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 9
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 9
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 9
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 9
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
"AN INDIAN TESTIMONY RESPECTING THE ELIZABETH ISLANDS.
Extracted from the Records of Plymouth Colony.
'1679. Old Hope,* the Indian of Manomet, saith that he knew the little island, lying next Saconeeset, called Nanomeeset, and a neck of land, or little isl- and, called Uckatincet, belonging to the great island called Katomuck, and another little island, lying
* Old Hope, a respectable native, lived at Manomet, on the back shore of Sandwich. This name occurs on the jury in 1675 which con- demned the murderer of John Sassamin.
G
134
between the said great island and Nanomeeset, belonged to Job Antiko, his grandfather Comuck,* and so to Job's father, Thomas Antiko; and the said Hope further saith that the said great island, called Katomuck, and another little island called Peshchameeset, to belong to Webacowet. + Will- iam Numack f testifies that he hath often heard his father say the same concerning the said islands, commonly called Nashanow Islands.'
Before we enter upon an explanation of the abo- riginal names which occur in this testimony, it is proper to premise that in 1680 Plymouth Colony petitioned for a new charter, and as the Elizabeth Islands were then under the jurisdiction of New York, (being included in the Duke of York's second grant of 1673,) it is probable, from the date of this Indian testimony (1679,) that the government of Plymouth Colony was then collecting aboriginal evidence in order to show that these islands right- fully belonged to certain aborigines who had ever been resident in the territory included in Plymouth Colony.
After the revolution of 1688, these islands were taken from New York; and annexed to Massachu- setts, with Plymouth Colony, 1691.
EXPLANATION OF INDIAN NAMES.
Saconeeset was the aboriginal name of Falmouth and is probably compounded of sauki (black) and anawsuck (shells,) meaning the black or purple eye of the quahaug clam, which abounds there, and of which was made the most estimable aboriginal coin: Nanomeeset has a diminutive termination, and doubtless signifies ' little island,' from nahan, which
* 'The phrase " grandfather Comuck " may be derived from sachimo comaco, which means the house of a sachem, which is longer and larger than a common one, and was probably introduced to show their rightful descent and proprietary.
+ Webacowet and William Numack lived at Falmouth.
135
occurs in the name for island. Lying near a very large island, it is by comparison small.
Uckatincet was then, it seems, a neck of land. Time has worn a channel, yet it is fordable for cattle at low water. This name has also a dimin- utive termination; the first part of the phrase is probably ohkeh, one of the terms for "earth,' or ' ground :' hence it is a simple expression -' little ground.' *
Katomuck is familiar to the reader and traveller as well as historian by the name of Nashaun. The question will be asked, why the natives called it Katomuck, as it appears in the testimony. We can only answer that cautumme is their name for the natural year; hence they give it to 'planting ground,' and the planting season. Was not this, therefore, in aboriginal, Planting Island ? }
Peshchameeset has also a diminutive termination ; pescha being the root of the name, and by which it continues to be called. The meaning remains a question. The Rev. Experience Mayhew wrote in 1726 'Paskehtanesit,' which is the same name, with a synonymic diminutive termination. It is the Tucker's Island of history.
Nashanow, according to the testimony, was a collective aboriginal name for the whole group; at the present period, however, it has, with a very tri- fling variation, become a specific name for two of them only, which is well known. Taking the lan- guage for our guide, and keeping the testimony in view, we are enabled to explain this name in our own opinion conclusively. After consulting those
* It may be remarked that the letter c in our old records frequently occurs in the place of s, thus giving a hard sound where a soft accent was intended; and this suggestion may account for the whimsical popular variations in some names.
+ Coatoom signifies " earth," or "planting ground," in the dialect of the Pelew Islands, and which is evidently the same phrase. So universal is this name for the year ?
136
writers * who have written in the aboriginal dia- lects, it appears that nooshun, with unimportant variations, is used in the superlative degree -' the best,' ' all in all,' &c., &c. In Mr. Eliot's specimen of the Lord's Prayer it is the beginning phrase. And in this sense it is evidently used in the Indian testimony ; that is, they mean to say they were our fathers' islands, and therefore in their own dialect the Nashanow Islands.
The remainder of this group of islands, not in- cluded in this descriptive testimony, are the We- peckets, or Weckpeckets, very small, not far from Falmouth back shore; Cuttyhonk, high and large, the outermost and most westerly of all, with Pen- iquese and Pasquineag, two lesser isles, a mile or two north of it. Ketonck signifies to 'depart,' ' go away,' and is given to a launch of a canoe, to a ship, &c., &c. We have occasionally thought this was the meaning of Cuttyhonk; that is, the mere act of going to it gave it the name. Perhaps We- peckets has been derived from wabacucks (white- head eagles,) which are very common on the oppo- site shores, and which may occasionally visit them. Peniquese has a diminutive termination, and Pasqui- neag a collective; but their meaning, as well as the others mentioned in this note, yet remains a ques- tion. Copicut, the small appendage to Cuttyhonk, is truly Cappiquat (thick, dark woods,) which was descriptive in 1602, when it 'was full of cedars.'"
* Eliot ; Danforth; Cotton.
r
137
CHAPTER XII.
EARLY NEWSPAPERS-SKETCHES OF AN OLD SHIP-MAS- TER AND MERCHANT-OLD EDITORS OF THE NEW BED- FORD PRESS.
Ir will be perceived in this history that I have ob- served but little order of arrangement. In fact, the material is so scattered, and to be obtained from so widely removed sources, that I should despair in my often hasty preparations of any great amount of success, should I make ever so great an effort for that end. I shall attempt but little or nothing more than to rescue from oblivion any facts, how- ever trivial, that may be connected with my object. " Colligite fragmenta, ne quid pereat."
Before me lies the first number of the first news- paper printed in New Bedford, entitled " The Med- ley, or New Bedford Marine Journal. New Bedford, (Massachusetts.) Printed and Published by John Spooner, at his Office near Rotch's Wharf. Num- ber 1. Tuesday, November 27, 1792. Volume 1." This old sheet, now so dingy and smoky, once pre- sented its fair and welcome morning face to our mothers and grandmothers; and truly welcome must it have been to our honest and simple-hearted predecessors, the villagers of New Bedford. How few of those whose glowing eyes met this humble sheet remain ! The great problem of life to them has long since been solved. But as my object is not
138
to moralize or preach a lay sermon, with the reader's permission I will proceed to examine the contents of this venerable relic of the press. The editor's address to the public is remarkably well written, and seldom, it is to be feared, equalled by like pro- ductions of the present day. After having intro- duced his paper in due form, the editor goes on to say :
"Here is an extensive country, situate remote from a Printing Press-its inhabitants numerous; but a small part of them knowing or being known in the transactions of the world unless they ad- vance a large extra sum for their knowledge. To instruct them in the ways of man at a much cheap- er rate, and make each one who rightly improves the advantages arising from a weekly Gazette as knowing as his fellow, &c., the EDITOR has under- taken a WEEKLY NEWSPAPER, and with this. ad- dress introduceth for their inspection, the first num- ber of his MEDLEY."
He concludes with the following:
" The EDITOR flatters himself that so long as his exertions tend to scatter the rays of knowledge, of morality and of refinement among the people, the public will afford him every reasonable encourage- ment, in proportion to the utility of his exertions. JOHN SPOONER."
Honest old John Spooner! we trust that our pre- decessors duly appreciated thy exertions in their behalf, and that thou wast fairly rewarded for thy labors. Worthy disciple of thy great exampler, the illustrious Franklin! may the principles of "morality and refinement" thou endeavoredst to
139
inculcate be ever remembered by thy fraternity and the public. Peace to thy memory !
The first original article after the address, which is also well and clearly written, is upon "The Art of Printing." Next follows what would now be called a fable, but which our editor terms an apo- logue, taken from a late London Magazine. Then follows a long article in defence of Lafayette, who had lately been impeached by the National Legis- lature of France, taken from "a Gazette printed in Philadelphia." Then an article entitled "Save your Rags!" signed "Nam-Gar," which the reader can reverse. Then the foreign news, collected from a London paper. The " Congressional Proceed- ings- Second Congress of Confederated America." " Political Occurrences"-Italy, France, England. " Peace with certain Indians," in which it is stated that "sixteen of the chiefs belonging to the nations with whom Gen. Putnam succeeded in burying the hatchet, are on their way to this city [ Philadelphia,] via Pittsburg." No death record : but
" Married, in this town, Capt. William Allen to Miss Mary Taber; Capt. Gamaliel Church to Miss Lydia Alden."
Next follow
" Custom House Office, Port of New Bedford, from Nov. 17th to the 24th. - ENTRIES. Sloop Mayflower, Gibbs West, from N. York. - CLEAR- ANCES. Schooner Lively, Rowland Gibbs, a whale voyage. Sloop Jenny, Nichols Stoddard, for New- bern. Sloop Lively, Shubael Bunker, for Philadel- phia. Sloop Friendship, Job Gibbs, for Savanna. Ship Dauphin, Stephen Gardner, a whale cargo."
140
" To CORRESPONDENTS. Thanks to EQuiras and LEANDER. The EDITOR sincerely hopes their lau- dable example will be followed by many of the Sons of Minerva; and that originality will henceforth abound in the MEDLEY."
The PRINTER has been obliged to alter the date for publishing the MEDLEY from THURSDAY as mentioned in his proposals, so as to comport with the arrival of the Northern Mail. While the Stage continues its weekly route, SATURDAY will be the day of publication."
TAKE NOTICE!
THE inhabitants of the town of New Bedford are hereby notified, that the Town Committee of accounts will meet at Capt. Thomas Crandon's the 30th instant at 10 o'clock A. M., to receive and exam- ine all accounts brought in against said town. Therefore all persons having such accounts are requested to exhibit them at the aforesaid time and place. WALTER SPOONER, JETHRO HATHAWAY, Town ABRAHAM SMITH, Committee.
New Bedford, Nov. 23, 1792.
W ILLIAM ROTCH, JUN., Respectfully informs his Customers and Friends, He has for sale, Wholesale and Retail, At his store in New Bedford, SAIL CLOTH, of an excellent Quality, of No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8; coarse and fine 5-4ths sheeting; 6 by 8, 7 by 9, 8 by 10, 9 by 11 and 10 by 12 Window Glass; Large and small Looking Glasses, and Plates unframed; Glass Tumblers; Twine and Cordage; Flour and Shipbread; Pork; Salt; Philadelphia and Russia Bar Iron, excellent for cart tire; Paints of several kinds; Sheathing Paper, Wrapping Paper, &c.
New Bedford, Nov. 23, 1792.
Here comes another, full of marine spirit, with a great wood-cut of an old-fashioned brigantine, with a flag-staff at the stern and another from the bowsprit, and a flag flying from each, headed
FOR HAVRE DE GRACE.
1 THE Brig Mary, CORNELIUS GRINNELL, Master, Will sail on the 20th of December. For freight or passage apply to Seth Russell, or to the said Master on board.
New Bedford, Nov. 22, 1792.
A rare chance for the young gentlemen of Bed- ford to shake hands with "Johnny Crapeau." And
141
one of them, who for many years was a prominent merchant of this place, and son of the owner of the brig, Seth Russell, 2d, went out as a passen- ger. While in Havre the captain and his passen- ger, who were intimate friends, were invited out to dine with the consignee, for which occasion it was necessary to have their heads dressed by a barber. While the knight of the comb and brush was at work upon the hair of Mr. Russell, Capt. G. stood behind, giving the barber directions ; and when the operation was finished, his companion's hair was curled, frizzled and powdered in a most charming manner, the excessive fashion even of that day, by the winks and nods of Capt. G., exceeded. So hurry- ing out of the friseur's shop, they returned to the good brig Mary's cabin; and here our worthy friend, who on the way had attracted much attention from the beaux and belles, got the sight of himself in a mirror, and by the aid of Capt. G. restored his crown to its pristine simplicity.
During their stay in Havre, Capt. G. had the fine old nautical portrait of himself painted which has for several years hung in the house of his son- in-law, William 'T. Russell. It represents him in the fashion of that day, with sky-blue-colored coat, buff waistcoat, white cravat, ruffled shirt and wrist- bands, his hair brushed back and powdered, the countenance fresh and expressive of frankness ; before him lies a chart, and in his right hand he holds a pair of dividers. Capt. Grinnell was the father of the Hon. Joseph Grinnell, of this city, Hon. Moses H. Grinnell and Henry Grinnell, the
142
philanthropic merchants, of New York, - the latter the father of the Kane expedition.
Captain Cornelius Grinnell was one of that class of worthy old ship-masters and merchants, of whom I have before spoken. He was born in Little Compton, R. I., 2d mo. 11th, 1758, and died in New Bedford 4th mo. 19th, 1850, in his 93d year. His ancestors came from England about the year 1710, and settled as farmers in the place of his birth; but more remotely of the Huguenots, who emigrated from France to England during the persecution of their sect in 1572. He came to New Bedford a poor boy, and served his apprentice- ship with his brother-in-law, Joseph Austen, as a hatter. By the destruction of his property during the general conflagration of the place by the British troops in 1778, he was left several hundred dollars in debt, having just started in business; but being of an ambitious and energetic character, he chose the life of a sailor, and became a ship-master at an early age. His great nautical skill and expe- rience, and his extensive intercourse with the most intelligent merchants at home and abroad, prepared him for that successful career which he afterwards led as one of our early merchants. Captain Grin- nell was a gentleman of the old school, hospitable, urbane, a man of sound judgment and unswerving integrity of character. In his personal appearance, particularly his countenance, he was said strongly to resemble the great Lafayette. He retained until his last years the costume of his earlier days, and was remarkable for the neatness of his person.
143
When passing through our streets, with his quaint but tasteful costume, usually of dark green broad- cloth of the best quality, his handsome white-topped boots of the highest polish, knee-breeches, and cane in hand, his appearance was pleasing and attractive ; and for many years after the death of that pattern of old-fashioned Quaker gentility and neatness, Samuel Rodman, Sen., was to the eye of the writer, and probably to many others, the best- dressed man of our place. The old class of wor- thies which he so well represented is now all gone; and it will be my endeavor from time to time to make a just and respectful notice of them. Their memories are surely worthy of being preserved.
While the good brig Mary was lying at her wharf in Havre, that distinguished merchant, Will- iam Rotch, Sen., a sketch of whose life and char- acter I have before given, came on board, and the portrait before spoken of, which had been placed upon the walls of the cabin, was at once recognized by him, and pointing towards it, he said, "That is Cornelius Grinnell." How valuable must such a remembrancer, with so many pleasant associations, be to its present possessor and the rest of his family !
But to return to the old "Medley," of which I desire to make thorough work, as it is probably the only copy of this number in existence: * the next advertisement, headed by a tub-like sloop, with the bowsprit at an angle of forty-five degrees and the main boom to correspond, reads :
* Since writing the preceding sketch of the old Medley newspaper, I have seen a nearly complete file of all the numbers of that paper, which fully sustains the favorable estimate I deduced from the first number.
I
144
FOR NEW YORK AND CHESEPEAK. TITHE sloop Mayflower, Gibbs West, Master, Will sail on or about the first of next month. For freight or passage apply to the Master on board at Rotch's Wharf, or to Elisha West.
I have now reached the last page of this venerable relic of the press; and in the column devoted to the Muses, with the caption "Pierian Spring," I find some original lines on the Acushnet River, which the poet (Elihu Doty, a native of Rochester, Mass.) calls " Quishnet," with this introduction:
" For the Medley.
Mr. Printer, Anxious to please others, and willing to be pleased myself, I have written the following stanzas to be inserted in the first number of the Medley: by doing which you may possibly oblige many, but I dare say none more than yours, &c. LEANDER."
The modern Leander does not liken his Quish- net to the Hellespont, and Editor Spooner is the Hero of his verse. Here follow the stanzas, which are really very good :
Old pow'rful Quishnet quiet slept, Amidst his oozy bed; Around his shores the marshes swept, And rushes crown'd his head.
O'er his broad back the western breeze, With chilly whispers flew, When Sol behind the leafless trees, The morning curtains drew.
Sloping along the Eastern skies, Till almost noon he ran, When thus beholding with surprise, The shining God began :
" Rouse! King of waters, and survey The bliss the Gods design For mortal man this happy day, And be the glory thine!
See with what diligence and skill, The Printer rears his press! May its good infl'ence wide distil, And in distilling bless."
r
145
Apollo spoke, and o'er the waves The sea-green power arose, His breast the dimpling billow laves, And alders shade his brows.
Around the glist'ning shores he view'd, Well pleased with what he saw, A rev'rend horror, still the flood, The winds attend with awe.
" SPOONER! the pleasing task pursue, Of spreading knowledge round! Tho' to my shores the deed be new, Yet may the work abound.
My waves shall waft the Medley o'er, To bless the Eastern side.
The Gods approve." -He said no more And sunk amidst the tide.
How many poets are there in New Bedford of the present day who can excel this? Farewell, Leander! thou hast probably long since gone down a stream swifter and more endless than thy admired Quishnet!
Then follows an original article on " Prejudice," signed "Equitas," well written and instructive; after which are three capital anecdotes, under the head of " Variety," also the celebrated Sermon on Malt. Two more advertisements close the page, one of books and bookbinding, by Caleb Greene, and the other of books, by our friend, the editor of the Medley, among which are advertised Watts's Psalms and Hymns, Vicar of Wakefield, Journey to Jerusalem, Expedition of Humphrey Clinker, Devotional Papers, Adventures of Gil Blas, Affec- tionate Schoolmaster, &c. The latter must cer- tainly have been a rara avis. And here I close my catalogue of the Medley, a sheet of which any editor of the present day need not be ashamed.
146
The successor of the Medley was the " Columbian Courier. Printed and Published by Abraham Shearman, Jun., at the Four Corners, New Bedford. (1 D. 50 cts. per ann.)" This paper continued a little more than five years, from 12th mo. 8th, 1799, to 3d mo. 1st, 1805. Upon the title-page of this humble sheet (even smaller than the "old Medley ") and between the words forming its title, is a strik- ing wood-cut, of oval form, representing a maritime city, with its spires, observatory, blocks of buildings, ships at the wharves, with their flags flying at mast-head, and a ship and sloop, both under sail, coming into port, the one evidently from foreign parts and the other coastwise, a courier upon horseback, riding at great speed from the adjoining country, and all with important news and intelli- gence for the " Columbian Courier!"
In the prices current at New York, by the quan- tity, March 23d, 1799, superfine flour is quoted at $8 per barrel; common do. at $7.50; butter for export, 18 to 20 cents; cheese-English, 23 to 28 cents, American, 8 to 12 cents; beef-cargo, $6, prime, $7.50, mess, $9 per barrel; wheat, per bushel, $1.50; rye, 75 cents; barley; 94 cents; oats, 33 to 34 cents; corn, 53 to 56 cents; molasses, 50 to 58 cents per gallon; rice, $2 to $2.25 per cwt .; sugar-muscovado, $14.15 to $16.50 per cwt., Havana, $13.15 to $16, do. white, $19 to $20, India, first quality, $15.50 to $15.87, lump, per pound, 27 cents, loaf, do., 29 cents; bohea tea, per pound, 62 cents, hyson, $1.35 to $1.43, hyson skin, $1.06 to $1.09, souchong, $1 to $1.06; wine-
147
Lisbon, per gallon, $1 to $1.06, port, $1; gun- powder (English,) 25 pounds, $12.50; shot, per cwt., $8.50; cordage, per cwt., $13; candles- tallow, 15 to 17 cents, sperm, 50 to 62 cents per pound; oil-linseed, per gallon, $1, whale, per tun, $75 to $80, spermaceti, per gallon, 87 to 90 cents; tobacco-very dull-9 to 11 cents per pound.
Attached to a notice directed to Caleb Greene, clerk of the proprietors of the New Bedford bridge, are the following names: William Rotch, Jr., Thom- as Rotch, Thomas Hazard, Jr., Preserved Fish, Joseph Maxfeld, Peleg Howland, Benjamin Hill, Isaac Shearman, Ebenezer Perry: New Bedford, 12th mo. 24th, 1798.
In the marine news: December 25th, 1798, "Sailed Ship Maria, Paddack, bound to the Pacific Ocean on a whale voyage." This is the old Maria, the oldest whaler, if not the oldest ship, in the United States, formerly owned by Samuel Rod- man, Sen., and lately owned by his grandson, Sam- uel W. Rodman, of Boston. Her register is 202 tons burthen.
The numbers of the Columbian Courier which I have examined are very much occupied with public matters, home and foreign news: “An Address to John Adams, President of the United States," "Fate of Buonaparte," news from Italy, Turkey, Germany, &c .; " Extract from the British Monthly Review for July, 1797. As a friend to human kind, Mr. Wilberforce is already well known to the public, and his benevolent though hitherto unsuccessful exertions in favor of an in-
148
jured race of men must entitle him to the esteem of every philanthropist."
The motto of the Columbian Courier is given upon the third page of the number before me :
" To mark th' unfoldings of eventful time."
The only worshippers before the hymeneal altar are given as follows:
" Married, in this town, Capt. Samuel Borden to Betsey Huttleston, only daughter of Peleg Huttleston, Merchant, of this town."
Among the advertisements :
NEW INSURANCE OFFICE.
TOSEPH RICKETSON, informs the public, That by the request of a number of his Friends he still continues the office of Insur- ance Broker, &c.
Other advertisers are Howland & Hathaway, Michael Graham, William Ross, Jeremiah May- hew, Daniel Ricketson & Son, Caleb Greene & Son, William Rotch, Jr., & Co., Seth Russell & Sons, Henry Dean, Jonathan Card; all of whom have passed off the stage of life, and are succeeded by a more ambitious but probably no more happy class in their various pursuits of commercial en- terprise.
Of the editor of this newspaper, Abraham Shear- man, Jr., I have before spoken, but his superior ex- cellencies entitle him to something more than a passing notice. As a man of sound judgment, pure and refined nature, honest, faithful and truly relig- ious, all who knew him readily acknowledge. His fine moral and literary tastes led him, in his long ex- perience as the chief bookseller of New Bedford, to
r
149
furnish his customers with the best works of genius in the different departments of belles-lettres; and many are undoubtedly willing to acknowledge that from this source, they received encouragement in the fields of literature, among whom the writer of this history, if it be not invidious for him so to do, would gladly add his testimony. Friend Shearman was born upon his father's farm, about a mile north of the Friends' meeting-house at Acushnet, 4th mo. 4th, 1777, and died in New Bedford, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, 12th mo. 26th, 1847, in his 71st year. He was for a long time a prom- inent and valuable member of the Society of Friends, and held several important offices in this fraternity. Owing to an injury in his youth, he became quite lame and somewhat of an invalid during the remainder of his life, yet his personal appearance was highly respectable, and dur- ing his latter years venerable. He possessed con- siderable literary as well as business talent, and his acquirements were superior to most of his co- temporaries; yet, owing to his great modesty, and conscientious scruples lest he should transcend the good order of the Christian society to which he was so much devoted, his accomplishments were but little known, except to his most intimate acquaint- ances. His life was one of remarkable purity, and his memory will be long treasured by his friends.
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.