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 5
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 5
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 5
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 5
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She thrashes with her tail around, And blows her redd'ning breath; She breaks the air, a deaf'ning sound, While ocean groans beneath.
From numerous wounds, with crimson flood She stains the frothy seas, And gasps, and blows her latest blood, While quivering life decays.
With joyful hearts we see her die, And on the surface lay; While all with eager haste apply To save our deathful prey.
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CHAPTER VII.
THE VILLAGE OF BEDFORD-STATISTICS BY ABRAHAM SHEARMAN, JR. - CAPTAIN WILLIAM GORDON'S AC- COUNT OF THE INVASION BY THE BRITISH TROOPS DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR-SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY DESTROYED - ANECDOTE OF THE INTRE- PIDITY OF A WOMAN-FIRST CANDLE-WORKS-CAUSES OF PROSPERITY.
OUR place was for a long time known as the vil- lage of Bedford; and to many, even at the present time, the sound of this time-honored designation is much more familiar than that of the City. In fact, a considerable portion of the natives of New Bedford, those who have reached the meridian of life or older, usually omit the prefix (which as be- fore stated was not originally adopted) when speak- ing of the place, and call it only Bedford. Offices have been and still are held under the present city organization by those even the names of whom are not known to many of the older portion of the in- habitants, and to whom the name of City is as though it were not; and Bedford is the only place they recognize or know. This may be considered a fitting prelude to the following interesting sketch from the 13th volume 2d series of the Massachusetts Historical Collections, supposed to have been writ- ten by one of our most estimable fellow-citizens, the late Abraham Shearman, for many years a prominent member of the Society of Friends,
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whose sterling virtues, and the important part he contributed to the early history of our place, will deserve a more extended notice among our worthies.
" The village of New Bedford stands in a pleas- ant situation, upon the west side of Acushnet River, in latitude 41 deg. 37 min. 30 sec. north, longitude 70 deg. 52 min. 30 sec. west from Greenwich, according to Knight's Survey. It lies north and south, upon a gradual ascent from the water, and exhibits a pleasing view of the harbor. The streets (three running north and south, and twelve east and west) are of good width, and cross each other at right angles. The houses, which are with few exceptions built of wood, are in general well finished, and possess an air of neatness. In the year 1765, there were two or three small ves- sels employed in the whale-fishery. In the course of ten years, at the commencement of the year 1775, when a period was put to business, the num- ber of whalemen increased to forty or fifty.
According to the valuation of 1801, the number of dwelling-houses in the village was a hundred and eighty-five. The public buildings are a meet- ing-house for Friends, one for Congregationalists, two large school-houses, one for each of those societies, an alms-house, and a small market-house. The principal dependence of the inhabitants is on commerce. In 1790 there were only two or three square-rigged vessels; there are now [1802] nearly twenty sail of ships. During the late war they have principally been employed in the freighting business from New York and the southern ports of Europe. Voyages have also been made to Europe and the East and West Indies directly from this port. Since the peace they have been returning in some measure to whaling. Ship- building, the manufacture of cordage, for which purpose there are two ropewalks, and the manu-
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facture of spermaceti candles, are advantageously pursued.
In 1796 a company was incorporated to build a bridge across the Acushnet River, to connect Bed- ford with the villages of Fairhaven and Oxford; which has since been accomplished at the expense of about thirty thousand dollars. The bridge, in- cluding the abutments and the space taken up by two islands which it crosses, is upwards of four thousand feet in length."
I also find in said volume the following addi- tional "note of July 24, 1807," probably by anoth- er hand:
" In Bedford there are seven wharves; between ninety and a hundred ships and brigs, containing each on an average two hundred and fifty tons; and between twenty and thirty small vessels: twelve of the ships are whalemen. In 1805 there were be- longing to this place seventy-three ships and thirty-nine brigs. A lot of a quarter of an acre of land sells for five hundred dollars to two thousand dollars. Bedford contains a little short of three hundred dwelling-houses; Fairhaven about one hundred. There are three ropewalks in Bedford, and one in Fairhaven. The depth of water in the harbor is from three to four fathoms. Common tides rise five feet. The lighthouse, which stands on Clark's Point, shows one light. The bridge mentioned above was this year in the month of March swept away by the tide. It is now rebuild- ing and will soon be finished."
The following interesting account of the prep- arations for defence of our place during the Rev- olutionary War, and its burning by the British troops, I received in the year 1831 from the late
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Captain William Gordon, who was an eye-witness of the events :
"During the early part of the Revolution, the inhabitants of Bedford and Fairhaven, thinking it necessary to have a fortress to protect them from the depredations of the British privateers, erected the small fort at the entrance of the harbor, on the east side of the river, upon the rocky prominence called by the native Indians Nobscot. It contained ten iron cannon of different calibre, namely : one eighteen-pounder, three twelve-pounders, five nine- pounders, and one six-pounder, mounted on garri- son carriages. The garrison consisted of a captain, one lieutenant, several non-commissioned officers, and about twenty privates. It had sundry com- manders during the interval between its erection and demolition.
In the early part of the Revolution, when many privateers were fitted out of Boston and Provi- dence, Bedford harbor became a receptacle for the prize vessels which they captured, it being the only port this side of the Chesapeake that was not in the power of the British. On this account, the government of Massachusetts, thinking it proper to aid in its protection and defence, sent a detach- ment from the Massachusetts Train Artillery, fur- nished with four field-pieces and an ammunition. wagon laden with munitions of war, from Boston, which arrived at Bedford March 1st, 1778. At this time the town was stored with prize goods of every description, which being discovered by the British, Sir Henry Clinton dispatched an expedi- tion under the command of General Gray against it. On the 5th of September the fleet entered Clark's Cove, and formed a bridge of boats to the shore, on which landing between four and five thousand men, they marched into town. When they arrived, most of the inhabitants, having been
1
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alarmed by a discharge of cannon at the fort, had fled. They. immediately began their work of plunder and conflagration, and in a short time most of the town was in flames. About seventy sail of shipping, beside a number of small craft, were destroyed. The damage done at this time amounted to the value of $422,680. After having committed their spoliation at Bedford and about the town, they marched to the head of Acushnet River, and down the east side into Sconticut Neck, where they encamped until Monday. While star tioned here, a party of their troops entered the fort, which the garrison had abandoned on the arrival of the British, knowing their number, which was but a handful of men, unable to cope with so strong a force. Here they spiked up the cannon, knocking off their cascabels and trunnions, burnt the platform and gun-carriages, and totally dis- mantled it. After this they reembarked on board their shipping.
The night after their embarkation, they attempt- ed to land a large number of troops at Fairhaven, in order to burn that village; but when they were beginning to land, and had set fire to two or three stores, Major Israel Fearing, who had the command of about one hundred or one hundred and fifty men, fired upon them and they immediately re- treated aboard their ships, taking their dead and wounded with them.
On Tuesday following they departed, and pro- ceeded to Martha's Vineyard, from which they took off a large number of oxen and about ten thousand sheep."
The following is a copy of a list of the property destroyed at this time by the British troops, made at the time by the late Gilbert Russell:
" Ship Harriet. Ship Fanny (French prize.)
Ship Mellish (Continental.)
Ship Hero.
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Ship Leopard.
Brig No Duty on Tea.
Ship Spaniard.
Schooner Sally (Hornet's prize.)
Sloop (Bowers.)
Ship Cæsar. Barque Nanny.
Sloop Sally (12 guns.) .
Snow Simeon.
Brig (Ritchie.)
Brig Sally (Continental.)
Brig Dove.
Brig Rosin.
Brig Holland.
Brig Sally (fish.)
Sloop (Joseph R.)
Schooner Adventure.
Sloop Bociron.
Schooner Loyalty (Continental.)
Sloop Pilot Fish.
Sloop Nelly.
Schooner (the other side.)
Sloop Fly Fish.
Brig Sally.
Sloop (Captain Lawrence.)
Sloop Retaliation.
Schooner Defiance.
Sloop (J. Brown's.)
Schooner Captain Jenny.
Schooner (Eastward.)"
Amounting to 7 ships, 1 barque, 1 snow, 8 brigs, 7 schooners, 10 sloops-34 sail.
" DWELLING-HOUSEB.
Benjamin Taber,
2 V. Childs, 1
Leonard Jarvis,
1 Joseph Rotch, 1
J. Lowden,
1 Joseph Rotch, Jr., 1
J. Gerrish,
1 Joseph Russell,
1
W. Claghorn,
1
. SHOPS, &C. 1 Shops (small,) Joseph 2
Cooper's shop,
1 Candle-house, $ Russell's, 1
Warehouses,
3 L. Kempton,
1
Joseph Russell's barn,.
1 Rotch & Jarvis's shop,
1
Joseph Russell's shop,
1 Warehouses,
2
Church's shop (shoe,)
1 Joseph Rotch's barn,
1
Store, Joseph 1 Chaise-house,
1
Warehouses (old,) } Russell's, 2
Ropewalk, and one house ; A. Smith's blacksmith shop ; Benjamin Taber's shop."
In all 11 houses 20 shops, &c., and 1 ropewalk.
The intrepidity of a woman, who remained in her house while the British soldiers were perform- ing their work of destruction, is worthy of note. A company of the plunderers entered the house, and after having stripped her pantry of its stores, such as doughnuts, apple dumplings, &c., came into the room, where she sat unconcernedly knitting, and,
Isaac Howland's distilhouse,
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taking the fire from the hearth, were preparing to burn the house, when she, not being able to retain her patience any longer, seized a pail of water, and dashed the fire out. They again set fire to the house, and she again extinguished it. The maraud- ers then threatened her with death if she still per- sisted, and were preparing to fire the building the third time, when orders came for their march, and they departed without accomplishing their design. Thus this courageous woman preserved the house for its owner, who, being a wealthy man, gave her the exorbitant recompense of five pounds of rice.
A short time previous to the Revolutionary War, a wealthy merchant of this place (Joseph Rotch, or his son, William Rotch, Sen.) was concerned with Aaron Lopez, an eminent Jew of Newport, in a fleet of about fifteen sail, most of which was fitted here. These vessels were to assemble at the Falk- land Islands, and thence pursue the whale-fishery. A part of the fleet was to be employed in taking the oil, and the remainder in transporting it to London. They intended to have settled at Port Egmond, or to have made this their place of ren- dezvous; but the intervention of the war frustrated the undertaking, and but one vessel of the whole fleet arrived at the destined port. The remainder was supposed to have been captured by the British cruisers.
When we contemplate the discomfitures and heavy losses of our early merchants by the war of the Revolution, the embargo, the last war with England, and by French privateers, our admiration
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is excited at the composure with which these ad- versities were met, and the renewed courage with which they entered upon the work of repairing their broken fortunes.
Previous to the Revolutionary War a candle- house, the first in the place, was built by Joseph Russell; and Capt. Chafee, who had been engaged in manufacturing spermaceti in Lisbon, was em- ployed by Mr. Russell at the then large salary of $500 per year. This building stood near the corner of Centre and Front streets, and was burnt by the British during the general conflagration of the place.
To the industry, enterprise, and above all to the honorable commercial character of our early mer- chants and men of business, are we indebted for that foundation upon which all the future success and prosperity of New Bedford is built. No doubt but the principles of the society of Friends, of which order was a large proportion of our predecessors, coutributed greatly to the support of that character for honesty, prudence, and morality, which so much distinguished them. That our continued prosperity and future success depend upon the support of such a character among our men of business, no one who has been a careful observer of the real causes of success or failure in a commercial com- munity can doubt.
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CHAPTER VIII.
MARCH OF THE BRITISH TROOPS TO ACUSHNET AND FAIRHAVEN - DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY ON THE WAY -NEW-BEDFORD AND FAIRHAVEN BRIDGE-LIGHT- HOUSE AT CLARK'S POINT-THE BEDFORD BANK - NOTICE OF JOHN PICKENS, JOSEPH RICKETSON AND GEORGE HOWLAND - REFLECTIONS UPON THOSE TIMES.
THE last chapter contained a list of the buildings, shipping, &c., destroyed at " Bedford " by the Brit- ish troops on the 5th of September, 1778. The . vessels, which besides our own numbered several privateers and prizes, were lying up the river, from Oxford point to the old wharf at Belville, then known as " McPherson's wharf.".
After having finished their work of destruction in the village of Bedford, the troops marched up the County road to Acushnet, and on their way stopped at Belville. Here they burnt a large two- story house, barn, and cooper's shop, the property of Walley Adams. They also burnt a large ware- house of John McPherson, the owner of the wharf, a Scotchman by birth.
Previous to the Revolutionary War, there was considerable business done at this place, and the number of whalemen owned and fitted here was about as many as at Bedford. A village was at one time laid out here by Capt. William Gordon, under the name of Belville. The name of Glasgow had been proposed, in honor of Mr. McPherson.
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Here, and farther up the river, were the ship-yards of the noted ship-builders, the Stetsons, by whom several of the best of our earliest ships were built.
But the village of Oxford at this period fairly ri- valled her neighbor across the river. Here were owned and fitted out several large vessels, - ships, brigs, &c., owned by the Bennetts, Huddlestones, and others. The substantial old houses still there evince a state of prosperity at that period.
But the New-Bedford and Fairhaven bridge so altered the current of the river as to fill up their channel, and, in the words of one of the present residents, " completely ruined the business of the place." We suppose, like other corporations, " hav- ing no souls," they are remorseless at such baleful consequences. The elements of nature, however, seem to have waged a warfare against this bridge. The act of incorporation was granted in 1796, and in 1807 the bridge was washed away by a great tide. It was soon after reconstructed, and destroyed again by the September gale of 1815. The present structure was built in 1819, and has been the source of much contention, on account of the injurious effect it has upon the harbor, by filling up the channel, as well as being a great obstacle to that portion of our business above the bridge. Although great improvement has been made by the construc- tion of a wider draw within the past two years, the bridge is still thought by many to be a great public damage. It is undoubtedly a great con- venience on many accounts; but it is questionable whether it accommodates the public better than
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might be done by ferry-boats; and that the value of our harbor and of property above the bridge, as well as the beauty of the river, is much impaired by it, few will question. Our object is not, however, to make an attack upon this concern; and as the " bridge question," since the repairs made by the Company, seems to be, for the time at least, in a settled state, we shall leave it.
About the time the first bridge was constructed, a wooden lighthouse was built at Clark's Point; at the raising of which, to induce the people to assist, and for the sake of a general jollification at so important an event, a hundred gallon try-pot of chowder, with other entertainment, was prepared. Much to the credit of the sobriety of our prede- cessors, no one became intoxicated on this occasion. This lighthouse occupied the same spot where the present one stands. It was burnt during a severe thunder-storm in the night, either by lightning or, as some suppose, by a sea-fowl which, being attract- ed by the light, flew through the glass and overturned the lamps.
In the year 1803, the business having much in- creased, a bank was incorporated, with a capital of $60,000, styled "The Bedford Bank." Even this amount was supposed to be more than could be loaned, but after the bank had been in operation a few years, it was found insufficient, and the capital was increased to $160,000 .: The charter expired in 1812, and was renewed, but this country then being at war with England, the new charter was not accepted, and it was determined to conclude
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the affairs of the institution. I have not been able to find the business records of the "old bank," but so far as I have ascertained, the officers were as follows:
THOMAS HAZARD, President.
JOHN HOWLAND, CORNELIUS GRINNELL, WILLIAM ROTCH, JR., THOMAS NYE,
Directors:
And others, JOHN PICKENS, Cashier.
The Bedford Marine Insurance Company was established in the year 1805, with a capital of $150,000. The following is a list of the officers of this institution:
JOSEPH RICKETSON, President. CORNELIUS GRINNELL, JOHN H. HOWLAND,
WILLIAM ROSS,
Directors.
THADDEUS SWAIN,
STEPHEN HATHAWAY, JR., JAMES HOWLAND,
It was at first intended to occupy the "hall" of the Bedford Bank; and Cornelius Grinnell, who had been duly authorized, had procured the consent of the directors of the bank for this purpose; but this intention was finally abandoned, and the Com- pany afterwards purchased of Joseph Austin the old house at the corner of Elm and Water streets, and the office of the Company was in the "two south rooms." The remainder of the house (with the garden and barn) was occupied by Asa Russell, at the rent of eighty dollars per year. The com- pany paid four thousand dollars for the lot and buildings. I am thus particular in this affair, thinking it may be a pleasant reminiscence to those who can look back to those days, as well as
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to many of a later generation. The operations of this institution, owing to great losses during the war, were closed 11th mo. 23d, 1818. The date of the charter was February 11th, 1805. Joseph Ricketson was the President during the whole time. His salary was $500 per year.
From the close of the affairs of the " old bank ". in 1812, until the year 1816, there was no bank in New Bedford, when the Bedford Commercial Bank was established, with a capital of $100,000, which was soon increased to $150,000, and in 1831 the amount had reached $250,000. The present capi- tal, 1858, is $600,000.
As this bank has held an important position in the business affairs of our place, the following No- tice, and the proceedings in pursuance of said No- tice in the choice of the first board of directors, and the subsequent choice of president and the appoint- ment of a cashier, copied from the business records of the time, are interesting reminiscences :
NOTICE.
ITHE Subscribers to the Capital Stock of the BEDFORD COMMERCIAL BANK are notified that their first meeting will be held on Seventh- Day, the 23d instant, at 2 o'clock, P. M., at the Office of the BEDFORD MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY, for the purpose of establishing By-Laws and Regulations, for the orderly conducting the affairs of the Corpo- ration; for the choice of nine DIRECTORS, and such other officers as they may see fit to choose; and also to transact any other business they may deem necessary.
New Bedford, 3d mo. 1, 1816.
WILLIAM ROTCH, JR., JOSEPH RICKETSON, JAMES HOWLAND, GIDEON HOWLAND, JR., JOHN A. PARKER, OLIVER CROCKER, SETH RUSSELL, JR.
" At a meeting of the Directors of the Bedford Commercial Bank, held at the office of the Bedford
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Marine Insurance Company, 5 mo. 11th, 1816, John A. Parker, Cornelius Grinnell, Gideon Howland, Jr., George Howland, Seth Russell, Jr., James Arnold, Joseph Ricketson, Thomas Nye, and Sam- uel Rodman, Jr., were chosen Directors of the Bedford Commercial Bank, by the Stockholders on the 23d day of 3d month last, who are all present, except the two last named. Having proceeded for the choice of a President by ballot, George How- land had six votes, and is accordingly chosen. Ad- journed to meet at this place on the 13th inst., at half-past 7, P. M. In behalf of the Directors. JOSEPH RICKETSON."
" 5th mo. 13th, 1816. Met by adjournment. Present, George Howland, Cornelius Grinnell, John A. Parker, Gideon Howland, Jr., Joseph Ricket- son. Appointed Joseph Ricketson Cashier of the Bank, who has agreed to serve at and after the rate of Five Hundred Dollars per year, it being understood that the Bank shall be opened every day in the week, (First-days excepted,) from 9 o'clock A. M. till 1 P. M. JOSEPH RICKETSON."
The old bank building* was taken down in the year 1833 to make way for the present building of the Bedford Commercial Bank, which occupies the same location, but is considerably larger upon the base. The old building was a quaint, substan- tial-looking affair, and deserves a passing notice. The foundation, or first story, which included the vaults, was of stone, and laid in solid masonry; above this arose two more stories of brick, paint- ed a dark red and the lines of the brick obliterated
* The building of the old bank was conveyed to the President and Directors of the Bedford Commercial Bank 8th mo. 30th, 1816, by John Howland, Isaac Howland, Jr., Samuel Rodman, William Rotch, Jr., Trustees.
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by the paint; the windows were fortified with heavy cased shutters. A flight of substantial stone steps at the north and the south mounted to a wooden portico, within which was a huge heavy iron-cased door, the peculiar creaking of which is probably remembered by many even at the present day; which door opened into the main room, a large square old-fashioned place, a counter running around three sides, and desks-three in number- protected by railings on the top of them. Behind the front counter, and opposite the entrance door, was the fireplace for wood, which in the earlier days and up to 1826 was the only method of warming the room, and on the cold days of winter usually a cheerful fire was to be seen within it, sputtering and singing away to the chime of the jingling gold and silver. On the south side a flight of stairs, with handsome and substantial balusters, led to what was originally the directors' room, but, as the writer remembers it, a dark, cob- webbed place, the shutters being kept constantly closed, and no longer used except as a deposit for old books, papers, &c. This room was also fur- nished with a fireplace, and to his boyish fancy afforded a nice and cosy place in the winter time, when well warmed and lighted, for the good old directors to meet together in, and after the busi- ness of the day was done to have a social chat upon some subject of local interest or national gossip. But to return to the room below: on the south side was suspended a block-tackle for hoist- ing up a heavy wooden trap-door, and a still
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heavier one beneath, opening to the steps that led to the subterranean vaults where the specie was kept. This iron door was fastened by a long tongue-bolt running lengthwise with the door, and drawn by a secret process in another part of the building. There is probably no vault or patent safe of the present time with their wonderful locks, that offers a surer defiance to the attempts of bur- glars. Behind the desk, upon the left hand of the bank room, might usually be seen busily employed in writing a tall and elderly gentleman, his cropped gray hair brushed back from his forehead, with a white neck-cloth closely drawn about his throat, a pepper-and-salt-colored suit, the coat long-skirted, with large pockets on the sides, one row of buttons, . and of Quaker curve, but with a collar, and small- clothes, with knee-buckles, which, with the style of shoes worn by the older men of that day, complete the personal appearance of the venerable and worthy ex-cashier of the old Bedford Bank, John Pickens, Esquire .* At the desk next west, and in the win- ter time to be near the wood fire, stood a man of small stature, with a care-worn but a benignant countenance, a true index of his character, dressed in a kind of half-Quaker style; this was the first
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