USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Reminiscences of a nonagenarian > Part 28
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for though Newburyport was emphati- cally a Federalist town, there was still a most respectable minority of Demo- crats.
From my carliest recollection, there were Baptist churches in Haverhill and New Rowley, but the society in New- buryport was not formed until 1804. This sect had obtained a few converts through several previous years. I have elsewhere mentioned an unsuc- cessful attempt to form a church. The first regular service was held in a school-house on Marlborough street, July 22, 1804; a young licentiate preacher, Joshua Chase, conducted the service. On Sunday, the 14th of the October following, Stephen Goodwin, David Burbank, Benjamin Goodwin, Bart Hurd, John Flood, Nathaniel Pet- tingell, and Mrs. Rebecca Dorman, were baptized. These were the first ever immersed in the town. The 2d of May, 1805, a church was regularly or- ganized. Soon after, the young licen- tiate was ordained as an evangelist and went to another field of labor. In the autumn, an engagement was made with the Rev. John Peak, who preached alternately in the Marlborough street school-house and in a small building at the " Plains." This continued until Mr. Peak made it a condition of his permanent settlement that the society should worship in some central location in Newburyport. For a time they met in a building called the "Taber- nacle," on Temple street. In 1807 the society began to build a brick meeting-house on Liberty street, which was completed the next year, and the next, 1809, the Rev. Mr. Peak was or- dained pastor.
Capt. William Cutler, of Newbury- port, married a French lady, a member
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of the Roman Catholic church. To | in after years would graduate at a baptize her infant, and perform other Catholic college, marry a catholic lady, and live and die in the bosom of that church, which, as a New England boy, he was taught to shun and abhor. sacraments, Bishop Chevereaux, of Boston, occasionally visited Mrs. Cut- ler at her residence. There were some half dozen French exiles and other foreigners in the place, also Catholics, who would assemble on these visits, - in a chamber which Mrs. Cutler had fitted up for an oratory. These were CHAPTER XLII. the first Catholic services ever held in Newburyport.'
Sophronia Peabody when a child was intimate with Mrs. Cutler's little girl. One Saturday as the two were return- ing home from school, Frasiette said to Sophronia : "The bishop is coming to say mass to-morrow. Mamma expects him this afternoon in the four o'clock stage. We have fitted up the oratory real pretty, and if you will never, never tell, I will show it to you." Mrs. Cut- ler, a very quiet and discreet person, avoided all publicity that might cause remark or animadversion, consequent- ly this caution in Frasiette. Fronie having given the required promise of secrecy, the two mounted to the second story of Mr. Cutler's house. Slowly opening a door, Frasiette, reverently crossing herself, admitted her visitor into a dimly lighted apartment, richly furnished, and hung with several pic- tures from scripture subjects ; at the upper end was an altar covered with a handsome cloth, upon which was a cru- cifix, wax tapers, and other apparte- nances for worship. Gliding across the room, the little Frasiette devoutly knelt and whispered an ave. The dim, religious air of the room, and the so- lemnity of her companion, made a viv- id impression on my young cousin. Scarcely would she then have believed that her baby brother, Joseph Little,
From its settlement, Newbury, for a new place, was remarkably well sup- plied with the means of education. For the first few years, Mr. Parker and Mr. Noyes taught the boys of their charge. but in a short time a regular schoolmaster was maintained. His election and the appropriation for his salary being one of the items in the warning for the annual town meeting. Provision was also made for the study of Latin.
The first schoolmaster of Newbury was Anthony Somerby. In the year 1639, "for his encouragement to keep schoole for one year, he was granted foure akers of upland, over the great river, on the neck ; also sixe akers of salt marsh. next to Abraham Toppan's twenty akers." In 1675, Mr. Henry Short was hired at a salary of £5 for the first six months, and sixpence a week from each scholar.
As the population increased and ex- tended, difficulties arose respecting the location and support of the school. There was the first settlement on the river Parker, the Riverside village on the Merrimac, and the West village near the Artichoke river. As these settlements were at a considerable dis- tance from each other, each holding .distinct interests, it was but natural that the town meetings became the
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arena of much zealous contention upon the school question. The Parker river . settlement usually contrived to se- cure the largest appropriation, while the remote village at the " Plains " with difficulty secured a mere moiety. In 1680 the town voted to pay a salary of £60 a year, and hired Mr. Emerson as teacher. The minority rebelled, refused to employ Mr. Em- erson, and hired a Mr. Burley for £20. ›The " Generall Courte" was called upon to settle the matter. It de- cided in favor of Mr. Emerson, but as the town was unwilling to pay the high salary of £60, Mr. Emerson was requested to teach at the old salary of £20; at his refusal he was dismissed with only one dissentient vote. The next year Mr. Burley was secured as master at the usual salary of £20. He taught nearly two years, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Edward Tomson who resided at the "Plains." Up to 1691, the school was located at Oldtown ; that year it was voted that it should be kept a third of the year at each of the vil- lages. Mr. Seth Shone was hired as master ; he was to teach readers free, Latin scholars were to pay 6d, and ci- pherers 4d a week.
In 1693, Mr. John Clark was called to preach and keep a grammar school at the west village for one year. In 1694 Mr. Christopher Toppan was em- ployed ; he was to receive "£20 in money, and 30s in good country pay, so long as he shall carry on one-half of the ministry, and £30 in good coun- try pay, so long as he shall keep the writing and grammar school." Nicho- las Webster succeeded Mr. Toppan ; he was to have £30 in country pay, 4d a week from "lattin " scholars, and "nothing a week" for readers, writers,
and cipherers. From 1700 to 1711, Mr. Richard Brown, afterwards minis- ter at Reading, was the teacher. In 1713, Mr. John Woodbridge was hired at a salary of £25 ; he taught the school for eighteen years, his salary being gradually raised to £40 per annum.
In 1725 the Third parish was formed. This parish, as I have previously stated, had the care of the educational interests of its children, obtaining what money was possible from the town and making up the remainder by a tax upon the parish. In 1728 the town voted £30 for each of the three parishes ; the Third parish added £30 to its share. The Third parish school was then kept in the house of John Ordway, near the head of Queen, now Market street. In 1732 Master Woodbridge was succeed- ed by Master Stephen Sewell, who taught for nearly fifty years. In 1740 the Third parish raised £120 to have a grammar school, which was taught by Mr. Samuel Moody, and a writing school, which was taught by Mr. Leon- ard Cotton. At the incorporation of Newburyport, in. 1764, a committee was appointed to provide, at the public expense, good and sufficient school- houses and the best masters that could be procured. The grammar school was located on Greenleaf's lane, now State street, in the town-house, which had . been built by the Third parish two years previous. This was a two-story wooden building, surmounted by a bel- fry and spire, and stood near the upper corner of Essex street, on a part of the Clement estate. Mr. Joshua Moody was the first teacher. At the " March meeting," 1764, Mr. Moody resigned, and Mr. Eleazer Porter was hired for a time. In July the select- men offered the school, at £70 a year,
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to Mr. James Lovell, an usher in a school in Boston. Mr. Lovell request- ed time to decide upon his answer. After waiting several weeks, Mr. Sam- uel Parker was placed over the school. He taught until 1767, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Moses Holt, who taught three years, when Mr. Jeremiah Fogg took the school, at £60 a year. Mr. Fogg taught three years, when Mr. Nicholas Pike was appointed at a salary of £80. Master Pike was a renowned teacher. He was also town clerk, a selectman, and a representa- tive to the State legislature ; after the Province became a State he was a jus- tice of the peace. Mr. Pike was' a great mathematician. His arithmetic was the first ever issued in this coun- try ; it was in universal use until Mas- ter Walsh's appeared. Mr. Pike taught the school until 1791, with the exception of one year, when his place was filled by Master Woodbridge. Mr. Samuel Moody succeeded Mr. Pike, taught two years, and was fol- lowed by Rev. Eliphalet Gillett, who, in 1794, gave place to another distin- guished teacher, Master Michael Walsh. In 1796 the brick school-house at the lower end of the Mall, near the site of the ancient windmill, was built. Mas- ter Walsh taught until 1803, when he was succeeded by Joshua Lane. He was followed by Moody Noyes, and by John Loud, who kept until 1806. The school having greatly declined, the salary was raised from $420 to $600, and Mr. Eben Coffin hired to teach. He was a superior teacher, and taught until 1810, when Joseph Dana suc- ceeded him. In a few months Mr. Dana became preceptor of the New- buryport Academy, and Mr. B. D. Emerson took the school. In 1811 he
was succeeded by Asa W. Wildes. In 1816 Mr. Wildes resigned, and Mr. B. D. Emerson again took the school. In 1818 Mr. Frazier was teacher, but not giving satisfaction, Mr. Wildes was persuaded to again take the school, which he taught until 1823.
The two writing schools established by the town in 1764 were located : one on Bartlets lane, now Winter street, and the other on a lane which is now School street. The school in the North school-house was formally opened by Parson Lowell, with a prayer and an exhortation, in which the pupils were told " to obey and reverence the master in school, and at all times to conduct themselves in a proper and orderly manner."
The Rev. Mr. Parsons opened the South school with prayer and good advice to the boys. The master of the North school was John Vinal from Boston ; he was succeeded by John Mycall, I. Hills, R. Long, T. Thomp- son. Enoch Titcomb, Henry Titcomb, Wm. Sawyer, Wm. Farnham, Archi- bald McPhail. Henry Titcomb and Jonathan Coolidge.
Master Stephen Sewell was the first teacher at the South school ; he contin- ued to teach until, his powers having become impaired by age, Bishop Nor- ton was appointed usher ; he succeeded Master Sewell, retaining the school until 1790. He was followed by Joseph Moody. Joseph Newman, Robert Long, Samuel Goodhue, Ben. Cheever, Ben. Whitmore, George Titcomb and Newman Brown. This school in 1822 was in the new school-house standing on the site of the old one. In 1796 the writing schools were so full, a centre school was formed in the roon vacated by the grammar school, in the
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old town house, where it remained until 1609, when the second story was add- ed to the school-house at the lower end of the mall, and the school re- moved to it. The masters in the cen- tre school were Samuel Toppan, Paul Noyes, Benjamin Clanin, James Burn- ham, Samuel Colman, Benjamin Gould, Asa W. Wildes, George Titcomb, Benjamin Whitmore and S. Goodhue.
In 1805 the " north end" petitioned for a school-house. A school had been organized, which was for a while taught in the upper loft of a barn be- longing to Capt. Morrison on Kent street. The brick school-house was built, which stood upon Kent, corner of Russia street. The masters of
this school were William Pipkin,
Robert Harvey, Daniel Haskell, George Rogers, Rev. H. Wheeler, Nathan Brown, Josiah Bartlett and George Titcomb.
Master Robert Harvey was also clerk at St. Paul's Episcopal church. He was an excellent teacher, and a most efficient church officer, much beloved and respected by the rector and the so- ciety. Previous to this date, tin foot- stoves, holding within an iron pan filled with hard wood coals, had been the only protection from cold in any house of worship, but about the time of Master Harvey's appointment to the office of clerk, a large, cast iron stove had been placed in the broad aisle of St. Paul's church. One cold morning, finding that the wood fire did not give the requisite heat, as unele Nat Bailey, the sexton, was ringing the bell, Clerk Harvey proceeded to fix it. In so do- ing he suntted his hand, which inad- vertently was passed over his face, smearing it most ludicrously. As was then the custom, at the appointed time
the clerk rose in his desk, and with his usual grave dignity gave out the hymn, the first line of which most singularly read,-
"Behold the beauties of my face."
The effect was irresistible, and a sup- pressed smile spread over the congre- gation, while the unconscious clerk calmly finished the verse.
Master George Titcomb was an ex- cellent penman. During the winter he usually taught a private evening writ- ing school. He was also noted for making the quill pens then wholly used.
There was no public school for fe- males until 1790 ; then four " dames'" schools were gathered for girls between five and nine years, in which were taught reading, spelling the catechism, sewing, knitting, "good manners and proper decency of behavior." These " dames " were Ann Bradish, Elisabeth Chandler, Anne Obin and Margery Ros- seau. In 1792 the daughters of those paying a tax of over three hundred pounds, were permitted to attend the grammar school, an hour and a half after the usual session during the sum- mer, when the number of male pupils was diminished, to receive instruction in reading and grammar from the mas- ters. This arrangement not proving satisfactory, was discontinued at the end of the season.
In 1791 two schools for the instruc- tion of small boys were organized. In 1804 four morning schools were estab- lished for girls, which were kept from six to eight o'clock, and Thursday after- noons, for six months in the year. Not- withstanding the early hour these schools were well attended. They were taught by the masters of the boys' schools in the four school-houses of the town.
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In 1812 these morning schools were discontinued, and three grammar schools for girls were established. One was located in the Court House, the " north end" school was taught in the second story of the school-house on Kent street, and the third was on Beck street. The teachers were Miss Chadbourne, Miss S. I. Moulton and Miss Clarissa Call. Private schools were extensively patronized. Those for young children were usually taught by middle aged or elderly women, in cap and spectacles. There were Dame Moody, Marm Emerson, Marm Fowler at Belleville, and others. Distinguished private schools for both sexes were . taught by gentlemen. Several of the teachers of the public schools, at times taught private schools. Master Long kept in a low, ropewalk-like building, a rude structure, with an im- mense fire place, and a wall from which large patches of plastering had been detached, while the remainder was in a cracked and shaky condition. Though at that time a teacher considered it necessary never to neglect the axiom "spare the rod and spoil the child." even then Master Long was noted for severity. "Oh my ! how he did lick the boys !" was the exclamation of a former pupil, as she recalled her school days. Master Walsh had a flourishing private school, in a school-house back of the church on Harris street. Mas- ter Archibald McPhail, for a time, taught a very select and genteel school, in a long, low, wooden building on · Green street, on the lot where the Catholic church now stands. Later Master Titcomb taught in this building a private school for boys. There was also a number of select schools for young ladies in the town. In my
childhood Marm Dod and Miss Phillipa Call were famed instructresses. Mrs. Catharine Wigglesworth Brown, the widowed daughter of Col. Wiggles- worth, had a large and genteel school for several years in Newburyport ; afterwards she was the Principal of a flourishing seminary in Georgetown, D. C. Miss Akerman, Mrs. McCul- loch, Miss Susan Tenney, Miss Elisa- beth White and Miss Stanwood. had private schools for Misses. Dr. Sam- uel Colman, for a time, tanght a private school for young ladies, in a room over the "Herald" office. After his decease this school was continued by his daughter Mary Ann, at her mother's residence on Water street. Miss Brice, an English woman, taught in the old "Tabernacle, " Temple street. This lady and her negro maid servant were conspicuous characters at that period.
At each of the female schools, in ad- dition to knitting and plain sewing, or- namental needlework was taught, and in some, instruction was given in drawing in India ink and painting in water colors; also, every girl was taught to embroider letters in mark- ing stitch. One was considered very poorly educated who could not ex- hibit a sampler; some of these were large and elaborate specimens of handiwork ; framed and glazed, they often formed the chief ornament of the sitting room or the best chamber. When they merely comprised the al- phabet, in the variously designed let- ters of printing and writing, finished by a verse of poetry, or a text from Scripture, the whole enclosed by an or- namental border, they were quite pret- ty specimens of needle work ; but some- times, when more ambitious attempts
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were exhibited, they were sufficiently grotesque. I have seen wrought under the letters, a square, three-storied house flanked by a pot of flowers, the pot, and what was intended for a rose bush, as tall as the house, with a horse on the other side twice as large as either. Pocket-books and cushions worked in crewel, had given place to wrought muslin, and pictures worked on satin. Mourning pieces were in vogue, though some preferred scriptural or classical subjects. One could conscientiously pronounce these productions remarka- ble specimens of art. The needlework was usually very neatly executed, but the false perspective and queerly drawn figures, rendered most of them "simply ridiculous." Miss Dod had some hand- some copies of the pictures of the Washington family executed in her school, and Mrs. Katy Brown's school was distinguished for the pictures exe- cuted by its pupils. Sophronia Pea- body, of this school, embroidered a mourning piece, a memorial to her sis- ter Fila, who died in her fifth year. In the foreground, on a green mound stood a white monument surmounted by an urn ; the front of the pillar bore the name and age of the deceased ; above drooped a luxuriant weeping wil- low ; beside the tomb knelt a lady, clad in the height of French fashion, very properly drying her tears on a large handkerchief in the right hand ; beyond stretched a bit of landscape, put in by . Mrs. Brown in colored chalks, which showed that the lady had a fine talent for landscape painting. The parting of Hector and Andromache was a favorite picture amongst the girls of Mrs. Brown's school. The couple were rep- resented in a final embrace on the por- tico of a palace. Massive pillars sup-
ported the roof; the floor was of alter- nate squares of black and white, repre- senting marble. A little apart stood the nurse bearing the infant heir in her arms, while the back ground showed a a plain dotted by tents. Coats of arms were also embroidered on white satin with colored silk. These pictures were tastefully framed by Mrs. Moses Cole. Miss Peabody's was framed in gilt, in an oval of enamel, with gold stars in the corner.
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Miss Mary Ann Colman was a good teacher of water color painting ; the fruit and flower pieces executed at her school were natural and well done. She also taught painting on wood ; several work-boxes and work-stands, painted under her instruction, are still to be seen in the residences of some of our older citizens.
Besides these schools there were sev- eral noted academies in the vicinity. As a boarding-school "finish " was considered requisite to complete a gen- teel education, these became flourishing institutions. The academy at Atkin- son, N. H., was one of the first estab- lished in New England ; that at Brad- ford had been founded several years. The Lynn academy was at that time a noted school. When Miss Peabody was fifteen, it was decided that she should receive the benefit of an acade- mic course. My aunt, who was piously inclined, would have preferred Brad- ford, but as Mr. Leonard Smith's youngest daughter, Sophia, and the daughters of several of Gen. Peabody's Boston friends were at Lynn academy, the general and his daughter inclined to that seminary ; as the gentleman that year represented the town in the State legislature, and it was convenient for Fronie to accompany her father on his
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way to and from Boston, Mondays and Saturdays, Lynn received the prefer- ence.
In 1807 the Newburyport academy was incorporated. Gen. Peabody was active in this measure, and he was so much pleased with Mrs. Boardman, the preceptress of the Lynn academy, that through his endeavors she was secured for the new academy at Newburyport. Mr. Amos Clark was the first precep- tor, assisted by Mr. Archibald McPhail. Mr. Chandler succeeded Mr. Clark, as- sisted by Mr. Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Pike were preceptor and pre- ceptress of this institution for several years. Later, Mr. Eben Bailey, son of Mr. Paul Bailey of West Newbury, taught a large private school in New- buryport. Mrs. Lord was the principal of an excellent school at the academy. Her pupils executed many fine paintings in water colors ; some of their paintings of fruit and flowers on white velvet were very beautiful. This lady's mar- riage with Dr. Richard S. Spofford, was regarded by her pupils and the publie as a loss to which they could scarcely have been reconciled, had they not rejoiced in the prospect of her hap- piness and usefulness amongst them in a different sphere.
Master Cheever and Master Whit- more for many years were noted teach- ers in Newbury.
The first Sabbath school in Massa- chusetts was organized in Newburyport in 1814. These schools were held in the chapel of the North church, a small wooden building on Titcomb street, and that of the Old South church, a dingy brick edifice on the upper side of Beck street. The school at the North was formed by Miss Phebe Harrod, Miss Louiza Farnham, who married the Rev.
Dr. Orville Dewey, and Miss Eliza Epps Carter, who became the wife of the Rev. David Kimball, of Rockford, Ill. That at the Old South, was under the direc- tion of Miss Ann Wheelwright, who first married Mr. Samuel Adams of the Newburyport Academy, second her cousin John Wheelwright, Miss Dolly Greenleaf, afterward Mrs. Pearson of Portland, Maine, and Miss Eliza Gould, who became Mrs. Rappello of New York city. Four of these ladies, Miss Harrod, Mrs. Dewey, Mrs. Kimball and Mrs. Rapello, are still living in the enjoyment of a hale old age.
In 1817 a union school from each of the societies in the town was organized at the Court House.
Mr. John Pearson was the first sup- erintendent, he was succeeded by Mr. Samuel Tenney and William B. Bannis- ter, esq. This continued a year or two, then the different societies formed a school for themselves as at present, but for a time an annual union service was held in Parson Milton's meeting-house, the children with their teachers occupy- ing the wide galleries of the spacious building. A union teachers' meeting was also continued for some time.
Miss Mary Hodge was one of the most active and efficient amongst the first Sabbath school teachers.
CHAPTER XLIII.
At an early date, the colonists of Newbury commenced the construction of water craft. The first vessels de- signed for fishing and the coasting trade were built on the river Parker. As the settlement increased, the water-
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side people became largely engaged in shipbuilding ; many vessels, as I have previously stated, being built for Eng- lish owners. The first ferry across the Merrimac was at Carr's Island, and one of the first building yards was estab- lished there by Mr. George Carr. I have stated that my great-grandfather Johnson's father had a shipyard as early as 1695, near the bottom of Chandler's lane, now Federal street, and the busi- ness was continued in the Johnson family for two or three generations. In 1759 Mr. Gideon Woodwell owned a yard near the foot of Muzzey's lane, now Marlborough street, and as early as 1730, Mr. Samuel Moggaridge had a dwelling house and building yard at the rocky point farther up the river, afterwards known as Moggaridge's point. At that time Mr. Ralph Cross was a prominent builder, and Mr. Wil- liam Gerrish had an extensive yard reaching from South, now Bromfield street, to Somerby's court, and from the river back to Hancock street. Ship yards were scattered along the river bank from Pierce's farm to Mogga- ridge's point. In the summer of 1766 seventy-two vessels were upon the stocks, all in process of construction. During the Revolution many privateers were built in Newbury and Newbury- port. At the close of the war, ship building again became active, but the ships of those days were small, none exceeding two to three hundred tons bur- then. About 1790 Mr. Elias Jackman established a shipyard near the Chain bridge. This bridge, built under the supervision of Mr. Timothy Palmer, was opened to the public November 26, 1792. About this time Mr. Orlando B. Merrill established himself in ship building at Bellevilleport. Mr. Mer-
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