USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston containing miscellaneous papers > Part 9
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But the 20 of March will be a day memorable for the most terrible Fire that has happened in the town or perhaps in any other part of North America; far exceeding that of Oct. 2, 1711, till now termed the Great Fire. It began about Two o'clock in the Morning in the Dwelling House of Mrs. Mary Jackson and Son, at the Brazen Head in Cornhill [Washington street, nearly opposite Williams court] but the Accident which occasioned it is yet un- certain. The flames catched the House adjoining in the front of the St. and burnt three or four large buildings ; a Stop was put to it there at the house of Mrs. West on the South, and Mr Peter Cotta on the North, but the Fire raged most violently toward the East. All the Stores fronting Pudding Lane [Devonshire street] together with every Dwelling House, from thence Excepting those
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which front the South side of King-St. and a Store of Mr Spooner's on Water St. to Quaker-Lane [Congress street] and from thence only leaving a large wooden House and the House belonging to the late Cornelius Waldo, it Burnt every House, Shop, Store, out-House &c. to Oliver's Dock. And an Eddy of wind carrying the Fire contrary to its Course, it took the Building fronting the lower Part of King St. and destroyed the Houses from the Corner opposite the Bunch of Grapes Tavern [in State street. just below the Old State-House] to the Ware house of Mess" Box and Austin. leaving only the warehouse of the Hon. John Erwing and Dwelling House of Mr Hastings, standing. The other Brick warehouse was damaged. The fire extended from Mr Torreys the Baker in Water st. and damaging some of Mr. Dal- tons new shops, proceeding to Mr Halls working house from there to Milk st. and consumed every house from there to Mr Calef's Dwelling house [in Milk street, corner of Congress, afterwards the famous Julien's restaurant, which stood until July, 1824] to the bottom of the street, and the opposite way, from Mr Dawes's included it carried every house from Fort Hill except the Hon Secretary Olivers and two or three Tenements along Mr. Hallo- well's Shipyard his dwelling House the Sconce of the South- Battery all the Shops and Stores on Col. Wendell's wharf, and two or three Ships and a Schooner were burnt one laden with wood and another with considerable value. It consumed near 400 Dwellings Houses Stores Shops Shipping &c. together with Goods and Merchandizes of almost every kind to an incredible Value ; but it is not ease to describe the Terror of that Fatal morning. The alarm was great and an Explosion of some powder soon fol- lowed which was seen and felt to a great Distance. The chief part had been removed by some hardy adventurers, just before the Ex- plosion, the same time cinders and Flakes of fire were seen flying over that Quarter, where was reposited the remainder of the artillery stores, and combustibles which was preserved from taking fire. 'The people in this and the neighboring towns exerted them- selves to an uncommon Degree and were encouraged by the Presence and example of the Greatest Personage amongst us, but the haughty Flames triumphed over our Engine - our Art - and our numbers. The distressed Inhabitants of those Buildings now wrapped in Fire scarce knew where to take refuge from the devonring flames ; The Loss of Interest cannot as yet be ascer- tained or who have sustained the greatest, it is said that the damage which only one man has received cannot be made good with £2000 Sterling it is in general to great to be made in any measure by the other Inhabitants exhausted as we have been by the great Proportion this Town has borne the extraordinary Expence of the War and by a demand upon our charity to relieve a number of sufferers, and without the compassionate assistance of our Christian Friends abroad, distress and ruin may overwhelm the greatest Part of them.
In the midst of our Distress we have great cause for Thanks- giving, that notwithstanding the rage of the fire, the explosion at the Small Battery, and the falling of the walls, and chimneys,
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 100.
Devine Providenee, who so mercifull ordered it not one life has been lost and few wounded.
The following is from a List of the Persons who dwelt in the Houses, which are now consumed, which was taken by the Asses- sors in November last ; And altho' it may not be exact, so that it can be determined who are the greatest Sufferers, yet it may serve until a more compleat Account be given. - Several Widows and a few others are probably omitted, which we could not come to the knowledge of, and some of those who are inserted wrong placed, which our Readers will excuse.
Cornhill [Washington street] ; Mrs. Mary Jackson & Son, Widow MeNeal, Mr. Jonathan Mason, Mrs. Quiek.
Pudding Lane [Devonshire street] ; Wm. Fairfield, - Rogers, John Sterling, George Glen, James Steward, Widow Marshall, Edmond Dolbear.
Upper part of Water street; Henry Laughton, jun., Mrs. Grice, an empty House of Mr. Cazneau, William Palfrey, Joseph Richardson, Dinley Wing, Benja Jeffries, John Durant, Mr. Law- son, and a large curriers shop.
Quaker Lane [Congress street] ; Wm. Hyslop, S. Salter, with a Brew-house, Robt. Jarvis, Dan Ray and Friends Meeting House.
Towards Olivers Docks ; Daniel Spear, Thos. Bennet, Wm. Baker, Eben. Dogget, Jas. Barnes, Dan Henchman, Joseph Marion, Thos. Hawkins, Shop and Barn Opposite, Widow Savel, James Thompson, Hugh Moore, Widow Davis, Nicholas Tabb, Michael Carrol, Two Tenements of Free Negroes.
Maekerel Lane [Kilby street] ; John Gardner, John Powell, Vineent Mundersol, Haselton Barber's Shop and a Gunsmith's, Edmund Perkins, James Perkins, Several chair maker's Shops, James Graham, Capt. Atherton Haugh, John Doan, Capt. B. Smith, Saul Bangs, D. Rourkes, G. Perry, Paul Baxter shop, Benj. Salisbury, Nich. Dyer, Wm. Stutely, Peter Air, Francis Warden, Benj. Phillip's store, MeNeals sail Loft, Palfreys Ditto, Pulters cooper shop, Davis Blacksmith, James Graham Ditto, Fish Market, Sinsesbys shop, Reads ditto, Harris's ditto, Mellus's ditto, T. Palfrey's Sail Loft, Widow Brailesford, John Osborn, Obed Cross, Isaae Dafforn.
Lower Part of Water Street ; William Torrey, Jacob Bueknam, James Beaton, Nicholas Lobden, John Riee, Blacksmith's Carpen- ter's & Chaisemaker's Shop, Thomas Palfrey, Thomas Hartley jun", Edmond Mann, Col. Thwing, James Thwing, Widow Noyes, Ed. Quincy Jr., Thos. Walley, Widow Parsoll, Mrs. Stevenson, Thos. Read, Thos. Read Jr., Bruelsley Read, Robt. William, Jas. Tucker, John Fullerton, Nath. Winslow, Joseph Webb J., Bar- nard & Wheelwrights Shop and Stores adjoining.
Milk St. and Battery March. - Hall's & Messis's Calif's Tan- Houses, Thomas Barnes, Widow Giffen, Jones, Waters, Nathan Foster, Thomas Speakman, Wm. Freeland, Isaae Hause, Hon. John Osborn, Widow Brown, Oliver Wiswall, Caleb Prinee, Mrs. Mary Oliver, Joseph Dowse, David Burnet, Edward Stone, Andrew Oliver Jr., John Powell, Ed. Davis, Mr. Masters, Thos. Masters, Benj. Cobb, Jas. Orill, John Pieree, Eben Cushing, Eben
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Cushing Jr., Jas. Rickord, Joseph Uran, Joseph Putnam, Stephen Fullerton, John Province. Andrew Gardner, Mr. Finnesey, Andrew Lepair. Samuel Hewes. Increase Blake, Capt. Edward Blake. Benja Hallowell. Daniel Ingersol, Two Blacksmith's and 2 Boat-builder's and sundry other Shops, Thomas Salter, Peter Bourn, Widow Perkins, Nath. Eddy, Joshua Sprigg, Zephaniah Basset. John Boyce, Jacob Ridgway, James Moore, Mr. Muggot, Wmn. Fullerton, Mr. Hill, John Newell, Wm. Cox, Isaac Pierce and Distill House, a Bake House, Benj. Frothingham, Ed King, John Griffen, Mr. Bright, Thos. Spear, Capt. Killeran, Isaiah Auderbert. E. B. Oliver, Math. Salter. Joshua Bowles, James Phillips, Isaac Weudell. John Allen, Wallis, Wilson, all Stores, Shops. &c., on Col. Wendell's wharf.
King-st. [State street]. - John Stevenson, the corner of Mackerel-Lane. Widow Foster. Simon Eliot, Peck, Glasier, John Green, James Lamb. Widow Checkley, John Wheatly, John Jep- son. Benja Jepson, Thomas White, Hezekiah Cole. Goodwin shop, John Peck's shop. Messrs. Apthorp & Gardiner's warehouse, John Knight's ditto. Bart. Cheever's ditto, where the fire was stopped.
There is upwards of 60 Dwelling-Houses, shops and other Build- ings consumed. besides those mentioned above, which we have not Time to insert in their proper Places.
The light of the Fire was seen at Portsmouth which is the far- thest place we liave as yet heard from, and the Explosion occa- sioned by the Gun-Powder at the South-Battery was heard at Hampton, and many other places, and was thought by many to be an Earth-quake.
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CITY DOCUMENT No. 100.
The following is a copy of a Vote passed by the great & general court on the 224 inst :
attest
A OLIVER Sec.
The House taking into consideration that part of his Excel- lency's speech respecting the calamity brought on the town of Boston in the late fire, and it appearing on the best information that could in so short be obtained that there was consumed 174 dwelling houses and tenements and 175 ware houses, shops and other buildings with a great part of the furniture besides large quantities of merchandize, and the stock and tools of many tradesmen ; that the loss upon a moderate computation, cannot be less than £100,000 sterling; and it further appearing that the number of families inhabiting the aforementioned houses were at least 220 three quarters of whom are by this misfortune rendered incapable of subsisting themselves, and a great number of them are reduced to extream poverty and require immediate relief.
Voted, That his Excellency the Governor be desired to send briefs throughout the province, strongly recommending the un- happy case of the sufferers to the inhabitants, and calling upon them for a general contribution, to be paid into the hands of the Select-men and Overseers of the poor of the town of Boston, to be by them distributed as they in their discretion shall judge proper.
And inasmuch as the necessities of many demand a more speedy succor, it is further voted, That there be advanced and paid out of the public treasury, into the hands of the Select-men and Over- seers aforesaid, the sum of Three Thousand Pounds out of the money raised by Excise the year past.
The said Seleet-men and Overseers to lay an account of the money raised by the publick contribution before this eourt, and of their distribution thereof, and of the sum received out of the Pub- lick Treasury.
Several necessaries were sent the sufferers by the selectmen and gentlemen of the town.
" March 22, 1760. The Secretary by order of his Excellency the Governor delivered the following message to the two Houses respectively.
Gentlemen of the Council and House of Representatives. As the late Fire in the Town of Boston hath laid Waste a Quarter that is extreemely well Situated for carrying on the Trade of this Metropolis of the Province if some effectual measures were taken to regulate, and Widen some of the Streets which now lye deso- late, and to Open any New Streets or Lanes that might be judged useful, and to prevent the more effectually the building with Wood :
I should hope in course of time that this ruinous Quarter of the Town would be rebuilt in such manner as to make it as Safe beau- tiful and commodious as any part of the Town whatever; and in the end prove an encouragement to the Trade and business of it.
The Parliament of England in their Wisdom thought fit after the Great Fire which happened in London in the year 1666, to Enact a Law for rebuilding the City many of the Regulations men-
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tioned in that Law must suit the present Case of the Town of Boston. The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Common Council were impowered to lay out Streets : and adjust any differences that might be occasioned thereby, to regulate the Buildings, and pre- vent exorbitant prices of Materials and Workmen. I would rec- commend it to your Serious consideration whether some of the magistrates or Selectmen of this Town might not with Propriety be Vested with some of the like Powers for carrying into Execu- tion so useful a Design here.
March 224 1760
T. POWNALL."
Council Records, vol. xxiii., p. 288.
March 25, 1760. In the House of Representatives The House agreeable to the Order of the day entered into the consideration of his Excellencys Message of the 22ª Instant and after a debate - Voted That the members of the Town of Boston together with Mr Higginson. Mr Hatch. and Capt Goldthwait with such as the honourable Board shall appoint be a Committee to take the said Message under consideration and report.
In Council Read and Concurred. And his Honour the Lieut Governor. Jacob Wendell, Benjamin Lynde, Andrew Oliver, James Bowdoin, and Peter Oliver Esqrs are joined in the Affair." Ibid .. p. 296.
CHAPTER 30.
AN ACT FOR THE PREVENTION OF DANGER AND INCONVENIENCE IN REBUILDING THAT PART OF THE TOWN OF BOSTON THAT WAS LATELY CONSUMED BY FIRE.
Whereas, by the late desolating fires in the present year of his majesty's reign, a great number of buildings in the town of Boston have been demolished, and a large track laid waste ; to promote the building thereof in the most safe and commodious manner, -
Be it enacted by the Governour, Council and House of Repre- sentatives,
[SECT. 1.] That Thomas Hutchinson, John Osborne, Jacob Wendell, Samuel Watts, Andrew Oliver, Joseph Pynchon, Stephen Sewall. Jobn Erving. James Bowdoin, Thomas Hancock and Thomas Hubbard. Esquires, members of his majesty's council, together with the present selectmen of the town of Boston, be and hereby are fully authorized and impowered to lay out any new streets or lanes. in such places and of such breadth and length as they shall think proper. within the limits of the track so laid waste as aforesaid, and to widen, ascertain, alter and discontinue any streets or lanes heretofore laid out within the same limits. And any person or persons that shall have their land taken away or lessened, or be otherwise injured thereby, shall and may recover the damages by them sustained, agreeable to the directions of an act made in the fourth year of the reign of King Willian & Queen Mary, intituled " An Act for building with stone and brick in the town of Boston, and preventing fire."
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 100.
And be it further enacted -
[Seet. 2.] That no person shall crect, build or rebuild any house, barn, shop or other building whatever, before the twentieth day of June next, within the limits aforesaid, without leave first obtained of the said members of the council and the selectmen, or the major part of the whole, being met together, in writing, under their hands, and unless the same be placed on such spot, and be of such kind, dimensions and fabrick, as the said members of the council and the selectmen, or the major part of the whole, shall allow and approve of.
[Sect 3] And every house or other building erected or rebuilt contrary to the true intent of this act shall be deemed a nusance. And the said members of the council and the selectmen, or the major part of the whole, are hereby authorized and impowered to prostrate and remove the same, and dispose of so much of the materials thereof as shall be necessary to defrey the expence of prostrating and removing the same.
[Passed and published March 29, 1760.
CHAPTER 9.
AN ACT FOR THE BETTER REBUILDING THAT PART OF THE TOWN OF BOSTON WHICH WAS LAID WASTE BY THE LATE FIRE AND FOR PREVENTING FIRE IN THAT TOWN FOR THE FUTURE.
Whereas great desolation hath been lately made by fire, in the town Boston, which hathi been principally occasioned by the nar- rowness of the streets, and the houses being built with wood and covered with shingles ; and whereas a committee was appointed by the general court, in the last session, for regulating the streets in that part of the town which was so laid waste, and the committee hath accordingly proceeded to lay out the streets there, a plan whereof hath been laid before this court, and is now deposited in the secretary's office, -
Be it therefore enacted etc.
[Sect 1.] That the said proceedings of the committee be and are hereby confirmed ; and all actions that shall be brought for re- covering possession of any land lying within any of the streets laid out as aforesaid, or for damages sustained or occasioned thereby, shall be utterly and forever barred.
And be it fu ther enacted
[Sect. 2.] That no building whatsoever be so erected as to encroach upon any street by them laid out as aforesaid ; and that every building so erected be deemed a nusance, and be accord- ingly demolished, by the order of any two justices of the peace for the county of Suffolk, the charges of such demoliation to be paid out of the monies which shall be raised by the sale of the materials of such building, which, by the order of said justices, shall be sold for that purpose, unless the said charges shall be im- mediately paid by the owner.
And be it etc ;
[Sect 3.] That if any person or persons whatsoever shall wittingly or willingly, without good authority, pluck up or re-
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move any of the stakes or bound-marks which have been or shall be fixed or set up, by order of said committee, to distinguish and ascertain the streets aforesaid, and shall be thereof convicted before any two justices of the peace for the connty of Suffolk, he or they shall for every such offence be imprisoned, by order of such justices, for the space of two months, unless he or they shall forthwith pay or canse to be paid to the treasurer of the town of Boston the sum of three pounds for the nse of said town.
And whereas some persous may suffer damage by the laying- out of the streets according to the plan aforesaid, and others may receive benefit and advantage thereby, -.
Be it etc ;
[Sect. 4.] That Samuel Danforth, Samuel Watts and Joseph Williams, Esqrs .. or any two of them, shall, on or before the tenth day of July next, summon a jury of twelve meet persons (none of which to be inhabitants of the town of Boston) to view the streets aforesaid, and the several tenements or lots of land, abut- ting thereon, and to estimate the damages which any person or persons may sustaiu by means of any street's being laid out as aforesaid, and likewise the benefit or advantage that may accrue to any person or persons thereby ; and whatever damages any shall sustain according to such estimation shall be made good to the party endamaged, either by such particular person or persons as shall be thereby benefited. or by the town of Boston, or by both, in such proportiou as the said jury shall find reasonable ; and every estate so bettered or advantaged. as well as the owner thereof. shall be subjected to make good the sum assessed on account of such advantage ; the charge of the jury, as well as the charge of laying ont the streets, to be boru and paid, in the like proportion, by the town or person so benefited.
And be it etc ;
[Sect. 5.] That when the jury aforesaid shall have ascertainea to the said justices the damages snstained by any person or per- sons by means of the laying-out any street or streets as aforesaid, together with the several sums to be paid by the town, or any particular persons, to make good such damages and defrey the charges of laying out the streets, of summoning the jury, and of the justices and jurors attending on the business assigned them respectively, the said justices shall, within six days after the jury's report. give a certificate thereof, under their hands, to the assess- ors of the town of Boston; and those assessors shall, within two months after the receipt of such certificate, make an assessment on the inhabitants of the town for such sum as by the jnry's report ought to be paid by the town, - and, likewise, on particular persons. for such sum as by the jury's report ought to be paid by them respectively, - and issue their warrants to the collectors, re- quiring them to collect and pay the same, within two months, into the town treasury. And the treasurer of said town shall, within three months after the issuing of such warrants, pay to the person endamaged, as aforesaid, the respective snms assigned them by the jury's report, in satisfaction for the damages by them sustained.
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CITY DOCUMENT NO. 100.
And be it etc ;
[Seet. 6.] That where any pump, or well of water, by the lay- ing out of any street as aforesaid, is taken into the street, the same shall be kept in good order at the expence of the persons dwelling near the same, or of the town, or both, as shall be agreed between such persons and the seleetmen of the town; and in case they cannot agree before the sitting of the court of general sessions of the peace to be held within and for the county of Suffolk on the first Tuesday of October next, then the justiees of the said court may and shall determine by wliom, and in what proportion, the charge of maintaining any such pump or well, and keeping the same in good order, shall be borne, unless the town shall find it inconvenient for such pump or well to remain in the street, in which ease the same shall be stop'd and filled up at the charge of the town.
And be it etc;
[Sect 7.] That no house or other building whatsoever, of more than seven feet in height, shall be erected in Boston, other- wise than of stone or briek and covered with slate or tiles; and that no house or other building already erected, of any greater dimensions than as aforesaid, shall be hereafter covered anew on the top, any otherwise than with slate or tiles, on penalty of fifty pounds, to be paid by the owner of the same for the use of the poor of the said town, to be recovered by an aetion brought for the same by the town treasurer.
And be it etc;
[Seet. 8.] That every dwelling-house which shall be built otherwise than by this act is provided, shall be subjected to a yearly tax of twenty pounds ; and every warehouse, shop, stable or barn, to a yearly tax of ten pounds ; to be paid into the town treasury by the occupier thereof for the use of the town : and the assessors shall accordingly add such sum or sums to the town tax of every sueh oeeupant yearly, over and above the sum with which he would otherwise have been taxed, and shall particularly specify the same in the tax-bill.
Provided, always, -
[Seet 9.] That it shall and may be lawful for any person to build of wood, any warehouse, shop or workhouse, upon any wharff where, in the opinion of the seleetmen, no solid foundation can be had without great expenee, on condition that the sides of such warehouse, shop or workhouse be covered with plaister or slate, and the roof eovered with slate or tiles, any thing in this aet to the contrary notwithstanding.
And whereas sundry persons have heretofore inconsiderately ereeted dwelling-houses or other buildings in a manner contrary to the provisions of an act made and passed in the fourth year of the reign of their late majesties King William and Queen Mary, inti- tuled " An Act for building with stone or brick in the town of Boston, and preventing fire," -
Be it etc ;
[Seet 10.] That every such person be indemnified and saved harmless from any prosecution for violating the act aforesaid :
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provided that the house or other building so erected by him shall be covered with, slate, or with tiles, within ten years from the first day of June. one thousand seven hundred and sixty. [Passed June 20. [1761]
PETITION OF ANDREW HALL.
Gentlm.
I take the Liberty to Trouble you with the Distress I and my family must be in Unles Soon Releived from you, Gentlm whom is Intrusted with Large Summs of money to be Distributed to the Relief of those Sufferers of the great fire in Boston last. March. which the People of New England has given Large Sums for that Use.
I acknowledge you have given me, Largely & Bountifully for the Relief of my Distressed Family, but as providence, had ordered things I was Obliged to part with that Money or have gone to Goale wich Could Not Posible been prevented, my going there, had I not have converted that Money for that Use, about Three Months before the fire I lost 1450 pound L. M at Sea, Severall persons I was Indebted too arested me with Single. writs on wich I was obliged to give the Oficer Security or gone to Pris- son now the Effects that I Intended to Pay these severall Sums wich, I was Indebted amounted to 530 pound L. M. was Consumed in the fire the Oficer was security to the persons I was Indebted, Consequently the Oficer must Either Comitt me to Prisson or Pay the debts. so that I was Obliged, to pay the Sevr' Sums, I have Ever Since the fire done Every thing I could to get a penny in Trade I fixed away My Brigenten to Surranam & was Obliged to make hier over as Security to Mr Fitch for Severall Sums he was Obliged to pay for me and I could uot put a proper Cargo on board of her by Reason I could not get Cash to purchase proper goods by that reason she will Loose me a great deal of Money and is a coming home Not above half full wich must be allowed to be a Nother Loss besides the fire for had I been able to put in a proper Cargoe she would have made a good Voyage, wich I could not by reason of the fire. as to the Loss of My Sloop it is not only the first Loss but the hire of the Vessel would have amounted to 500 Sterling wich you must allow to be a Loss besides the first Loss, . and the whole business I have done since the fire; I have Lost Money by. for when I wanted to purchase any goods I could not buy without Credit & I could not have no Credit without Mr Fitch would Ingage to be Acountable in that way I have purchased large Quantities of Salt for wich I was obliged to give so much more for Credit than I could buy for the Cash down I got Nothing by it, wich you must Allow to be Another great Loss for I could have gained Severall Thousand pounds this Summer'in Trade had I any stock, wich was lost by the fire, in short Gent" I am sorry I am so Long but Distress leads me on & I am Sure if you look upon me to be worthy of Relief you Cannot possible among the whole Loss by fire find any person and family in Such a deplor- able Situation as I am in and shall soon be in, my health will not
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