USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > The history of Melrose, County of Middlesex, Massachusetts > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
Among his published works are: The California Pilgrimage of Boston Commandery, Knights Templars, 1883; Cross-Bearers- Crown Winners, 1883; Sermon at Profile House, before Boston Commandery, 1882; Newburyport Commandery; 248th Anniver- sary Sermon of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. He has delivered many Memorial Day addresses, and written the Roberts and the Brewster Genealogies.
His last literary work has been the writing of the History of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, from 1638 to ISSS, authorized by the Company through its Military and Library Committee. It consists of four large royal octavo volumes, the preface to vol. 4 being dated, "Evacuation Day, March 17, 1901, Melrose, Mass." It is the history of the oldest military company in the country, and gives its history and biographical sketches of its thousands of members, many of whom have been among our most prominent statesmen, law- yers, business men, poets, historians, clergymen, and soldiers and officers in army and navy. It is a most valuable work and concerning the manner in which he has accomplished his task of fourteen years duration, the Committee state in its preface:
379
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
The Company must ever remain indebted to the historian, Mr. Oliver A. Roberts, for the ability and thoroughness with which he has per- formed his work. Full and accurate in its details, concise and clear in its statements, the History will ever hold a high place among the works of a similar character.
HON. SAMUEL EDMUND SEWALL was born in Boston, Novem- ber 9, 1799, and died in Boston, December 20, 1888.
He graduated from Harvard College in 1817. He came to North Malden in 1846, when it had but two or three hundred inhabitants. He was elected State Senator from Stoneham in 1852, as his house was just over the line from Melrose; but this territory was detached from Stoneham and joined to Melrose in 1853. He was identified with the anti-slavery movement from its beginnings, being one of the few who joined William Lloyd Garrison when he came to Boston in 1830.
Mr. Garrison, Oliver Johnson and Samuel J. May, met in Mr. Sewall's office on State Street, Boston, to form the Massachu-
380
HISTORY OF MELROSE.
setts Anti-Slavery Society. Mr. Sewall was also a prominent member of the National Anti-Slavery Society.
Upon the organization of the Liberty party he was for two years its candidate for Governor. He acted with that and the Free-Soil party until they were merged in the Republican party. He was ever foremost in advocating the passage of laws for the benefit of women, and while in the Senate he drafted a bill which became a law, giving married women the right to hold property. His only printed work is a pamphlet entitled Legal Condition of Women in Massachusetts, which was first issued in 1868; then revised in 1870, again in 1875 and again in 1886. Many years ago he was editor for two years of the American Furist and Law Magasine ( a quarterly ). He also edited, in connection with Willard Phillips, two editions of Sir John Bayley's Summary of the Law of Bills of Exchange, Cash Bills and Promissory Notes, the last edition being issued in 1836. Many years ago he contributed a number of articles to the Christian Register. The only other published matter of his, aside from that arising from his long life devoted to the law, is his sketch of his father, Joseph Sewall, prepared for the first volume of the Memorial Biographies of the New England Historic Gencalogical Society, published from the "Towne Memorial Fund." His father was a merchant of Boston and Treasurer of the Commonwealth from 1827 to 1832.
BRADFORD TORREY, was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, October 9, 1843. This keen observer of nature and great lover of birds, lived in Melrose for a number of years. His first book, Birds in the Bush, was published in 1885. Far and wide did he ramble, but many of his observations were made here in Melrose:
After the music of the Alice and the Swainson thrushes, the chief distinction of May, 1884, as far as my Melrose woods were concerned, was the entirely unexpected advent of a colony of rose-breasted gros- beaks. For five seasons I had called these hunting grounds my own, . .. before the end of the following month the hermit thrushes, the olive beaked thrushes and the gray-chested thrushes all sang for me in my Melrose woods.
Since then he has written The Footpath Way, 1892, A Rambler's Lease, 1889, A Florida Sketch Book, 1894, Spring Notes of Ten- nessee, 1896, A World of Green Hills, 1898 and Footing it in Franconia, 1901. Most of the contents of these volumes were
381
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
.
first contributed to the Atlantic Monthly; afterward published in book form.
The bibliography of writings pertaining particularly to Mel- rose is as follows:
In 1832, the Rev. S. Osgood Wright preached " An Historical Discourse," at Malden on Thanksgiving Day, which contained " A Sketch of the History of that Town from the Settlement to the Present Time," in which two or three pages are devoted to "that part of the town called the North End."
The Origin and Present Condition of Free Masonry in Melrose. Prepared by direction of the Waverley Masonic Association, for the purpose of being deposited in the Corner Stone of their new edifice, at Melrose, June 25, A.D. 1866. By Levi S. Gould, Past Master of Wyoming Lodge, 1866.
The Melrose Memorial, The Annals of Melrose, County of Mid- dlesex, Massachusetts, in the Great Rebellion of 1861-65, By Elbridge H. Goss. Privately Printed by Subscription, 1868.
The Centennial Fourth. Historical Address Delivered in Town Hall, Melrose, Mass., July 4, 1876, by Elbridge H. Goss. Also, The Proceedings of the Day. Privately Printed, Mel- rose, 1876.
" History of Melrose, by Elbridge H. Goss," for the History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, edited by Samuel Adams Drake, who wrote for it the "General History of the County," 1880.
Bibliography of Melrose, by Elbridge H. Goss, 1889.1
" History of Melrose, by Elbridge H. Goss," for the History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with Biographical Sketches of many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men, 1890.
Echoes from Mystic Side, Malden, Melrose, Everett, by H. M .. 1890. This little work contains a short sketch of Melrose, with the following appreciative item:
The growth of the town is due to the energy and attention of its people, in improving a tract of land already beautified by nature. Many fine residences have been erected, and Melrose is acknowledged as one of the most attractive places in this vicinity.
Melrose : Town and City 1850-1900. Published on the occasion of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Melrose, May, 1900. Issued by Charles H. Adams, proprietor of the Melrose Fournal. 1 This Bibliography contains writers and their works, than are other details concerning Melrose here given.
382
HISTORY OF MELROSE.
This work contains a historical sketch by Elbridge H. Goss, an account of the speeches and other proceedings at the Banquet in City Hall, May 2, 1900, given by the Board of Trade, views of many of its public buildings and finest resi- dences, from photographs by Lewis A. Dow, and portraits by Mrs. Addie K. Robinson and Elmer Chickering; and bio- graphical sketches of one hundred and thirty-seven of the leading and best known citizens.
Every two years Edward A. Jones issues a new edition of the Business and Resident Directory of Melrose. It contains a complete resident, street and business directory, city officers, schools, societies, churches, post-offices, etc. and a map of the city. The fifth edition was issued in 1902.
CHAPTER XXII.
NEWSPAPERS.
0 UR FIRST NEWSPAPER. The first Melrose newspaper was
called the Melrose Advertiser. The first number was issued in January, 1856. It was " A Family Newspaper, Devoted to the Interest of the Business Community, the Public and Ourselves." It was published monthly by G. S. Severy and A. H. Varney. It continued to be issued for about a year, when it ceased to exist for want of patronage, notwithstanding the introductory editorial, in No. I, said : "This paper is presented to the public in full confidence that it will be abundantly sustained and liberally patronized." It was a small four-paged sheet, thirteen by eighteen inches.
On the next page is a reduced reproduction of the first page of the No. 5, issued in May, 1856, which as the written legend at the top tells us :
This is the first paper printed in Melrose. I set the type and did the presswork before I was sixteen years old. EDWIN C. GOULD.
This was the only number that was printed in Melrose, the rest of the work having been done in Boston. This number was printed in a little building which stood on Essex street, opposite the City Hall, on the site of the present laundry of Charlie Sing, and store of the Smith Brothers - they of the automatic cordwainer, with surrounding sign: "Shoemaking ; That's our business." Only a few numbers of the Advertiser can be found, although effort has been made to gather a com- plete set for our Public Library. The only numbers I have seen are 1, 2, 5 and 7. In those numbers are many items of interest concerning the then existing institutions and business. Melrose then had about twenty-five hundred inhabitants. In Vol. I, No. 2, "An Old Resident, J. B.," writing from Province- town is reminicial and calls to mind old times as follows :
Do you remember when there was but one church and that without
This is the first haper picaled in melone Inet- the type and dide the pres work & food . was 16 your old. Godwin Ro. Gold
Alelrose
Advertiser
A FAMILY NEWSPAPER, DEVOTED TO THE INTEREST OF THEDESENESS COMMUNITY, THE PUBLIC, AND OURSELVES.
VOL. 1.
MELROSE: MAY, 1856.
NO. 5.
MELROSE ADVERTISER]twinkled in their merry mood, a close Is published Monthly by
S. SEVERY. .
A. H. VARNEV. -
roccots per annom. in advance ; five cents unele
11 will be distrihoted in every town in Now England, form of the best had moet rionemical method of adverii-eng ever attempted
TERMS OF ADVERTISING. 5.00 $35 00 One colamo, one year, one incorinn, One half column, one year. one insertion. 1.400 3.00 One quarter colomo ent year onr +-ertion, 4.00 One agonre, { 1G lines, s .. ne vcat, one insertion, Anything less than one square will be charged al tbc rate of S cer.s per line
Advertiser. m .et hand in their favors by the twenty-filth of each me mt if they wish Inser lion in the erreciting nonher. All companh ThonA ronia nios News. Loenl liems, & ., will be thankfully received-9od most eratain the real name of the author Ar commuitailuns, to mot wib attention. must be post-paid. and directeil 10 THE LOITONS.
Doctry.
THOUGHTS FOR A YOUNG MAN.
OY AXNIE K HATDEN.
Stay, young man. I fain would save thee From the misery thon crust ferl, I would sar abee Irom umminion.
I would huid ilee bnmhly hrcel.
Bribe greatnessof that spir:t. Breath by the Fternatt ud. Wow bihs being doth mbent, Leave, oh! have the downward road !
Though temp:ations throne pround thec, To iker lubings do not : ';
Creak .he band, they 'any have bound thee,
By tlie whenity of manhond. Stamped open the noble how- Ly .ichone . chy L'. "nal, I implore Thec not .o bow !
For a nont : pir5 ). din n ? Fast. ourit -o itiv Maher's bleness. Admit ted by h & soul. Wit al ww s.cin Thol spirn's brightness . Walt ition f .: The destined gual ?
Look 0,107 19. form nl glorr. Look upny : hy sontde Inec. Sav S .h w.t ... e made 10 plunge Ihce
I would have thee fc I the d . wn #:2 Of a tr. l' Jud gour ous y omb;
Au the grand.eur al it- buth.
THE ENGLISHMAX'S I.XPLOIT. AND How much he made by it.
CV SYLVANUS CODO, Ja.
Many years ago, when we were a socre boy. ne used to >it apen a low stoot, at the feet of Commodore Samuel Tucker, and hear that old veteran relate the incidents that had come under his observaon during the lost t pasle with Great Britian. Among the ilov-and and one stories that we have heard Fall from the hps of that ocen warrior, the following has remained fcsh in our memory.
On the western shoro of Penobscot Bay, between Belfast and Comden, there was a small club of fishcrinen's cots, inhabited by a hardy act of men who had froh anlam y been brought up amid the mo-ic of the breaking wives, and who knew no leat beneath the pow- et of marial man. Foremost among those children of it sa, and occupying the status of ruler ?mong item, was a saddle aged man, nawird Choch Night ogale, or. ar be was gruetally called. Captain Nightingale, and never Was there a man lever fand by nature for the perst he held by general consent shan he was. Pourmind and athletic in his physical mou'd, bold and hach a sy th torest nawasch, and frank and generous. we bis social relations, he was beloved by all wbo hurw him He was a jolly ful low and often as the small grey eyes
obserter might have seen that a been love of practical joking locked in their gleaming depths.
i that time of which we wine, the fishermen dareil not ventmie far out, for a close binckade was kept up olong the coast. and so they were forced io foreno the advantages of their test fishing grounds. But a new isch had been taking po sesion of their brains, and they Thought of fitting oot a privateer against the English. For two weeks had this laJiter, SocjalLed over and all the arris necessary la personal war-fare had been procured. but no vessel suitable for the enterprise could be obtained, nor could they raise guns heavy enungh for her use, even bad they pro-cist & the vos-el. Of pistols and cutlasses they had enough. and that was all, unless we add- od one old six-pounder, which served as a kind of signal gun io cases of licavy logs and stormy night :.
It was just at nightfall that Obed Nightingale's shallop (Obed was the old man's son) come op the bay, and os the young man come on shore, he reported thatthere wason English top- ail schoon- er, a clean clipper-built craft, laying off and on between Meabegan and the ledg- es. She was heavily armed, and seem. ed to play about in the water as though her heels were made for running.
Now Cap :. Nign.ingale hed said very liule about the various projects that had bern set on foot with regard to the pri- viteering expedition, but he had thought a good deal. and as soon as his son com- municated the above intelligence, his thoughts come to a focus. A plan of operation was clearly marked out in bis mind, and he at onre set shout the work of putting it into effect.
The man who stood second to Capt. Nightingale, as male. was Jabe Has-
thnow there is a British clipper just OD) side ?'
· Yes."
· Weli, s pose we ge and take her ?'
. Take that Englishman ?- W.b-e w !" . But I'am in earnest.'
Jobe looked at Nightingale with the utmost astonishment.
. I can go out in my liule Rhody an' take her before she knows where she is. Now will you help me ?'
I'll folfer yer, captain, ef you go tew" thonder.' was Jahe's heaty response, os he saw the old nian was in carnest.
Capt. Nightingale took his mate by the arm, and led him off. The night was dark, but still there was a busy scenc on board the schooner Chedy, which was the heave-t fishing vessel in the place. Torches were gleaming 10 and fro all night long, hammers ond saws were sending forth their music, and when the morning dawned, the Rho- dy was ready for sca, the old iron sig- nal gun was hoisted on board, and placed on a smile son of carriage mide chips, the codfine buckets and bait boxes had been cleared away, and tele bor oll in all, she wore some fint re emblence to ou embryo pirate or privateer.
She was managed by twelve men, of whom Jabe BoLins sonk comniand .- The prople "wondered where Capt. Nightingale was, bei Jabe set the'r hearts at rest by telling them he would sel nut-itic as soon as the schooner did. In on leur after dinhght the hody hove up her nochor and inudc sail, pod in less than five hours she poled her Lloni nose into the waters of the blue Al- lonnie. Stardy afer the schooner lad passed White Head Fight the Eaglesura was made out, about two in'leydi .1.411 10 ibe somnh'id and vest'rd just off' the ledge , and hauled his sheets oft, Jabe brud In his vessel up to the wind, winch Wis bech huti the non's're nad cast'rd, -rj wood off towhy the la c. p .. . ut. This looked life trying in run away-a!
piely por in full close, and though she was evident that she would not be long in overhauling the Vanter Alunit four o'clock in the afternoon the Hell im come almost wohin
hading distance, and f. ed a sun. As | leusch of her captor, while the hold fish- the hort came wieeine over the fisher- ero en we o bearly all couched beneath he balwarks. mon's dech, Jak Fach.'s hove to, and cie long the clipper came up.
Schiconel. alny !'
Hellow ! rein. .: cd Jabe.
.Do you surrender ?' " Wal, cf you want wo ahe us, I s'pose I can't help iny .eli.'
The clipper hove hey fote-top-ail to the mast and lowerelça boat, and in some five minutes ofiterdatus her com. mander, followed by I' Mananca. comic nere the Yankee's sille the ist ob- ject that niet his gaze are. temped up- on the dect, wes ile stup gun rond- :l'ps. and though the' ibought of on American pirate modepaim feel sore, yet he could not help lutzbing at the ri. diculous scene thus presented to gazc. The twelve green loohutt fisbermeo to. gether with that gon, dinquesent rather a lodicious appearence.
" So you sie on a p.ptical expedi- tion ?' taoniingly remained ibe British officer.
+ I dono,' rewired Jabe wub ao of- fended air, 'I s'pose if,i'd come across one of your crafts that I could bave took. I should have done isbut dono as 1 ¿bould a been phaung uny more's yeu are now.'
. How many men haz- you got ?'
. Here's twelve on man' el you've got twohe men 'at hen gek us, I'd like lo see 'em.'
. Never mind that, ambarhan. We'll take you into Habfax, 'aod ibere, per- baps, you find yoor moich.'
The se! coner was punched fore and aft, balan that could we found were o dozen old pistols, nrd. about as many swords, which were .o be cabin, while The clipper was taken into Penob- :cot Bar. her officers and crew banded in the wold they discovered nothing but en array of empty boxes pod barrels .- The Englishmon tell youre of his own De firevai faver as prisoners of war, and filled out
sailed in her for several years in that opacity, and when peace was officially announced, he retired to his bumble home, having captured a large number cn, richly laden, jof English merchantinen, during his various cruises, by which he and his brave companions ' Lecame wealthy, some of whom yet live ia quiet nfluence, within sight of the place where tbe clipper was captured.
Kean and the Publicon.
While playing at Excier, in England, at the height of his popularity, Kean was invited to dine witn some gentlemen at one of the principal hotels. He drove there in his carringe. The dinner was jannounced, the table sumptuously deco. paied, and the landlord all bows ond submission, hoping that the gentlenen and their distinguished visitor found every-thing to their satisfaction.
Kean stared at hiin for some momeols, and den said:
* Your na . e is ?ª
"It is, Mr. Keon; I have had the bonor of meeting yon before.'
You Lopt some years ngo a small tav. era in the nutshirts of the town ?'
' I did. Mr. Kean. Fortune has been kind to hoch of us since then. I recol- lett you, sit, when you belonged to our theatre hiere.
"Anıl I. sir,' said Kean, jumping up, recollect you! Many years ago I come into your pahry levern, ahier a long jour- ney, winden suffering wife und a silk child, all of us wet to the shin. I asked you lor a morsel of refreshment. you on-arred ine as if I were a dog, and refused to iresi ii out of your own hands want you had received the table which was its value.
. I left my family by your inhospitable Grevde, while I sought for long'in; . On ny version, you ordered me hle a bune to take the wife and brat hom your house, and abused me for not ? pending in danh the money I bid got for food. For use os you say, ha . done something for us both since then ; but you the still
sull the same. I am now in my god" & li was then at its nadır ; but I am me- same mar -- the same Kean whoin you ordered from your doors; and I have now the same hatred to oppres ion 1hod then; and were it my la-t meal. J'i: nm Fol or drink in a house belonging to so heartless a scoundrel.'
. Gentleman,' said he terato hi friend -. ' I beg pardon for his.summtbronk ; bor were I to dire under the roof of abis time- reving, gold lov my brun, is. fue, mouthfat I am sure :(Hin tivepsi Kesh hem bus no d. and the party ad- journed to another how l.
THE SCANDAL MONGER.
Who is there, that at some perid of their life, has not suffered from the veo- om of the scandal munger? wbo has not felt a shadow falling upon their heart, irs dark as the darkest shadow their fortn would cast in the sunlight, and have known, alnost froin intuition, that some hidden enemy was at work to their dis may? That friends should give ear to these calommes-that friends should, have so listesmarity es to beleive in these vile nepersions, is the mo-t woful pont of all.' In reading "Earne-t Lin wood," the following gem, worthy of a place upon every heart, struck me os being appropricte to the subject, and worth a setting by itself a ..
They say!" Who are penany Ir mid- night assassins of reputanorpmnolurk jo the by-lanes of society, with dagget ton goes, sharpened by invention and enven- omed by malice, to draw the blood of in- nocence, and, byena-like, banquet on the dead! Who are the? a wreed world skollerfaring me the bo'd brenged. @bo lounuers along Ine highways" wab flashing weapon, that cuts the sunbeam as well os the sbode! Give me the pirate who uafurls the black flagemblem of his terrable trade, and shots!gre plaok wbich your doomed foot must ucad, but save me from the they-sayers of society. whose knives are hidden in a velvet sheatb, whose bridge of death is woven of flowers, and who spread with invisible poisen eveo the spotless whitcoess of ¿be winding sheet !"
Is not that to the point-Union.
A pedler, callnig on an old lady 10 dis- pose of some goods, inquired of her if she could tell him of any road that no pedler had ever travelled. " Yes, I koow of one, aod only one, which no pedler has ever travelled, (the pedler's countenance brightened,) and that's the rood to heaven."
A lawyer bad his head measured for a wig, when the functionary exclaned, " Why, how long your bead is, sir!"- " Yes," was the reply. "we lawyers most have loog heads !" The wig-maker pro- ceeded, when he suddenly exclaimed, " Why. sir. your head is os thick as it Is long !"
A man advertises for a person to sell a new medicine, and adds thet it will be found profitable to the undertaker.
Geot. at botet dinner table -.. Waite bring me a plate of flies and a ploie o buuer ; I prefer to mix them mysell."
A Belgian forest ihnaks he has got the secret of producing a blue dobita, for which a large prive hae lor a long time been offered.
There are there things that uever be- come rusty -the money of the benevo- lent, the shoes of the bucher's horse and a wonina's tongue.
In the mean tune the Yenhce had (the same.I .ce -the same cringing grn. p been lot of a little more than a cable's fing, greedy money hunter 1 ;i, an
Some one from the clipre: answered the lieutenant's call.
Tell them the schooner has sprung a k.k. and ila ibe cussed Vonkec musi have throw the pomp.breaks over.
The poor lieutenant Inoted first at die stern face of the old man, and then et the sample of the pistol, and then sre'ching his lungs to ibe utmost, obey. ed the order.
: Now tell'tain to beave to, and you'll rua along side."
The frightened offirer obeyed and The next toment the clipper's belm was pat hard down, and ber main boom hove to wiadword.
Seven of the Yankee fishermen were I-Intioned at the lee-rail, with stout grop- logs in their hands, and in less than five minutes the Rhody's bawsprit looin. ed over the clipper's weather quarter. Oved shoved the helm down, and the next instont she lay broadside to the clipper, when Capl. Nightingale and all bis men rushed on board, armed to the lectb .- The commander of the clipper rallied his men for the fight, but being taken by surprise, they were soon over. powered, bound and thrust under the hanches, except the officers, who afier heing disarmed were allowed their liber- ly npon the vessel.
Auer the affray was over, Capl. Nightingale approached the Captain of the clipper who was raving with excite- ment .- ' Wal, Cap'n, what d've' think now about taking us into Halifax ?' The only reply be received was a cors- ing for what he called o ' contemptable Yankee trick.'
own vessel, leaving ibo wher six andet obe charge of the officer who bad been appointed to ibe command of the Rhody, and gave orders ibot abe schooner should be kuw close in his wake during the Digbi, matt be intended to see ber safely out of .each of ibe Yaokee coast. ers.
Until nine o'clock ot aight tbe Rho- dy stood after the copper, with all sails sel, while the laucr ooly carried her mainsail al ino jibs The six Yan- Lees whims .... \ been Jeft on board were secured 10 y along boat, while the Licu- teoant in command and five of his men bad the first watch, when the clipper struck two bells, the vessels were not more than two cable's length npart, the prize being a little to the windward, owing to her hod sailing, the Lieuten- ant wished to keep the weather guage. The night was quite darl., and the wind, which had fallen some since sondown. bad veered slightly to th . northward.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.