The history of Nantucket County, island, and town : including genealogies of first settlers, Part 34

Author: Starbuck, Alexander, 1841-1925
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: Boston [Mass.] : C.E. Goodspeed & Co.
Number of Pages: 900

USA > Massachusetts > Nantucket County > The history of Nantucket County, island, and town : including genealogies of first settlers > Part 34

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

Blinnd, Thomas

Bunker, David

Badtam, Silvanus

Calder, (or Caldor) Robert

Burges, Ichabod

Case, Moses

Cartwright, William

Coffin, Daniel

Chase, Reuben

Coffin, Henry ( ?)

Coffin, Ebenezer

Coffin, Timothy

Coffin, Nathan

Collier, Humphrey

Coffin, Valentine

Cole, James

Coleman, C .-

Cocks, Benjamin

Count, Jesse Abner

Dier, James

Daggett, Tristram

Ellis, Simeon

Ellis, Hugh

Fitch, James

Fair, David

Folger, Obadiah

Folger, Asa

Ford, Richard

Forguson, Arthur

Gage, Edward

Frost, Nathaniel

Gardner, Levi

Gage, John

Gerald, Henry

Gardner, Uriah

Harper, Richard

Harden, James

Harris, Thomas Blin

Harris, Blinn

Hunter, Samuel

Harvey, John

Hope, Jack

Hurring, John

Hussey, Paul

Hussey, Stephen

Lope, John

Manter, Gard

Marshall, Samuel

Martler, John

Masey,* Tristram

McCloud, John

Merrick, Christopher;

Mingo, Thomas

Morris, John

Moses, Moses

Murfey, Edward,#

Murphy, Edward#

Murphy, Edward}

Myrick, Christopher,

Osborn, George

Peas, Mikel tt

Pease, Michael,

Pees, Michael it

Pease, Reuben

Plaisted, Ichabod

Pinkham, Seth

Rowlin, V.

Probey, William,

Ramsdel, William

Rowen, James

Rhoades, Nathaniel

Shadwell, Thomas

Shaw, William

Stewart, Charles

Tilley, Nathaniel

Tracey, Henry

Webster, James

Weeks,-

Whitehouse, James

Woodward, Joseph##

Youmans, Reuben.

The foregoing list seems to contain names of prisoners as well as combatants, but it is difficult now to make a distinction.

*Macy. ¿State Archives. Rev. Council Papers. Vol 168-6, p. 210. #Evidently the same person.

** Evidently the same as Christopher Merrick. ttProbably the same. ##Probably the same.

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

The records contain the names of these Nantucket men who were with Com. John Paul Jones in service on board the Bon Homme Richard and Ranger: Reuben Chase (midshipman), Henry Martin, William Roberts, Thomas Turner, James Chase, Reuben Joy, Albert Cogswell, Nathan ' Aldrich, Latham Gardner, James Nicholson, Owen Starbuck, Seth Folger, William Nye, Freeman Lufkin, Paul Worth, Henry Gardner, Matthew Starbuck, Barzillai Folger, Stephen Folger, Nelson Aldrich, Charles Crampton.

The names of James Rowen and V. Rowlin, both seamen from Nantucket, appear on the crew list of the privateer Brigantine Gen.

THE NATHAN WILBUR MILL, BUILT 1746 (Now owned by the Nantucket Historical Association )

Wayne. Samuel Hunter, born in Nantucket was in Lt. Col. Doty's Co. and Pharoh Onso was listed in Capt. Peter West's Co .*

As has been previously stated, John Adams, writing from Braintree in 1779, gave the names of 16 Nantucket whaling captains who with their crews had been captured by the English and carried into English ports Assuming an average of 21 men to a ship, which was the customary number in those days, there would be a total of 336 Nantucket men captured as enumerated there alone.

The records of the Society of Friends show the following list of names of those who were disowned by the Society for active participation with armed men, either of the army or navy:

Thomas Marshall, 7th mo. 1775. Taking up arms.

Shubael Barnard, 10th mo. 1776.

*Probably an Indian.

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

Wm. Worth, 2d. 3d mo. 1777. Going to sea in a prize vessel.

Walter Gardner, 7th " „

Reuben Barnard, 2d, 8th mo. 1777.

Reuben Gardner, 5th mo. 1778.

Going to sea in a prize vessel.

Elihu Coffin, 7th mo. 1778. Going to sea in an armed vessel.

Obediah Coffin, "

Paul Hussey, 12th -

Obediah Folger, 3d ", 1779 ",

David Jenkins

Stephen Folger,

Chris. Ray, 5th

. ,,

Silvanus Ray, 8th

prize ,,

Obed Pinkham,

", .

armed

Amos Marshall, 8th mo., 1779 Holding office connected with the War.

Joseph Marshall Jr., 1st mo. 1780. Going to sea in armed vessel

Simeon Folger, 3d

Nathl. Gardner 7th

Job Coffin, 8th

Asa Folger 8th . 1

James Swain,

Reuben Ray

Chrisr. Mitchell, 9th

Geo. Coleman, 10th

armed

John Folger,

Gideon Worth,

prize

David Coffin Jr. 12th " „,

Josiah Gardner, 1st mo., 1781. Went to sea with guns.

Robert Dennis, 1st mo,. 1781. Belonged to a Privateer.

Ben'jn Folger, 3rd mo., 1781. Went to sea in armed vessel.

Solomon Coleman, 3d mo., 1781. Went to sea in armed vessel.

Shubael Gardner, 8th mo., 1781. Went to sea in armed vessel. Reuben Starbuck, 10th mo., 1781. Being with armed men.

Thaddeus Gardner, 12th mo., 1781. Went to sea in armed vessel. Robert Coffin, Jr., 12 mo., 1781. Being with armed men. .

Job Folger, 12th mo., 1781. Belonged to a Privateer.

William Ray, 2d mo., 1782.

Being on an armed vessel.

Tristram Ray, 5th mo., 1782. For Privateering.

Alexander Gardner, 6th mo., 1782. Going on an armed vessel.

Robert Folger, 6th mo., 1782. Going to sea with guns. Reuben Folger, 2nd., 12th mo., 1782. Being on an armed vessel.

There are 46, all of whom without doubt were loyal to the American government.

prize „,

, -

prize

Matthew Pinkham,

Obed Folger,

armed

Valentine Coffin

Jon. Cartwright 10th "

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

A goodly number of the people of Nantucket, while not ad- vocating war, aided the struggling Colonies with funds. Those who are on record as having loaned money to the Colonies are: *

Barker, Josiah,

Ally, Jacob

Barnard, Paul

Barnard, Benjamin Jr.

Barrett, Nathaniel

Barney, Robert

Beard, Matthew

Baxter, Christopher

Bunker, Batchelor

Brook, Thomas

Bunker, Joshua

Bunker, George

Bunker, Silvanus

Bunker, Mary

Butler, William

Burns, John

Barnard, Joseph

Breck, Elijah

Calder, George

Cartwright, Jona'n

Cary, Edward

Chadwick, Richard

Chase, Benjamin

Chase, Stephen

Clark, Thomas

Clarke, Henry

Coffin, Benjamin

Coffin, Elijah

Coffin, Josiah

Coffin, Micajah

Coffin, Nathan

Coffin, Peleg, Jr.

Coffin, Ruth

Coffin, Shubael

Colburn, Timothy Fish, Stephen Fitch, Timothy

Folger, Barzillai

Folger, Benjamin

Folger, George

Folger, Jonathan

Folger, Owen

Folger, Peregrine

Folger, Sylvanus

Folger, Timothy

Folger, Tristram

Folger, William

Gardner, Eliz'a

Gardner, Gideon

Gardner, Joseph

Gardner, Reubent

Gardner, Zechariah

Gelston, Nath'el

Gelston, Cotton

Giles, Reuben

Hussey, Batchelor

Hussey, Christopher

Hussey, Christopher & Son

Hussey, Joseph

Hussey & Snow

Jenkins, Jon'a;

Jenkins, Thomas

Kelly, Daniel

Lealand, Mehetabelt.

Lealand, Hopestill;

Lawrence, George

Long, John

Macy, Caleb Macy, Zaccheus

Marshall, Josiah

Merrifield, Asat

Mirick, Jethro

Mirick, Joseph

Morris, John

Myrick, And'w

Myrick, Jethro} Nichols, Joseph

Myrick, William

Paddack, Silas

*Third Report National Society D. A. R. Oct. 1898-Oct. 1900, pp. 316 to 345. ¡Recorded as of Sherburne. Probably the Lealands and Merrifield were of Sherborn, Middlesex County.

#Probably the same as Mirick Jethro.

Macy, Seth

Drew, Gershom

Fitch, Peter

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

Paddock, Stephen

Pease, Abraham

Pease, Elijah

Pierce, Jere'h

Pinkham, John

Pinkham, Jonathan

Pinkham, Paul

Pinkham, Tristram

Roby, Joseph

Ross, Isaac

Rotch, William

Russell, Rich'd

Russell, Sam'l Jr.

Smith, Henry

Smith, Job

Snow, Thomas

Squire, David

Swain, Daniel 2d

Swain, Simeon

Swain, Tristram

Worth, John

Worth, William

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

CHAPTER VI

THE ROBBERY OF THE NANTUCKET BANK

In June 1795* the Island community was astounded by an event which created a scandal that it did not recover from for more than quarter of a century. Its effects permeated the civil and political life of the Islanders so long as any of the parties in- volved lived. Indeed one can apparently trace the line of cleavage on the most serious questions involving Town, State and National affairs from a point beyond the time of the War of 1812 back to the fatefull 26th of June 1795, when, with the suddenness well conveyed by the hackneyed but appropriate expression, "like a clap of thunder from a cloudless sky," the people were told that the Nantucket Bank had been robbed. It is largely because of its far- reaching effects that the incident becomes of historical value.

Mrs. Fanning's Diary contains this entry-"Friday, June 26. A general alarm-the Nantuckett bank robbed of a large sum of money. tis supposed keys were made for the purpose. there was 5 locks to unlock 2 iron doors to open. it was thought to be quite secure."

The Bank had been established to facilitate business, after long consideration, and was duly chartered by the Commonwealth, with a capital of $40,000 to be paid in three instalments. One instalment had been paid, and as the Bank had already begun busi- ness there had been considerable deposits made. The robber or robbers had carried away the entire paid-in capital and some $8,000 additional .; "The loss of the money," says Mr. Macy,## was not a consideration, compared with the vindictive spirit which the rob- bery afterwards occasioned The effects on the community at large were solemn. Many who were not immediately concerned, had to

*The name of the Town was changed from Sherburne to Nantucket June 8, 1795. There already was a town of Sherborn in Middlesex Coun- ty incorporated. Its name was spelled Sherbourne and it was incor- porated Oct. 7. 1674.

The list of losses as stated is

400 pieces French coined Gold-Value $1733.

150 Spanish Pistoles 550.

300 English Guineas 1400.

116.

50 English Half Guineas

22 Pieces of coined Gold Called Half Joannes

176.

18 Pieces of coined Gold called Quarter Joannes 72.

In Dollars 12,007.

4,873.

4430 French Crowns

$20.927

** Hist. of Nantucket p. 145.

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

deplore the unhappy state in which their friends and neighbors were involved, and out of the reach of a mediator."

Nantucket at the time was a busy seaport and there must have been at all times strangers in port, and yet suspicion seemed to center on well-known and previously respected citizens. Hysteria seemed to assume the place of reason and testimony was given in Court seemingly based more on imagination than facts.

When the Directors first discovered the robbery, about a week before it actually was made public, it was agreed by them to keep .it secret as a precautionary measure to prevent a run on the Bank .* The Boston stockholders advocated the immediate pay- ment of the second instalment on the capital, and that was done, in the meantime a reward of $1,000 was offered for the apprehension of the thieves. Men were put under arrest and haled into Court on very flimsy suspicion, and the strongest evidence against them appeared to be that of women whom it is charitable to believe were hysterical and imaginative, and of men, whose stories subsequent events proved must have been far from true. Indeed, from suffici- ent evidence it appears as though some of the Bank Directors had determined in their own minds on who the guilty parties were, and bent every energy to prove their convictions true, even venturing critically near the appearance of bribery to produce confirmatory testimony. The case was transferred to Suffolk County and in September 1796, the Grand Jury of Suffolk County failed to find a bill against the parties suspected. The following year the case again canie before a Grand Jury of the County, who found a true bil against five Nantucket men, prominent citizens, for robbing the Bank. On September 12, the Petit Jury brought in a verdict of "not guilty," for four of them, and guilty for the fifth.t

In the meantime some of the men who had been falsely accused of the crime, not satisfied with the mere verdict of "not guilty" by the Jury, set out to determine who the guilty parties were. It was satisfactorily proven that the robbery was committed by three notorious burglars-John Clark, Jr., William Witherly, alias Zeb Weathers, with sundry other aliases, and Samuel Johnson, alias Jones .; It does not appear that any of the money was ever recovered. The whole story would seem incredible in its unfolding, if the proof as given in affidavits, in the published history of the crime, were not so irrefutable.

So thoroughly did the venom of suspicion permeate the commu- nity that no proof of innocence, however direct and positive seemed

*Narrative of the Robbery of the Nantucket Bank p. 1. ¡The Court was so fully impressed of the innocence of the convicted man that:sentence was deferred and he was released by the Governor without ever having been sentenced.

¿Some idea of the long abiding bitterness engendered may be gained by the fact that in 1816, twenty-one years after the robbery occurred, two of the men unjustly accused, compiled and had printed the story of the robbery with documentary proof of who the real robbers were and the unexplained neglect through which the criminals were allowed to escape. A statement by Mrs. Kezia Fanning throws an interesting side- light on this unfortunate affair.

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

to suffice to convince those who had already determined in their own minds that their neighbors, hitherto thoroughly respected in the community, were guilty of this outrage. Years passed on but still "suspicion poisoned his brothers cup." It is stated that one prominent and trusted citizen, who died 20 years after the robbery, was so disturbed by the treatment which he received that when upon his death-bed, he called around him) those who were locally most active in the affair and asked them to bear witness that on his death-bed he entirely disavowed all participa-

MAJOR JOSIAH COFFIN HOUSE Built 1724

tion in or knowledge of any matter connected directly or indirectly with the robbery.

Those against whom accusations were most pitilessly directed, and who were determined that their innocence should be proved beyond a peradventure, at once set to work to ascertain if possible who the guilty parties were, but it was years before they had gather- ed the oral and documentary evidence, to prove beyond a doubt that no one belonging to Nantucket had any connection with the case directly or idirectly, but that three notorious criminals of extended reputation, were the thieves. The result of their investigations pursued untiringly was published as soon as completed, which was not until 1816.

The identity of the thieves was disclosed in an interesting way in January 1816 when Alexander Coffin, Jr., an officer in

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

the State's Prison in New York, wrote to William Coffin, Esq., of Nantucket, that they had a man confined in the prison there who gave so circumstantial an account of the robbery of the Nantucket Bank that there was little doubt but he was one of the gang. The clue was followed up, and it showed that three notorious thieves, James Witherly, John Clark and Samuel Johnson, who made some skeleton keys, after Clark had been to Nantucket three times to get familiar with the field. Apparently the only reason that the thieves did not take all the cash there was there, was because they unexpectedly encountered a locked door they were not prepared for and had to make a pewter key to unlock it and they lost two hours time. They came to the Island in a small vessel and after securing their booty left at once.

Business had begun to improve with the Islanders in spite of low prices and indifferent markets. So many discouragements had caused many emigrations from the island, but those who remained had to turn their attention to some pursuit whereby to gain a live- lihood and there was nothing at which they were adept but whal- ing .* In 1796 twelve ships went on whaling voyages from Nantucket, going, as a rule to the Brazil Banks and to Woolwich Bay. In 1797 fifteen ships sailed from Nantucket, some of which went to the Pacific Ocean.

In 1799, came trouble from another source. The Spanish government on the west coast of South America was clearly hostile to American whalemen and seized them in port upon the slightest pretext. A marked instance was that of the ship Commerce, Capt. Amaziah Gardner The captain, mate and boat's crew were seized by the Spaniards at St. Mary's in January 1799 and were barbar- ously treated. ;

*It would be an interesting matter to go into the detail of the emigrations from Nantucket caused by war, depressed business, the "California Fever" as the migration of the Forty Niners to the Golden Gate was called, and other adversities. Just before, during and immedi- ately following the Revolution quite a colony of Nantucketers went to New Gardren, North Carolina and established themselves. From there they spread through East Tennessee, into Indianna and other parts of the middle West. Until within a very short time they have held Starbuck family reunions in Indianna every summer and on some occasions over 100 were present. Parties also migrated to Ohio, and up the Hudson river to Poughkeepsie, Hudson and Troy. Hudson is said to have been found- ed by Nantucketers. Quite a number of the Islanders settled in Barring- ton, Nova Scotia just prior to the Revolution, and after it still others settled in Halifax and Dartmouth. Some went to Dunkirk France, but as a rule they returned; others went to Milford Haven, Wales, and re- mained there. Another delegation went to Ravenna, Ohio. Indeed there is hardly a section of the country where one may not run across a na- tive of Nantucket.

"The Tryal, of Nantucket, was seized and condemned, and the Mi- antonomah, of Norwich, Conn. was seized. France lost no opportunities to harrass the English whale fishery, and the fact that she became im- broiled in trouble with the United States did not make matters any more (See next page.)

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

From this time until the Second War with England, the Island- ers pursued their occupation with a gradually augmenting fleet. This occurred even despite the threatened trouble earlier between England and the United States. In 1802, Nantucket increased her whaling fleet by five, sending out 20 ships, besides two small vessels. The embargo of 1807, temporarily disturbed the fishery but it re- covered and in 1811, the fleet that left Nantucket for the whaling grounds numbered 24 ships, 1 brig, 3 schooners and 3 sloops.

As early as 1803, the attention of the people of Nantucket began to be more particularly directed to devising some means for overcoming the serious handicap to business resulting from the existence of the bar off the mouth of the harbor. A heavy expense was incurred by the necessity of sending ships over the bar light and receiving them again practically empty as it was necessary to employ many lighters. Some had contended that lightering had its compensations in the employment of more men, but it was nec- essarily a crude logic that could find it advantageous to increase the cost of a commodity one is obliged to sell in competition. Up to the year 1803, however, no plan had been devised to remedy the difficulty. In that year, says Macy*, a proposition was then made at a Town Meeting, to petition Congress to assist Nantucket, in any way which might be deemed expedient, in digging a channel from Brant Point to the outer part of the outer bar. The subject underwent a long discussion: many were opposed to it, from an apprehension that Government would not grant the request; but a committee was at length appointed to bear a petition to Congress, and to use their endeavors to carry it into effect. The Committee, on their return, reported that Congress had so far attended to the request, as to authorize the appointment of suitable persons to survey the harbor and bar, at the expense of the government, and to estimate the probable expense of the undertaking. This report was very flattering and satisfactory to the people in general, and a committee of fivet was chosen to wait on the surveyors, when they should arrive at the Island, and to act as necessity should re- quire in carrying the whole subject into effect. A larger com-

comfortable for Nantucket men pursuing the business from English ports. In 1805 Capt. Peter Bunker, commanding the ship Falkland. Capt. Obed Folger, commanding the ship Ganges, Capt Christopher Bunker, commanding the ship Kent, and Henry Bunker, a mate were captured by the French. The Falkland and probably the Ganges had been among those sailing under the Rotch flag from Dunkirk and they had been captured by the English. Not content with imprisoning their captives in some port the French treated them brutally compelling them to walk from the coast to Verdun, their shoes and stockings worn out and their captors continually endeavoring to accelerate their movements by prod- ding them with sharpened sticks, like the goads used on oxen. There they, or some of them, were held for five weary years. Their letters to their families in Nantucket were pathetic longings for liberty and a restoration to their island home. In the case of Capt. Peleg Bunker release finally came but his body, weakened by confinement,could not withstand the reaction and on being set free he dropped dead from the excitement.

* Hist of Nantucket pp 152-3-4. The meeting was held Jan 8. 1803.

+Gideon Gardner, Isaac Coffin Esq., Obed Mitchell, George G. Hus- sey, Francis Macy.

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

mittee was also chosen to assist by advice or otherwise in forward- ing the important work .*

Many were now so elated with the prospect of effecting the desirable object, that their views extended from digging a channel to building stone piers from the points of Coatue and Brant Point in a northerly direction to the outer bar, or as far as should be found expedient to accomplish the end in view. This plan, differ- ing so much from the one first proposed, met with great opposition. The subject became the common topic of conversation. The people, generally, opposed every plan but the original one, that of digging a channel, from the conviction that piers would be the means of obstructing the navigation, by causing new shoals, and that, being built of stone, they would endanger passing vessels, especially in the night.

In the summer of the same year, the surveyors arrived and very diligently attended to the business of their appointment. The Committee of the Town faithfully waited on them till the survey was completed. They had been led by observation, to believe that stone piers would be injurious to the harbor, but they proposed that pilés should be driven down, eight or ten feet apart, and the spaces filled with plank, by which means they supposed that the velocity of the tides would be increased, and the channel by that means deepened without much digging.

The Town was again convened for the purpose of hearing the report of the Committee, ; who stated that it would be expedient to build wooden piers: one extending from the north-west point of Coatue to the south-west corner of the black flats, the other to begin about one-third of the distance from the end of Brant Point to the Cliff, and to extend to the north-east corner of Cliff Shoal; both upon straight lines .¿ A long debate then ensued, when it appeared that the general voice was against having piers of any kind, from the apprehension that they would cause new shoals, and thus ob- struct the entrance of large vessels into the harbor .** No ob- jection, however, was urged against digging a channel, and a Com- mittee was appointed with instructions to use their best endeavors

*Walter Folger, Seth Coffin, Francis Joy, Shubael Barnard, Shubael Coffin, Thaddeus Coffin, Gilbert Coffin, Zenus Coffin, John Cartwright, Silas Jones, Christopher Mitchell, Richard Mitchell, Joseph Chase, Zac- cheus Hussey, Tristram Hussey, William Macy, Silvanus Macy, Peter Chase, John Swain, Josiah Barker Jr.

¿Presumably Nantutcket was not different from other Massachu- setts towns. Few committee reports appear to be preserved, and if there is a synopsis in the Records it usually is unsatisfactory. Many side lights of local affairs that would prove exceedingly interesting are thereby lost.

#Hon Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury, issued an order

July 25, 1803 for Samuel Cox and John Foster Williams to make the needed survey and the report followed their suggestions. The estimated expense was $30,000. Mr. Williams advised the appointment of a Commit- tee to urge the matter with Congress. In a letter he wrote he said of the project-"If you get it done I hope it will exceed your most Sanguine Expectations and that it will prove a Lasting benefit to your Commerce." ** The Town voted "That the Town will not have any piers built on the black flats and of from brant point." A motion at the next meeting to reconsider the vote was lost 250 to 400.

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HISTORY OF NANTUCKET

to have the original plan of deepening the water by digging carried into effect. But when Congress next met, the proposition was rejected, and thus the whole matter ended.

The whale fishery was continued with a gradually increasing fleet and with a fair measure of success up to the beginning of the War of 1812. The price of sperm oil fluctuated considerably .* but on the whole the prices appeared to be remunerative. The Em- bargo, following the outrageous acts of the British Government to- wards the American merchant marine was a temporary check not so much from the risk encountered as from the prohibitive rates of insurance .; For a while business was stagnant. In 1809, says Macy,¿ "many families, wearied with the vicissitudes almost daily experienced, removed to different parts of the country. The streets of the Town were thronged with the laboring poor, already so reduced as to be quite at a loss to know whence articles of the first necessity were to be obtained; some were quite destitute of the means of subsistence."

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The history of Nantucket County, island, and town : including genealogies of first settlers, Part 34

Author: Starbuck, Alexander, 1841-1925 Publication date: 1924 Publisher: Boston [Mass.] : C.E. Goodspeed & Co. Number of Pages: 900

Author: Starbuck, Alexander, 1841-1925
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: Boston [Mass.] : C.E. Goodspeed & Co.
Number of Pages: 900