler, who had operated a small yarn mill by horse power in Rehoboth as early as 1807, they became the leaders in establishing the Fall River Manufactory. From that time forward Mr. Anthony was closely identified with the industrial progress of Fall River. He retired from active business in 1839, but returned to it twenty years later, as appears farther on. He was president of the Fall River Bank from its organization in 1825 for forty years, and was long a deacon of the First Congregational Church. He was thrice married and had seven children. His death took place July 6, 1867.

453

THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

Bennett, Troy, $110; James Driscoll, Warren, $175; William Reed, Somerset, $55; James Maxwell, Warren, $275; Oliver Chace, Swansea, $550; Charles Wheaton, Warren, $440; Jonathan Bowen, Newport, $220; Avery Borden, Tiverton. $825; Joseph Luther, Swansea, $55; Hezekiah Wilson, Troy, $165; Daniel Buffinton, Troy, $110; Nathan M. Wheaton, Warren, $110; Oliver Earle, Swansea, $55; Robinson Buffinton, Troy, $55; Benjamin Slade, Swansea, $220; Nathaniel Wheeler, Dighton, $550; Joseph Buffinton, Swansea, $55; Sheffield Weaver, Troy, $165; Eber Slade, Somerset, $165; Benjamin Buffin- ton 2d, Swansea, $55. This makes a total sum of $4,685. These men took the whole of the $50,000 of stock. This six acres of land consti- tuted the site of the Troy Cotton and Woolen Company 's Mills.

A charter of incorporation was obtained under date of February 22, 1814, and at a meeting of July 25, 1814, a reorganization under the act was effected and the name of the company changed to the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory. In the same month it was voted to increase the amount of capital $16,000, by assessing each share $40. The com- pany built a stone mill, the material being gathered from the near by fields, 108 by 37 feet, four stories high, and intended to contain 2,000 spindles; its site was at the foot of the fall, near by or directly upon the site of the old saw mill. It began operation about the middle of March, 1814, the building having been finished in the previous Sep- tember. Oliver Chace was chosen agent of the company on March 9, as seen in the following record :

Agreed with Oliver Chace to superintend the company's business, as agent for and on behalf of the Committee until the annual meeting in the 6th month next, at two dollars and fifty cents per day, he to find himself horse and to do the company's riding ; said company to pay his board and expenses and find the horse provender, etc., when in their service.

Under the same date the following appears in the records :

Agreed to build the factory of stone, one hundred feet by thirty-six feet, two sto- ries above the main sill; the windows in the body thereof to be seven by nine glass, and for the loft six by eight.

Agreed to have an iron shaft for the water wheel seven inches square in the mid- dle and six at each end, fourteen feet long; said wheel to be fourteen feet diameter and twelve feet float.

Agreed to build a machine shop, twenty-five feet by thirty-six, two stories high, and a blacksmith's shop, sixteen by twenty-five feet, with two forges; the two forges to be rented to John Borden, Junior, at one hundred and fifty dollars per year.

This John Borden was a son of a blacksmith and was born in Rhode

454

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Island, whence he went with his brothers, Isaac, Asa and Levi, to Waltham and there worked in a machine shop. John probably ac- quired in that place a knowledge of the construction of cotton machin-

ery, settled in Fall River in 1813, and he and his brother Isaac, probably, worked on the machinery in the Troy Manufactory.

This enterprise was inaugurated at a fa- vorable time, in the war period, and a high degree of success was anticipated by the owners. The mark- ets were closed to for- eign production and prices of goods were inflated by the war prospect ; but the mill was scarcely in full operation when peace was declared, cotton cloth prices fell fifty per cent., and general business depression prevailed throughout OLIVER CHACE. the country. For a few years the mill paid little or no profit. The following record indicates a necessity for reducing expenses:

Agreed with Oliver Chace to transact the business of the company in behalf of the Directors, and to give him two dollars per day and find him sufficient house room for his family (and garden), and he, the said Oliver, to board the Directors at these meetings, as heretofore, without making any charge to the company; this until fur- ther agreement.

This action was taken on the 30th of December, 1816. The original contract with Mr. Chace' was for three years from December 3, 1813,

1 Oliver Chace was a son of Jonathan and grandson of Job, who lived in Swansea, where Oli-

455

THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

at "one thousand dollars a year and a convenient house for his family to live in, unless he shall build one sooner, in which case he is to live in his own house." Such remuneration for such service as he gave seems trifling in these later days, but that of the treasurer of the com- pany was even less-"ten shillings per day, he to board himself."

Power weaving in Fall River began early in 1817, when Sarah Win- ters started the first loom, Mary Healy the second, and Hannah Borden the third.' Hannah Borden became Mrs. William Cook, and was four- teen years old in 1817 and while she lived had distinct remembrance of this work in its earliest days. There is some uncertainity as to the origin of the first power looms used here; but they were undoubtedly the invention of Dexter Wheeler. There is existing record that "looms were first built in Fall River by John Orswell [who built the present clock in the Congregational church] and Wheaton Bailey, for the two above named companies, perhaps about the year 1817, each company putting in operation twelve to fifteen." This is believed to be an error as to date; the machines made by Orswell and Bailey are believed to have been upon the model of the so called Cartwright or Scotch loom, introduced into this country in 1816. The looms invented by Dexter Wheeler were very imperfect, heavy, clumsy, and prone to get out of order; if they wove a yard of good cloth, the next one was likely to be ruined for lack of control of the shuttle. The " dressing was very poor, and at times the yarn would mildew and rot on the beam, causing large quantities to be thrown away, and a consequent great waste of material.2

ver was born August 24, 1769. He had few advantages in early life that were not the direct result of his own persevering toil. In 1808 he became interested in the manufacture of cotton in a prim- itive way in Swansea, where was part owner and acted as agent for a small mill. Removing to Fall River in 1813, he was prominent in the organization and building of the Troy mill, as de- scribed. Upon the formation of the Pocasset Company in 1821, he was one of the foremost in the work and for many years thereafter had charge of the corporation, managing its affairs with rare judgment and sagacity. Among other structures built by him was the Wilbur House block, which was intended for stores and tenements. He was remarkable for his sound judgment, in- dustry, integrity and unvarying punctuality. Though apparently harsh and repellent at times. he was known by all who were familiar with him to possess a kindly nature and many other characteristics of the worthy citizen. He was the first of this name to spell it with a "c" instead of an "s." He died in Fall River in 1852.

1 In September, 1891, Susie Chase, widow of Eleazer Chase, stated that in 1820 she went into the "yellow mill" and took the looms of Hannah Borden. Others weaving in the mill werc Sarah Winters, 2 looms ; Hannah Reed, 2 looms; Hannah Borden, 1 loom ; Minerva Warren, 2 looms ; - Cobb, 2 looms; Mary Grinnell, 2 looms; and a sister of Edward I'. Buffinton, 1 loom.

This statement is made upon authority of Henry H. Earl. It is questioned by some well- informed persons, who give Miss Borden credit for doing the first power weaving in the place.

2 " Fall River and its Industries," Henry H. Earl, 1877.

456

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Brief extracts from the records of the Troy Company are of interest in this connection as showing the aspects and conditions of cotton work- ing at that time :

June 5, 1820. " Voted that the agent build and put in operation ten pair of water looms, with preparations, besides the present ten now building, if he shall deem it expedient."

In September of the same year. The agent was directed to put in "a new flume where the old saw mill stood, and cut down the raceway as low as that of the main stream, and remove the machine shop up to the said new flume, for the purpose of putting in a new water-wheel, to carry machinery for spinning or weaving as he shall think most expedient."

In the early years of the industry it was no insignificant matter to dispose of the product of these two mills satisfactorily. The Fall River Mill sold a large part of its product in Philadelphia and through commission houses, while the Troy Company sought a market in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, especially in the first- named State. The obstacles to finding sufficient profitable markets led the companies to establish stores of their own. This feature of the business is mentioned in the following from the records dated October 18, 1819:

Voted and agreed to establish a store at Hallowell, in the district of Maine, for the purpose of vending cotton and other goods, for and on account of the Troy Cot- ton and Woolen Manufactory, and that Harvey Chace1 was chosen agent to conduct the business there, to be paid for his services at and after the rate of $300 per year, his board to be paid by the company. The company's agent was also authorized to make a shipment of cotton and other goods to the State of Georgia this fall (if he thinks it expedient), for the purpose of purchasing cotton and other kinds of southern produce on account of the company.

The first dividend paid by the Troy Company was in 1820, amount- ing to $25 a share, and another of the same amount was ordered six months from that date. In September of that month it was voted "to run the mill evenings from the fifth day of tenth month to the first day of third month, 1821, and keep a watch all night for the same term of time." Also, " to stop the practice of making fires in the vicinity of the mill for the purpose of boiling clothes." Perhaps this last order was not effective, for the mill was burned to the ground in the succeed- ing October (1821), only a part of the walls remaining standing.

1 Harvey Chace was a son of Oliver, the agent, and was born in Somerset, August 31, 1597; he married first Hannah Wood, and second Anna Earle. Later in his life he became proprietor of the Albion Mills at Valley Falls, R. I., and one of the most successful manufacturers of that State. He was father of James and Jonathan Chace, of Rhode Island.

457

THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

Measures were at once adopted for rebuilding and machinery was ordered of Harris, Hawes & Co. On September 3, 1822, the agent was instructed to dispose of half the contract, and at the same time it was voted " that the agent be authorized to have what money he may find necessary for the company, if it does not exceed two thousand and five hundred dollars, before our next quarterly meeting."

Negotiations were in progress in December, 1821, to lease for a term of five years the Globe Manufactory (Colonel Durfee's early enterprise before described), and also "the Union factory1 in said Tiverton for one year." It does not appear that the lease of the Globe was obtained, and the company's new mill was ready for operation in the fall of 1823. In 1821 this company had built a small structure where the old saw mill stood, which was called the Little Mill; this was nearly ready for occu- pation when the main building burned, and it was immediately equipped with a few carders and looms saved from the fire, with some additional machinery from the Globe, and put in operation. The later history of these mills is given in the chapter devoted to the cotton industries of the city.

The following prices were quoted at Fall River in 1819-20, just pre- vious to the burning of the Troy mill:

I The following interesting record is in existence regarding that early Tiverton cotton fac- tory:

Feb. 10, 1813.

The Owners of Shares in the Union Cotton Factory in Tiverton, To The Treasurer and Com-

Dr. pany,

To the first assessment of two Dollars on a share payable 27th inst. in the following propor- tion, viz .:

Shares. Doll.

Shares. Doll. 1 2

John Bowen

Minton Warren.

Elisha Fuller

Benjamin Howland.

Samuel Gardner

Stephen Chase

Enoch French. 3

Levi Chase 1

Joseph Warren 2

Charles Pitman.

Edmund Estes.

William B. Canedy 2

Samuel Warren.

William Ashley

William Norton.

Elijah Blossom, jur.

John Turner.

Elihu Hicks 1

Richard Durfee

John C. Borden

Israel Cogshall

Perris Parse

Nathan Borden

Elizabeth Parse.

Thomas Sawyer

Pardon Cook

Silas Besse.

John Hicks.

$100

William Boomer

Thomas Durfee. 2

Joseph Thurston -

458

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

Plain and bleached sheets 20c.

7-8 checks 22

3-4 brown shirtings 14

7-8

3-4 blue stripes 19

Nails from Fall River Iron Works, in 1822:

4 to 20 7c. 1b.

3 to 8

Four months credit was generally given. Freight from Fall River to Boston in 1824-5 was fifty cents a hundred pounds. A dividend was paid to the stockholders of the Troy mill in 1824 of $25 a share, in goods at the following prices:

3-4 brown shirtings

at 10

cents.

7-8 .. at 11

4-4

at 1312

9-8

at 15 64

3-4 Stripes at 14

3-4 Gingham shirtings

3-4 Check

7-8

4-4 66 18

Fair quality.

The Troy Company acquired its ownership of the upper fall, and relative ownership of the whole water power, through concession by its stockholder, Amey Borden, in consideration of which she received 1,100 shares of the original stock of the company. Mrs. Borden was the widow of Simeon Borden, great-grandson of Richard (one of the two sons of the original John Borden), who became possessed of the twenty-six and one half shares of Colonel Church, giving him owner. ship of the land on both sides of the stream and of the entire fall, as before noticed. All of this property remained in possession of the Borden family, until it was used for manufacturing purposes, and much of it until later years. In 1825, after mature deliberation, the control of the water power was permanently settled, and the Watuppa Reser- voir Company was organized "to build a new dam above the dam be- longing to the Troy Company, for the purpose of raising the water two feet above the present dam, and to pay the expense of flowage occasioned thereby." The dam was to be built on property of the Troy Company with its consent. Acts of incorporation were obtained in the States of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, the latter under date of June 20,

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THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

1826. The incorporators were David Anthony, Nathaniel B. Borden, Oliver Chace, and Bradford Durfee, as representatives of the Troy Cotton and Woolen Manufactory, the Pocasset Manufacturing Company, Andrew Robeson's works, the Fall River Manufactory, the Annawan Manufactory, and the Fall River Iron Works Company, all having mills on the stream. The new dam was built in 1832, south of the line of the present Pleasant street, and the damage by flowage of land along both banks of the stream was settled by the company. The dam was built under superintendence of Major Durfee, the stone being laid in cement, thus obviating the difficulty, not previously overcome, of leaching of water through the crevices of masonry.

While the foundation was thus being laid for the founding of the later great industries that were to give Fall River a reputation reaching around the world, the war of 1812-15, the general history of which as related to Bristol county has been given in an earlier chapter, swept over the country, with its attendant business disorganization, financial distress, and general inflation in prices of the luxuries and necessities of life. While Fall River, unlike some other parts of the county, did not suffer from direct invasion during this war, its sacrifices in other direc- tions were great. During the seven years succeeding the inception of the cotton business the growth of the village was extremely slow, the census of 1820 showing an increase over that of 1810 of only 298 inhab- itants, while during the next decade the increase was more than 2, 500. The early tariff acts were only partially protective of the infant manu- factures of the country, and the disparity between the Americans and the inhabitants of Europe in capital, skill, and practical experience, was too great to be overcome by the insufficient tariff. With the beginning of the war duties were about doubled and the effect was immediate, both in stimulating manufactures and raising revenue. The wheels of industry moved more rapidly in all parts of the country. The people of Fall River were considerably affected by the embargo which pre- ceded the war and in August, 1808, the following is found in the records:

Voted, that Charles Durfee, Edward Shove, Benjamin Bennett 2d Be a commite to Draft a petition to the president of the united States Respecting the imbargo.

In the same month the following vote was passed :

Voted that the Town Shall have their full Surply of Gun powder Bolls and flints agreable to Law.

Voted that Charles Durfee be an agent to surply the Town with the afore said Ammonition or Worlike Stores.

460

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE

The town records during the period of actual war are singularly free from references to action relating to the conflict. After peace was declared steps were taken to dispose of guns and munitions belonging to the town, as described farther on. At the close of the war the country at large was in an exceedingly depressed condition, and the growth of the population in Fall River was slow until after 1820, as before stated. In 1816 duties on foreign goods were reduced and British manufactures were in substantial control of our markets from that date until the enactment of the tariff of 1824, which gave liberal protection ; this was further increased in 1828, giving a forward im- petus to manufactures of all kinds, and leading to the establishment of many great industrial enterprises in Fall River, which are noticed farther on. In 1820 Fall River was still a struggling hamlet, but in the misty depths of the future, far seeing men had already perceived its possibilities. The village had no bank until three years later; its first newspaper was not published until 1826; its public schools were few in number and much neglected, owing largely to the great number of private schools, and there was in sight very little to suggest the ap- proaching decade of splendid progress.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE CITY OF FALL RIVER-A PERIOD OF RAPID GROWTH.

The decade from 1820 to 1830 saw stupendous changes in Fall River. The number of inhabitants increased to 4,159, a gain of 2,564 (as be- fore stated), and by 1840 had reached 6,738. Among these were scores of intensely active, enthusiastic and enterprising men, who were in- spired by a determination to profit by the natural advantages of the village and its vicinity, and the protection afforded by increased duties.

During the first decade mentioned there were organized the Pocasset Manufacturing Company, the Annawan, the Massassoit, the Robeson's or Fall River Print Works, a satinet manufacturing company, the Fall River Iron Works, the Watuppa Reservoir Company, and other indus- trial companies of less importance, while extensive additions were made to the older mills. The Fall River Manufactory, before described,

461

THE CITY OF FALL RIVER.

received the addition of a brick mill, three stories high, in 1827, called the Nankeen Mill, where nankeen cloth was made by Azariah and Jer- vis Shove, until the mill was demolished, together with the "Old Yel- low Mill " (as the first structure of the company was called), to clear a site for the new mill, called the "White Mill," erected by that com- pany in 1839.

In the period under consideration some of the wealth accumulated in New Bedford, in the whaling and kin- dred industries, found its way to Fall River for investment in cot ton manufacture. In 1821 members of the Robeson family ac- quired principal pos- session of land just west of Main street, including the falls, and organized the Po- casset Manufacturing Company, with paid- up capital of $100,000, and Samuel Robeson as principal owner and president. This company secured the services of Oliver Chace as agent and at once built the so called Bridge Mill, which stood on the site of the old grist JESSE EDDY. mill just north of the stream and in front of the site of the present Granite block site. A thousand spindles were at first put in the south half of the building, while the north half was leased to D. & D. Buffinton for manufacture of .warp and batting. Near at hand on the south still stood the old fulling mill, before mentioned, the only one of the kind in the vicinity,

462

OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

and then operated by Maj. Benjamin Brayton. Both of these struc- tures were burned in the fire of 1843. The Pocasset Company built also a small structure west of the ell of the Bridge Mill in which Job Eddy, of New Bedford, and later Edward and Oliver Hawes, printed calicoes in a small way for a short period. The same company erected in 1825 the building which became known as the Satinet Factory, in the north part of which Andrew Robeson (also of New Bedford), who came to Fall River in the fall of 1824, began a calico-printing business. The capital of this organization was $50,000, which was mainly sup- plied from New Bedford. The south half of the building was occupied by J. & J. Eddy1 (Jesse and John), in the manufacture of woolen goods, whence came the name, Satinet Factory. This was occupied by them until 1849, when the Wamsutta Steam Woolen Mill was built on Mosquito Island. The Pocasset Company built also, in 1826, a stone structure on the site of the Quequechan Mill called the New Pocasset ; it was leased by A. & J. Shove, who sublet the north half to Chase & Luther, and both firms began the manufacture of yarn and cloth. In the next year the company erected another stone building which was afterwards known as the Massasoit and later the Watuppa Mill This was a very large structure for that time, with a partition wall extend- ing from top to bottom and with two wheel pits, adapting it for lease to two separate firms. At this time Holder Borden,2 a young man of

1 Jesse Eddy was born in Northbridge in 1801 and in his young years was engaged in manu- facturing at Woonsocket, R. I. Soon afterward he settled in Fall River and was long a promi- nent figure in the business life of the place. In association with Joseph Durfee he bought land and built a mill near the outlet of the pond on Mosquito Island, for the manufacture of the same kind of goods previously produced by J. & J. Eddy; but as operations were about to begin, Jo- seph Durfee died and work was not commenced in the new mill until January, 1849, with Jesse Eddy proprietor ; his son, Thomas F., was soon afterward taken into partnership, and the busi- ness continued twenty-one years, passing, in 1873, to the sons, Thomas F. and James C. Eddy, who continued under the firm style of Jesse Eddy's Sons. Mr. Eddy was one of the original trustees of the Fall River Savings Bank and many years its vice-president ; also president at a later period of the National Union Bank. He was a man of sterling character and admirable traits as a Christian citizen.

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Our country and its people; a descriptive and biographical record of Bristol County, Massachusetts, Part 48

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