USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > The Essex memorial, for 1836: embracing a register of the county > Part 7
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It is frequently mentioned in books descriptive of this section of country, that lions had been seen in this region. We can hardly admit the probability of the lion stories, though we might concede that the other " terrible roarers " men- tioned in the following extract from Nevy England's Prospect, (written by William Wood in 1633,) may have occasionally held their revels in the for- est recesses. " Concerning lions," says Wood, " I will not say that I ever saw any myself, but some affirm that they have seen a lion at Cape Ann, which is not above ten leagues from Boston. Some likewise being lost in the woods, have heard such terrible roarings as have made them much aghast ; which must be either devils or lions,
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there being no other creatures which use to roar, saving bears, which have not such a terrible kind of roaring."
The (th of August 1635, is rendered memora- ble by a violent storm, in which a melancholy ship- wreck occurred here. The wind had been blowing hard from the south and southwest for a week be- fore, and about midnight it came up at the north- east, when a tremendous storm set in. The wind blew with such violence as to drive vessels from their anchorage, uproot trees, and overthrow houses. The tide rose twenty feet perpendicularly. During the tempest, a bark of Mr Allerton's was cast away upon the Cape, and twentyone persons drowned ; among them Mr Avery, a minister from Wiltshire with his wife and six small children. None were saved but a Mr Thacher and his wife, who were cast upon the shore of an island, and almost miraculously preserved. The vessel was returning from Ipswich to Marblehead, where Mr Avery designed to settle in the ministry. It struck on a rock and was quickly dashed to pieces. The island where the two were saved was afterward called Thacher's Island ; which name it retains to this day ; and the rock where the vessel struck is still called Avery's Rock.
In the year 1671, a whirlwind passed through the neck that makes one side of the harbor. It was about forty feet in breadth, and passed on with great violence, bearing away whatever came in its path. A great rock which stood in the har- bor came near being overturned.
On the 19th of September, 1671, the bounds between Manchester and Gloucester were settled by Thomas Lathrop and Joseph Gardner.
In February, 1682, the people of Gloucester
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and the adjacent places presented an address to the king against Mason's claim for the territory from the North River of Salem to the Merrimack ; which claim included Gloucester.
On the 6th of April, 1685, the committees of Manchester and Gloucester laid out a county high- way from Manchester meeting-house to Gloucester meeting-house.
On the 27th of February, 1688, at a general town meeting there was given to every householder and man upwards of twentyone years of age, who was a native of the town, and bore charges to town and county, six acres of land. 112 lots were granted ; 62 to persons living on the eastern, and 30 to persons living on the western side of the Cut.
In 1692, that memorable year in the annals of mystery, many wonderful things happened at Glou- cester. The people imagined that they saw armed Frenchmen and Indians running about their houses and fields. They frequently shot at these strange men, when within two or three rods of them, and saw them fall ; but on coming up, they rose and ran away. The " unaccountable trou- blers " sometimes shot at the town's people, who averred that they heard the bullets whiss by their ears ; none of the balls, however, took effect. One man heard a gun go off and the bullet whiss by him ; he turned and found that it had cut off a pine bush just by him, and lodged in a hemlock tree. Looking about he saw four men running towards him with guns on their shoulders. Six other men saw where the bullet had cut off the pine bush and where it lodged in the hemlock ; they cut it out, and shew it to their friends. At another time several men were seen sticking with a stick upon a deserted house, and a noise was
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heard as if men were throwing stones against a barn. The alarm was so great for three weeks that two regiments were raised and a detachment of sixty men from Ipswich under command of Major Appleton, was sent to their succor. The clergyman of the town, Rev. John Emerson, says, " all rational persons will be satisfied that Glou- cester was not alarmed for a fortnight together by real Frenchmen and Indians, but that the devil and his agents were the cause of all that befel the town." Another writer asks, " whether satan did not set ambushments against the good people of Gloucester, with demons in the shape of armed Indians and Frenchmen appearing to a consid- erable number of the inhabitants and mutu- ally firing upon them for the best part of a month together."
In 1704, by the violence of a great storm and tide, the channel or passage for vessels through the Cut was closed up. The town remonstrated to the General Court against the heirs of Mr Blyn- man ; in the paper presented, the passage way is stated to be " of general advantage to the coasting vessels from this place and the ports adjacent on the eastern shore ; it not only shortens the way many leagues and saves a doubling about the Cape, which oft times causes a great loss of time in wait- ing for a fair wind and is much more hazardous for small vessels, especially in the spring and fall of the year."
The first vessel of the kind popularly denomi- nated schooner, is said to have been built at this place by Capt. Andrew Robinson, about the year 1714. The name was derived from the following circumstance : Capt. R. had constructed a vessel which he masted and rigged in the manner that
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schooners at this day are, and on her going off the stocks into the water, a bystander cried out, " O how she scoons !" Robinson instantly replied, " A schooner let her be," and from that time, @this class of vessels has gone by the name of schooner. Pre- viously, vessels of this description, were unknown either in this country or Europe.
In August, 1716, a fishing schooner belonging to this town was cast away, in a violent storm, on the Isle of Sables. Daniel Stanley, master, and all the crew, five in number, perished. On the 14th of October, the same year, as a number of fishing vessels were returning from Cape Sables, some of them within 30 or 40 leagues of Cape Ann, a tremendous storm arose, which lasted all that day and a great part of the night; during its continuance four sloops, with their crews, were lost. The commanders were, Jeremiah Butman, John Davis, Stephen Airs, and James Elwell ; the number of hands was fourteen.
On the 22d of June, 1724, three fishing vessels from this town were taken by the Indians in Fox- harbor, and the following persons made prisoners : James Wallis, Thomas Finson, John Lane, Rich- ard Parr, Joseph Wallis.
In 1739, the great meeting-house at the harbor was built. It was 90 feet long, 65 feet wide, and 30 feet stud, with a steeple about 70 feet above the bell-deck. The first meeting-house at Sandy Bay was built about 1752.
In April, 1770, a very disorderly and riotous transaction took place at Gloucester ; being a high handed and cruel assault and battery upon a citi- zen, one of the king's officers of the customs. Lieut. Governor Hutchinson made it the subject of a message to the House of Representatives, but
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the house returned answer that the real cause of riots arose from oppression, and a rigorous execu- tion of severe and oppressive laws; that the post- ing of a military force among the people without their consent, with the design of subjugating them to arbitrary measures, together with every instance of actual restraint upon the liberty of any individ- ual, was a crime infinitely exceeding what the law intended by a riot. The violence so frequently committed by the soldiery, added to the most rig- orous and oppressive prosecutions carried on by the officers of the crown against the subjects, grounded on unconstitutional acts, and in courts of admiralty uncontrolled by courts of law, often furnished just cause of alarm, and the above dis- orderly transactions probably grew out of some op- pressive measures.
On the 8th of August, 1775, Capt. John Lind- zee, with the sloop of war Falcon, made a wanton attack on the town without order or previous no- tice ; and cannonaded the place from one o'clock till five in the afternoon, directing the weight of his fire toward the meeting-house, which was greatly injured. Neither infancy, the gentler sex, nor decrepid age, were allowed time to withdraw. Capt Joseph Rogers, and his company of minute men, aided by Col. Joseph Foster, the hero of the day, were instantly on the alert, brought a force to bear on the enemy, and caused his entire de- feat. By the spirit, patriotism and fortitude of the people, four of Lindzee's boats, together with forty of his men, a small tender and one prize schooner were captured ; and one schooner which had been chased into the harbor was defended. Two men of the town, named Lurvey and Rowe were killed ; and the British also had two killed.
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GLOUCESTER.
On the 26th of April, 1775, Josiah Quincy, Jr. being on his return from London, died on board of the vessel, then in sight of land. A few hours after his death the ship with his corpse on board, entered the harbor of Gloucester. The disturbed state of the country, and the military force stationed within and about Boston, interrupted communica- tion, and denied his family the consolation of paying the last sad tribute to his remains. The people of Gloucester, however, upon whom devolved the melancholy duty of performing the funeral rites, testified at once their own respect for his memory, and the public sympathy for his loss.
On Thursday, the 16th of September, 1830, at about four o'clock in the morning, a fire broke out in a building occupied by Samuel Gil- bert, in Front Street, and continued to rage till eleven o'clock. Seventeen dwelling houses, forty- two stores, workshops, &c., with most of their contents were consumed. Four vessels lying at the wharf, were much injured. About 3000 bar- rels of mackerel and 3000 empty barrels were destroyed. The whole loss, after a careful exam- ination, was estimated at upwards of $100,000 exclusive of insurance. The disaster fell upon that portion of the town in which most of the bus- iness was transacted, and the sufferers were among the most active and enterprising citizens. By
this catastrophe more than one half of the business part of the town was destroyed. Nineteen fami- lies with 106 persons were reduced from affluence to poverty ; and many more who by their industry had been placed in easy circumstances, were thrown upon the charities of others for susten- ance. About $14,500 were contributed for the relief of the sufferers, from various towns in this and the neighboring States.
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GLOUCESTER.
At the conclusion of the revolutionary war, Sandy Bay contained not more than 65 houses, and about 500 inhabitants ; having lost from 40 to 50 active men in the war. It now contains about 300 houses and 2000 inhabitants.
'The town of Gloucester comprises four distinct villages. The Harbor, so called, is the principal village, and is beautifully located on the south side of the Cape. The sea views from this place are very extensive, and hardly equalled in grandeur by any others upon the coast. 'The settlement is com- pact, many of the buildings are of brick, and in a solid style of architecture. The village of Sandy Bay, is on the eastern end of the Cape, about five miles from the harbor. There is no natural harbor here, but a pier and breakwater have been constructed for the security of the shipping. The village of Anisquam, or Squam, as it is more frequently called, is on the north side of the Cape, about five miles from the harbor. This village has a safe harbor, which is mostly occupied by fishing craft. Opposite the settle- ment is the famous sand beach, which erst sup- plied the dames of this region with their neat floor coverings. The West Parish, contains some val- uable tillage land, some pasture and wood land, and much that is unimprovable.
With the history of Gloucester is identified, in a great degree, the history of the fishing business in Essex County. The mackerel fishery is at pre- sent carried on here to greater extent than in any other place in the State. The following state- ments will give some idea of the business in 1833 and 1-34; and perhaps we should add, that in 1835, the mackerel catchers were peculiarly un- fortunate. In 1832, there were inspected, of No.
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1, 8,133 barrels and 6,202 half barrels; of No. 2, 15,421 barrels, and 7,163 half barrels ; of No. 3, 15,010 barrels, and 547 half barrels. In 1834, there were inspected, of No. 1, 18,835 barrels, and 9,432 half barrels; of No. 2, 20,638 barrels, and 6,591 half barrels ; of No. 3, 13,763 barrels, and 143 half barrels.
In this town are immense quarries of light and gray granite, which is split with great ease into regularly formed blocks. This stone is of a fine grain, is easily dressed, and can be put on board vessels at little expense. The demand for it is rapidly increasing. About 100,000 tons are quar- ried per year, and sold at an average price of $2,00 per ton ; 300 men have constant employ- ment during the working season, and 21 sloops are engaged in the transportation.
POPULATION.
The population by the United States census, was in 1800, 5313; in 1810, 5943; in 1820, 6384; in 1830, 7501 ; but it is thought by the inhabitants gen- erally, that the last census placed the number from one to two hundred less than the population really was.
TOWN OFFICERS.
Town Clerk-William Saville. Town Treasurer-Alphonso Mason. Selectmen-Alphonso Mason, John Webber, Geo. D. Hale, Henry Haskell, Ignatius Sargent.
PHYSICIANS, LAWYERS, JUSTICES, ETC.
Physicians-John Manning, Henry Prentiss, James Goss, John Appleton, Isaac P. Smith, Joseph Rey- nolds, Joseph S. Barber, John M. Moriarty, Charles B. Manning, Dr Ames.
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Lawyers-J. B. Manning, at Sandy Bay, Robert Rantoul, Jr. at the Harbor.
Justices of the Peace-John Manning, William Pearce, Joseph B. Manning, James Goss, William Whipple, Ebenezer Pool, Jr., William Ferson, Sam- uel Lane, William Pearce, Jr., William Beach, Is- rael Trask, John Webber, Joseph Stacy, Henry Phelps, Robert Rantoul, Jr.
Justices of the Quorum-H. Phelps, William W. Parrott.
Notaries-William Ferson, William Saville.
Deputy Sheriff-Joshua P. Trask.
Custom House Officers .- Collector, William Beach; Surveyor, Alphonso Mason ; Inspectors, William Center, James Marchant, Jabez Tarr, Jr., Henry Lee ; Weighers and Gaugers, John Woodbury, Jr., John Webber ; Boatman, William Carter.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
There are 14 churches ; 5 within the territorial limits, and 9 poll parishes, or churches. Of these 5 are Universalist, 4 Orthodox, 3 Baptist, 1 Metho- dist, and 1 Unitarian. 'They are located, 5 in the Harbor Parish, 2 in the West Parish, 3 in Squam, 1 in Town Parish, and 3 in Sandy Bay.
HARBOR PARISH.
First Church .- This church was gathered in 1642, under the pastoral care of Rev. Richard Blynman, who continued his charge till 1648, when he removed to New London. This was the 19th church gathered in Massachusetts Bay. It is Unitarian, and Luther Hamilton is pastor. Number of communicants, 25. Sunday School, formed 1816 ; number of scholars, 60.
Universalist Society .- This was formed in 1774, under the preaching of Rev. John Murray, the first teacher of that denomination. It was incorporated by the Legislature, June 28, 1792, by the name of the Independent Christian Society. Thomas Jones, pastor. Church formed 19th October, 1806 ; number of communicants, 35. Sunday School formed, 1820 ; number of scholars, 80.
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GLOUCESTER.
Methodist .- This society was formed June 7, 1824, under Rev. Aaron Wait. John Bayly, pastor. Num- ber of communicants, 55. Sunday School with 70 pupils.
Evangelical Society .- Orthodox ; founded Nov. 17, 1829 ; Christopher M. Nichols, pastor. Number of communicants, 54. Sabbath School, with 80 pu- pils.
Baptist .- The Baptist church was formed in 1831. William W. Hall, pastor. Number of communicants, 52. Sunday School, with 75 scholars.
SECOND, OR WEST PARISH.
The Second, or West Parish, was the first parish set off' from the town, and was incorporated by the General Court, June 6, 1716. The same year Rev. Samuel Tompson was settled in the work of the min- istry, on the 28th November, the church being gath- ered at that time. Since 1830, a large majority of this society have been Universalists ; and the desk has been supplied by clergymen of that denomination. This year it is vacant.
Orthodox .- An Orthodox society was formed in 1833. Moses Welch, pastor.
SQUAM PARISH.
The Third, or Squam Parish, was the second set off from the town, and was incorporated by the Gen- eral Court, June 11, 1728. Rev. Benjamin Brad- street was ordained its first pastor, 17th Sept. 1728, the church being formed the same day. Rev. Ezra Leonard was ordained over this society in 1804 as a congregational preacher. In 1815, he embraced the Universalist doctrine, and this society is now of that order. John Harriman, pastor.
Baptist Church formed in 1813 ; Epes Davis, pas- tor.
Orthodox .- This church was formed in 1827; Mo- ses Sawyer, pastor.
TOWN PARISH.
The Fourth, or Town Parish, was the location of the first settlers of the town, and was the place of
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worship and seat of business for a century. In 1738, part of the society erected a new meeting house one mile to the southward of the former one, in the Har- bor, and their pastor, Rev. John White, preached in the new house. A new parish was formed, which the General Court allowed to be the First. The parish was then divided, and the northerly part in- corporated as a separate parish, (the Fourth), on the 17th Dec. 1742. Rev. John Rogers, first pastor, was ordained 1744; died 1782; since which there has been no ordained minister. It is now, and has been for several years, a Universalist society .
SANDY BAY PARISH.
The Fifth, or Sandy Bay Parish, was the fourth parish set off from the town, and was incorporated by the General Court, January 1, 1754. Rev. Eben- ezer Cleaveland was ordained first pastor in the year 1755. Ten persons, resident at Sandy Bay, on the 9th of February, 1755, petitioned the first church, of which they were members, to be dismissed therefrom in order to their formation into a distinct church by themselves ; which is the date of the foundation of this church. The church is orthodox, and David Jewett is pastor. Sunday School, formed 1820; number of scholars, 250.
Baptist .- 'This society was incorporated in the year 1811. Church formed 1808; number of com- municants, 82. Sunday School with 100 scholars. Otis Wing, pastor.
Universalist Benevolent Society, formed February 26, 1821 ; A. C. L. Arnold, pastor.
BANKS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Gloucester Bank .- This institution commenced op- eration in 1796, under a covenant, with a capital of $40,000, and was incorporated January 27, 1800. The capital was increased by subsequent acts of the Legislature, to $200,000, its present amount. Presi- dent, Benjamin K. Hough ; Cashier, Henry Smith ; Directors, Benjamin K. Hough, James Mansfield, William Ferson, William Pearce, Jr., John W Lowe, Richard Friend, William Babson.
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GLOUCESTER.
Institution for Savings .- The following is an ac- count of the receipts and expenditures of this institu- tion for the half year, ending January 16, 1835 ; together with the amount of funds, and manner of investment.
The balance on hand at the last settle- ment, on the 11th July, was 20,118 63
To which add fortyeight deposits received since July,
2,648 00
Dividends on Bank stock,
390 00
Interest received on notes,
333 05
$23,489 68
From which deduct,
Interest withdrawn 175 22
Principal do.
2328 00
Incidental expenses,
60 75
Interest paid, 47 94
2,611 91
Net amt. of funds of the Institution, $20,877 77
Invested as follows:
Bank stock, 13,000 00
Town Treasurer's note, 4,600 00
Notes secured by Bank, and other stocks,
1,640 00
Other notes,
898 00
Cash in Gloucester Bank,
739 77
$20,877 77
Gloucester Insurance Company .- Fire and Marine. This institution is located at the Harbor, and was in- corporated in February, 1828, though it did not go into operation till February, 1834; capital $100,000. President, Samuel Giles ; Secretary, Alfred Presson.
There are, also, three unincorporated companies ; two at the Harbor, and one at Sandy Bay.
LIBRARIES.
There is one social library at the Harbor, formed February 3, 1812, called the Gloucester Social Li- brary. It had a valuable collection of books amount- ing to nearly 900 volumes, but was mostly destroyed
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GLOUCESTER.
by the great fire on the 16th September, 1830; 125 volumes only were saved. It was re-organized under the same name, January 21, 1831, and has increased to 550 volumes.
A society was formed by females, in March, 1812, called the Gloucester Female Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. The library, which was formed some years after the society, bears the above name, and has 400 volumes.
There is also a Circulating Library of about 500 volumes, kept by E. W. Rogers, Front Street.
SCHOOLS.
There are twentysix school districts, in each of which is a school house. The number of scholars attending is about 1500, and the amount raised by the town for their support the current year, is $3900. About $2500 are paid annually for instruction in private schools and academies.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Gloucester Fire Department is under good management. There are seven engines ; four loca- ted at the Harbor, two at Sandy Bay, and one at Squam. Engineers, John Somes, John Webber, Alphonso Mason, Samuel Dexter, Robert M. Todd, James Mansfield, Jr., William Parsons, Jr., George Friend.
MILITARY.
Gloucester Artillery .- Organized May 10, 1787. Captain, William Beach ; Lieutenants, Williams Center, Abijah Peabody. There are also five com- panies of infantry of the line.
PUBLIC HOUSES.
At the Harbor, John Mason ; at Sandy Bay, Jo- siah Haskell ; at Pigeon Cove, Daniel Wheeler ; at Squam, Isaiah Jewett.
Theophilus Herrick, at West Parish, and M. H. Shaw, and Henry Marchant, at the Harbor, are also licensed innholders.
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GLOUCESTER.
ALMS HOUSE.
Joseph Stacy, Keeper. By the State returns for 1834, it appeared that there were in this town 73 Paupers supported in the Alms House-27 males and 46 females-55 of them could read and write, and 18 could not-12 of them were married, and 61 were not -14 of them had families, and 59 had not-46 of them were temperate, and 27 were not-there were 59 adults and 14 children, all of whom were natives of this State. The whole expense of the Alins House for 1834, was $3466 12. The whole expense of poor out of the house during the same time, was $839. There are 22 sleeping rooms in the house-the largest number of lodgers in any one room is six. There are two work shops attached to the estab- lishment, which, together with the Farm, are under excellent management.
NEWSPAPERS.
Gloucester Telegraph .- Commenced January 1, 1827 ; published every Wednesday and Saturday, at $2,75 per annum ; in politics, Whig. Office Front Street, one door east of the Custom House. Tilden and Marchant, Publishers.
Gloucester Democrat .- Commenced Aug. 19, 1834; published every Tuesday and Friday, at $2,75 per annum ; in politics, Democratic. Charles W. Wood- bury, Editor.
STAGES.
A stage leaves Mason's Hotel, daily, at half past seven, A. M. for Boston, and returns at four, P. M. A stage leaves the same place every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning for Ipswich.
There are also several stages intercommunicating with the various sections of the town.
POST OFFICES.
There are three Post Offices in this town. Their locations, with the names of the Post Masters, follow : Harbor, Leonard J. Presson ; Squam, Elbridge G. Day ; Sandy Bay, Winthrop Pool.
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GLOUCESTER.
FORT, LIGHT-HOUSES, ETC.
Fort Defiance-Henry Plummer, Keeper.
Light-Houses .-- Two on Thatcher's Island, Austin Wheeler, Keeper ; one on Starghtsmouth Island, Andrews, do .; one on Eastern Point, Saml. Wansou, do .; one on Wigwam Point, (Squam), George Day, do .; one on Ten Pound Island, (Harbor), Amos Story, do.
LOCAL SOCIETIES, ETC.
Gloucester Lyceum .- The objects of this associa- tion, are the improvement of its members in useful knowledge, and the advancement of popular educa- tion. Any adult may become a member by paying into the treasury one dollar, and signing the Consti- tution. Any minor may become a member so far as to have the right of attending the meetings for in- struction, by signing the Constitution and paying in like manner, fifty cents. An annual assessment of one dollar each, is paid by adults, and of fifty cents by minors. Any member refusing to pay the annual assessment, is considered as having withdrawn from the Society. John Johnson, President ; Luther B. Hamilton, Vice President; Charles Smith, 3d, Treas- urer ; Samuel Giles, Samuel Stevens, James Mans- field, Jr., John Appleton, and John S. Tappan, Di- rectors ; Addison Gilbert, Rec. Secretary; Joshua P. Trask, Cor. Secretary.
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