Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 96

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America. > Part 96

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The inhabitants of the town were now prosecuting their business with industry and energy, and were gradually recovering some of their old-time prosperity, when an event occurred which the popular lines of an unknown local rhymester and the genius of Whittier have done more to perpetuate than its importance as a local incident justified. It is possible that the daughters of Marblehead at that time may have been wanting in some degree the grace and refinement of their sisters in more favored communities, but they were not so rude and coarse as to forget the proprieties of womanhood, and become the leaders of a noisy and lawless mob.

Benjamin Ireson was the young skipper of a fishing vessel on her homeward passage late in the fall with a cargo of fish. He had left the Grand Banks of Newfoundland with "a strong easterly breeze," and on the evening of the fourth day, about nine o'clock, the watch announced that the vessel had passed a wreck, from which cries for help were heard. The course of the vessel was changed to the direc- tion where the wreck was supposed to be, but, no further discovery being made, the skipper resolved to remain as near that locality as possible till morning. With the morning light, the low sandy shores of Cape Cod were discovered in the distance, and far in towards the shore the wreck was seen. A consultation was held, and while one of the crew urged that every risk should be taken when human life was in peril, others said " that their own lives were precious to them, and they did not eare to die with a mouthfull of Cape Cod sand." It was still blowing "a stiff breeze," and the skipper, too easily influenced by the majority of his crew, and sharing with then probably the fear and dread of the Cape Cod shore, shaped his course for his port of destination, and anchored in Marblehead harbor the following day. Soon after his arrival, some of the crew told the story of the wreek, and, doubtless terrified at the fierce indignation which it provoked, charged the skipper as entirely responsible for the cowardice and inhumanity shown in the desertion of the ship-wrecked

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mariners. As the story was repeated, the indignation of the fisher- men increased, and finally it was resolved that he should be punished as a former generation of their townsmen had disciplined four culprits who had been guilty of a crime not recorded in the written laws of the land. Ireson, as was the custom at that time, went to the "old town landing," near the foot of State Street, where the fishermen, in large numbers, were wont to gather after the evening meal, and relate the stories of their ocean voyages. Without a word or note of warning, in accordance with a plan previously considered and adopted, he was suddenly seized, and the larger part of his elothing being removed, the coat of tar and feathers was applied, and, placing their vietim in a dory, with one of their number to hold him there, the indignant crowd, with noisy shouts, dragged the strange vehicle through the public streets. and over the road to Salem and back again, and then dis- persed without any further demonstration. Not a woman was engaged in this rash and terrible act of vengeance. It was the lawless deed of a mob of men, moved to indignation by the misrepresentations of noisy babblers, disgracing a community, as hundreds of others have been, by similar disreputable scenes. Yet there is some exeuse for the in- diguation of the men. They were fishermen, and during the greater part of the year were exposed to perils which might place them in the same terrible strait of the shipwrecked mariners seen by Ireson and his erew, and the base cowardice which shrunk from the performance of a manly duty in such an hour was a crime to them more terrible than many the law punished with the service of the publie hangman. The sober judgment of later years condemned the rash act of the hasty mob ; but the manhood of Ireson was blighted, and although he lived in the very community where the outrage was perpetrated for more than fifty years after, yet he moved among his fellow-men a silent, spiritless, dejected man, earning his daily bread for many years as a dory fisherman, catching his fish in the early morning hours, and later in the day pushing his wheelbarrow from door to door along the public streets soliciting patronage.

The confidenee of the town in the wisdom and political sagacity of Elbridge Gerry had never abated, and when, in the organization of political parties in the country, that distinguished mau became the leader in his native state of the Jeffersonian or Democratic party, the citizens almost unanimously followed the political fortunes of their able townsman. At the election in 1808, Sullivan for governor re- ceived 733 votes, and Gore 57.

In the conflict raging in Europe between Napoleon and his adver- saries, the commerce of the United States had been profitably em- ployed as that of a neutral power, but the " Berlin decree " by one party, and "orders in council" by the other, coupled with the claim of " right of search " by Great Britain, and the impressment of Amer- ican seamen, provoked the American Congress to pass an " Embargo Act," which forbade American vessels from leaving the ports of the United States. This Act excited great indignation in nearly all the commercial towns of Massachusetts ; but in Marblehead, although the product of her fisheries was the only form of merchandise suitable for profitable export, and perishable in a short time if retained, yet the citizens resolutely stood by the measure as a patriotic act ; and voted " to borrow $2,000 on the credit of the town for the benefit of those who were distressed by the operations of the Embargo Act." Merchants in the place at this time owned a fleet of eighty-seven fishing vessels, averaging about eighty tons cach.

The next year a series of bold and patriotic resolutions were passed expressing confidence in the administration, for its fidelity to the Union and Constitution ; denouncing the men who from tactious and mer- cenary motives could see no wrong in the outrages perpetrated by the British government ; commending by name the statesmen, scholars, and merchants whose love of country was superior to their love of party ; and finally declaring " that the inheritance transmitted to us by the sages and patriots of the Revolution shall be maintained, and that our resolution is to die freemen, and never live slaves."

The subject of public education had not been neglected during these years of political controversy. For ten years previous to 1810, an annual appropriation of $2,200 had been made for this purpose out of an appropriation of $7,400 for general town expenses.

The almshouse that had been erected on Back Street many years before, was finally destroyed by fire, and it was voted "to purchase the farm of Mr. Aaron Waitt, near the entrance of the town, and con- taining about 15 acres. for a sum not exceeding $3,200, and to build upon the same a Brick Alms House and House of Correction three stories high, and to borrow a sum not exceeding $7,000 for this pur- pose." During that year the house was built.

After the Revolutionary conflict, the town had been divided into

two wards, and an artillery company had been organized in each. These companies were not uniformed, but usually paraded with the two brass cannon which belonged to each company, and with swords or sabres of various odd designs and shapes. A few young men finally resolved to organize an infantry company of uniformed militia, the members of which should acquire a fair degree of proficiency in the manual of arms and military evolutions by frequent drills. With this purpose, the Marblehead Light Infantry was organized, and made its first appearance in a new and tasty uniform.

War was finally declared against Great Britain, and the town, as- sembled in publie meeting, voted, " that we view the late solemn aet deelaring war against Great Britain as the last resort of a much in- jured people, fully persuaded that its justice and necessity will be ac- knowledged by all who candidly pass in review the atrocities of our Enemy ; and nothing short of base submission could have prolonged peace : that whatever sacrifices may result we pledge ourselves to support the Government, our Laws and Liberties through the present arduous conflict. We also pledge ourselves to support and proteet the Union of the States as the Ark of our political safety, and we view all those who dare intimate a wish for the separation of the Union as the worst enemies of our peace, prosperity and happiness : that the love of our country ought to be paramount to every other considera- tion, and the time has now arrived when all distinction of party must cense, and the language of Seripture, 'They who are not for us are against us,' will be verified, and public execration will infallibly at- tach to those who oppose the government, violate the laws or betray our liberties : that we consider those who entertain inimical attachment and sympathy for our Enemy, as unworthy to breathe the air or tread the soil of our beloved country, and the only nominal distinction that we will recognize shall be Americans and Tories."

The Federal government had authorized a draft, and the town voted to grant ten dollars per month in addition to the government pay, to those who should be drafted from Marblehead. Active measures were taken for the defence of the town; the citizens exempt from military service by law were organized into companies, and "breast- works " ordered to be erected "on Twisden's Hill, Goodwin's Head, Hewitt's Head, and on the neck, south-east of Coombs's House." The selectmen were instructed "to petition the Secretary of War for a sup- ply of cartridge-boxes, bayonets, belts, scabbards, and flints to ac- company the three hundred stand of arms sent for the use of the town," and to petition the governor for "a sufficient quantity of amu- nition for the artillery in town as a deposit for immediate exigency." The selectmen, with four prominent citizens, were appointed as a " Committee of Safety " to take all proper measures for the protection of the town and its inhabitants, and every adult male person was requested "to furnish himself with arms and accoutrements." The men belonging to the town were mostly seamen, engaged in eommer- cial pursuits or the fisheries, and, being driven by the war from their usual calling, readily enlisted in the navy of their country, or manued the numerous privateers engaged in depredations on the com- merce of the enemy. The frigate " Constitution," so renowned in the naval annals of the country, was said to be largely manned by Mar- blehead seamen. When the conflict closed, more than five hundred Marblehead sailors were released from Dartmoor prison in England. The limits of this work will not permit the record of distinguished service by sons of Marblehead during this second war with Great Britain, but it is proper to state that no town on the New England coast sustained the principles involved in the contest with more zeal or determination, or rejoiced more heartily when the news was con- firmed that " Free Trade and Sailors' Rights" had been triumphantly vindicated. During the war, however, the town lost one of her most distinguished sons, and the country, a patriot, sage, and statesman, in the death of Elbridge Gerry. Born in Marblehead, July 17, 1744, he graduated at Harvard College in 1762, and soon after entered his father's counting-room to prepare for that mercantile career which in a few years marked him as one of the most enterprising merchants in the town. When the " Stamp Act" became a law, he was only twenty-one years of age, but soon after this was recognized as a leader by his fellow townsmen, and was made a member of the most inipor- tant committees appointed by the town to express the indignation and hostility of its inhabitants against the Revenue Acts of Great Britain. Elected as a member of the General Court in 1772, his great abilities were promptly recognized by the members of that body, and he be- came the intimate associate of Samuel Adams, Hancock, and Warren. He was elected as committeeman on the most vital questions brought be- fore the Legislature for its adjudication, and was appointed judge of the Court of Admiralty, but declined the office. Elected a delegate

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to the Continental Congress in January, 1776, he was chosen to fill the most responsible offices in the several congressional committees, and signed the Declaration of Independence adopted by that body on the 4th of July of that year. He was made chairman of the com- mittee of the treasury, till the organization of the treasury board in 1780, of which he became presiding officer. He retired from Con- gress in that year, but became a member again in 1783, and was elected a delegate to the convention which met in Philadelphia in 1787, to revise the articles of confederation. After the adoption of the Federal Constitution he served four successive years in Congress, but in 1795 retired to private life, and changed his residence to Cambridge, Mass. He was appointed as a special commissioner to France in 1797, and on his return the next year was unsuccessfully supported by the Democratic party as its candidate for governor of the State. He was again nominated and defcated in 1801, but after a bitter canvass, in 1810. he was elected governor, and the next year was re-elected to the same high position. In 1812 he was elected Vice-President of the United States, and died in the second year of his term. Three or four years of unprofitable business following directly after the losses occa- sioned by the war prevented that generous provision for public educa- tion contemplated by the citizens when peace had been declared. The primary schools had been re-opened and a school had been estab- lished in the "farms" the following ycar, but the appropriations for the schools were insufficient even to pay in full the salaries of the teachers.

The outstanding town notes bearing interest now amounted to $12,- 283.33, and a committee was appointed to advise practical measures of retrenchment. That duty was performed, and it was recommended " to discontinue ringing one of the bells; to receive proposals for regulating and cleaning the clock and giving it to the person who shall offer the lowest; to reduce the salaries of the school masters $100 each, and the expense of fuel to be collected of the scholars ; Assess- ors to be allowed $40 each instead of $50; Keeper of the Poor House to be allowed $120 and 75 cents per day when employed on the roads ; limit the use of ardent spirits in the Poor House to the infirm from old age, invalids, and laborers while at work ; Physician for the poor in and out of the House allowed $60 annually ; and cof- fins for the poor, buried by the town to be made at the House." These recommendations were adopted, except that relating to teach- ers' salaries, which were reduced $50 instead of $100, and that relat- ing to the scholars providing fuel was rejected. The next year the town voted that "the school-masters each have a salary of $450 an- nually."

Town officers were now directed to prepare their annual reports in season for the auditing committee " to consolidate the same and have the report printed for the use of the town."

A hearse for the burial of the dead had been owned for some time by private parties, but it was now resolved to purchase one at the public expense.

The streets had, up to this time, been designated as the "Main Street, Ferry Road, Darling's Lane, Academy Lane, Wharf Lane, New Meeting House Lane," &e., but it was now voted to designate them by the names they are known by at the present day.

Lafayette made his final visit to the country in 1825, and, on visit- ing Marblehead, was received with every mark of respect, love, and gratitude. At this time the second uniformed company of volun- teer militia was organized, and, assuming the name of Lafayette Guards, made its first public parade, as a part of the escort, on this interesting occasion.

The "Overscers' Department " had become a heavy burden on the tax-payers, and the almshouse had been governed with so little regard to the proper restraint of the paupers as to excite public indignation. The institution contained 112 inmates, thirty-six of the number being men ; and the sleeping-chambers were so arranged " as to permit the promiscuous intercourse of the depraved of both sexes," while "a bar- rel of ardent spirits " was distributed monthly among the subjects in the form of regnlar rations. The necessary alterations in the house were promptly made and the use of intoxicating liquors prohibited, except as a medicine, under the direction of a physician.

Gen. Jackson, while president of the United States, visited New England, and came to Marblehead, on the invitation of the citizens, where he was welcomed with every mark of respect and confidence.

An appropriation had been made by Congress to build a light-house at some point near the entrance of Marblehead harbor, and, at a town- meeting, a vote was passed demanding that the structure be located on " Point Neck."

Some other point was seriously considered as a better location, and

Mr. Henshaw, the collector of Boston at that time, appears to have exercised the controlling influence in the matter ; he was notified, by the unanimous vote of the town, that its wishes in regard to location must be observed, or an appeal to the secretary of the treasury would be made. The location selected and urged by the town was finally accepted by the authorities and the light-house erected on the " Point Neck."

It has already been mentioned that the town voted to purchase a fire-engine, about the middle of the previous century, and that a pub- lic-spirited citizen had presented one to the town before any purchase had been made. This first engine was a small machine, for which a crew of six men was at first considered sufficient, and, in fact, but very few more could stand at the brakes and play. It was named the " Friend," and was sheltered in a small house near the court leading to " Goodwin's Head." The engine purchased by the town in London, at that time, was probably the one named the "Endeavour," and located, in later years, near "Newtown bridge," on the corner of School and Washington streets. The next machine purchased, in 1798, was the " Union," which for many years was located at the foot of Washington Street, at its junction with Orne Street. The records fail to give us the exact time when the " Liberty " was purchased, but tradition fixes it about the year 1808. It was about that time that two engines were purchased by private parties,-one being placed on High Street, in the rear of the " Stone Church," which was called the "Torrent," and the other, called the " Relief," was located in the place now occupied by the " Mugford." These engines were only provided with force-pumps ; the plan of operations being, when a fire occurred, to run the machine to a well or pump, fill the tub with water, run it to the fire, "play it out," then back again to refill, and repeat the same operation. Each of the machines were furnished with leather buckets.

It was now resolved " to thoroughly re-organize the Fire Depart- ment," and an appropriation of $3,500 was made to build two honses, and to purchase two new engines, and also repair the " Liber- ty " in accordance with recent improvements, and provide suitable accommodations for the last-named engine. In accordance with this vote, the " Marblehead " and " Essex," two new suction-engines, with a supply of hose, were purchased, and new houses, on " Franklin " and " Bassett" streets, were built for their accommodation. The " Liberty " was also reconstructed and changed to a suction-engine. Not long after this the proprietors of the " Torrent " and " Relief " presented those engines to the town, and they were placed in the fire department and did good service for some years.

The determination to improve the school system of the town was made manifest, from year to year, till the appropriations finally reached $3,500, divided as follows : $450 for each of the three male grammar schools ; $600 for the high school for males; $400 for the high school for females ; $150 for cach of the six primary schools ; $200 for the farm-school, and $50 for contingent expenses. The whole appropriation that year for town expenses was $10,000, which included the appropriation for public schools. The high schools for males and females had been established in 1835, being two separate schools, and the building formerly owned and occupied by the "Philan- thropic Lodge of Masons," at the head of Mason Street, had been rented for their accommodation. In 1836 the town offered $1,600 for this building, but the offer was declined.

A large amount of surplus funds having accumulated in the United States treasury, an Act of Congress provided for its distribution among the several States, with the condition that the money was to be returned if the wants of the general government should require it at any future time.

The State of Massachusetts distributed its proportion of this fund among the different towns, and in due time the town treasurer of Marblehead received about thirteen thousand dollars, the fund being designated as " surplus revenne."

On the recommendation of a committee appointed to report to the town the most useful purpose to which the money could be applied, it was voted to " appropriate the same for the purchase of a large, fer- tile, and convenient town farm, of not less than one hundred acres, and for erecting upon it a convenient and durable building for the poor." A committee of seven citizens was appointed to carry this vote into effect, but this action was not secured without an earnest debate and much opposition. Eleven days after this the town voted to reconsider its previous action, and finally voted " to divide the money among the inhabitants per capita," by a vote of 172 in the affirmative and 144 in the negative. John Hooper had been elected town treasurer at the annual March meeting, but declined to serve

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

when the town voted to purchase a farm, and Frederick Robinson had been elected to fill the vacaney. As one of the results of this action of the town, anthorizing a division of the fund among the inhabitants, Mr. Robinson declined to serve as treasurer, and Mr. Hooper was re- eleeted. The meeting then adjourned till the afternoon, when the friends of the farm purchase rallied their forces and seenred the re- consideration and defeat of the distribution scheme by eight majority in a vote of 316. A "Building Committee" had been elected pre- viously, aud were now instructed " to sell so much of the town's land as will be necessary to meet the expense of taking down the present poor-honse, removing the materials, and ereeting a new house on the Deveraux farm." Frederick Robinsou and William B. Adams, two members of the " Building Committee," requested to be excused from that service, but the town refused to grant their request. Mr. Hooper again declined serving as town treasurer, and, on the 8th of May, Richard Girdler was chosen ; he deelined, and Andrew Laekey was chosen the following week ; he also declined, and John Nutting was elected, and accepted the office. Four members of the building eom- mittee now declined serving, and, the matter of filling the vacaneies being under consideration, the whole subject was indefinitely post- poned by a majority of forty-one iu a vote of sixty-seven. During the following month it was voted to caneel outstanding town orders with the fund, but against this action Capt. William B. Adams gave notice that he should "enter his protest." This action was confirmed by another vote in January, 1838, but it was found that the committee elected in April, 1837, had been authorized to buy a farm, and their action under that authority had legally committed the town to the purchase of the farm belonging to Humphrey Deveraux, Esq., for $13,000. In view of this faet it was voted to confirm the purchase at that priee, aud a committee was chosen with instructions to sell the farm, providing that a fair price eould be obtained. The farm remained in possession of the town for one or two years, and was finally sold for $11,000; the " surplus revenue" was thus returned to the treasury of the town, with a loss of two thousand dollars, and applied to the legitimate expenses of the town.

In 1839, the selectmen were notified that the last will of Mr. A. S. Courtiss, who had died recently, contained a elausc which bequeathed $5,000 to the town, providing the town should pay three of his heirs annuities amounting to $250 while they lived, from the interest of the legacy, and should apply the balance, if any remained, to the purchase of sehool-books for children of the poor. The town voted to relcase all claims on the estate, on the payment of $500 to the town treasurer.

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Standard history of Essex county, Massachusetts, embracing a history of the county from its first settlement to the present time, with a history and description of its towns and cities. The Most historic county of America., Part 96

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett Number of Pages: 450

Author: Tracy, Cyrus M. (Cyrus Mason), 1824-1891, et al. Edited by H. Wheatland
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Boston, C. F. Jewett
Number of Pages: 450