USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 55
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3720 2516 1725 2359 16,272
1855
5700 7086 6609 3899 3288 3555
8016 9249
5400 3449 1833 1900 59,984
1860
14444 7264 7278 6236 3202 3969 10708 10718 7468 3983 16331 953.67,856
To the above number for 1855 should be added about seven thousand cases sent by express, making in all, for that year, about sixty-seven thousand cases. In addition to the number for 1860, should be added about ten thousand eases forwarded by express, (in passenger trains) and about sixteen thousand cases forwarded via Georgetown.º This gives a total of ninety- three thousand eight hundred and fifty-six eases, which we believe to be very near the actual number manufactured and sold in that year. Esti- mating them to have averaged fifty-five pairs per case, and to have sold for an average of forty dollars per case, and we have for that year a total of five million one hundred and sixty-two thousand and eighty pairs, val- ued at the large sum of $3,754,240.
The quality of the goods manufactured in this town has kept pace with the increased manufacture, and we have no hesitation in saying that, in this particular, as well as in respeet to styles and variety, our manufac- turers are not behind those of any other place in New England.
We would gladly have closed this brief sketch of the rise and progress of the shoe manufacture in our town, by the announcement that the busi- ness was still in a healthy condition, and our manufacturers reaping abundant rewards for their enterprise and skill. But the fact is other- wisc. The " panic of 1857," against which our manufacturers stood up with almost unbroken front, had hardly allowed business to resume its wonted channels, and the restoration of commercial confidence, when the southern " Secession," with its long train of deplorable results, over- whelmed the whole country. While we are writing, (July, 1861) a deep financial gloom covers the entire business prospects of our town. Business is almost totally suspended, and an unwonted stillness reigns in our streets. Close upon the heels of broken state faith, has followed indi- vidual repudiation, distress, and financial ruin. It is estimated that the manufacturers of this town now hold upward of half a million of dollars in protested notes, from which but a small percentage will, in all proba-
@ The exact number of cases transported by this railroad from December 1, 1859, to March 20, 1860, was eighteen thousand one hundred and twenty-four.
539
HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
bility, ever be realized. More than one who expected ere long to be able to pass the remainder of his days in pleasant retirement from active busi- ness, has scen the bright hopes of long years dashed to the ground, and their place taken by grim visions of grey-haired poverty. The full effect of this sad reverse in the business of our town, cannot now be foretold, but that many years must intervene before it will return to its previous financial condition, is too evident to admit of doubt.
The manufacture of hats has been carried on in this town to a consider- able extent for about one hundred years. The first hatter of whom we have found certain mention, was Jonathan Webster, in 1747, though we very much doubt if he was the first man who followed that trade in the town. Many of our readers will remember Mr. Daniel Appleton who carried on the business in the village in 1800, and carlier. He erected the building recently torn down to make place for the new stores now being crected by Mr. Le Bosquet, on the corner of Main Street and Mechanic's Court. The building was erected especially for his business, and the whole of the second floor, and a part of the first floor, was occupied by him for a hat factory. Mr. Appleton's father, (Daniel) and also his grandfather, (Samuel) were hatters. Daniel, senior, carried on the busi- ness, at the place already mentioned, for many years. when he was suc- ceeded by his son.
A Mr. Ladd was engaged in the business here for many years previous to 1800, at which time he was quite an old man. His shop stood on the site of the brick building next south of the Town House. Nathaniel Marsh was also engaged in the business about the same time. He occu- pied the building recently removed from the site of the new brick block of Messrs. Wadleigh & Eaton, which building he erected for his hatting business.º These had all discontinued the business previous to 1805.
In 1815, Nathan Webster, who learned his trade of his brother, Jona- than, ¡ set up the business in the building now occupied as a dwelling house by Andrew Johnson, on the southeast corner of Moore and Water Streets. At first he employed two apprentices, but gradually extended his business until he furnished employment to upwards of twenty journey- men, six to eight apprentices, and twenty girls. He built the two large brick buildings on the cast side of Green Street, (now changed to dwell-
" The old building now stands on the wharf, in the rear of Tilton's Building, a few rods southwest of its original site.
t Jonathan learned his trade of Stephen Webster, who died in the Almshouse, in 1859, at an advanced agc.
.
540
HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
ing houses) and was for a time one of the largest manufacturers in New England. In 1835, Mr. Webster formed a copartnership with his brother David, who had also carried on the business in town since 1818.
The first manufacturer of hats in the West Parish, appears to have been Isaac How, (a brother of the late David How) who married the widow of Pearley Ayer, and soon after commenced the business, near the foot of · Scotland Hill. Mr. How was succeeded by his sons, Phineas and Isaac, each of whom carried on the business quite extensively for many years. Phineas purchased the old grist mill at the outlet of Creek Pond, which he converted into a hat factory. It is still used for the same purpose. Isaac, Junior, was one of the largest manufacturers of his time, making at one time from forty to fifty dozens per day. (This was about 1835.)
Among the first to learn the trade of the first named Isaac How, was John Ayer, his son-in-law, who afterward set up the business for himself, near " Greenleaf's corner," about one mile east of the present Ayer's Vil- lage, where he carried on the business for several years. In 1801, Mr. Ayer removed to the place lately occupied by his son-in-law, Jonathan Crowell, at Ayer's Village, where he continued to carry on the business for many years. Mr. Crowell learned his trade of Mr. Ayer, whose daughter he married, and succeeded him in the business. Mr. Ayer at one time employed four journeymen and four apprentices, which was con- sidered a " great business " for one man to carry on.
Mr. Crowell continued to carry on the business for upward of forty years, and until his death, in 1860. Among those in his employ at the time of his death, were Mr. J. B. Merrill, who had been in his service, as apprentice and journeyman, for thirty-four years ; and Mr. Amos Saun- ders, who had worked for him nearly forty years. At the time of his death, Mr. Crowell, in connection with his son, Calvin W., and his nephew, Edwin F. Ayer, (a grandson of the first named John Ayer,) under the style of Jonathan Crowell & Co., was manufacturing about eight hundred dozen hats per month, averaging in value about six dollars and fifty cents per dozen, and giving employment to about fifty persons.
John Ayer, son of the first named John, carried on the business at the above named village for many years, where he still resides, though retired from active business.
Among the firms now engaged in the business at the above place, are Ayer & Brothers, grandsons of the first named John Ayer. They give employment to about thirty persons, and manufacture about four hundred and fifty dozen hats per month. The only other establishment of the kind
541
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
in that village, is that of John A. Houston & Co., who employ about fif- teen persons, and turn out about two hundred and fifty dozen hats per month.
Besides the above named persons, the following have been engaged in the business in the West Parish, since the business was first introduced :- Gleason, Lewis Bailey, Eben Mitchel, Moses Lull, Jonathan and Timothy Emerson, Stephen and Captain Joseph Webster, Stephen Run- nels, Joseph and Jonathan Webster, and most probably others whose names have not reached us,
The hats made by Isaac How, John Ayer, and others, in the West Parish, were of wool, and in nearly the present general style of common wool hats. They were carried to Boston, Salem, and other places, for sale, on horseback. Subsequently, Mr. How had a pair of wheels, with shafts attached, which he used for the purpose. One or two boxes of hats were hung below the axle, while the driver mounted a rude seat above, and thus jogged to market, with no little pride. Mr. How's wheels were for several years the only ones of the kind in the town, and his cotempo- raries in the business frequently borrowed them to carry their own goods to market. The next improvement in the way of transportation, was the introduction of horse-carts. In 1804, there were but two of these in town. These were owned by Ezekiel Hale and Daniel Appleton. The common quality of hats, which were called " Negro hats," sold for five to six dollars per dozen. Ladd, Appleton, and Marsh, made mostly "fur beaver" hats - i. e., made of the fur of the beaver. Besides these, they made raccoon and muskrat hats, principally for farmers, and common people, for every day use. The best fur hats cost about seven dollars each, and were intended to last a lifetime. A man usually purchased one with his wedding coat, and in most cases he never had occasion to replace it. It was only worn to meeting, and on great and special occasions. It was put on and taken off by carefully taking hold of the buttons which held the turned-up rim, and from Sabbath day to Sabbath day again, with the exceptions mentioned, rested unmolested upon its own particular peg in the "front entry."
The style of fur hats made seventy years ago, were rounding tops, about five inches high, with rims six inches wide. From this the crown gradu- ally extended to nine and a half inches, and the rim as gradually dimin- ished to one and a quarter inches. At the same time the top of the crown gradually enlarged, until it was two inches larger than the bottom. This was the narrow rimmed bell-crowned hat of forty years ago, and even later.
512
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
About 1820, Lieutenant Parker Greenough, of this town, made some hats, with pasteboard bodies, covered with cotton plush. These did not " go well," and were superseded by silk hats, which were introduced soon after. The first silk hats made in this town were finished by Nathaniel Carleton, then in the employ of David Webster. Carleton learned the art in Danvers. The first lot of the new hats was finished on Saturday afternoon, and every one (fourteen in all) was sold the same evening, and duly appeared at church the next day.
Nathan Webster made large numbers of " napped" hats. Some of these were fur bodies, napped with beaver; and others were muskrat naps on wool bodies. The quantity of beaver used in napping varied from one to two ounces per hat. The process of napping was invented by a man in Baltimore, and has been but little known in any other country. The in- troduction of silk hats, which have never been made to any great extent in this town, has finally almost driven the old fur hat out of existence, and but very few are now made or worn.
The only wholesale hat manufactory in the central village at the present time, is that of Messrs. How & Mitchell, on Fleet Street.º This firm occupy the whole of the large four story brick building erected for their use, by James H. Duncan, Esq., giving employment to about one hundred persons, and have for several years manufactured an average of seventy- five dozen hats per day, valued at an average of seven dollars per dozen. The material of their hats is wool, which has almost entirely superceded the more expensive fur .¡ Of these they manufacture nearly one hundred different styles and qualities, suited to the wants and tastes of nearly every class of people, from Nova Scotia all around to Oregon.
As many and great changes have been made in the general appearance of the town - particularly that part of it included in the First Parish - during the last quarter of a century, by the erection of new buildings, the laying out of new streets, and other improvements, perhaps we cannot more fittingly close this, the last chapter of our general history, than by giving a brief sketch of the more prominent of these changes and improve- ments.
Some idea of the growth of the central village may be judged by the fact that it now contains upward of twelve hundred dwelling houses, and
· Mr. (P. B.) How is a son of Phineas, and a grandson of Isaac How, both of whom were extensive hatters. Mr. (Eben) Mitchell is a son of Eben, - also a hatter.
1 Almost the only fur hats now made are those known as " soft felt." These, and wool hats of similar styles, are now the most common business hats worn; while the stift and glossy black silk hats (not in- a ptly nicknamed " stove-pipe " hats) are the fashionable dress hats of the present time.
543
IIISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
about one hundred and fifty stores and manufactories. One hundred and six of the latter are of brick, - nearly all of them in blocks, of two to six stores each, and of three and four stories in height. The south side of Merrimack Street, from the Great Bridge to the Little River Bridge, presents a nearly unbroken line of handsome three and four story brick structures, mostly occupied for shoe manufacturing purposes. The north side of the street presents a similar view from Main Street to the "Sal- tonstall Place." West of the latter, and immediately adjoining, there is a single brick block of two stores. The several streets on " Baptist Hill " show comparatively few vacant lots for building purposes. But the most important improvement in this section of the village, has taken place on the estate of the late Captain Nehemiah Emerson, situated between Winter Street, How Street, and Little River. This estate was laid out for building purposes in 1844, since which time ninety-six handsome dwelling houses have been built upon it. The district included between the Merrimack and Little Rivers, and Winter and Main Streets, now contains one hundred and sixty dwelling houses, and eighty brick and twenty-six wooden stores, or manufactories. Between Little River, Pecker's Hill, Mount Washington," and the Merrimack, there are one hundred and sixty-five dwelling houses, one brick and two wooden stores. North of Winter Street, and between Little River and a line running northwesterly from the southerly end of White Street, there are one hundred and sixty-seven dwelling houses, at least nine-tenths of which have been erected within about twelve years. Between Main, White and Winter Streets there are ninety-six dwelling houses, seven-eighths of which have been built within twenty years, and probably three-quarters of those within the last twelve years. North of White Street, and between the north-westerly line, above mentioned, and Main Street, there are now seventy-two dwelling houses, all but one of which have been erected since 1850, and nine-tenths of which have been built since 1835. This gives us a total of eight hundred and sixty dwell- ing houses, and one hundred and forty-one stores, west of Main Street, exclusive of shops, barns, and other out-buildings.
Passing to the east of Main Street, we find, between Main, Summer and Mill Streets, and the River, one hundred and ninety-one dwelling houses, twenty-five brick and seven wooden stores; and to the north of Summer, and between Main and Mill Streets, eighty-four dwelling houses. Easterly of Mill Street are about twenty dwelling houses.
" The name given to the bluff, or table land, lying between the railroad and Silver's hill. It was handsomely laid out into streets and house-lots, in 1833, aud now contains twenty dwelling houses.
544
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Within the above described limits are also eleven churches, viz : - the Unitarian, corner of Main and Crescent Street; Centre Congregational, corner of Main and Vestry Streets; First Baptist, corner of Merrimack and Pecker Streets ; First Universalist, corner of Summer Street and Bart- lett's Avenue ; South, (Christian Union) corner of Washington Street and Washington Square ; Winter Street, (formerly Union Evangelical, now Free Will Baptist) corner of Winter and Franklin Streets ; Taberna- cle, (formerly Second Advent, now occupied by Rev. Henry Plummer,) on Tabernacle Street ; Trinity, (Protestant Episcopal) corner of White and William Streets ; St. Gregory (Catholic) corner of Harrison and Lancaster streets ; Methodist Episcopal, Winter street, near Main Street ; and the North Church, (Orthodox Congregational) corner of Main and White Streets. The following religious societies hold regular services, but are not provided with church edifices : - The Randall Free Will Baptist, meeting in Randall Hall, on Duston Street; the Second Advent, meeting in Athenæum Hall, (Duncan's Building) ; and the Third Baptist, worship- ping in Music Hall, Winter Street, near Spring Street.
The whole number of church edifices in the town at the present time, is sixteen, viz. : eleven in the First Parish, two in the East Parish, (one at the Rocks' Village) ; and three in the West Parish, (one at Ayer's Village). This does not include the Plaistow, or North Parish church, which is situated a few rods north of the State line.
The following table, showing the date of erection of the principal blocks of stores in the central village, is not without interest, as illustrating the recent rapid growth of the village: -
How & Carleton, (Main Street) 1794 Tilton Block (cor. Fleet St.) 1852
Willis Block, (Water Street)
1811 Duncan & Carleton, º 1852
Merrimack Bank,
1814 Exchange Building, 1854
Bannister Block,
1815 Marsh Block, 1854
White's Corner Block,
1808 Essex Block, 1856 and 1859
Woodman's Building,
1824 Franklin Block, 1856
Bank Building, (Main Street)
1831 Masonic Hall, 1856
Haseltine's Building, (Water Street)
Last Factory, (Fleet Street)
1857
1836 Chase's Block,
1857
Granite Range,
1836 Tilton's Block,
1857
Kittredge Block,
1840 Hat Factory, (Fleet Street) 1857
Currier's Block,
1849 Whittier Block, 1858
" This was one of the very first full iron front buildings erected in the State.
545
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Osgood's Block, 1821 and 1833 Haverhill Bank Building, 1859
Kimball's Building,
1 850 Brickett Building, 1860
Hunkings & Duty,
1851 Machine Shop, 1860
Manufacturers Row, 1850 and 1852 Lebosquet Block,
1861
Passing out of the central village, we find comparatively few changes calling for special notice. Near the junction of the Salem, N. H., and Derry roads, (a short distance west of the summit of Pecker's Hill) a large number of house lots have been laid out, about a dozen houses erected, and the locality christened " Mount Pleasant." Three and a half miles further west, we come to " Ayer's Village," the most busy and thriving locality, outside of the principal village, in the town. The village proper (a part of which lies in the town of Methuen) contains about thirty dwelling houses, nine shoe manufactories, three hat manufactories, a new and commodious school-house, and a new and well-finished church. The part of the village included in Haverhill, contains about sixty legal voters. The principal shoe manufacturers in the place, are Phineas Haynes and Amos Hazeltine, who commenced the business in the winter of 1852-3. They give employment to about seventy-five persons each. In October, 1835, Mr. Haseltine opened the first store in the place. A second store was opened in 1857, by Monroe Ayer, who also erected a fine hall over his store for public meetings, &c. A pleasant, as well as somewhat re- markable fact connected with this thriving village, is found in the close relationship of its inhabitants. We believe that not only is every busi- ness man in the place a native of the immediate vicinity, but they are all more or less intimately connected by the ties of consanguinity. Long may they live together, as now, a " band of brothers."
The North and East Parishes show but few external changes within the past quarter of a century, beyond the occasional erection of new dwelling houses, and the removal of old ones." It is only when we enter the dwellings and enquire for those who dwelt there but a score of years agone, that we feel the full force of time's great but silent changes. Not one in ten of the familiar faces of twenty years ago, will be found
· We should, perhaps, make special mention of the enlargement of the old burial-ground near the Rocks, - its re-naming, as Greenwood Cemetery, - and the erection of a neat iron fence in front of the same, in 1850. These improvements were mostly made by the ladies of the vicinity. In 1859, & large and handsome two-story wooden building was erected about midway between the Second Baptist Church and the village, for school purposes. The cost of the building was about $2,000.
69
646
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
to-day ; not one in ten of the fair fields now yield their increase to the same hands that tilled them then. And so it will be, kind reader, with each returning score of years; while you and I can claim no exemption from the ceaseless change. A few more suns, - how few, 'tis not for us to know, - and we shall moulder in our parent dust. Happy will it be for each of us, if, when the summons calls us henee, we can say of the great work of life-
" IT IS FINISHED."
547
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
CHAPTER XXIX.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
PREVIOUS to the erection of the northern part of the town into a sepa- rate precinct, or parish, in 1728, the whole town was virtually one parish, and matters that are now left entirely with each parish, or religious society, were then considered and disposed of in the town meetings, and the record of such action then became a part of the Town Records. Having incor- porated the vital parts of these records into the preceding chapters of our history, we shall endeavor, in considering the Ecclesiastical history of the town, to avoid a repetition, as far as is consistent with the accomplishment of our present object.
The earliest records of the church still preserved, is " A list of ye names of Persons, adults and infants, Baptized in Haverhill Church By Benjan Rolfe Pastor; " and is in the handwriting of Mr. Rolfe. It ap- pears to have been originally a book made by simply stitching together a quire of foolscap paper, and was afterward, with others, bound into one volume. The first entry in the book, is the baptism of " Hannah, ye daughter of William & Sarah Whittaker," September 24, 1693. Then follows the names of three hundred and two others, closing with the bap- tism of Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. - August 22d, 1708, -just one week before Mr. Rolfe's violent death by the savages. There are no other records of the church, during or previous to this time, now pre- served. Mr. Rolfe's successor (Rev. Joshua Gardner) commences his record with the following entry : - " Anno Dom : 1711. A list of ye names of persons admitted to partake of the sacrament of ye Lord's Sup- per wth the church of Christ in Haverhill. Since the Revd Mr Benjan Rolf's Death : (It was ye 8th of April In ye above mentioned year before any were admitted : ye Chh yn having been not long resettled.) "
On the page immediately preceding the above, is the following interest- ing statement, in the handwriting of Rev. Mr. Brown, (Mr. Gardner's successor) : -
" The account of Such as were admitted to the Lord's Table in Haver- hil, before ye Revd Mr. Gardner's Ministry, sic, under the first minister
· Name illegible.
548
HISTORY OF HAVERIIILL.
ye Reverd Mr Ward; & after him the Revd Mr Rolf ; being cither never set down, or else the account lost; Such of them as were alive in ye Town, April 1723 ; were desired to give in their names to ye Pastor then being, which are as followeth "
" Deacon John White, & Lydia, his Widow Hanah Sanders (fro New- wife
bury)
Deacon John Hassaltine & - his Mary Webster wife of Stephen wife
Daniel Lad & Lydia his wife
Hanah Heath wife of Joseph
Widow Hannah Ayer, (aged 84)
William Whittaker
Widow Ruth Ayer (old)
Martha Heath wife old Josiah (Newb.) Hanah Roberds wife of Ephrm (Topsfield)
Huldah Whittaker wife of Abrr
Widow Joanna Dow (old) Widow Hanah Dalton
Mchetable Clemen, wife of Job
Widow Mary Boynton
Samuel Ayer & Elizabeth his wife
Ephraim Gile & Martha his wife
Hanah Jonson wife of Joseph
Richard Hazzen & Mary his wife James Pceker & Ann his wife
Elizabeth Jonson wife of Thomas
Anthony Colby (Rowley)
Widow Ruth Gile
Mary Brown
Widow Sarah Davis
Sarah Emerson wife of Benjamin
Widow Mary Ayer
Hanah Eastman wife of Jonathan
Nathaniel Merril & Sarah his wife
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