Reminiscences of a nonagenarian, Part 32

Author: Emery, Sarah Smith, 1787-1879; Emery, Sarah Anna, 1821-1907
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Newburyport [Mass.] : W. H. Huse, Printers
Number of Pages: 362


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Reminiscences of a nonagenarian > Part 32


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43


In speaking of the business of the town I omitted the truckmen, compris- ing a tall, stalwart band of men, who in their long white frocks, made a good- ly show in Fourth of July and other civic processions. Sometimes of an af- ternoon, when the business for the day was over, they would drive in a line through the streets, their fine horses, and long, tilting, clattering trucks noisily breaking the quiet monotony. In the winter, on their sleds, in this way, they frequently volunteered to aid in breaking the paths. In addition to these drays a large business was done by ox teams, one or more pair of oxen yoked to a two-wheeled cart. Mr. Nathaniel Bricket, Mr. Samuel Wheel- er and Mr. Charles Chase were noted teamsters.


Back of the Pond stood a collection of low, unpainted huts. This village was styled "Guinea." Here were the homes of the colored population, of which there was quite a number. These were mostly descendants of ser-


vants formerly held as slaves in our first households. Many considering themselves as still connected with the old master's family, in any emergency always looked to it for advice, care and consideration.


In those days of huge wood fires, it was no uncommon thing for the burn- ing of a chimney to endanger a whole neighborhood. A law was enacted that every chimney should be swept once a year. Lilly White, a tall, lithe negro, was the principal sweep, followed by his little apprentice boy bearing a bag of clothes. Lilly perambulated the streets, brandishing his brooms and cry- ing :


"Lilly White has come to town, To sweep the chimney up and down, If he does not sweep them clean He shall not have his pistareen."


Clement Paul, a genteel waiter, was a favorite in the upper circles. Joe Fatal, Col. Greenleaf's darky, Old Cambridge, who could remember being kidnapped when a child and brought to this country in a slave vessel, Jimmy Paul, Sip Burnham and others were useful members of society, and respect- ed citizens. Many colored women did washing, and black Luce was a famous nurse. Old Luce Pero, a beggar tramp, generally accompanied by one or more children, was the horror of the more in- fantile population ; the threat "old Luce Pero will catch you," was sufficient to quell the most turbulent urchin. Co- burn had a remarkably aristocratic dar- key employed in his hotel. Much ad- miring a pair of boots which Ebenezer Mosely, esq., had purchased, the negro waiter strutted into the store of Os- good & Brackett, and with a pompous air ordered a similar pair, adding, much to the amusement of Messrs. Osgood


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& Brackett, "Let 'em be jes like Squire Moseley's, only a quarter dollar better."


No fish market had been established, fresh fish was vended about the streets in wheelbarrows. Clams in the shell were sold; none were then shucked. Sometimes the "Algerines" from Sea- brook peddled about boiled clams taken from the shell, but clams were regarded as a plebeian dish, from which many persons turned in disgust. The chief fishmongers were Flood, and Jim Ball.


1


The famous witch of the town was a woman known as Madame Hooper. Her early history has remained a mys- tery. She came to Newbury about 1760, and for a time was the dame of a school at the south end; afterward she became a famous fortune teller, rivalling in celebrity Moll Pitcher of Lynn ; her home on Cottle's Lane being visited by persons of all ages and class- es from near and afar. In person Madam Hooper was short and stout, with a strongly marked countenance, glittering gray eyes, and a full set of double teeth ; her appearance was that of one born and bred in good society, though from the first a peculiarity had been evineed in her demeanor which in- creased with years. She was well ed- ucated and accomplished, and brought with her on coming to town, a very ex- tensive and handsome wardrobe, rich brocades and the like, which were worn without remodelling to the end of her long life. These antique garments, with a unique bonnet of her own fash- ion, combined with an oracular, sibyllie manner, were calculated to inspire ered- ulous people with the awe and wonder which she coveted. Children ran at her approach, and their elders from fear of the "evil eye" were lavish in courtesy.


Thus the witch carried matters with a high hand, visiting where she chose, generally acting her own pleasure with- out much regard to the wishes or con- venience of others, few venturing to cross one whom so many considered as possessing supernatural powers. This reputation was artfully sustained. Often her visitors were received in impur- turbable silence, but when an answer was vonchsafed it usually was verified. This foresight and sagacity succeeded in securing dupes for many years. She kept a pet fowl, black in plumage, with a clipped bill and claws, which was re- gnrded as her "familiar." Madame Hooper lived to an advanced age, but at length died in poverty and degrada- tion, unmourned but not unremembered. Her name had become a household word, which has been handed down through the generations as one of the marvels of the past. Perhaps if the secrets of her life could be unmasked we should pity rather than condemn.


Billy Watkins was a somewhat eecen- tric individual, who owned a large es- tate on Water street. Foony Gerrish, a wig maker, often became the jest of the populace. Though illiterate, he evineed a desire to rank amongst the educated. On one occasion a person in the bar room of the "Wolfe Tavern" perceiving him seemingly intent upon perusing a newspaper which was held bottom upward, inquired, "What is the news, Mr. Gerrish ?" "Terrible gales," hurriedly returned the old man, "terri- ble gales, ships all bottom upwards." Wishing to be thought a man of busi- ness Foony bought a ledger. That morning he sold a wig, for which, much to the purchaser's astonishment, he de- elined to take payment, "he would charge it." At night he detained one


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of the young clerks in the neighbor- hood to note it down. Having written the date the young man inquired the name of the debtor. Foony looked puzzled, scratched his head, he "never thought to inquire the name," but after a moment's deliberation he added, "Never mind, put it down, one wig to a man that looked like an Amesbury man." Whether Foony received the price of the wig from this dubiously described individual I am unable to state.


Another notoriety was "Bumble Bee Titcomb," a carpenter by trade. While at work at his bench a bumblebee light- ed near his hand. Mr. Titcomb raised his hatchet, ejaculating, "Now, old fel- low, your end has come ! Say your prayers, for death is nigh. One, two, three-strike !" Down went the hatch- et, cutting off the end of Mr. Titcomb's thumb, while the bumblebee, having flown up and stung the end of his nose, buzzed exultantly away through the open door. Ever after the carpenter was known th.oughout the town as "Bumble Bee Titcomb."


Another of the celebrities of the town was Mr. Enoch Toppan, common- ly called "Rhymer Toppan," as he was never at a loss for a rhyme. One day, at the market house, Mr. James Ca- rey and Mr. Richard Adams laid a wager respecting Mr. Toppan's instant- ly returning an answer in rhyme. Mr. Toppan was across the square. From the steps of the market house Mr. Carey sang out, "Mr. Toppan, so they say, buys his meat and never'll pay." To which was responded, "Jimmy Ca- rey, if that be true, I'll always have my meat of you." Mr. Carey was obliged to "stand treat."


For years the chief wonder of the


place was Lord Timothy Dexter, his hairless dog and his images. This man was born in Malden in 1743. He came to Newburyport in early manhood and married a Miss Frothingham, from the old Frothingham mansion on the corner of High and Olive street. In a short time he obtained a large fortune by tak- ing advantage of the markets and by lucky adventures. His first successful speculation was buying up continental notes when depreciated, and selling them when a prospect of redemption had raised their value. His specula- tions in mittens, warming-pans, whale- bone and the like, are widely known. Though ignorant and illiterate, and doubtless somewhat indebted to luck for his good fortune, still it is evident the' man was both shrewd and saga- cious. His vanity was inordinate. Under any circumstances it is probable he would have proved an eccentricity, still, such were the convivial habits of the period, and constantly surrounded as he was, by a band of sycophantic boon companions, who spurred him on to all sorts of ridiculous sayings and doings, one can scarcely judge what the character of the man would have been under the teetotal regime of Neal Dow. Having bought the fine Jackson man- sion on High street, nearly opposite his wife's maiden home, he began to beau- tify it after his own design. Mr. James Wilson was a carver of figure heads of ships. Dexter conceived the idea of employing Mr. Wilson to embellish his house and grounds with wooden statues. These figures were remarkable speci- mens in wood carving. In this work Mr. Wilson displayed the power of a sculptor ; it is a pity he never aspired to works of greater durability. The figures of Washington, Adams and Jef-


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ferson, over the front door, were excel- lent, and the other figures, the eagle upon the cupola, and the animals, were life-like and in good proportion. Dex- ter built a tomb in the garden ; on its completion he got up a mock funeral, had his wife and family arrayed in mourning, acted his part as corpse, and was borne to the sepulchre with due funerel rites. After his resurrection and return to the house he beat his wife because she did not weep while follow- ing him to the grave. He kept a per- son in his house named Jonathan Plummer, who styled himself "physi- cian, preacher, and poet laureate, to his excellency Timothy Dexter, Earl of Chester, and Knight of the two open- mouthed lions." In those days it was the practice to send notes to be read at public worship before the long prayer, requesting suitable petitions in time of affliction, or on occasions of joy. Be- low is a note sent by the poet laureate, and read in his pulpit by the Rev. Charles Milton :


"Jonathan Plummer jr., desires to return thanks to the transcendently po- tent controler of the universe, for his marvellous kindness to him in raising him from a desperately low and peril- ous indisposition, to such a measure of strength and health that he is again able with gladness of heart and trans- porting rapture of mind, to wait at the celestial portals of wisdom. The said Plummer also desires to give thanks to Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, for his as- tonishing favor, his captivating mercy, and his personal regard to him in snatching him from endless grief and everlasting woe, in a miraculous man- ner ; by light in dreams ; for causing the day to dawn in his heart, and the


dayspring from on high to illuminate his dark and benighted understanding ; for chasing far from him the gloomy fog of infidelity, and enabling him triumph- antly to rejoice in the glorious light and liberty of the Gospel, wherein his bless- ed Redeemer has crowned his happy life."


The Rev. Parson Milton's response to these requests was, "O Lord, have mercy on this over-pompous brother. whose wordy rhetoric has just startled our ears ; save us from cant, bombast, and all the wiles of the devil. Amen." I copy a document of Plummer's, headed "The Author's Last Will and Testament." "Preparatory Address to the Readers. Ladies and Gentle- men : At the request of a number of worthy friends, I now furnish you with my last will and testament. You will doubtless think it a very singular pro- duction, and you will think right ; for, excepting a few lines in the beginning, which are partly borrowed from the last will of a celebrated writer, and the last paragraph, which is taken from Fisher, I believe nothing like it has ever been published or written.


But the will is not more singular than the usage which occasioned it. What this usage was I shall not now under- take to disclose, for to do justice to the subject would I believe require a con- siderable number of volumes ; and be- sides, my abilities are inadequate, vast- ly inadequate to the ponderous task. Was the celebrated Cicero again per- mitted to live in our world I fancy he might talk day and night on the sub- ject, might entirely exhaust his une- qualed eloquence, might move earth and perhaps Heaven, to pity, to com- miseration, and to tears, and perhaps not half disclose the affecting scene,


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not half display the inexpressible an- guish with which the barbarous treat- ment of a certain man has oppressed my tender soul.


The resentment which I now display is not the effect of any sudden and un- reasonable gust of passion. I have long dispassionately considered the sub- ject, and the influence of religion, of justice, of duty to parents, of good breeding, and of every other incentive to moderation, folly only excepted, has been in this case eagerly sought after, listened to, and properly regarded by me.


I, Jonathan Plummer jr., of New- bury, in the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts, seriously considering the un- certainty of human life, do, while in a sound state of mind, and in tolerable bodily health, make this my last will and testament ; being determined to dispose of all my earthly property, not as custom may prompt, but as justice and equity seem to direct. I most hum- bly recommend my soul to the exten- sive mercy of that supreme, eternal, in- telligent Being, who gave it me ; at the same time most earnestly deprecating his justice. If I die in Newbury or in any place within twenty miles of it, I desire to be buried in the burying ground which is near the meeting house, of the first parish in this town, and that I may be carried to the grave from my own apartment. Should my father, or any, or either of my brothers have the hypocrisy to follow me in mourning, or to walk between my coffin and the other people who happen to attend my fu- neral, I desire my executor to endeavor to prevent their so doing. Should my mammy and my oldest sister outlive me, I desire them to walk next to my coffin dressed in , decent customar


mourning, and as many of the ladies whose names I shall mention in this will, as happen to attend my funeral, to follow them, but not in mourning. As the usage I have received from my father and brothers has given me tor- tures which no tongue can express, I do not mean that they shall be much the better for my property which I may happen to leave in this world. But, nevertheless, as my father happened somehow or other, when he first made a will, so far to forget his enmity as to bequeath me about a thirtieth part of what he was then worth, as a grateful return for this almost miraculous favor, I give and bequeath to him the sum of seventeen shillings ; which is not far from a thirtieth part of what I was pos- sessed of when I for the first time com- mitted a will to writing. As something influenced my father to order the sum which he bequeathed me to be handed to me in ten annual payments, his con- duct influences me to treat him in the same manner. I desire my executor to pay him the above seventeen shillings in ten different yearly payments. One shilling, eight pence, one farthing and a half yearly, the first nine years after my death, and the tenth year one shil- ling, eight pence, two farthings and a half. But should my father die before he has received all which I bequeath him in this manner, it is my will that my executor keep what remains in his hands of the seventeen shillings at the time of my father's death, for his own proper use and benefit. This is all the money which I can conscientiously give my father, but at the same time I wish hiin riches more durable, more inestim- ably valuable than gold. I wish him that precious light of Christ which once partly illumined his now (in my opin-


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ion) benighted understanding. I wish him, and was it in my power, I would bequeath him such a portion of the blood of the meek and lowly Redeem- er, as would wash him from all sin, en- able him to face me at the bar of the righteous judge at the great day, and rescue him from those torments which the abuse which I have received from him so amply and so eternally deserves. My mamma having used me as a son, I should be glad to leave all the rest of my property to her, if it was not nearly the same thing as leaving it to my fath- er and brothers ; but her interest is so nearly connected with theirs, and the good which I have received from her has been so many hundred times coun- terbalanced by the evil treatment which I have received from them, that I can- not conscientiously reward her kind- ness any farther than by giving her a share in common with the rest of the ladies mentioned in this will.


It is my will that my executor, soon after my decease, convert all my real and personal estate into ready money. That he shall collect what happens to be due me, and sell all my property, of whatever kind it happens to be, by public auction or private sale, one or both, as he shall think proper ; and that after deducting the aforesaid legacy of seventeen shillings, paying all my just debts, and taking pay for his own time, trouble and expense, and what time, trouble and expense he shall then ex- pect to be incumbered with as executor to this my last will and testament. After doing this I say, it is my will that he soon after equally divide all the remain- ing part of my money among the fol- lowing amiable ladies, as many of them I mean as happen at that time to be alive, viz: My mamma, Miss Anna


Bayley, the two oldest daughters that are not now married, of Capt. Jonathan Poor, Misses Judea Plummer and Han- nah Plummer, daughters of Mr. Jere- miah Plummer ; Misses Else Adams, Rhoda Plummer, Rebekah Noyes, Mar- garet Robinson, Mary Hook, Charlotte Ilsley, Jemima Knight, Hannah Adams, daughter of the late Mr. Richard Ad- ams deceased, Ruth Short, daughter of Mr. James Short jr., Eunice Pearson, Mary Noyes, and the very amiable Sa- rah Little, daughter of Mr. Richard Little , the transcendently amiable Misses Else Tucker, Mary Tucker, Elizabeth Tucker, Charlotte Tucker, Clarissa Tucker, Catharine Tucker and Hannah Tracy ; the handsome Mrs. Mary Noyes, widow of the late Capt. John Noyes deceased, and the bloom- ing widow Huldah Noyes the consort of Mr. William Stickney ; the consort of Mr. John Holland, and the consort of Mr. George Adams of Newbury in the Commonwealth aforesaid ; Mrs. Ju- dea Kent and Mrs. Elizabeth Pike, spotless widows ; the transcendently lovely Mrs. Lydia St. Barb, Abigail Cutler, Hannah Boardman, Sarah Wig- glesworth and Katherine Wigglesworth ; the eminently amiable Misses Mary Barber, Elizabeth Greenleaf, daughter of Mr. Abner Greenleaf; Lucy Lunt, Sarah Smith, Catharine Murray, Eliza- beth Ingalls, Maria Ingalls, Mary Moulton, Mary Sweat, Eunice Sawyer, Abigail Boardman, Sarah Couch, Anna Couch, Anna Dodge, Isabella Thomp- son, Lydia Thompson, Hannah Noyes, Jane Noyes, Sarah Alexander, Mary Alexander, Mary Moody, Sarah Moody, daughters of Mr. Benjamin Moody of Newburyport, in the Commonwealth aforesaid ; Mrs. Eleanor Weeks of Candia in Chester, and Miss Elizabeth


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Plumer of Exeter, in the state of New Hampshire.


I meant to write the aforesaid list of names for certain reasons, without any epithets denoting the qualities of the ladies, but it is very difficult for me to speak about such heavenly lassies with- out these epithets, and I doubt whether even the pope or his nuncio, if he knew them as well as I do, could go through the task which I meant to perform. Had I allowed free scope to my inclina- tion I should have added a shining ep- ithet to each of the respected names, nor should I then have done more than each of the lovely ladies deserve from my pen. I am sensible that the total sum of my fortune is but trifling, but I hope to make a considerable addition to it, and should I die without being married, I mean that the aforesaid ladies shall have all that I leave after seventeen shillings are deducted from it, be it more or less. They saw me afflicted and tormented by a man from whom I might naturally expect better usage ; and while I believe this man was laboring to destroy my char- acter and retard my fortune, with en- mity more abusive than death, more cruel than the grave; when I was warmly contending with poverty, rags and wretchedness, I received from these ladies such friendly treatment as ren- dered my low estate not only tolerable but in some measure happy, while some less virtuous ladies seemed to rejoice at my misfortune, and denied me the common civilities of life, even the favor of walking the ground with them. The above named ladies not only failed to imitate them in these respects, but gave me reason to think that they wished to see me in better circumstan- ces. The value of the civilities which


I have received from them is greatly enhanced when I consider the immense wisdom and angelic beauty of a great part, and the captivating amiableness of the whole number. Considering these things, I know no bounds that I ought to set to my gratitude, love and esteem. Had I ten millions of dollars to dispose of more than I have, I would freely will it all to them. I wish them the most consummate earthly felicity, and was it in my power to insure them seats in paradise, I should not eat nor drink with half the pleasure that I should take in conveying to them the most delightful mansions in those realms of bliss. I think it apparent from Scripture that departed souls re- tain a remembrance of the friendly deeds of their benefactors in this world, and I confess that I am not without hopes of being serviceable to those lovely nymphs in the regions which we shall inhabit beyond the grave ; even after ten million times ten million years have rolled away, I hope to give them fresh marks of my present unfeigned and boundless regard.


I make, constitute, ordain and ap- point Mr. Edmund Knight of this town, sole executor to this my last will and testament, hereby renouncing, disallow- ing and disannulling all former wills, testaments, executors, legacies or be- quests by me in whatever manner named, willed bequeathed, hereby rati- fying and confirming this and this only to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal."


Dexter owned a farm in Chester, and consequently styled himself Earl of Chester. He erected handsome build- ing on this estate, and these were deco- rated with several images, which were


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a wonder in that region for a long time. The poet laureate's description of his lordship and the Dexter mansion ran in this wise :


"Lord Dexter was a man of fame, And celebrated was his name. His house was white, And trimmed with green, And on the top an eagle seen.


Lord Dexter, like King Solomon, Hath gold and silver by the ton ; And bells to churches he has given To worship the great King of Heaven,


Two lions stand to guard the door, With mouths wide open to devour All enemies who dare oppose Lord Dexter or his shady groves.


The images around him stand, - For they were made at his command ; Looking to see Lord Dexter come, With fixed eyes they see him home."


Dexter gave the Harris street church $333.33 to purchase a bell, and a simi- lar sum was presented to St. Paul's so- ciety. He evinced a praiseworthy lib- erality in aiding any, enterprise that would benefit the town, taking over a hundred shares in the Essex Merrimac bridge. On the Fourth of July follow- ing its completion he delivered an ora- tion there, which, says the Essex Jour- nal, "For elegance of style, propriety of speech, and force of argument was truly Ciceronian ! ! "


Lord Timothy also greatly improved the roads around his mansion. His of- fer to pave High street, and to build a brick market house, if they might bear his name the town rejected ; but the two thousand dollars he bequeathed in his will, "the interest of which he di- rected the overseers of the poor annu- ally to distribute to such of the poor of the town as are the most necessitous, who are not in the workhouse," was ac- cepted and acknowledged with gratitude


and thankfulness." Determined to rank amongst those whose names never die, Dexter wrote a book entitled "A Pickle for the Knowing Ones." A sufficiently original production to obtain its author's aim. Punctuation was omitted till the last page, which was closely covered with the various marks, the readers be- ing directed "to pepper and salt it as they pleased."


Dexter died in 1806 and his house was rented for a tavern. The widow of his only son, Samuel, and his only daughter, Mrs. Bishop, boarding with the landlord's family. As the images decayed they were removed, but the three presidents remained over the front door for many years. As the tomb in the garden was near the house, it did not become Lord Timothy's mausole- um, he was interred with his wife and son on Burying Hill, the garden tomb continuing an object of interest to vis- itors at the hotel until a comparatively recent date.




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