USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Reminiscences of a nonagenarian > Part 42
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Enoch Boynton, born in 1773, died in 1859 ; his wife, Alice Adams, died in 1811.
Enoch T. Boynton, born in 1804, died in 1826.
Adding Boynton born May 27, 1806. The Boynton Place on the old Newbury Turnpike was for years a noted tavern ; many can remember the sign of the golden ball. Afterwards Enoch Boyn- ton rendered it famous by his attempt at raising silk worms. He has now de- parted this life, and the inheritance of so many generations has passed from the family.
The descendants of John and Wil- liam Boynton are numerous and widely scattered, but wherever located they show the characteristics of the race from which they sprang, energy, courage, and self-reliance.
The Boynton Arms are :
TEMPO
PASSA
BY THENAME OF
BOYNTON
OR, BAR WAYS, GULES THREE CHESCENTS PROPER. CREST, A. LION RAMPANT.
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CHAPTER LXIV.
The fiftieth anniversary of American Independence was celebrated in New- buryport with unprecedented honors. The day, which proved. unusually fine, was ushered in by the ringing of bells, and a salute of twenty-four guns by the Newburyport Artillery. This was re- peated at sunset. At 9 o'clock the mil- itary companies formed under command of Major Ebenezer Bradbury, officer of the day. At ten o'clock a procession was formed on the mall under the di- rection of the following marshals :
For the military procession, Maj. Ca- leb Cushing, Capt. Henry Merrill, Adj. Charles Kimball.
For the civil procession, Maj. David Emery, Messrs. William Hervey, Jacob W. Pierce, Moses Kent, John Greely, Samuel W. Thompson, Thomas Foster.
The escort consisted of the Ipswich and Bradford Light Corps, the Ames- bury Artillery, the Newbury Cavalry, and the Newburyport Artillery and Light Infantry. These two companies, handsomely uniformed, the Artillery caps decorated by long waving black plumes, and the Light Infantry by white, produced a brilliant and impos- ing effect.
Music. .
Major General Benjamin Stickney, Brigadier General Solomon Low and numerous officers of the Second Brigade in full uniform.
The officiating clergyman, the Rev. Dr. Andrews.
The orator, Hon. John Merrill.
The reader, George Cross, esq.
The president of the day, Maj. Josh- ua Greenleaf.
The vice presidents, Samuel March, esq., Col. Daniel Adams, Capt. Greene
Sanborn, Stephen W. Marston, esq., and Dr. Richard S. Spofford.
The Committee of Arrangements.
Officers and members of the Franklin Debating Society, Municipal Authori- ties, Clergy of the town and vicinity. Next marched sixty revolutionary offi- cers and soldiers, marshalled by Daniel Foster, esq., one of LaFayette's Life Guard, displaying the cap, plume and sword which he had worn while in ser- vice. Many wore the continental equip- ments ; all a badge of blue ribbon im- printed with the magic figures '76. In the midst, borne by one of their num- ber, was a tattered flag of the Revolu- tion, which was unfurled at Bunker Hill, and there received the shots that rent it. This detachment was followed by four of the more infirm of their number in an open barouche, drawn by a span of superb white horses, among whom was that noble veteran, the aged Col. Edward Wigglesworth. Next came the National and State officers ; the New- buryport Encampment of Knights Tem- plars ; King Cyrus' Chapter ; St. John's, St. Peter's, St. Mark's Lodges in full regalia, bearing banners and badges ; the Newburyport Marine. Society ; Mer- rimac Humane Society ; the several Fire Societies ; Engine and Fire Com- panies, each bearing appropriate ban- ners. The truckmen in white frocks made a fine show ; these were succeed- ed by a long line of citizens, the pro- cession being closed by the children of the several schools in uniform, wearing badges with appropriate mottoes, under the care of their instructors.
The procession moved through High, Federal, Middle, the Market square, Green and Pleasant streets, to the Pleasant street church, which had been handsomely decorated by the ladies, the
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front gallery and side wall pews being reserved for them.
The orchestra, led by Mr. Thomas B. White, was composed of members of the different choirs of the town.
The exercises in the church com- menced by a Voluntary on the organ by Edward L. White. The following an- them from the Oratorio of Joshua, was performed in fine style :
RECITATIVE.
"Thou, whose shining throne eternal stands Above the heavens, who holdest in Thy hand The fate of worlds; and in Thy royal robes Adorned with suns and stars, dost fold the globe;
Thou art our Sovereign, and alone to Thee, God over all ! Columbia bends the knee ! For this to-day, receive, O King of kings, The grateful tribute which a nation brings."
Chorus,
"From every heart let holy incense rise ! With Hallelujahs, fill the vaulted skies ! Ye herald angels, sound our song again, While we, on earth, repeat a long Amen!"'
The prayer which followed, by Rev. Dr. Andrews, is spoken of in the New- buryport Herald's report as "peculiarly beautiful and appropriate, commanding attention and admiration for its clear- ness of method, felicity of allusion, and clearness of diction. That his impas- sioned eulogy upon our sainted forefath- ers, and his nervous delineation of the trials and sufferings of the heroic men who toiled and bled for our sakes, were not lost upon his auditors, was evinced by their fixed attention, and we could perceive more than one tear swell up from the heart of the veteran and steal down his careworn cheek."
After the prayer, the following hymn, by Hannah F. Gould, set to music by T. B. White, was executed with great effect :
"Who when darkness gathered o'er us, Foes and death on every side, Clothed in glory, walked before us, Leading on, like Israel's guide ?
'Twas Jehovah ! He appearing Show'd his banner far and wide.
When the trump of war was sounding, 'Twas the Lord who took the field ! He, His people then surrounding, Made the strong in battle yield ; To our fathers, few in numbers, He was armor, strength and shield.
In the God of armies trusting, 'Mid their weakness, void of fear, Soon they felt their bands were bursting, Saw the dawning light appear; Clouds dissolving in the sunbeams, Showed the band of freedom near.
Hark! we hear to Heaven ascending From the voices of the free, Hallelujahs sweetly blending With the song of liberty. Power Almighty ! we the vict'ry Ever will ascribe to Thee.
Lo the dove the olive bearing, Plants it on Columbia's shore ! Every breast its branch is wearing, Where the buckler shone before ! Praise the Eternal! he is reigning! Praise Him, praise Him evermore !"
The Declaration of Independence was read by Robert Cross, esq., the Herald report says, "with much taste, skill, and judgment, and we considered it judi- cious in him at that peculiar juncture, to add the names of the signers of the Declaration."
The following Original Ode was sung to the air of "Scots wha hae."
"SPIRIT OF '76.
See the war cloud wildly driven, By the pealing thunder riven, Shrouding earth and rending heaven, Arm for liberty !
Let no haughty tyrants vaunt, Hearts of steel ! your courage daunt, Be his portion woe and want, Who would faint or flee;
Think your fathers spurned the chain, Dared the rough and stormy main, Not for glory, not for gain, But for rights you have ;
Think your fathers came not here, Rais'd the prayer and dropped the tear, Perils met, unblanched by fear For a coward slave;
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Look around you, see their graves ! See above, your banner waves ! Hark I the voice of battle raves, Up, and you are free !
By the name drawn from your sires, By your homes and altar's fires,
By your hopes and fears, desires, Strike for liberty !"
The oration by the Hon. John Mer- rill, the Herald continues, "was spirit- ed and patriotic, imbued with genuine republican feeling, evincing correct sen- timent, and adorned with laudable pre- cepts."
This was succeeded by an Ode, writ- ten by a lady. Air-"The Pillar of Glory."
"Bring brightest laurels and let them be braided,
Weave oak and olive !- and ne'er be it told,
A leaf in the crown of our nation was faded, Or lost, when we saw her full fifty years old ! Still round thy forehead seen, Fresh be the evergreen !
Pride of the waters and Queen of the earth ! Loud all thy tribes shall sing, Rock, hill and forest ring,
Echoing, Hail! to the day of thy birth !
Our colors adorn all the waves of the ocean, Our eagle explores every region of air !
Long as the pinions of Time keep in motion, May they ride in freedom, and valiantly there !
Penned on the brightest page, Down to the latest age,
The deeds of our sires shall as sunlight de- scend,
May every bosom feel Fired by a noble zeal,
The prize they obtained to enjoy and defend.
Ye who remaining with locks thin and hoary, Your toils in the field to your sons still re- count,
Proudly ye stand 'mid the heroes of story, As towers o'er the hills our own snow- crested mount ;
Loud when the cannon roar'd Warm when the blood was pour'd,
With flocks bounding, thick as the foes fall- ing then;
See the green valley teem, Far where the silver stream
Shines like your swords, spread at rest thro' the glen.
Spirit of him who at Vernon is sleeping,
Bend in thy glory, and smile at our mirth ! See the glad inillions, the jubilee keeping. -
Which thou dids't procure by thy valor on earth ;
Still hallowed be the day, When we have passed away, And years over years, shall like floods, roll along!
Then may posterity Still be inspired by thee- 'Freedom and Washington' ever the song !"
The services were closed by the ben- ediction by Rev. Dr. Andrews.
The dinner, furnished by Messrs. Ty- ler & Cook, was served in Market Hall, which was finely decorated. "In the interstices between the windows, ever- greens had been interwoven so as to give the hall the appearance of a com- plete shrubbery, in which were birds confined in cages, who saluted the guests with their enlivening notes ; and overhead was spread tent cloths, to im- part a military air to the festival. At the farthest extremity of the hall, over the President's table, was extended an arch with this inscription : "July 4th, 1776," supported by pillars inscribed with the names of Washington, War- ren, Ward, Stark, Varnum, and on the other Putnam, Prescott, Brooks, Green, LaFayette.
The president of the day, Maj. Josh- ua Greenleaf, presided, assisted by the vice presidents at the citizens' tables ; at the military, Major-General Stick- ney and Brigadier-General Low did the honors, assisted by Major Ebenezer Bradbury, Capt. Daniel E. Stickney, Capt. Enoch Pierce and Capt. Dunnels.
The tables were handsomely laid, and the dinner was excellent. Due justice having been done the viands, the "feast of reason and the flow of soul" com- menced. Thirteen regular toasts hav- ing been drank, the president rose and volunteered this sentiment-"This na- tional jubilee-A grateful country will embalm the memory of the patriots and heroes, whose blood and treasure se- cured to us the blessings we now enjoy."
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OF A NONAGENARIAN.
By Col. Daniel Adams, vice presi- dent, "Union, liberty, and independ- ence. May they be sacred in the breast, and defended by the best blood of every American."
By Dr. R. S. Spofford, vice presi- dent, "The sublime principles of Free Masonry. An object of terror to the tyrants of Europe, but in America, a strong pillar in the temple of liberty."
By Capt. Green Sanborn, vice pres- ident, "Our free country .- May slavery, the foul blot, be soon erased from its escutcheon."
By S. W. Marston, esq., "Rufus King, Theophilus Parsons, John Quin- cy Adams, Charles Jackson and Jacob Perkins, our fellow citizens, at all times the glory and honor of their country."
By Gen. Stickney, "State of Massa- chusetts, abounding in natural and po- litical advantages-possessing a sound head and vigorous constitution."
By Hon. John Merrill, orator of the day, "The United States-their citizens are distinguished for enterprise and in- telligence. Although like Themistocles they may not be players on the lute, yet, like him, they know how to make a great city of a small one."
By Samuel March, esq., "The rev- erend clergy-may they be to the pco- ple of their charge-going before them, -a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, teaching them the way in which they should go.",
By Gen. S. Low, "The fiftieth anni- versary of American Independence-we hail it as a pledge of a national feeling which still breathes the spirit of '76 into the vitals of the true sons of America."
By Maj. David Emery, "The Fath- ers and children of 1776-may the rich blessings they enjoy be multiplied to the Fathers and children of 1876."
By Hon. C. Cushing, "The present generation-my best wish for them is, that they may but prove wise and brave as their fathers, pure and lovely as their mothers, and the proud inheritors of the free soil, and the free souls, which are the boast of America."
Daniel Foster, esq., rose and spoke as follows : "Fellow Soldiers of the Rev- olution,-Allow me for a moment to ex- press to you my feelings on this joyful occasion. We remain among the few survivors of the revolutionary army- that army which achieved the independ- ence we are now assembled to celebrate. We enlisted in the good cause in a day of darkness, when our beloved country was assailed by most powerful foes, when her prospects were gloomy and discouraging. By the favor of Divine Providence, we were safely conducted through that long agony of suffering and blood. By His goodness we have been continued through half a century to sce this glorious day. We then only dared to.hope for the common blessings of peace and national independence. But our most sanguine expectations have been more than realized ; our thirteen colonies have become a powerful em- pire, enjoying civil liberty and social order, and advancing at an astonishing rate in the career of improvement and national greatness. Let us hope that we leave these invaluable privileges in good hands, and that our children and children's children, by adhering to the principles of our immortal Washington, will transmit them unimpaired to the latest generations." Mr. Foster con- cluded with the following : "Our Sons -may they ever stand fast to the in- tegrity of our national Union, and rely- ing on Heaven, be always ready to de-
42
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fend with their blood the high privileges bequeathed to them."
By Robert Cross, esq., "Those soci- eties and benevolent individuals in all countries, who are endeavoring to dis- seminate the principles of peace-their object may be impracticable ; it is at least a noble one, and worthy of a fair experiment. Success to their cause ; and at the next jubilee, may posterity have occasion to commemorate the uni- versal abolition of war." "The above toast was received with great enthusi- asm by the whole company, and what is worthy of remark, more particularly by our military brethren."
By Maj. Ebenezer Bradbury, "The march of mind-no retrograding, no countermarching or obliquity. Direct to the front !"
By William S. Allen, "Our yeoman- ry ; stout hearts and strong hands-
'A country's pride,
When once it's lost can never be supplied.'"
By Tristram Coffin 3d, "The brave Greeks, who are struggling for liberty. May they convince the Turks, by the most convincing of all arguments-their swords-that they will be free."
By John Adams, esq., of Andover, "May custom and prejudice yield to the voice of improvement, and may wise innovations meet the approbation of sage experience."
By Capt. Richard Lovering, "The officers and soldiers of the Revolution. We carry the badges of '76, we hope we have the principles in our breasts."
Mr. Short, "The tree of liberty, wa- tered by the blood of the Revolution- may our children suffer no canker worms to injure its sacred leaves."
By Mr. Nathaniel Ladd, "May the surviving officers and soldiers of the revolutionary army ever hold in grate-
ful remembrance the hospitality of the citizens of Newburyport, towards us who fought and bled to gain the inde- pendence which we are assembled this day to celebrate."
By Mr. Nathan Follansbee, "The rev- olutionary heroes of '76-while we hon- or them as the fathers of our country, let us not forget the noble spirit of our mothers and grandmothers, who urged them on to victory."
This last toast elicited rounds of ap- plause.
The following revolutionary officers and soldiers were at the dinner: Elias Pike, Gideon Woodwell, Daniel Flan- ders, Stephen Toppan, William Hunt- ington, Amos Carlton, Amos Norton, Joseph Pike, Richard Short, Samuel Follausbee, Jonathan Lambert, Benja- min Poor, Timothy Curtis, Oliver Goodrich, Timothy Gordon, Nathaniel Pearsou, David Pearson, Timothy Poor, Caleb Kimball, Samuel Balch, Benja- min Davis, Aaron Rogers, Joseph Floyd, Nathaniel Howard, Moses Short, Joseph Stanwood, Elias Cook, John Pafferd, John Bootman, David Dole, Moses Somerby, Joshua Pettengel, Far- num Howe, Jacob Fowler, Samuel Ea- ton, Moses Pike, Jacob Currier, Na- thaniel Ladd, Ezekiel Merrill, Daniel Adams, Nathaniel Beck, Jacob Brown, Joseph Mootrey, Jacob Hodgkins, Thomas Stanwood.
It will be recollected that both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died with- in a few hours of each other on this fif- tieth anniversary. This singular occur- rence created a great sensation through- out the country, and suitable funeral ceremonies were held in most of the cities and towns of the Union to express the national bereavement. On the 14th of July a funeral oration was delivered in
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the Pleasant street church by Hon. Ca- leb Cushing. The church bells were tolled from four to five o'clock in the afternoon, the public buildings were draped in mourning, the flags were at half mast. At four o'clock a proces- sion of citizens- formed on the mall, which marched through Green and Pleas- ant streets to the church. At five o'clock the services commenced by a Voluntary on the organ. A hymn was sung by the choir, and a prayer offered by Rev. Dr. Andrews, after which the following Ode, by Caleb Cushing, was sung :
.
.
"Forget not the valiant Who have honored our story, The high and the gallant, Whose deeds are our glory ; They are gone, but they leave us The meed of their merit, Nor can ages bereave us Of the fame we inherit. Then forget not the valiant Who have honored our story
The high and the gallant, Whose deeds are our glory.
The soil that descended To our fathers in honor, They nobly defended From shame and dishonor ; And when to the slaughter Our heroes were given, The blood of each martyr Rose like incense to heaven.
Then forget not the valiant Who have honored our story, The high and the gallant, Whose deeds are our glory.'
The eulogy having been pronounced, the exercises closed with the "Dirge of Adams and Jefferson." Tune "Judg- ment Hymn."
"The portals of the grave unfold- In dust Columbia's weeping ! Shrouded in death's dark pall, behold The patriot Fathers sleeping ! While to their God their souls have risen, Still round each cold. deserted prison, Sorrow her watch is keeping.
Those names, whose beams effulgent met, Our freedom's charter lighting, Within the Book of Life are set, In glory there uniting !
While thousands here the patriarchs blest, .
Their title to immortal rest, The Lamb above was writing.
'Twas on a great, a hallow'd day, The mortal conflict ending, The sister spirits dropped their clay- To Heaven, their home, ascending; They rose, from care and suffering free, Above the grave, with victory, And angel hosts attending!
When twoscore years and ten were gone, Since glad our nation started From Slav'ry's night, to hail the dawn, Whence Freedom's rays first darted, They saw the rising sun appear; But, ere the evening clouds drew near, The hoary saints departed. .
Sages, your name, your virtues still, Though from your dust we sever, With sacred joy each heart shall fill, Your mem'ry perish never ! The earth one mantle still retains ! Tho' gone the Sire, the Son remains ! Farewell, great Shades, forever."
CHAPTER LXV.
In 1825 a factory for weaving hose was established in a building on Brown's square.
In 1827 a school for instruction in working lace was opened, and for a time, of an afternoon, scarcely a young girl could be seen without a lace hoop or frame in her hand. Very elegant veils wrought in frames supported by a stand, were worked. For a period this lace business continued quite remuner- ative.
This year the Newburyport bridge was built; an elegant structure sus- pended from arches by chains, similar to the open- part of the Essex Merrimac bridge. This gave place to the less graceful railroad bridge in 1840.
In January, 1824, my Aunt O'Brian's adopted daughter, Eliza Bartlett, was married in Reading, Penn., with Mr. John Heiner Weitzel. The next sum-
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mer the young couple visited New Eng- land. Mr. Weitzel kept a general fur- nishing store in Reading, and he pur- chased six pairs of brogans for his store of Uncle Joe Little ; these gave such satisfaction to the Dutchmen, his cus- tomers, that an order was forwarded for twenty-five pairs ; this was succeeded by another for fifty, then a hundred, and so on. Thus commenced the Southern shoe trade of Georgetown.
On October 20th, 1826, my Aunt Pea- body died in Washington, D. C., and the following 25th of February, 1827, Gen. John Peabody followed her to the spiritual world. They had been lovely in their lives, and not long divided by death ..
Capt. O'Brian having died in 1825, his widow returned to New England. As her mother was a confirmed invalid she remained with her. In the autumn of 1826 Mrs. O'Brian was seized with paralysis of the brain, from which she died in January, 1827. Grandmother Little lingered about two years longer, when the spirit was released from the decrepit body, by which it had so long been enthralled.
In the summer of 1829 I paid my first visit to Boston. . My brother Joseph re- sided on Eaton street. Opposite was one of the old colonial mansions, sur- rounded by a spacious garden. I was entertained by the attractions of the city. Amongst the most prominent were the New England Museum, and the Athenæum on Pearl street. On a visit some two years later, I first saw the model of a railroad, with miniature locomotive and cars, which was exhib- ited in the ball over the Quincy market.
In the spring of 1831, the Rev. James Miltimore having become too infirm to officiate in the pastoral office, we took
a pew in the Pleasant street church. Dr. Andrews resigned soon after, and the Rev. Thomas B. Fox was ordained the 3d of August.
The advent of this young man brought a new era to the Pleasant street society, and to the town. The spacious house of worship became crowded. For bet- ter accommodation two lines of slips took the place of the ancient square pews in the front galleries. The beau- tiful glass chandelier was taken down to give room for one of bronze and gilt, with five burners for sperm oil. Simi- lar single lamps were suspended throughout the edifice, and the pulpit was lighted by a drop lamp over the desk, with Argand burners on either side. The old-fashioned organ was re- placed by the present fine instrument. A flourishing Sunday school was estab- lished numbering over a hundred pupils, under the instruction of a band of young men and maidens which the youthful pastor had gathered around him, and into whom he had infused his own eager enthusiasm for truth, pro- gress and reform.
In October the clergyman was united in marriage with Miss Fereline Pierce, a daughter of the venerable Dr. Pierce of Brookline. This gave a season of gaiety to the parish, the Sunday school children being invited on the Saturday afternoon after the lady's arrival in Newburyport, to visit their pastor's res- idence, to kiss the bride, and receive a piece of bride-cake, an event which I am certain they have never forgotten. On the afternoon of the Communion Sabbath a service especially for chil- dren was instituted ; they occupied the singing gallery forming the choir, and the front tiers of pews next the pulpit ; their pastor standing upon the raised
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platform beneath it, using the commun- ion table for a desk. There he preached from month to month a series of dis- courses familiarly termed "Little Ser- mons," which attracted many children outside of his parish, and which all who had the privilege of hearing must re- member-words which have oft recurred in memory to warn and cheer through life's checkered scenes. Small hymn books were provided especially for the Sunday school ; afterwards a liturgy for its use was introduced. The library re- ceived a large addition of instructive and valuable books. A society library · was also formed, containing much choice reading. A course of "Expository Lec- tures" was held on the Wednesday even- ings of each week, with an evening lec- ture on the first Sunday in the month- Communion Sunday. A great interest was aroused ; many children were pre- sented for baptism, and many persons united with the church. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Toppan and myself were in- cluded in the number, and Mr. Toppan was chosen to the office of deacon.
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