USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Reminiscences of a nonagenarian > Part 29
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rill was the inventor of the water-line model. Previous, only skeleton models had been used. There were several other prominent ship builders at the " Shipyards ;" Mr. Elias Briggs sent forth a large number of vessels, and the yards of Messrs. Stephen and Ben- jamin Dalton, Joseph Coffin, and Messrs. Jonathan and Thomas Merrill, from year to year resounded with the cheery sounds of industry.
I have stated that Major Ephraim Emery married Miss Mary, daughter of Mr. Peter Russell of Bradford, who was a distinguished shipbuilder. Their oldest daughter, Mary Emery, married Capt. John Remick. This gentleman was engaged in ship building as a mas- ter carpenter during his life. In his lat- ter years Maj. Emery resided with his daughter and son-in-law at their resi- dence in Bellevilleport, and there the old revolutionary hero, who for several years had patiently borne the affliction of blindness, breathed his last in 1825, aged 67.
At the south end, Mr. Gideon Wood- well had been succeeded by his son, Capt. John Woodwell, who carried on an extensive business at this period. Immediately preceding the great fire of 1811, many small craft and boats were built at the south end.
CHAPTER XLIV.
Though the European troubles had impeded commerce, Newburyport was as prosperous as her sister seaports. Her foreign, West India and coasting trade, combined with the country traf- fic, caused the wharves and business
29
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streets to wear the aspect of a thriving mart.
The first wharf at the " water side " was built in 1656, near the site of the present Market house, by Mr. Paul White, along with a dock, warehouse and stillhouse. In 1678, Marchant (Richard) Dole procured the grant of land lying near "Watts his cellar," where he built a wharf and dock. " Watts his cellar" was also in what is now Market square. In 1680 the town granted liberty to Ensign Stephen Greenleaf and Mr. Daniel Davidson to build a wharf at the point of rocks above " Watts his cellar." The same year Nathaniel Clark obtained a por- tion of the flats, upon which to build a wharf. The town also voted to grant the petition of Benjamin Rolfe, Doctor John Dole, and Richard Dole, for four or five rods on the flats, from Watt's cellar spring to Ensign Greenleaf's, for a place to build a wharf. Robert Co- ker, in the behalf of his son, Benjamin Coker, proposed for a place to make a wharf. Year after year other wharves were added down the river until a con- tinuous line stretched from the ship yards to Joppa.
In the year 1811 the first was Pills- bury's wharf at the foot of North, now Oakland street. The second was Se- vier's, near the foot of Broad street. The distillery of William and Abraham Williams stood near the head of this wharf, just below the residence built by Capt. Sevier, afterwards purchased by Joseph Williams, jr., from which the wharf was known by the name of the Williams wharf. Richard's and Cald- well's wharves came next. Below was that of Major Samuel Coffin. This wharf ran out into deep water ; upon it was another large distillery, and
twenty sail of vessel could be seen there at a time, discharging cargoes of molasses from the West Indies. Hor- ton's and Newman's wharves ranged below. Moses Brown's was at the foot of Green street. Here was a third distillery, and this was the focus of Mr. Brown's extensive business. Tit- comb's wharf came next ; then, Green- leaf's, Ferry, Boardman's, O'Brien's, . Jackson's, Jewett's, Atwood's, Car- ter's, Marquand's, Hudson's, and Dav- enport's. Below was Lunt's mast yard ; then came Haskell's, Bartlet's, Johnson's and Coombs' wharves. The lower wharf was owned by Maj. David Coffin, who was then one of the most thriving merchants.
At that time every vessel placed upon the stocks was wholly completed and equipped for sea before it sailed over the bar. This brought a multi- plicity of business to the town. Along the wharves stretched lofty warehouses crowded with merchandise. Carts and drays rattled up and down, incoming and outgoing vessels came and went, the merry songs and "heave ho's" of the sailors, blended with the cheery tones and hearty jests of the steve- dores, carts from the interior unloaded and loaded - at every turn was bustle, industry and activity. Here were the spacious sail and rigging lofts, pump and block makers' shops, and ship chandlers stores, every thing that per- tained to maritime trade. Mr. Joshua Norton, Joseph Stanwood and the Messrs. Davis and Haynes, had large sail lofts ; Thomas Prichard a rigging loft on Ferry wharf; Enoch Toppan a block maker's shop on Carter's wharf. Maj. Joshua Greenleaf did most of the ship iron work at his large smithy on Liberty street. Mr. Gor-
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don had a similar establishment at Bellevilleport. This gentleman was somewhat economical in his house- hold. At that period cheese was a customary appendage of the dinner table, being considered an accessory to digestion. Mr. Gordon employed several workmen. One day a large cheese was placed on the table ; after the meat had been disposed of, Mr. Gordon took a knife to cut the cheese ; turning it over, he exclaimed, " this is a good cheese, a pretty cheese, too good to spoil ! " and laying down the knife, he rose and called his men to their work. That afternoon a large anchor was to be forged, the fire was kindled, the iron heated.
"That is a good heat !" exultantly exclaimed the master.
"A good heat," with one voice re- sponded the men.
"A grand heat," reiterated the mas- ter.
"A grand heat," again responded the men.
"Then why don't you strike?" im- patiently demanded the master.
" It is a good heat?" queried the foreman.
" Yes, yes, strike, strike I tell ye," hurriedly ordered the master in a quick authoritative tone. "Strike, strike."
" Don't you think it is too good a heat to spoil?" quietly returned the foreman, while not an arm was uplifted.
The hint was taken; the cheese brought with a loaf of brown bread. The luncheon eaten and well washed down with grog, the anchor was forged with a will. Mr. Kenniston had then just set up his forge at the shipyards. Sargent's gunsmith shop was on Water street, and Mr. Joseph George did an extensive blacksmith's business at his
stand on Inn street. Mr. Robert Dodge had a smithy on High street for carriage work. Carriage building, which for many years had been a thriving business on the main road, had just been introduced at Belleville.
In 1785, before Washington street was laid out, Mr. John Tracy had a rope-walk running from the Quaker burying ground to the river. A Mr. Crocker at an early date built a rope- walk on State street, running from where the Whitefield church now stands towards Fair street. He afterwards built another near Frog pond, which sub- sequently became the property of a Mr. Cummings. When the Newburyport turnpike was built it was laid out di- rectly through this walk, which conse- quently was removed. Mr. Cummings in company with a Mr. Akerman after- wards did business in a walk running from South, now Bromfield, to Marlbo- rough streets. Abel Greenleaf had a walk which ran from State street, where stands the store of Capt. John Buntin, to Green street. E. Swett built a walk which extended from Fair to Federal, opposite Charter street ; this afterwards was purchased by Na- thaniel Tracy ; and Mr. Swett built an- other running from Federal to Lime streets. Moses Kent built one from Federal to Fair street, where Orange street now is ; this was moved to the south side of Federal street, where it became the property of Edward Wig- glesworth ; afterwards it was purchased by Robert Gardner and moved to South street, where, in company with a Mr. Laskey, a large business was done at the time of the great fire. Messrs. Eleazer Johnson, and Young and Pet- tingell had walks extending from South to Marlborough streets. Andrew Laskey
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had a walk on Milk street which ran to Water street. Mr. Green Pearson one from Washington to Water street ; this was I think the walk built by Mr. John Tracy. Edward Wigglesworth built one which ran from Lime to South street above Newbury ; this was sold to Eleazer Johnson, moved south of South street, and afterwards owned by Andrew Laskey, and finally by Mr. George Donnell, who is still living, 1880, the oldest man in the city. E. & I. Swett built a walk south of Marlborough street. The Gardner rope-walk was afterwards owned by David Evans, whose sons went into the cordage business in other towns. Near that Deacon Amos Pettingell built a walk which later was owned by Pettin- gell and Donnell. Eleazer Johnson built another near the last named which was afterwards owned by Mr. Worm- stead and son.
Below, in Newbury, skirting the river and round "Flat-iron point," was an irregular collection of small low houses, forming the fishing hamlet of Joppa. Here in the season the river bank would often be lined with wherries which had just been brought in loaded with fish, which the sun-burned, bare-footed wom- en, in brown homespun short gown and petticoat tucked to the knee, with the older children, aided the toil-worn fish- ermen to carry to the great fish-flakes on the uplands below the long rope- walks. Round the open doors toddled wee, white-haired urchins, while others sailed ships and mimic boats in the pools and eddies of the flats.
Beside the distilleries I have men- tioned, Mr. Joseph Williams had a large establishment at the foot of Strong street, and Caldwell's on Mer- rimac street was even then noted, for
its rum, anise and other cordials. Mr. John Berry Titcomb had a bakery and flour store back of the North church, and Mr. Gunnison carried on an exten- sive business on Titcomb street. Pu- laski Woodman had a bake-house near the head of Market street, and Messrs. Theodore and John Pearson's bakeries were on Centre street. Mr. Samuel Wheeler had a bake-house and store on the same street, and Ebenezer Pearson one on Middle street.
On the site of the present Market house was a row of low, open butcher's shambles, occupied by Mr. David Ten- ney, Jeremiah Colman and David Em- ery, these two doing business as the firm of Colman & Emery. In addition a number of butcher's carts came in two or three times a week from adja- cent towns. These after supplying their customers, occupied a stand in Market square. Previous to the de- molition of the meeting-house, it was their custom to range back of that building with other country traders, a row of oat troughs having been nailed to the sacred edifice for the purpose of baiting horses. The chief of these out of town butchers at that time were Mr. John Follansbee and his son John, and Mr. Samuel Bailey from the upper parish in Newbury, and Mr. Williams from the lower parish ; Mr. Clements, Mr. Kendrick, and Capt. Sawyer from Amesbury. Mr. John Dodge had a large soap and candle manufactory near Market square. At the north end were the wool pulling and leather dress- ing establishment of Messrs. Butler Abbott and Henry Merrill. Above were two large tanneries owned by Mr. John Balch and Mr. Eben Savory, each of whom carried on an extensive bus- iness.
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CHAPTER XLV.
The town had been greatly improved in the past ten or fifteen years ; new streets had been laid out and graded, and many fine stores and dwellings erected. State street as a whole pre- sented a view of two-storied wooden buildings, mostly painted pale yellow, with green blinds or shutters. Inter- spersed were lofty brick blocks and ed- ifices, and on the lower side adjoining Water street was a row of old, un- painted buildings, remnants of the more ancient town. On the upper side of the street, the first house from High was an old fashioned one with a long, sloping back roof. Here lived "Scrab- ble " Titcomb. How he obtained this sobriquet I am unable to say. Next were the new and palatial residences of Mr. Joshua Carter and Gen. John Peabody. On the opposite corner of Harris street lived Master Pike, in a large, substantial house ; then came the Tracy mansion, at that time occupied by Jacob Coburn as a hotel. The next was an old wooden structure, occupied by the widow Wood; the next be- longed to Mrs. Burt ; Mrs. Searle also occupied it as a dwelling, and shop for dry goods and millinery. Below was the old Wyatt house then occupied by Mr. Ebenezer Stedman. . On the up- per corner of Pleasant street stood Dr. Micajah Sawyer's handsome residence ; on the other corner the year previous a large three-story wooden block had been built. Here Cornhill commenced ; before the street had been graded this was quite an eminence, high and warm land; for years it was planted with corn, and thus obtained its name. The corner store in the block was oc- cupied by Arthur Gilman for dry
goods ; then came those of Paul Noyes, John Porter, Pierce & Gordon, Moses Kimball, jr., Francis Somerby, and William Hoyt. William Francis had a hair dressing shop at the lower end. The upper rooms were let to Joseph T. Pike and Paul Bishop, tailors ; James Hodge, shoemaker ; and the law offices of Edward St. Loe Livermore, Little & Bannister, and John Stuart. Next, on the lower corner of "Thread-needle alley," came the "Wolfe Tavern," a two-story, wooden building, somewhat dingy with age; before the principal entrance, which was reached by a flight of steps from the sidewalk, from a tall post swung the sign, a likeness of Gen. Wolfe ; from this sign the house de- rived its name. This was also the " Eastern Stage Company's" house ; to and from its doors rattled the gaud- ily painted stage coaches, and in the rear its numerous fine horses were sta- bled. This house for many years had been kept by Moses Davenport, but latterly it had passed into the hands of Mr. Prince Stetson. Below the "Wolfe Tavern " was the "Phoenix Building," an imposing four-storied brick struct- ure, a fine specimen of architecture, with handsome copings, and between the upper windows, arched niches orna- mented with statues. Here was the custom house, Ralph Cross, collector ; the post office, Caleb Cross, post mas- ter ; the office of the Phoenix Insurance Company ; the remainder of the lower floor was improved by Philip Bagley and son, auctioneers, and Joseph Jackman, dry goods. Prince Stetson had hired the chambers as additional sleeping rooms to his hotel ; the fourth story was " Madison hall." Below the Phoenix came Blunt's building, a second large four-storied brick block; the stores
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were occupied by Joseph Hooper, crock- ery, Joseph Coolidge and Moses Os- good, dry goods ; Howard S. Robinson improved part of the chambers as a dwelling, the others were rented to Charles Norris & Co. for a printing of- fice, and David Fairman, an engraver. Next came Peabody's corner, three stores ; here Samuel Stevens had a hardware store, John Chickering one for dry goods, and Thomas C. Whipple a book store ; above, in the chambers, were the Newburyport library, and Benjamin Lord, tailor.
The first building on the lower corner of State street, from High street, was the handsome brick house built by Jolin Berry Titcomb. Next came the ele- gant Dalton establishment, then owned and occupied by Moses Brown. Dr. Andrews, pastor of the First church, resided in the third house ; next came those of Mrs. Carr, and Jonathan Marsh, esq. The Balch place came to the corner of Temple street. Col. Stephen Bartlett's house was on the lower corner; then came the Moulton honse, and that of David Wood. Be- low was the bank building, Newbury- port Bank, William Bartlet, president, and Samuel Mulliken, cashier ; the re- mainder of the building being occupied by Mrs. Bodily as a boarding house. The next lot, extending to Essex street, had been occupied by the Town hall. In 1809. Gen. John Peabody offered to erect a handsome three-story brick block on this site, the upper story of which he would furnish as a hall for the town, to be known as the " Town hall," with whatever rooms should be desired for public use in the other stories, if the town would convey to him the old town-house and the land upon which it stood. The town ac-
cepted this proposal, and the present block was erected. The " Town hall" was finished and furnished in the best style. The names of the States were painted above the windows, with other appropriate decorations. In the sec- ond story was a room for the select- men, and the watch-house was in the L on Essex street. The first three stores were occupied by James Caldwell, Prescott Spalding, and David Peabody & Co., for dry goods ; below was the book and chart store of Ebenezer Stedman, sign of the golden ball ; the store on the corner of Essex street was rented by Solomon Davis, for dry goods, and the upper rooms were occu- pied by Sam'l L. Knapp and other law- yers and persons, as offices. On the lower corner of Essex street was Ste- phen Greeley's shoe store. Next came the old Clement house. Here, when I was a child, a man walked across State street on a tight rope, stretched from one of its chimneys to that of the " Wolfe Tavern," an event which made no little sensation in the staid town. Below were Osgood & Brackett, shoe makers ; John Knowlton, cabinet mak- er; Jonathan Woodman, jr., silver- smith ; Morrill's boarding honse ; Bar- ber Newman's shop ; Ebenezer Dole's variety store, and Daniel N. Dole, sil- versmith. In the chamber above this store Obadiah Pearson worked at tailor- ing. The two last stores were those of Gilman White, crockery and glass, and Moses Cole, painter and gilder.
George Little, the first of that name in Newbury, had two sons, who mar- ried two daughters of Tristram Coffin. Capt. Joseph married Mary, and Moses Lydia. Each of these had a son named Tristram. One of these Tristram Lit- tles owned the property from Market
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square to Fair street, between Liberty and Water streets. On his estate he built a princely mansion, which at this time stood a little back from State street. Though hoary with age, it still retained much of its ancient eleganec, and was the home of two bachelor brothers, Michael and Hazen Little, descendants of Tristram Little. Tris- tram (son of Capt. Joseph Little) mar- ried Anna, daughter of Stephen Em- ery. Their oldest child, Mary Little, married Capt. Michael Dalton, whose son, Tristram Dalton, was born in Newburyport, May 28, 1738, and graduated at Harvard University at the early age of seventeen. He studied law as an accomplishment, the fortune which he inherited from his father not requiring him to practice it as a pro- fession. His wife was Ruth, eldest daughter of Robert Hooper, of Mar- blehead. Mr. Dalton took a deep in- terest in agriculture and horticulture, which was shown in the extensive gar- den of his residence on State street, and his estate on Pipestave hill, West Newbury. His was a most hospitable mansion ; his town and country houses were honored by the presence of the distinguished of our own and foreign lands as guests. As eminent for piety as he was for mental endowments, St. Paul's church, of which he was a war- den, shared in his generous liberality. He was a representative, speaker of the House of Representatives, and a senator in the legislature of Massachu- setts, and a senator of the United States in the first congress after the adoption of the federal constitution. When Washington City was founded, Mr. Dalton invested his entire fortune in lands there, and lost it by the mis- management of a business agent. At
the same time a vessel, which was freighted with his furniture and valua- ble library, was lost on the way from Newburyport to Washington, and he thus found himself, after living sixty years in affluence, penniless. Several offices of profit and honor were imme- diately tendered to him by the govern- inent, and he accepted the surveyorship of Boston. He died in Boston, May 30, 1817, and his remains were taken to Newburyport, where they were in- terred in the burial ground of St. Paul's church.
Round the corner of Middle strect was James Kimball's grocery store, Whittingham and John Gilman's book store, and Nathan Ames, shoemaker. Above was the Herald office, Ephraim Allen, editor and printer ; beyond was the dwelling and milliner's shop of Mrs. Jones. Thomas Dodge's house and joiner shop, Hannah Bradbury's house and milliner shop, and the dwell- ing house of Nancy and Eliza Batchel- der, milliners. On this street were the cabinet and chair making shops of Clark Morss, Elijah Bliss, Southy Par- ker, Daniel Abbott, E. Dole, G. Parker, Pand S. Dole; and the groceries of E. Dole, P. Tenney and P. Thurlo. On Market square were Samuel Thomp- son, tobacconist, Joseph Lesley's coop -. er shop, Edward Rand's dwelling house and hardware store, Daniel Smith and Aaron Davis, apothecaries, Enoch Plummer, Ephraim Titcomb and Moses Moody, groceries ; Anthony Smith kept hardware and groceries, and Perkins & Dean kept two stores for hardware. Here were John M. O'Brien's attorney's office, and Daniel Balch's shop for watch making; James Locke's, Ed- ward Toppan, jr's., James Kimball's, Francis Todd's, and Samuel Foster's
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dry goods stores ; Edward Little & Co's book store ; over this store was Enoch Pike's tailoring establishment. The office of the Union Insurance Company, Stephen Holland, president, and the residence of Dr. Bradstreet, were on the square, with Thomas Hale's hatter's shop and two ship chandlery stores be- longing to Abner Wood and Major Joshua Greenleaf. On Liberty street were the residences of Major Joshua Greenleaf, Ephraim Allen, and the old Emerson house. Below the market, on Water street, were John Wood's ware- house at the head of Ferry wharf, and the groceries of Daniel Burnham, Wil- liam Bayley, Joseph Edwards, Benja- min G. Sweetser, Moses Sweet, Moses Clark, and Widow Greenleaf; William Boardman kept hardware, groceries, paints, etc. Next to Mr. Bayley's grocery was Billy Watkins' property : two houses and stores, with two back stores. This Billy Watkins, an ec- centric old bachelor, was one of the notorieties of the town. Below was Humphrey Cook's hatter's shop, and that of Thomas Lord ; David Moody and Thomas Moody had malt houses, Mrs. Richardson a milliner's shop,^ Joseph O'Brien's house and store, the Harrod house, and Joseph Brown, auctioneer. John Hart's tavern, Benjamin Appleton's hatter's shop, Marm Seward's boarding house, a boarding house kept by Hannah Prime, Joseph Toppan's house and dry goods store, Stephen Gerrish & Son's house and dry goods store, John Greenough, hatter, Clement Star, house and shop, T. & A. Wheeler, grocery and board- ing house, Benjamin H. Toppan, cop- persmith, Timothy T. Ford's house and dry goods store, and Capt. Dunlap's house and shop. At the head of Mar-
quand's wharf was the residence of Joseph Marquand, a spacious and handsome mansion; several of the neighboring buildings were his prop- erty, and below on the wharf his six spacious warehouses.
Mr. Abraham Jackson's place of business was on the corner of Centre street, and he had two large ware- houses on his wharf. Mr. Joseph Moulton and his son William, had a large jeweller's and silversmith's shop on Broadway. Mr. David Wood made clocks, in a shop which was one of the front rooms of his dwelling house on State street. It was common to convert the front room of a house into a shop. Most of the smaller groceries and variety stores were kept in this way. A door led from the shop into the living rooms of the fam- ily ; thus the mistress of the domicile could tend the shop, while attending to her household duties. Mr. Wood's clocks were the tall, mahogany-cased time-keepers then fashionable. The dial, in addition to the usual face, was furnished with a second hand ; some told the day of the month, the maker's name being inserted in the centre, below a bouquet of roses. These clocks were in great demand, scarcely a house was without them in all the region about. Mr. Samuel T. DeFord and Charles L. Emerson carried on a large business in hats and furs on Merrimac street. Mr. Porter Russell Messrs. Edward and Abner Toppan did a large business in the manufacture and sale of furniture. Mr. Abner Toppan had a two story shop contig- uous to his house on High street. Mr. Stephen Toppan on Toppan's lane was a distinguished architect and builder. Mr. Timothy Palmer was celebrated,
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not only as an architect and carpenter, but as a bridge builder ; several of the best bridges in the country were from his designs. Miss Mary Jenkins' mil- linery establishment was in her house on Water, corner of Market street. Green and Harris streets were now lined with handsome houses, most of which had been built since my recollection. The first house on the lower side of Green from High street was built by Mr. Potter, who carried on a thriving business at cabinet making. The next was Mr. Tom. Clarke's. The house on the corner of Green and Harris, and the next on the upper side of Harris street, Mr. Leonard Smith built for his two sons, John and William, and here they had recently installed their brides. John married Mary, daughter of Jonathan G. Parsons, and great-granddaughter of Rev. Jonathan Parsons, and William, Miss Mary, second daughter of Mr. Abraham Jackson. On the corner opposite stood the residence of Mr. Allen Dodge. Col. John Greenleaf's came next, then Mr. Israel Young's. That of Jonathan Gage, esq., was on the upper corner of Pleasant street, and Robert Laird's house and brewery were on the one opposite. Below the brewery came the Washington Hall building. A two-story wooden edifice, the hall in the second story, dwellings and a school room below. On the corner of Water street stood the Gen- eral Titcomb house, one of the old and splendid colonial mansions now some- what lapsed into decay and let as a tenement house. The first house on the upper side from Brown's square was built by Judge Bradbury. After he left the town it was purchased by Capt. Robert Jenkins. Mr. Joseph
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