USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Westport > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Dartmouth > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 15
USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > The history of New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts : including a history of the old township of Dartmouth and the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven, from their settlement to the present time > Part 15
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As the President of the Bedford Commercial Bank, which situation he held for more than thirty years, he evinced great financial skill and talent; and it is probable that the affairs of this institution will never be better sustained or administered than while under the old regime, with him at the head.
George Howland was born in Fairhaven, Dart- mouth, 7th mo. 12th, 1781, and died at his own house, corner of Walnut and Seventh streets, 5th mo. 21st, 1852, in the seventy-first year of his age.
He left a large fortune. Among his donations and bequests were $15,000 to the Friends' School at Haverford, Pa .; $5000 for a school in North Carolina; and $50,000, in trust, for the establish- ment of a school for "young females," which it is to be hoped will be duly appropriated in this place, where his life was mostly spent and his wealth garnered.
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CHAPTER XIX.
THE WRITER'S VIEWS IN REGARD TO THE TITLE OF HIS PRODUCTION -REMINISCENCES OF ELISHA THORNTON AND JAMES DAVIS, TWO DISTINGUISHED MINISTERS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN NEW BEDFORD, AND GEN- ERAL REMARKS UPON THEIR CHARACTERS AND INFLU- ENCE.
I HAVE dignified these sketches of mine with the title of a "History of New Bedford." Although I have endeavored to comprise the most important historical information relating to my subject, still the discursive manner in which I have performed my task and the variety of material I have made use of rather entitles it to a less assuming name, and that of "Historical Sketches" is all I shall claim for them.
I propose in the present chapter to introduce to the remembrance of our older inhabitants, and to the acquaintance of the younger, a few reminis- cences of two characters, remarkable for their superior virtues, and among the most prominent of our citizens in their day and generation.
Among those of that generation, now so nearly gone, no one probably held a more endeared and valued place among his friends and the public than Elisha Thornton, Sen., the father of the late Elisha Thornton, so well and favorably known to most of our fellow-citizens, in fact, the respect for whose memory is but little less than that felt for his more widely known parent.
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As a minister of the Society of Friends, Elisha Thornton, Sen., was distinguished for his richly poetic style of eloquence, combined with talents of no ordinary order, and intellectual cultivation. So correct was his ear for rhythm, as I am informed by a gentleman who was one of his intimate friends and admirers, that he would often deliver a long discourse in blank verse, extempore, of course, as this is the only manner in which the ministers of this society preach. His voice was rich and musical; and the inflections and cadences of his periods were in admirable harmony with his gentle and instructive communications, resembling the chanting of the bards of old.
A remarkable coincidence, and one which ap- peared to be possessed almost of supernatural agency, occurred upon a certain occasion during his ministry. It was during the height of the bloody campaigns and victories of Napoleon Bona- parte, and when with each return of news from Eu- rope the horrid accounts of further bloodshed were sure to be learned, that the Society of Friends in this town, which then comprised a large portion of the most respectable inhabitants, were gathered together in their old meeting-house, which stood nearly upon the site occupied by the present sub- stantial brick structure, upon Spring street. The respected subject of this notice, at that time some- what advanced in life, a man of tall and venerable personal appearance, whose voice, as before stated, was peculiarly soft and musical, and whose coun- tenance was full of the deepest kindness and
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sympathy for human woe, was upon this occasion dilating upon the miseries of war, and portrayed in a most graphic manner the scenes of the battle- field, speaking of the sufferings of those engaged in deadly strife. "Even now," he said, "can we see the blood flowing, and hear the groans of the
dying." All present were deeply impressed with the discourse, the speaker appearing to be possessed of a prophetic vision, which proved to be remark- ably verified, for it was afterwards satisfactorily ascertained that during the time this peaceful body of men and women were seated in their humble place of worship, and were listening to the voice of their beloved minister, one of the most cele- brated and bloody battles of the great but wickedly ambitious hero of France was being fought.
Probably no man was ever endowed with a keener sympathy for human misery or the suffer- ings of the brute creation than Elisha Thornton. In this respect, as well as in his fine vein for poetry, he resembled the sensitive and beautiful Cowper. His mind was indeed finely attuned to harmony ; and the beauties of nature were not only a source of constant pleasure and devotional suggestion to him, but were introduced into his conversation and public ministrations.
Elisha Thornton was the son of Ebenezer and Ruth Thornton, and was born in Smithfield, R. I., 4th mo. 30th, 1747, and died in New Bedford 12th mo. 31st, 1816, in the seventieth year of his age. His parents being in humble circumstances, most of his early years were spent in manual labor as a farmer
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boy; but owing to his great love of knowledge, as well as being possessed of talents of a high order, he acquired, by dint of hard study in the hours not allotted to labor, and by observation and meditation while engaged in his daily avocations, an education superior to most of his cotemporaries in the Society of Friends. He became a teacher of youth, and for many years kept a boarding-school at his house in Smithfield, R. I., at which a large number of the children of the families of Friends of New Bedford as well as other places received their edu- cation. The school was not, however, confined to the members of the Society of Friends, and a number of scholars were from other denominations. Being a lover of youth, and deeply interested in assisting the development of the purer traits of his scholars, he was not only their teacher but their genial friend and guide. A pleasanter school, or one more free from the usual infelicities and severities of such institutions, probably never existed; in confirmation of which, I have often heard from those who were his pupils the expression of the happiness they enjoyed while under his charge, and the love and respect they entertained for his memory. The gentle and beloved teacher has long since passed from works to rewards; the number of his pupils even is sadly diminished, and but a few only of that once bright band of young people remain, and they have already reached the vale of years.
The country around Smithfield is very pictu- resque, and in the days of the school was remark-
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able for its rural beauty ; and the location of the house was in the most quiet and pleasant part. The visits made to this home of his maternal grandparents are among the most delightful and cherished memories of the writer.
Possessed of a tender conscience, at an early age the subject of this sketch became awakened to the importance of leading a pure and religious life,-one void of offence before God and man; and his convictions of duty leading him to an adoption of the religious principles of the Society of Friends, he became a member of that body in early man- hood, and a few years afterwards appeared in the ministry. As early as the year 1779, when at the age of 28 years, he made a religious visit to the families of Friends in Dartmouth, as a companion of that devoted servant of Christianity, Job Scott; an account of which I find mentioned in the in- teresting and edifying journal of the latter.
In the Spring of the year 1807, Elisha Thornton moved with his family from Smithfield to New Bedford. His residence was the house still stand- ing on the north-west corner of School and Seventh streets, and here he died.
He was noted for his tender solicitude for human happiness, and his journal contains many records of this nature. In a portion of his life when he passed through some of his deepest experiences, I find the following record :
" During these years my mind was often led to view and reflect very feelingly upon the subject of the African slave-trade, and upon the great in-
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justice done to the natives of this land. From the prospect which I had, I should scarcely hesitate to predict that the United States, sooner or later, will feel the scourge of the divine displeasure in a very awful manner on account thereof, and the period may not be very distant."
In the higher walks of mathematics, and partic- ularly in astronomy, he was a proficient, and for several years published an almanac. Not only the astronomical calculations were made by himself, but he occasionally contributed the poetry for the same.
In his almanac for 1789 are the following lines, which have been frequently published in past years, and obtained considerable celebrity. Aside from the poetical merits of the piece, the sentiments, ex- pressed at that early period, are alike honorable to his head and his heart.
ON THE SLAVE TRADE.
Almighty Father, thine the righteous cause, Nor does the muse presume the task (too great For mortal man) without a deep-felt need Of holy aid : may Thou inspire the theme. Long groaned the seed beneath the heavy task, Where Nilus' flood o'erflows her fertile banks; Where Pharaoh proud, with adamantine heart, Exulted long-exulted in the woe
Of Jacob's seed, till tenfold vengeance sent To plead their cause, to set the captive free. Lo! Afric's children -they in bondage too Long grieved, without a corresponding sigh To soothe their languid heart, save in a few Who echoed back their agonizing moan. Come, feeling heart, and view the tragic scene; Come view the massacre on Afric's shore, A scene of blood shed by uninjured men - By men who worship at the shrine of gain -- By men who bow in Mammon's temple, where They sacrifice, where they their birthright sell For pottage poor - their hands imbrue in blood :
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Most horrible the havoc made of men, Detested more by how much these profess The sacred name, the name of him who bled For sinful men, not causing men to bleed. But what the charms of gold, alluring wealth ? What but a loss to every sense of good ?
What but some demon from the lowest pit Could stimulate the noble mind of man To deeds so black, under the gospel day ? To kidnap little children as they pass, Or while the sultry hours by them are spent In pretty prattle by some golden brook Or in some cooling bower-lo, snatched away By tiger-hearted men, no more to see Nor evermore embrace parental arms, Nor parents them enjoy ; but pine away Their days with thoughts of woe they 're doomed to. Among thy many crimes, O Christendom, Not one more complicated, one more black Than this. Men too are taught to fight. See Afric's sons, from thirst of gain, (conferred,) With reeking blades, nor pity taught to show, Nor wont to yield, fall weltering in their blood! See captured wretches, marched now along Toward the ship; nor dare they turn an eye To bid farewell their country or their friends; But hastened are on board the stifling bark, Where, close confined beneath the deck, they 're bound 'Midst noxious stench, where many pine and die! Parents, compelled, must quit their golden coast, Rent from their babes; husband and wife must part And bid adieu: heart-broken sighs ascend. How wished for now the stroke of death -implored; That king of terrors to the human breast Is now most sought; no remedy but this To free from bonds-free from the galling yoke. See black despair: the swollen breast ascends On deck, and, resolute to end his woe, Plunges himself into the watery main; Nor does he dread at all the grim-jawed shark, But meets of choice the monster's deadly fangs.
The few poor drooping souls who reach the isles Are like the beasts of burthen, scourged on In hunger, thirst, and toil, till death release. Why Neptune ever taught to plough the deep ? Why e'er Columbia's ships were wafted o'er? Or why the western world at all explored, To prove the seat of woe-untimely grave Of millions of that sable race? Alas! alas! for Britain, France, and Spain! Alas! for you our States, who long combined
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To tyrannize! vain the attempt to joy. Tottering, our peace, a baseless fabric, stands, While thus exulting in unrighteous gain. In vain our States shall hail the youthful morn Of peaceful independence in our land, Till Afric's sons to liberty restored. O, may the late catastrophe suffice, When, like the mountain cataract, wild waste O'erspread and ravage through a flourishing land. That woful day, in which we left to dash With Britain's sons, as earthen pitchers break.
Thou Spirit benign! why stay'd the furbished sword ?
Why not provoked to send us famine too, With pestilence, thy terror-striking rod, To scourge the world for crime of deepest dye ? But, gracious Thou, our eyes unclosed to see Grim tyranny, that monster from beneath Who sits proud regent of the lowest abyss. May Britain fraught with Clarksons multiplied, And may our States with Woolmans meek abound, With Benezets conspire to plead their cause; May ruling powers, too, unite with these,
And set the captive free; then peace shall flow. God bless our States-unite them in a band!
Although these lines will hardly satisfy the cul- tivated taste of the present day, yet their genuine simplicity, sincerity and deep-toned humanity will compensate in a great measure for a more pol- ished harmony of numbers than they possess. Their author, it should be remembered, was a self- educated man; and although a lover of the more serious English poets, and possessing a good nat- ural ear for melody and rhythm, still the classical scholar will perceive, in his case as in others, that the want of a knowledge of the established rules of metrical composition - the ars poeta- cannot be dispensed with, except at the great loss of beauty and strength, at the same time.
The respect for his character was by no means confined to the religious body to which he was united, for his philanthropic nature led him to look
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upon all mankind as brethren, and virtue was ever attractive to him, wherever found. For the erring, too, he felt much sympathy, and ever extended to them his charity, and encouragement for a better way of life. An instance of this kind has been re- lated to me by a worthy minister of the Society of Friends, now living in this city. While on a reli- gious visit to Friends in Sandwich, he became in- terested in an Irish youth whom he there found at work in a rope-walk, and whose habits, from the roving life he had led, were not exemplary. During a conversation with this young man, he discerned the germ of a purer nature in him ; and on his way to New Bedford, while riding along, his mind be- came deeply drawn towards him, as by divine di- rection. He soon afterwards addressed him in a tender and encouraging manner, in a poetical com- munication, which so touched the heart of the poor youth that he awakened to a new life, and new hopes, and eventually became a worthy member of the Society of Friends. He resided for a number of years in this place, and married a daughter of James Davis, continuing a worthy member of the society until his decease. Michael Graham, the person here referred to, will be well remembered by my older readers. In a copy of the "Columbian Courier" of 12 mo. 29, 1798, published in New Bedford, and edited by Abraham Shearman, Jr., I find the following head of a long advertisement of dry goods, English watches, hardware, &c .: “ Mi- chael Graham respectfully informs the public that he has lately removed to the store formerly occu-
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pied by William Ross, at the Four Corners, where he has just received and has for sale " - He after- wards moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he died.
In personal appearance, Elisha Thornton was tall, erect, and well proportioned. His head was remarkably noble, and his countenance mild and intellectual. His dress was of the primitive school of Quakers.
On the removal of the graves from the old Friends' burial-ground to the new one, a few years since, the writer was present when the remains of the subject of this sketch (his maternal grandfather) were disinterred, and an opportunity was thus af- forded for examining the skull, which had for nearly forty years remained undisturbed. With reveren- tial emotions I held the relic in my hands. It was of great size, and in perfect preservation, even some of the gray hair remaining upon it. The organ of benevolence, as well as the whole coronal region, and the forehead, were particularly full. The size was one of the largest of human heads, and one that would have much interested the phrenologist. Had he been born in a different sphere of life, and had his early education been more perfect, he would probably have been distinguished as a scholar and poet.
His attachment to dumb creatures, particularly to his own domestic animals, was very strong, and at times painfully so, from the sympathy he felt for their sufferings and abuse. His domestic animals also became much attached to him; and those who have had much to do with these intel-
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ligent and interesting creatures will readily under- stand my meaning. Upon the occasion of a fire in the daytime, at the house of the late Gilbert Russell, on County street, now owned by William R. Rotch, " Friend Thornton," as he was familiarly called, was standing in the road near the scene of the fire, where there was a large collection of people, and the consequent excitement of such an event, when an old horse that he had owned for several years, which had been grazing by the roadside some little distance from the scene of commotion, became frightened, and seeing his old master among the crowd, came trotting down the road, and on reaching him put his head over his shoulder, as if for protection.
His love for nature continued to the last, and during his whole life he was in the habit of walk- ing in the fields and woods. The songs of the birds and the sight of the wild flowers were sources of much happiness to him, constantly awakening in his mind a sense of gratitude to the Creator of the universe. His knowledge of astronomy as- sisted his devotional feelings; and the contempla- tion of the heavenly spheres at night filled his mind with the most sublime emotions.
The day before his death, as I am informed by a gentleman who had been watching with him through the night, he requested the shutters of the windows in his room looking toward the east to be opened, that he could once more behold the ris- ing of the sun. Raised up in his bed by the assist- ance of his friend, he looked with much interest
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and composure upon the scene, and on being placed back upon his pillow calmly said that it was the last time he should ever witness that glorious sight. Within a few hours from this time his tender spirit passed away from its mortal tenement.
The prose and poetical writings of Elisha Thornton are considerable, but they have never been published, except in a scattered way.
I will close this sketch by the following extract from a beautiful tribute to his memory, written by one who knew him well, both as a pupil and a friend :
" The days of that remarkable man have passed away, and with them have sunk below the horizon the cotemporaneous stars which coursed the heavens and brightly marked the first quarter of the nineteenth century."
Coeval with the subject of the foregoing sketch, but who survived his friend and fellow-laborer in the Christian ministry many years, was the late venerable James Davis, a man of apostolic char- acter, and long known as one of the most devoted and sincere ministers of the Society of Friends. It requires purer hands than mine justly to portray the life and character of such men as these faithful servants of the Divine Master. But as the task has devolved upon me, I would endeavor, in all due respect for their memories and the cause they so ably advocated, to bring their noble examples before my readers, in some humble measure at least.
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James Davis was born in Rochester, Mass., on the 22d of the 5th month, 1744, and died at his house, on Second near Union street, 2d mo. 25th, 1825, in the eighty-first year of his age. His parents were Nicholas and Ruth Davis; the former was a minister of the Society of Friends, and died in Oblong, N. Y., 10th mo., 1755.
In his personal appearance, as remembered by the writer, and when he had become an aged man, he was rather tall and strongly made, and was of a most venerable and kindly aspect. As he arose to address the congregation assembled in the old meeting-house before mentioned, his grave though calm and gentle manner at once interested all present; and the wise counsel, the result of a long and deep experience, he deliberately delivered, was listened to with great silence and respect. Prob- ably no minister of the society in this town or vicinity was more beloved and respected, or re- garded with more faith in his sincerity, on the part of his hearers. Less glowing in his language and less ardent in his appeals than his beloved coadjutor before noticed, the depth and beauty of his religious spirit was excelled by none, and rendered his ministry one of the most valuable with which our community has ever been blessed.
In those days, prior to the lamentable schisms which have since taken place and so stripped this once powerful body of Christians of much of their influence, the gatherings on the first day of the week, as well as on other occasions, were large. It
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is pleasant to look back on those days, and to call to mind the venerable personages that were wont to assemble in that old house of worship. Let us, in imagination, go back to one of these occasions, such as the writer remembers in his early years. The old meeting-house, the same building now converted into dwelling-houses and standing at the south-west corner of Spring and Seventh streets, though not as large as the present commo- dious brick building, was of good proportions, and of comfortable and respectable appearance. No paint or marks of decoration were to be seen within its time-honored walls. If in warm weather, the doors and windows being open, the wind would be heard discoursing its soothing melody through the old trees and about the angles of the house, or a song-bird pouring forth his strains in harmony with the spirit of the occasion, and naught disturb- ing the solemn silence of the assembly.
Upon the "high seat"-that appropriated to the ministers and elders, in England termed the " gallery" -might be seen the venerable person of William Rotch, Sen., with his long and flowing white locks; next to whom the somewhat younger but equally venerable subject of this notice, James Davis. All about the house were the old-fashioned men and women of those times, dressed in the real Quaker costume. How great the change seen at the present day by the looker-on upon the lingering portion of this once numerous body !*
* The original dress of the Friends, as worn by William Penn, was a graceful costume, and when upon a handsome person an elegant
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From the substantial testimony to the the char- acter of our honored friend put forth by the New Bedford monthly meeting, and written by Abraham Shearman, I make the following extract:
" He possessed a sound, stable mind, with much" evenness and uniformity of temper, and from his ha- bitual cheerfulness enjoyed as much as most men in socialintercourse with his friends ; but these cheerful feelings were accompanied with gravity, and with innocence and simplicity of manners, ever manifest- ing an uncommon regard to the feelings of others,
one, not unlike that of the fashion of those times, with the exception of all ornaments, such as gold lace, embroidery, &c. With the loss of the old-fashioned round-topped beaver or wool hats, and the knee- breeches, as well as other changes, the dress of the male portion of the society is generally at present one of the most distasteful imag- inable. The stiff hats of the fashionable world are bad enough, but with widened brims they appear still worse; and nothing could more violate a true taste. The amplitude of highly starched shirt-collars, extending to the ears, and covering a considerable portion of the most closely shaven face, with a white "choker," as it is termed by the critics upon " the clergy," are but poor substitutes for the graceful and easy scarf of the days of the gentlemanly Governor of Pennsyl- vania, and his friend, Thomas Ellwood, called in his youth "Mad Tom." Even George Fox, as much as he strove to mortify the crea- ture, from his simple taste, rarely violated ease or comfort. The present bonnets of the females, sometimes called "pokes," are also a poor substitute for the old-fashioned beaver hats worn until within the last half-century. The last of this pattern remembered was worn by "Aunt Mary Mitchell," a respected minister of the soci- ety, of Nantucket.
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