USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Reminiscences of a nonagenarian > Part 40
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
310
REMINISCENCES
The next year he erected a large barn upon the hill. In addition to the usual appliances of a stable, a chimney was built at the lower end, and a room light- ed by three windows was finished. This apartment had a fireplace, a large set kettle, and a good sized closet ; a trap door opened upon stairs leading to the cellar beneath, in which was a wooden cistern, a pump above furnishing the premises with water. This room was for the convenience of packing beef and trying lard, two branches of business in which Mr. Emery was largely engaged. Mr. Babb was still our factotum. John Faris and Mr. Michael Creasey were the regular butchers, but Mr. Paul Lunt of Belleville, Mr. Stephen Emery and his son Moody, and Mr. Jonas Bartlett from the lower parish in West New- bury, were often employed. Not un- frequently from fifteen to twenty hands were at work, and as many as twenty beeves' carcases would be weighed off at once. The field below the buildings was fenced for a sheep pasture ; a hun- dred head were often collected there. Three wagons were run to supply town customers, the barreled beef and pork supplied the fishing fleet and outward- bound vessels, and the surplus was sold in Boston.
In 1822 Mr. Creasey having estab- lished himself in business, his place was filled by Mr. Henry Mowatt. That spring, my youngest brother, Joseph Little Smith, came to Newburyport, and in company with Mr. Emery established a wholesale and retail grocery store on Market square, at the upper corner of Inn street. This was the depot for Mr. Emery's beef and pork trade. My brother boarded in our family.
There were a number of fruit trees on the lot Mr. Emery had bought ; he
planted others, and the elm back of the house, and commenced other improve- ments preparatory to the erection of a house. The elm near the barn was set out several years after by Robert Pea- body while an inmate of the family. The next year he purchased the field between his lot and Mount Rural. This had formed part of the estate of the late Daniel Farnham esq., by whom it had been bequeathed to his daughters, Mrs. Sybil Sawyer and Mrs. Catharine Flag, who sold it to Mr. Emery for $650.
"Squire Farnham had formerly owned the whole of that end of the ridge. The first wife of Dr. Smith of Mt. Ru- ral was another of his daughters. In 1820, by the death of his father, my husband's namesake, David Emery Col- man, a boy of six years, was left an or- phan. Mr. Emery took him into the family ; he was a handsome, bright lit- tle lad, and he remained with us till his twelfth year, when he was put on the farm of Mr. Thomas Chase in West Newbury.
In May, 1819, my Aunt Bartlett was married to Capt. Joseph O'Brian. Cap- tains Joseph and John O'Brian were of Irish descent, their father emigrated to America and settled in Machias, dis- trict of Maine. Both of the sons were successful shipmasters and merchants. Capt. John O'Brian, as I have previ- ously stated, distinguished himself in the privateer Hibernia during the war of 1812. Capt. John O'Brian married Hannah Toppan ; their children were Jeremiah, John, Hannah and Marcia Scott. Hannah became the third wife of her cousin Joseph O'Brian. Marcia married Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Chaplin, president of Waterville College, Maine. Both of these ladies were authors of some celebrity.
311
OF A NONAGENARIAN.
John O'Brian Chaplin was professor of Greek, Latin and English literature at Columbian College, Washing.ton, D) C. Hannah Chaplin married Rev. Thomas Jefferson Conant of Brandon, Vt., employed by the American Bible Union of New York, in translating the Bible ; professor in Rochester Univer- sity until 1857 ; formerly professor at Waterville and at Madison University.
Captain Joseph O'Brian's first wife was Rebecca, daughter of David and Mary (Johnson) Moody. Their chil- dren were David, William, and others deceased before 1812-Dennis, Joseph, Thomas and Valeria.
The O'Brians were of a highly distin- guished race, a great Milesian family of the name who descended from the Kings of Thomond. Arms, Gules, three lions proper, or. Crest, a naked arm embowered, the hand grasping a sword all ppr. Motto-" Vigueur der des- sus." "Strength from above."
Capt. Joseph O'Brian having lost his residence on Water street at the great fire, had purchased the house on High street, built by Capt. Samuel Swett, who had moved to Georgetown, D. C. As the Baptist meeting-house was lo- cated so far to the north end, Capt. O'Brian, being a zealous Jacobin, had taken a pew in the house of worship on IFarris street. For many years Mrs. Bartlett had been connected with the First Presbyterian church, and she high- ly respected and esteemed its pastor, the Rev. Dr. Dana ; but for some rea- son Capt. O'Brian objected to his per- forming the marriage ceremony. Mrs. Bartlett was equally averse to Parson Giles. After much discussion the pair agreed to disagree, and the Rev. Dr. Morse was called to tie the nuptial knot according to the ritual of the Episcopal
church. Mrs. O'Brian, however, like a dutiful wife, ever after attended on Parson Giles' ministrations with her husband and family.
In the spring of this year the west part of Newbury was set off into a sep- arate township, and incorporated by the name of Parsons, which was soon changed to that of West Newbury.
In the same year Col. Jeremiah Col- man succeeded Mr. Benjamin Hale as agent for the Eastern Stage Company, an office which he filled until the open- ing of the Eastern railroad. Soon after accepting the ageney Col. Colman pur- chased the house built by Mr. Obadiah Pearson, on Harris street, and moved thither. The business at the market was continued by Mr. Daniel Colman, who bought the residence on the turn- pike, where he became a prominent cit- izen of Newbury, and an influential member of Oldtown parish. For many years he was a selectman of the town, one of the overseers of the poor, and the superintendent of the Sabbath school connected with the society, under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Withington. In addition he was often called to fill posts of trust and honor outside of his town and parish. The latter part of his life was passed on the ancestral farm in Byfield. Col. Jeremiah Colman was also an active member of the Old- town society, filling the office of deacon for several years.
The next year, 1820, the navigation law was passed, which restricted ves- sels from taking cargoes to the British colonies, and from bringing cargoes to our ports. As Newburyport had a large eastern trade, this proved ex- tremely injurious to our shipping inter- est. In addition, the exorbitant duties imposed by France and other conti-
312
REMINISCENCES
nental nations on American goods and tonnage greatly depressed the maritime enterprise of the place.
Capt. John Murray Miltimore, the youngest son of the Rev. James Milti- more, at this time commanded the ship Jane. On arriving at Bordeaux from Norfolk, to his consternation he learned that a duty of $18 per ton had been imposed, an amount which the full val- te of both vessel and cargo would scarcely cover. In this dilemma Capt. Miltimore proceeded immediately to Paris to lay the case before the Ameri- can consul, and Mr. Albert Gallatin, our minister to the Court of St. Cloud. The matter was carried before the gov- ernment, and the duty on Capt. Milti- more's ship was removed and the law · greatly modified. That same year a piratical fleet appeared in the West In- dian waters, which for several years continued the terror of the sea.
The winter of 1820 and 1821 was re- markably cold. The river was passa- ble for the heaviest teams on the ice from Haverhill to Black Rocks. China eups cracked on the tea table from the frost, before a rousing fire, the instant the hot tea touched them; and plates set to drain in the process of dish-wash- ing froze together in front of the huge logs, ablaze in the wide kitchen fire- place.
That spring has been rendered mem- orable from its incendiary fires. Two alarms having been given, a strict watch, and other precautions, were in- stituted. A third fire was set in the barn belonging to my Uncle Bradstreet Johnson on Temple street, which was consumed, with Mr. Johnson's dwelling- house and the residences of Mr. Tommy Balch and Mr. Andrew Frothingham, opposite. The alarm was given about
ten o'clock, and the fire raged till morn- ing. Mr. Johnson was aged and fee- ble, and with difficulty he was moved from the burning house, in which he lost nearly the whole of his clothing and household effects. He was taken to the residence of his nieces, Tempy and Mary Johnson, which stood next below on the street, where his relatives and friends supplied his immediate need- He continued with these nieces until his death, some two years after. The Eastern Stage Company purchased his estate and erected the large brick stable still standing, for their use.
In the September following, the Rev. Gilbert T. Williams, from ill health, was dismissed from the pastorate of the First church in West Newbury. He died on the 24th of September, 1824, aged 63 years. He was succeeded in 1826 by Henry C. Wright. The Rev. John Kirby, of the second parish, in 1818 went South for his health, and on December 5th was drowned at Okrakok bar, North Carolina. He was succeed- ed by the Rev. Elijah Demond, who was settled on the 7th of March, 1821.
In March of that year, Newburyport voted to erect the present almshouse.
In 1822 the shambles gave place to the present brick market house.
In that same year, the Lancasterian or monitorial system of teaching was introduced into our public schools, which continued for several years.
As Mr. Abner Wood was desirous to occupy his house, on the 22nd of April, 1821, we moved to the house on High, lower corner of Tyng street. The es- tablishment was owned by Mr. Luther Waterman, and the large house, stable and garden, was rented for forty-five dollars a year.
On the 22nd of January, 1821, my
313
OF A NONAGENARIAN.
sister, Susan Little Smith, was united in marriage with Mr. Edward Toppan. The name Toppan was originally Top- ham, taken from the name of a place in Yorkshire, meaning upper hamlet or village. The pedigree as far back as traced, commences with Robert Top- ham, who resided at Linton, near Pate- ly bridge, supposed to be in the west riding of Yorkshire. He made his will in January, 1550. His second son, Thomas Topham, was of Arncliffe, near Linton. He died in 1589, and was bur- ied in the church at Arncliffe. Edward Topham, alias Toppan, eldest son of Thomas Toppan, was of Aiglethorpe, near Linton, and has his pedigree re- corded in the college of arms, with ar- morial bearings. One of his sons was a lieutenant-colonel in the service of Charles I., and was killed at Marston Moor in 1644. William Toppan, fourth son of Edward Toppan of Aiglethorpe, lived for some time at Calbridge, where his son Abraham was baptized April 10th, 1606. The family still exists in England, and are now of Middleham, in the northwest part of Yorkshire on the river Ouse. As early as 1637, Abraham Toppan resided at Yarmouth ; his wife was a Susanna Taylor, a daugh- ter of a Mr. Taylor and his wife Eliza- beth. After the death of Mr. Taylor, the widow Elizabeth married a Mr. Goodale ; after the death of Mr. Good- ale she came to Newbury, where she died April 8th, 1647. Her four daugh- ters were Susanna, the 'wife of Abra- ham Toppan ; Joanna, the wife of Mr. John Oliver, and of Capt. William Ger- rish ; Elizabeth, the wife of Mr. John Lowle ; and Ann, the wife of Capt. Thomas Milward, all of Newbury. In the first volume of the fourth series of the publications of the Massachusetts
Historical Society, pp. 98 and 99, is the following : "A Register of the names of such persons who are 21 years and upward, and have license to passe into forraigne parts from March 1637 to the 29th of September, by virtu of a Com- mission of Mr. Thomas Mayhew, Gen- tleman." Among these persons are the following : Abraham Toppan Cooper, aged 31; Susanna, his wife, aged 31, with their children Peter and Elizabeth, and one mayd servant Anne Goodin, aged 13 years, sailed from Yarmouth 10 May, 1637, in the ship Rose of Yarmouth, Wm. Andrews Master."
In October, 1637, Abraham Toppan was in Newbury, as appears by the following extract from the town records :
"Abraham Toppan being licensed by John Endicott Esq., to live in this ju- risdiction, was received into the town of Newberry as an inhabitant thereof and have promised under his hand to be subject to any lawful order that shall be made by the towne.
ABRAHAM TOPPAN.
Oct. 1637." ·
Abraham and Susanna Toppan had seven children, Dr. Peter, Elizabeth, Abraham, Jacob, Susanna, John and Isaac.
Jacob, born in 1645, married Han- nah Sewell Ang. 24th, 1670; their children were Jacob, Samuel, James, Jonn, Hannah, Elizabeth, Abraham, Anne and Sewell.
Mrs. Toppan's maiden name was Wigglesworth ; she was the widow of John Sewell.
Abraham Toppan, born June 29th, 1684, married Esther Sewell Oct. 24th, 1713 ; the children were Edward, Eliz- abeth, Patience, Samuel, Jacob and Michael.
Edward Toppan, born Sept. 7th, 1715, married Sarah- Bailey Sept. 7th, 40
314
REMINISCENCES
1743 ; children, Abraham, Anna, born 1746, died 1757, Sarah, Mary, Patience, Joshua, Stephen, Edward, Enoch, Anna, Abner and Judith.
Enoch Toppan, born May 7th, 1759, married Mary Coffin Feb. 2nd, 1794, and Mary Merrill, Aug. 19th, 1797 ; children, Moses, Edward, Margaret, Hannah and Mary.
The arms of Topham or Toppan arc :
CRUCE
NON
PRUDENTIAL
ARGENT, A CHEVRON GULES, BETWEEN THREE SRANES, HEADS ERASED SABLE. CREST, TWO CERPENTS ENTWINED AROUND A CROSS PATEE FILCHEE.
Jacob Toppan owned a large tract of land through which Toppan street, then Toppan's lane, was laid out, where, in '1694, he built the present large and commodious dwelling known as the Toppan house. He was succeeded in the homestead by his son Abraham, his grandson Edward, and his great-grand- son Enoch.
Edward Toppan, born April 7th, 1796, was the husband of my sister. Mr. Toppan had erected a house below his father's, on the opposite side of the lane, whither he took his bride. His brother Moses married Cornelia Brown, Feb. 2nd, 1828, and continued on the homestead.
My sister's marriage was satisfactory to the whole family, but especially so to me, as it brought her into my imme-
diate vicinage. The new house, with its neat furniture was most inviting. Mrs. Toppan, a thorough housekeeper, possessing much energy, skill and taste, made an excellent wife and mother. Though a farmer's wife, and the mis- tress of a large family, hers was an un- usually orderly household, and though no duty was neglected, time was found for social intercourse, hospitable enter- tainment, charitable deeds, the cultiva- tion of a flower garden, and a variety of house plants, while her ingenuity and skill were often exhibited in little adorn- ments in dress, or for the dwelling, and as gifts to relatives and friends. Mr. Toppan, a most excellent husband, father, neighbor and citizen, held im- 1
portant positions in the town, and in the parish of the First Religious Society. A consistent Democrat, he twice repre- sented his native place in the State leg- islature.
In the spring of 1821 Capt. Joseph O'Brian moved to Reading, Pennsylva- nia, and with his two sons, Dennis and Joseph. went into the dry goods busi- ness under the firm of "Joseph O'Brian & Sons, sign of the 'Golden Ball.'" Thomas O'Brian, in company with Thomas Foster, set up in the shoe busi- ness, as the firm of "O'Brian & Foster."
I had been so intimately associated with this aunt from infancy that I scarce- ly knew how to live without her ; her departure caused a loneliness which was not at once dispelled ; and her adopted daughter, Eliza Bartlett, was also great- ly missed.
The next spring the family received with great pleasure a visit from my Aunt Peabody ; she was accompanied by her third daughter Sophila. Learn- ing that the "Citizen" had arrived with the expected guests, Mr. Emery and
315
OF A NONAGENARIAN.
my brother Joseph hastened to the wharf. They found Mrs. Peabody and her daughter in Mr. Dodge's counting- room, awaiting a carriage to convey them to the residence of Mrs. Peabody's sister, Mrs. Samuel Noyes, at the "Farms," Newbury. Mr. Emery re- ceived the greeting of an old friend ; but he was obliged to introduce his companion. Mrs. Peabody could searee- ly realize that the tall, handsome young man could be "sister Predy's little Jo- seph," and the little Sophila had changed as much to the gentlemen.
At dinner I was entertained with an account of the meeting, and naturally inquired respecting my cousin Sophila's personal appearance. Mr. Emery re- plied, "that she was not as handsome as Sophronia, that she was a complete Southern girl." My brother's hand- some black eyes sparkled as he added, "that he thought her full as handsome as her elder sister, and that she was the most graceful and polished young lady he had ever met ;" altogether he pro- nounced her "perfectly charming." I was somewhat amused, and was not as mueh surprised as Annt Peabody, at her nephew's extremely considerate at- tention in driving her and her daughter about the vicinity to visit their numer- ous relatives. The visitors returned home in October, when the cousins' en- gagement was openly declared. No one thought of objecting on account of consanguinity, and the lady had ren- dered herself a general favorite. ^Mar- rying cousins was a family trait ; my husband and my brother James and his wife were second cousins ; Mrs: Top- pan and her husband were also rela- tives, as Mr. Toppan's grandmother was a Little, from Turkey Hill; my brother and his affianced had but fol-
lowed the family predilection of Little cleaving to Little in preference to the rest of creation.
The wedding took place the next Oc- tober, at Gen. Peabody's residence in Georgetown. The bridal pair came di- rectly to Newburyport, and remained with us until a house was procured.
Miss Dorothy Miltimore had some years previous married Capt. James Rousseau ; he was recently deceased, and the widow, with her two children, had returned to the paternal roof. My brother rented her house at the head of Strong street, and in six weeks the young couple went to housekeeping. Polly Smart, who for years had been a faithful servitor in Gen. Peabody's fam- ily, had come North. At the time of Miss Sophila's marriage she was on a visit to Plymouth, N. H. Upon receiv- ing the intelligence she hastened to Newburyport to meet the wedded pair, and remained with us until the house was secured, when she at once assumed' the management of affairs. "What did that young thing know of New England housekeeping? She could embroider muslin and paint pieters, but she knew no more how to take care of Joe Smith and his house than a baby !" So Mrs. Smith was installed in state in the par- lor to receive callers and entertain her husband and his friends, while Polly, in her short gown and petticoat, and tow apron, her hair uniquely drawn under a net, her round honest face radiant with responsibility, elattered about with her strong bare arms amongst the pots and pans, a perfect autocrat of the kitchen.
On April 4th, 1823, my grandfather, Joseph Little, died at the ripe age of 83. He had suffered most patiently for some time from a cancerons stomach, and his departure had been long ex-
316
REMINISCENCES
pected. My grandmother had a few years before been stricken with paraly- sis. Grandsir had been assiduous in his attention, and his departure was keenly felt by his widow ; we all sadly missed the kind, genial old gentleman, and the old homestead ever after seemed lone and desolate.
CHAPTER LXI.
On August 31st,- 1824, LaFayette visited Newburyport. On the 23d a town-meeting was called to arrange the reception. It was decided that the com- mittee of arrangements should receive the General at Ipswich, thence he would proceed under the escort of a battalion of Cavalry, through Rowley to New-, bury, Oldtown. At the head of South street this escort was to be joined by the Newburyport Artillery and the Washington Light Infantry, when the distinguished guest would be conducted through High and down State street to the Tracy mansion, then to the resi- dence of James Prince, esq., where he would be entertained. Upon his arrival at the Prince house an address of wel- come would be given by the Hon. Eb- enezer Moseley. The houses along the line of the procession were to be illumi- nated ; the signal for lighting would be a gun fired from Oldtown Hill. On the following morning an hour would be ap- propriated to the introduction of ladies and gentlemen, the time to be announced by ringing of the bells. A procession would then be formed of the commis- sioned officers of the brigade in uni- form; State and municipal magistrates and citizens to accompany the General through the principal streets, escorted
by the Byfield Rifle Corps, the New- buryport Artillery, and the Washington Light Infantry. This rifle company was the first organized in the State, and they were distinguished for accuracy of aim and other soldierly qualities. The school children were to assemble in the mall, the procession to pass through the lines. Citizens were requested to dis- play flags on the vessels and other con- spicuous places. The committee of ar- rangements were Ebenezer Wheelright, esq., Hon. Ebenezer Moseley, Anthony Smith, William Davis, Philip Coombs, Joshua Greenleaf, William Bartlett, esq., Hon. Samuel S Wilde, William Cross, Josiah Smith, Thomas M. Clark, Joshua Greenleaf, John Coffin, Abra- ham Williams, John Merrill and Caleb Cushing, esq.
The marshals of the day were Capt. Edmund Bartlett, Maj. Thomas Per- kins, Maj. David Emery, Messrs. George Cross, Nathaniel Foster, John Scott, esq., and Nathan Brown.
Mr. Prince's elegant mansion was put in readiness to receive the distin- guished guest. Mr. Emery took me to see the chamber he was to occupy. It was the apartment in which Washing- ton had slept on his visit to the town, and the furniture had never been re- moved. The bedstead which had the honor to support both Washington and LaFayette on the night of their sojourn in Newburyport, was of mahogany, about the height of our modern bed- steads, with four handsomely carved posts reaching nearly to the ceiling. The hangings were of crimson silk dam- ask, long curtains on rods, drawing around the bed, with valances draping the tester; the coverlet was like the curtains, and the whole were bordered by an ornamental gimp and fringe.
317
OF A NONAGENARIAN.
The seats to the mahogany chairs were covered to match ; the rest of the fur- niture was rich and massive.
The dining-room was resplendent, with its handsomely appurtenanced side- board, and the table was spread with great elegance. The spacious parlors were luxurious with their polished fur- niture, silken curtains and superb mir- rors. Everything was fitting for the reception of the noble and honored vis- itor.
An arch was thrown across the head of State street which bore the inscrip- tion "The Hero of Two Continents." Many of the windows of the houses on the route of the procession were deco- rated with mottoes expressive of the most enthusiastic joy.
At an early hour on Tuesday even- ing, August 31st, the General arrived at Ipswich, amid the greetings of a large assembly of citizens. He was ad- dressed by Nathaniel Lord, esq., and after partaking of a collation provided at Treadwell's Hotel, he proceeded towards Newburyport at 9 o'clock, at- tended by his suite, Maj. General Stick- ney and his Aid, and the committee of arrangements. The houses along the road in Oldtown, as well as in New- buryport, were illuminated. At the Lower Green the residence of Mr. San- uel Newman was conspicuons for the beauty and good taste regarding the lights. The hero's approach was an- nounced by the ringing of bells, the roaring of cannons, and the display of rockets.
Unfortunately a drenching southerly rain set in the first of the evening, which marred everything. Notwith- standing the water poured down like a second flood, an immense crowd re- ceived the General. Upon arriving at
the Prince house he was addressed by Hon. Ebenezer Moseley as follows :
"Gen. LaFayette,-The citizens of Newburyport. are happy in this oppor- tunity of greeting with the warmest welcome, a distinguished benefactor of their country.
The important services you rendered this people in the day of their distress, the devotedness which you manifested in their perilous cause, and the dangers which you sought for their relief, are incorporated in our history and firmly engraven on our hearts.
We would lead you to our institu- tions of learning, charity and religion ; we would point you to our hills and val- ley's, covered with flocks and smiling in abundance, that you may behold the happy effects of those principles of lib- erty which you were so instrumental in establishing. Our children cluster about you to receive a patriot's blessing. Our citizens press forward to show their gratitude. Our nation pays you a trib- ute which must remove the reproach that republics are ungrateful.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.