USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 46
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famous "Washington Life Guards ;" but his love of grog increasing with his years, had interfered sadly with his standing in the community. Although he pleaded hard for a chance to speak to Washington, whom he declared he was " well acquainted with," he was purposely kept in the back- ground on account of his habits and shabby appearance. But just as Washington had taken leave of his escort, and was about to step into the boat, Bart's patience gave way, and with a fierce ejaculation that he would " speak to the General," he pushed through the crowd, and extending his hand, cried out, excitedly, "General, how do you do ?" Washington apparently recognized the voice, and, turning quickly, grasped his hand and replied - " Bart, is this you ?" and quietly slipping a gold piece into the hand of the overjoyed old soldier, bade him " good-bye," and hastened on board the waiting boat.
Washington arrived in New York the 13th of November, having been absent about one month. Ever after, he was pleased to speak of his New England tour as one of the most pleasant incidents of his public life.
We cannot more appropriately close this pleasant episode in our town's history, than by inserting the following extract from the diary kept by Washington during his tour : -
" Wednesday 4th. About half after seven I left Portsmouth, quietly, and without any attendance, having earnestly entreated that all parade and ceremony might be avoided on my return. Before ten I reached Excter, 14 miles distance. This is considered as the second town in New Hampshire, and stands at the head of the tide-water of Piscataqua River ; but ships of 3 or 400 tons are built at it. Above (but in the town) are considerable falls, which supply several grist-mills, 2 oil mills, a slitting mill, and snuff mill. It is a place of some consequence, but does not con- tain more than 1,000 inhabitants. A jealousy subsists between this town (where the legislature alternately sits,) and Portsmouth ; which, had I known it in time, would have made it necessary to have accepted an invi- tation to a public dinner, but my arrangements having been otherwise made, I could not. From hence, passing through Kingston, (6 miles from Exeter) I arrived at Haverhill about half past two, and stayed all night. Walked through the town, which stands at the head of the tide of Merri- mack River, and in a beautiful part of the country. The lands over which I travelled to-day, are pretty much mixed in places with stone - and the growth with pines - till I came near to Haverhill, where they disappeared, and the land had a more fertile appearance. The whole were pretty well cultivated, but used (principally) for grass and Indian corn. In Haverhill is a Duck manufactory, upon a small but ingenious scale,
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under the conduct of Colo -. º At this manufactory one small per- son turns a wheel which employs eight spinners, each acting independently of the other, so as to occasion no interruption to the rest if any one of them is stopped - whereas at the Boston manufactory of this article, each spinner has a small girl to turn the wheel. The looms are also somewhat differently constructed from those of the common kind, and upon an im- proved plan. The inhabitt's of this small village were well disposed to welcome me to it by every demonstration which could evince their joy.
Thursday 5th. About sunrise I sct out, crossing the Merrimack River at the town, over to the township of Bradford, and in nine miles came to Abbott's tavern, in Andover. where we breakfasted, and met with much attention from Mr Phillips, President of the Senate of Massachusetts, who accompanied us through Bellarika to Lexington, where I dined, and viewed the spot on which the first blood was spilt in the dispute with Great Britain, on the 19th of April 1775.".
Samuel Blodgett.
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HISTORY OF HAVERHILL
CHAPTER XXIV.
1790 To 1800.
THE close of the Revolution found our town, in common with others, seriously embarrassed. The war had been carried on under many and great disadvantages, and at an enormous expense; and the peace which followed, found the people, of Massachusetts particularly, with a heavy debt upon them, for the payment of which they were compelled to make provision. Their resources were limited, their industry crippled ; and it was several years before the blessings of peace were seen in their full vigor. But that time came at last, and the period when our chapter opens found our town already well started on the high road to general prosperity.
Ship-building and commerce, which had been almost entirely suspended during the war, were again resumed, and with energy. The long silence of our ship-yards was succeeded by the busy hum of axe and hammer, and the white wings of commerce once more gladdened the face of the beautiful Merrimack, cheering the heart and nerving the arm of all classes and conditions of our citizens. There were at this time two ship-yards in the village, and one at the " Roeks," in full operation." The yard at the Rocks was discontinued about the year 1800. The usual kind of vessels were built in these yards, including ships, brigs, snows, ; schooners, and sloops.
The commerce and trade of the town at this time was large. Several of our merchants were large exporters and importers to and from England and the West Indies. Vessels sometimes sailed to and from this place to London direct, though the larger ships were laden and unladen at New- buryport, or Boston. From the former place, the goods were carried to and from Haverhill in long boats, or gondolas; and from the latter in snows, and smaller vessels. The West India trade was carried on in the same manner, though vessels more frequently sailed direct. Among
.. " Persons yet living can remember when three vessels were launched in a single day in the village. In 1810, nine vessels were built here, and fifty to sixty men kept constantly employed in the shipyards.
t Snow. A vessel equipped with two masts, resembling the main and fore-masts of a ship, and a third small mast just abaft the main-mast, carrying a try-sail .- Mar. Dict.
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the articles exported, were large quantities of corn and grain, beef, fish, lumber, pearl-ashes, linseed oil, tow cloth, and a great variety of other articles in smaller quantities. In return, sugar, and molasses were received from the West Indies, and the usual variety of goods from London. This town was for a long time the head-quarters of trade for a large back country, and our wharves, warehouses, and shipping, gave the place quite a port-ly appearance. The goods and articles of trade were transported to and from the interior wholly by oxen, hundreds of which were con- stantly employed in the business.
Among the principal merchants ef the town about this time, were John White, Benjamin Willis, James Duncan, James Duncan, Jr., and Isaac Osgood.
Mr. White lived in the house now owned and occupied by Thomas West, Esq., next west of the Merrimack Bank, Water Street, and his store stood on the spot now occupied by the above named Bank building. His house, which he built in 1766, was a large three-story mansion, and one of the most imposing and costly dwellings in the region. Its massive front door, with the portico and pillars have been removed. Its deep and terraced front yard, with varied shrubbery and flowers; its ample stone steps, and high fence of fanciful trellis work ; and its tall poplar trees, have all disappeared. The street now presses close to the house, which has been extensively re-modeled, and retains but little of its ancient aristocratic and wealthy appearance. The large garden in the rear of the mansion, with its regular squares, fringed with boxwood-its neatly gravelled walks - its terraces, and rare varieties of imported fruit trees - is now despoiled of its beauty, and nearly covered with stables. Mr. White, or " Marchant " White, as he was familiarly called, was for many years not only a prominent business man, but a highly respected, wealthy, and influential citizen. He was largely engaged in commerce, and im- ported and exported large amounts of merchandise. When Washington passed through Haverhill, he called upon Mr. White, whose daughter-in- law (Mrs. Leonard White) had been a frequent visitor - sometimes for weeks together -of Mrs. Washington, and exchanged healths with the. merchant in a glass of wine."
Mr. Willis was a son of Benjamin Willis, a ship-master of Charlestown, Mass. The latter, during the early part of the Revolution, was taken prisoner by the British, at sea, and carried into Eustacia. When he re- turned, on being exchanged, he found his house burned, and learned that
· Mr. White died in 1800, aged 76 years.
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his family had taken refuge in Haverhill. He settled here with them after the Revolution, and became largely engaged in shipping. Benjamin, Jr., while yet a young man, went to London, as supercargo, in one of his father's vessels - the brig " Benjamin and Nancy," - where he became acquainted with a Mr. John Dickinson, a large merchant of that city, who took a strong liking to the young American, and recommended him to en- gage in the mercantile business in Haverhill, at the same time offering to furnish him with a full stock of goods to start with. The offer was ac- cepted, and from this beginning Mr. Willis soon became one of the largest importers in the State. His eargoes usually came to Newburyport in brigs, and were transported from thence to this town in boats.
Mr. James Duncan was a son of George Duncan, one of the early set- tlers of Londonderry. In early life, he started out with a small pack of goods, as a pedlar, and from this small beginning, he rose to be quite an extensive merchant. He came to Haverhill some time previous to 1750, and resided here until his death, which occurred in 1818, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mr. Duncan was succeeded in business by his son, James Duncan, Jr., who soon became one of the leading merchants of the place, and was not only in both the foreign and domestic trade, but was largely interested in shipping. He built and furnished the first store in Lebanon, N. H., at which place he also erected potash works, and a mill for grinding flax-seed. Loading his heavy ox-teams with a variety of foreign goods, from his head-quarters in Haverhill, for his store in Lebanon, they returned laden with pearl-ashes, linseed oil, flax-seed, grain, and various other articles of export and exchange. Some idea of the extent of this country trade may be gathered from the fact that, during a single period of twenty-six months, Mr. Duncan sent over $90,000 worth of goods to his store in Lebanon. At this period, large quantities of flax-seed, and pot and pearl-ashes, were exported to England and Ireland. The flax-seed was mostly sent to Ireland. Mr. Duncan was a man of a high order of business talent, and great enterprise. Though deprived of the advantages of a liberal education, he made such good use of his time and means for information, that few could equal him in legal, mercantile, and general knowledge. He was at one time deeply interested in military affairs, and, as a major, commanded the companies of cavalry which escorted Washington, in 1789, from Boston to the New Hampshire line. He died in 1822, in the sixty-sixth year of his age.
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Mr. Osgood was a native of Andover. He came to Haverhill about 175-, and was for many years one of our principal merchants, and most influential citizens. His store, (a wooden building, with gambrel roof,)
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was situated a few rods east of the bridge. Previous to the Revolution, Mr. Osgood was quite largely engaged in the West India trade, but after the war, he was more particularly interested in that of London. He erected, and operated for many years, a large distillery near his storc. Subsequently, the distillery was changed to a brewery, and was used as such for several years. It afterward fell into the hands of Mr. Dickenson, of London, and after lying idle for a long time, the latter gentleman made a present of it to Benjamin Willis, Jr., by whom it was torn down, to give place to the stores known as the " Willis Block." The worms and boilers were, cast into sleigh-bells, by Mr. Bailey, of the West Parish, and the clay around the vats was used in making bricks for the new block. º
Mr. Osgood died in 1791, and was succeeded in business by his son, Peter Osgood, who will be remembered by many of our readers.
The population of the town, at the time our chapter opens, was two thousand four hundred and eight, and its valuation, 1,519,411 .;
At this period, newspapers and letters were carried through the country by persons who rode on horse-back, called "Post-riders." Samuel Bean was post-rider from Boston to Concord, N. H. His route was through Andover, Haverhill, Atkinson, Kingston, Exeter, Epping, Nottingham, Deerfield, and Pembroke to Concord : returning, he passed through Lon- donderry and Haverhill. He performed the route once a week. The first stage from Haverhill to Boston was started about this time. It was a two- horse coach, and owned by a Mr. Gage. Gage owned one horse, and as often as he could make certain of a sufficient number of passengers for a load, he hired another horse and run his coach. He performed the route only when he had custom. Mr. Robert Willis remembers that in Septem- ber, 1792, when himself and his brothers were taken by his mother to Boston (to be inoculated with the small pox) they crossed the ferry here just as the sun was rising, and when the coach crossed the bridge at Charlestown, the lamps were already lighted in the evening - thus making the journey in about twelve hours. In 1793, a stage commenced running regularly "once a week; and the same year it was changed to twice a week.
An advertisement in a Boston paper, under date of April 9, 1793, in- forms the public that " The Haverhill Stage Coach is complete, with genteel curtains & cushions, & a pair of able horses, ready for service."
@ The block was erected in 1811, by Benjamin Willis, Kimball Carleton, Warner Whittier, and James Haselt'ne, who owned one store each. It was the first brick block erected in the town. The Banister Block was built in 1815.
t The first United States Census was taken this year - 1790.
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It was to " set out from Chadwick's ferry in Bradford on Tuesday the 16th at 6 oclock, precisely, and it expects to arrive at Mr. Abbott's in Andover before 8, & at Mr. Peabody's in Boston before one." The proprietor gave notice that he " intends in a short time that the stage performs this route twice in a week. Fare 3d a mile." There is no name attached to the advertisement, but we believe that Judge Blodgett was the proprietor.
In November, (1793) a stage commenced running twice a week from this place to Concord, N. H., connecting with the Boston stage. It was owned by parties in this town, Chester, and Concord. The mail, however, continued to be carried on horse-back for several years after the establish- ment of a regular line of stages.
At the celebration attending the opening of the " Andover & Haverhill Railroad " to Bradford, in October, 1837, Hon. Leverett Saltonstall, of Salem, alluded in a very happy manner to the great contrast between the rates of travelling at the present time, and years gone by. He said he arrived in Boston from Salem, fifteen miles, in the morning, by stage ; - and after waiting three-quarters of an hour, he embarked in the cars for Haverhill - a further distance of thirty-two miles ; and, after spending some hours in the latter place, he hoped to return to Boston in the cars in the afternoon, and after remaining a half-an-hour there, return to his family in Salem before eight o'clock in the evening. He well recollected the setting up of the first stage-coach between Boston and Haverhill, some forty or fifty years before, by Judge Blodgett, of Haverhill. It started very early in the morning from Haverhill, in order to have time to perform the distance, and arrive comfortably in Boston before dark ! The boys followed it as it passed through the villages, and the women put their heads out of the windows, gazing upon the wonder, and the welkin rung with the shouts of " THE STAGE, THE STAGE !" A stage-coach was soon afterward established to run between Haverhill and Concord, N. H. This was considered a most extraordinary event, and one of the leaders had a bell, of a size nearly equal to that of the bell of the Academy, suspended to his neck, the sound of which could be heard a great distance, to give the intelligence that the stage was coming !
At the annual meeting in 1790, the town granted leave, on the petition of Judge Sargeant, for " trees to be set out on the public land." The land referred to was doubtless the common, and we presume it was at this time that the sycamores, - which have been removed but a few years, - were set out. Judge Sargeant's house adjoined the common, on the north.º At
" It stood on the site now ocenpied by the Unitarian Church, and was removed to make place for that structure.
It now stands, with but little alteration, on the south-west corner of Winter and Spring Streets.
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the next annual meeting, General James Brickett and others petitioned " to have the trees lately set out in the Training Field removed," but no action was taken on the article.
From a report made to the town this year, we learn that twenty-four persons were at this time supported, in whole or in part, by the town, at an expense of £130. A proposition was made to erect a poor-house, but it was not agreed to. A similar proposition was made six years later, but was also rejected.
This year, (1790) the collection of the town taxes was, for the first time, sold at " vendue," to the lowest bidder. by parishes. They were bid off at eight and one-half to eleven pence on the pound.
Previous to this time, swine had been allowed to run at large; but a district was now laid out, including the village, within which they were in future to be deprived of that privilege. The line run " from Mill Brook to the Upper Sands, and then back to Peter Bradley's; then to Dea. Ayer's Pond ; and then to the bound first mentioned."
At a meeting in October of this year, Samuel Walker, from the school committee, submitted a code of regulations for the government of the Grammar Schools in town, which were adopted. There were thirteen rules, in substance as follows: -
1. None should be admitted into the Grammar Schools but such as could with a degree of readiness read words of two sylables. All " under this description " were to be provided for by employing school-mistresses.
2. From May 1st to September 1st, the schools should commence at 8 A. M., and 2 P. M., and close at 12 M., and 6 P. M. ; and from Septem- ber to May, should begin at 9 A. M., and 1} P. M., and close at 12 M., and 42 P. M.
3. There should be no school kept on the afternoon of Saturdays, and Lecture-days, nor on the day of the annual town meeting in March, the annual Election day, the 4th of July, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of Commencement Week at Cambridge.
4. The schools should be divided into two or more classes. The senior class only to be taught writing and arithmetic. The Lower class or classes to be wholly employed in reading and spelling.
5. Particular attention was to be given in the upper class to punctua- tion, " that in reading they may be taught to observe the Stops and points, notes of affection and interrogation, accenting and Emphasising."
6. The upper class " should be initiated into the principals of English Grammer, and for this purpose, those Rules which are contained in our
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English Spelling Books should be marked by the Master," and a lesson required daily.
7. The second class were each to bring one or more answers daily " out of such Catechisms as shall be directed by their Parents or Guardians.
8. A uniformity of books was to be required. If the parent or guar- dian was unable to purchase, the selectmen were directed to provide the books.
9. The schools were to be " opened in the morning, and elosed in the evening by the school master with an Act of Religion, reading a portion of the Bible every morning, accompanied with an Address to God in Prayer, and closing every evening with Prayer."
10. Quarterly, or at least semi-annually, the master should appoint several of the senior class " to exhibit specimens of their acquirements in learning in the presence of the Committee at the time of their visiting the school, in a way of Public Speaking."
11. That from May to September one hour in the forenoon, and the same in the afternoon, be specially " appropriated for the instruction of the young Misses or Females ; that of consequence the Common School be dismissed daily for such a period, at 11 oclk, in the forenoon, & a like hour in the afternoon," to give time for that purpose.
12. The master was recommended to consider himself as in the place of a parent to the children under his care, and endeavor to convince them by mild treatment that he felt a parental affection for them; that he be spar- ing as to threatenings, or promises, but punctual in the execution of the one, and the performance of the other; that he never make dismission from school at an earlier hour than usual, a reward for attention or dili- gence, but endeavor to lead them to consider being at school a privilege, and dismission from it as a punishment ; that he never strike the children on the head, either with the hand or any instrument, nor allow one scholar to inflict corporeal punishment on another; that when circumstances admit, he suspend inflicting punishment until some time after the offence is committed; that as far as it is practicable, he exclude corporeal punish- ment from the school, and particularly, that he never inflict it on females; that he introduce such rewards as are adapted to stimulate the "ingenaus passions " of the children ; and that he inculcate upon the scholars the propriety of good behavior during their absence from school.
13. Saturdays, in the forenoon, the master was to instruct his scholars in some catechism, and address them on moral and religious subjects, endeavoring to impress upon their minds " a sense of the being and Provi- dence of God, and the obligations they are under to Love Serve and to
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pray to him ; their duty to their Parents and masters ; the Beauty and excellence of truth, justice, and mutual Love ; tenderness to Brute Crea- tures, and the sinfulness of tormenting them, and wantingly destroying their Lives ; the happy tendency of Self-Government, and Obedience to the dictates of Reason, and Religion; the duty which they owe their Country, and the Necessity of a Strict Obedience to its Laws; and that he Caution them against the prevailing Vices, such as Sabbath Breaking, profane cursing and Swearing, Gaming, Idleness, Writing obscene Words on the Fences, &c."
Large as has been the progress and improvement in our school system since these first regulations were framed, we can hardly claim an advance on the two last rules. They cover the whole ground, and scarce leave room for improvement.
In 1791, the town voted to send an additional Representative to the General Court, provided it should not be any expense to the town. Sam- uel Blodgett was chosen; and we have it from tradition that at the next annual town meeting he counted out the money he received for the service, and laid it upon the table, refusing to retain a penny.
A proposition having been made for building a bridge across the Merri- mack, at Deer Island, this town and Salisbury remonstrated strongly against it. One objection made was, that the piers would lessen the tide up the river ! The committee of this town say that there was not more than nine feet of water over the shoals in common tides, and they feared it would be greatly lessened if the proposed bridge should be built.
At a town meeting, December 12th, (1791,) a proposition was made to divide the town into school districts, and a committee of twelve were chosen for the purpose, Samuel Walker, Chairman. At an adjourned meeting, December 26th, the committee reported a recommendation that each of the four parishes be erected into a distinct school district, with full power to build school houses, employ teachers, raise money to pay for the same, and to subdivide the parish into smaller school districts ad- libitum. If any parish neglected to provide a school, according to the law, the selectmen were directed to do it, and assess the district for the expenses. The report was adopted.
The occasion of this action of the town was a legislative aet passed in June 1789, entitled " An act to provide for the instruction of youth, and for the promotion of good Education." By this act, towns were authorized to determine the limits of school districts, and districts thus erected were authorized to assess a tax to support a " schoolmaster," &c. 58
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