USA > Rhode Island > Bristol County > Bristol > Sketches of old Bristol > Part 29
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immaculate coat of whitewash), and extending from one side of the road to the other.
"The driver of the coach paying the toll before passing through the archway.
"When the ferry was reached the passengers left the stage and went aboard a small scow or barge, called a horse-boat, the craft being propelled by horse power, four horses, two on either side of the boat, treading on a revolving surface which by the applica- tion of cogs turned small wooden wheels or paddles. When the sea was rough one wheel would often be entirely out of the water while the other was completely under. The scheduled time of passage across was thirty minutes and the little waiting-room on one part of the deck called 'ladies' cabin' was utilized for lunch on the passage over.
"On the Bristol side another stage coach met the boat and the passengers continued on their journey. The fare from the ferry to the village (Bristol) was 25 cents. The distance in, being only two miles, a high state official of those days, a former lieut. gov- ernor, refused to pay the fare, insisting strenuously that the charge was exorbitant and walked the two miles to the village under a midsummer's blistering sun, part of the way up very steep hills."
In the early days the rates of ferriage for a single person across Bristol Ferry were:
1669 -6 pence 1715 - 8 pence 1743- I shilling 1756- 5 shillings 1767 - 3 pence 1798-8 cents 1822-8 cents 1844-8 cents
The early ferry acts prescribed the rates of ferriage and also the hours during which the ferryman must be in attendance. Night service was required only in the case of physicians, surgeons and midwives and also those sent for them; these must be carried at any time of night. The act of 1752 remained in force so long as sailing craft were in use.
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As early as 1647 the exportation of cattle from the Island of Rhode Island had begun, for the rates of ferriage at that period include livestock. The transportation of livestock was one of the chief functions of the sail ferry-boats as long as they continued to operate.
According to tradition about the year 1826 one Isaac Fish ran a line of stage coaches from Boston to Newport via Bristol Ferry and the heavy coaches were carried across on the horse-boat that was in use at that time. Another story handed down is that at one time an entire circus was carried across on the ferry boat, the elephants of course swimming across on their own.
The picturesque old Ferry-House dates back to around 1750; this was sometime before it came into the possession of the Pearse family. The rear part of the house is much the older and was originally nearer the road, traces of the old cellar can still be seen. Many years ago an ell was built on the north end of the house; this was where the ferryman and his family lived.
John Ingraham, who was captain of the night police back in the eighties and nineties, was the ferryman in his younger days and occupied the quarters. Before his time there was a fellow by the name of George Coyt who ran the boat for Captain West. George had a parrot and from what has come down to us, it was a very talkative one. When any stranger appeared 'round the bend in the road, Polly would screech "Going over? Going over?" When George made his appearance from the rear of the house where he had been busy working, the parrot would greet him with "George Coyt, you old scalawag-going over-going over!"
Miss West tells about one of the Pearses, George, who was possessed of a powerful voice and also a powerful pair of lungs. Jeremiah Gifford, who was part owner of the ferry on the Ports- mouth side at that time, was equally blessed. On calm days when there was no wind blowing, Pearse would go down on the end of the wharf and holler across-"Jeremy, come over. Jeremy, come over" and Jeremy would answer across in kind, and then bring the ferry boat across.
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In its prosperous days there was a taproom located in the southeast corner room just off the main entrance. In those days the stage coach would come down the long hill, swing around the turn in the road and come to a quick stop in front of the main entrance. The remains of the old ferry wharf can still be plainly seen, extending out into the bay, directly in front of the old house.
The old slave-hut in the rear is still standing. The census of the year 1774 shows that William Pearse owned three blacks at that time.
In the olden times the ferry house with its taproom was to the ferry what the old inn and taproom were to the stage coach. Both came into being from necessity and convenience. Travelers reaching the ferry when night had set in were compelled either to pay an exorbitant rate for night passage or wait for daylight to be put across. Oftentimes where the ferries were operated by sailing craft, high winds or calm would hold up the passage. Uncertain hours of waiting were ahead of them and in due course they quite naturally felt the need of food and oftentimes drink. So, nat- urally, it came about that the demand regulated supply and in turn the supply was regulated by the law-makers. Long before there was any general legislation concerning the sale of strong drink and the lodging of travelers, the local authorities were offering inducements to engage in the ferry business. They seemed to consider the furnishing of liquid refreshment to be a natural and desirable collateral business for the ferrymen. All through the old records we find entries such as this: "Granted a license to Job Almy to sell strong drink as he is the keeper of the ferry, since it was found that passengers passing over said ferry have need of refreshment."
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THE GREAT SEPTEMBER GALE of 1815
THIS day is the semi-centennial anniversary of that tremendous gale of wind which swept over New England causing an immense destruction of property and lives. In this town the effects of the gale were truly disastrous. For several days previous the wind had been light from northeast and east with an overcast sky threatening rain. On the morning of the 23rd the gale com- menced from the southeast varying to south and southwest; the tide rose to an unusual height completely submerging the wharves and filling the cellars of the stores and dwelling houses on the west side of Thames street with water. The entire fleet of vessels then lying in the harbor were swept from their moorings and driven ashore. Quite a number of stores and other buildings standing on the wharves westward of Thames street were swept away with their contents; houses and other buildings in different parts of the town were unroofed and trees were uprooted pre- senting at the close of. the gale an appalling spectacle. Four young men in attempting to pass on to Poppasquash on the road at the head of the harbor were swept from the road and drowned.
Fifty years have passed and what a change has been wrought. Probably not one in ten of those who were in active life at that time are now living. Look at the men of business of those days- the D'Wolfs, Churches, Pecks, Gladdings, Babbitts and a host of others who were on the active stage of life-all have passed away. Look at the clergymen of that day-Bishop Griswold, Rev. Dr. Wight, Barnabas Bates, all gone. The then fathers of the town, the doctors, the judges and the lawyers, all with scarcely an ex- ception have passed away. Look at our streets, our public build- ings, our churches and our cemeteries and what a change has taken place. It is really interesting for one to compare the good old-fashioned town of Bristol in 1815, with its population of 2900 with our present prosperous town of about 4700 inhabitants.
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Whoever lived in Bristol 50 years ago, and soon after left the place, should he now return could hardly point out any spot which has not been so much altered that scarcely a trace of the old landmarks remain. A few years more and all who witnessed the memorable gale will be gone and the places which once knew them will know them no more.
Sept. 23, 1865.
In looking over a package of old newspapers recntly I came across a copy of The Yankee, published in Boston, of date Octo- ber 6th, 1815, which contained the following account of the direful effects of the great September Gale in this town:
"Bristol (R. I.) suffered severely." The account of the losses occupies nearly a column. Of the persons who experienced dam- age the following are named :- Isaac Liscomb, Samuel Glad- ding, Charles D'Wolf; Jacob Babbitt, whose fine range of stores from the centre to the west end, totally levelled, and forty thou- sand dollars worth of sugar was totally lost; Mr. Leonard, the post-master, who lost all his postoffice books, papers and 600 dollars public money; William D'Wolf, Col. Throop, James D'Wolf, Royal Diman, Capt. Wilson, Nath. Wardwell, Nath. Gladding, Nicholas Peck, Tho. Church, Parker Borden, Judge Howland, John Reed, Judge Bosworth. The writer of the account says, "To give you some idea of the sea, William D'Wolf's brig Juno, 160 tons, drove from his wharf, and she, with the Toadfish (after taking James D'Wolf's yellow store with them,) went across Royal Diman's wharf, and the Juno brought up against Wardwell's new brig which, was sunk in his dock; the Toadfish brought up against her, and now lies very safe with her top- gallantyards athwart, exactly on Col. Wardwell's wharf just be- low his still-house, with George Munroe's sloop alongside of her. The brig Richard, loaded and ready for sea, broke from the wharf, drove up the head of the harbor over most of the wharves, and went over the causeway between the Spider Windmill and S. White's house, and now stands as right up as a dish in T. Church's meadow at the head of the millpond not much in-
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jured. T. Church's brig went over the town-bridge and back, and then across Harding's garden, and brought up in Newton Waldron's garden, at the millpond. The Macdonough parted both her cables and went ashore on George's farm; she is some injured-but Capt. Carr, who examined her, says she can be got off without great expense. I compute the whole loss of prop- erty in this town, at 1 50,000 dollars, perhaps more. Jacob Bab- bitt is the greatest sufferer; B. Bosworth and Morice suffered severe loss, and so did Nathaniel Wardwell, Gladding, &c. Four lives were lost, viz. John Read, Josiah Read, Henry Bosworth and Wm. Harding, jun., a boy. Our town is in great distress."
THE HURRICANE, 1938
THE account of the September, 1869, gale which appeared in the Phoenix at that time has some very interesting figures con- cerning the damage to the trees in Bristol.
"The number of shade trees on the sides of streets uprooted by the storm was 167."
Another item states: "Upwards of 200 trees destroyed, chiefly linden, aspen, poplar and horse-chestnut. The elms remained firm with few exceptions."
A careful survey of the trees uprooted in town on Sept. 21, 1938, taking the same streets as recorded for 1869, strange as it may seem, comes to almost the very same figure. The total figure includes only the trees that were actually uprooted, numbering 169. In addition to these figures there were 55 trees with large limbs broken off; 44 trees with trunks split but not uprooted; hundreds of trees throughout the town with many of their top branches broken off. It would seem that a conservative figure for the total number of trees damaged in town would be around six or seven hundred. This estimate is for the trees on the highways only and does not include any trees on private estates, of which there were hundreds. At the North Farm, for instance, 160 trees were either uprooted or damaged beyond repair.
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Where there were very few elms destroyed in 1869, nearly all the 1938 casualties were of this variety. The number of poles (telephone and electric light) damaged in the compact part of the town was twenty. After summing up the damage it seems incredible, considering the number of fallen trees, how few houses were damaged. Twenty-nine houses, and only a few of them seriously, were damaged by falling trees.
Another remarkable thing is, that with the hundreds of trees and large limbs crashing to earth all during the storm, not a single person was injured.
SURVEY* Uprooted Trees
Street
1869
1938
Hope
41
19
Thames
II
High
18
36
Wood
12
10
Bradford
II
II
Franklin
12
17
Oliver
3
......
State
8
17
Church .
14
15
Constitution
7
9
Union .
I3
17
Burton .
12
12
Byfield .
5
6
167
169
On the Common .
6
Mount Lane
4
Walley .
7
Richmond .
I
Neck Road .
55
Ferry Road
6
79
248
Split, or large limbs broken off .
99
Grand Total
. 347
*This survey was made three days after the hurricane, Saturday, September 24, 1938.
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After reading about the 1815 gale and the resulting damage along the waterfront where the lower part of Thames street was entirely washed away, I have walked along the shore line and tried in vain to reason out how it was possible for so much land to be washed away in only a few hours time. Now, after witness- ing the furor and the deadly pounding of the angry seas as the huge waves, for two long hours on September 21, last, lashed our shore line and washed away piece after piece of the land, it is no longer a mystery. Today a trip of inspection along the shore line, on Hope street, from Union down to Walley street, gives one some idea of what happened in 1815. And also sets one to thinking what would have happened if there had been no retain- ing wall all along the water front. How much of Hope street would have been left? I rather think it would all have been washed away, as was Thames street (the same stretch of road) in 1815. Even with the wall a great deal of damage was done. In the rear of the DeWolf mansion on Hope street the huge holes in the ground, and the brick walls of the house stove in give mute evidence of the might of the seas that battered down the high sea wall surrounding the place. From there on, down to the Herreshoff boat shops, the sidewalk is all gone, as is also that part of the sea-wall above the street level. From the south shop and there on down is ample evidence of what the angry seas did and also gives one an idea of what would have happened if the land had extended farther out into the harbor as it did in 1815. The reason the road is untouched is because there was nothing to wash away. In 1815 the roads were of dirt, while in 1938 they are of cement.
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AN INCIDENT CONCERNING GOVERNOR WILLIAM BRADFORD IN 1775
ONE hundred years ago this morning at an early hour Doctor William Bradford, (afterwards Deputy Gov. Bradford, elected at the October session of the General Assembly, 1775, later U. S. Senator, 1793-1797) who lived in a small house on the lot where now stands the mansion of Col. Samuel Norris, at the corner of Hope and State streets, left his door and proceeded with quick step along Hope street to a house that then occupied the site of the present residence of Mrs. Nancy Peck, next south of the cor- ner of Franklin street. Some of you readers will remember the old house, as the writer does. Doctor Bradford rapped smartly upon one of the windows and called out: "Sion, get up. They've been out-they've been out." The Doctor had just received news from Boston of the raid of the "British Regulars" the day before, and of their firing on the "minutemen" at Lexington Green.
Companies of minutemen had been formed in all the New England Colonies, and all eyes, for some time, had been turned towards Boston, where a large force of British troops under Gen- eral Gage had been concentrated, expecting that a movement would be made into the country. And the startling news was to come that they had not only made a raid into the country to destroy military stores but had fired upon a little gathering of minutemen and spilled American blood.
The person to whom Doctor Bradford was so eager to break the startling news was Capt. Sion Martindale,* an influential merchant and citizen of Bristol, who like the doctor had been active in resisting the arbitrary acts and decrees of the British
*Born 1733; died 1785.
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Parliament and ministry against the American Colonies. That the doctor knew his man was shown when Sion, commanding a company in Col. Thomas Church's regiment, took a very active part in the battle of Bunker Hill, which occurred two months later.
My grandfather's account of that battle, which I heard him relate almost forty years ago, is still fresh in my mind. He was à private in Captain Martindale's Company and was not quite twenty years old at the time. He told of their own ammunition running short, orders were passed along the lines not to fire a gun until they could "see the whites of their eyes, and to aim at their waistbands." He also said that men were falling all around him on every side and that he expected every moment would be his last; but he escaped without a scratch, and lived to tell the story of the famous encounter.
Captain Martindale sometime after was placed in command of the armed vessel Washington, and a large part of her crew were Rhode Island men. This was the first armed vessel sent out by the Americans against the British. She had been out only a few days when she was captured by the British ship Foy, of 20 guns, and all of her crew were sent to Portsmouth, England, and con- fined there as prisoners of war.
THE GOVERNOR BRADFORD FARM
From the Bristol Gazette, September 11, 1833.
ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE
The Subscriber having been appointed admin- istrator to the estate of JOHN BRADFORD, Esquire, deceased, late of Bristol, calls upon all persons indebted to said estate to make payment, and upon all those who have demands against the same to present them for settlement to N. Bullock, Admr.
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SKETCHES OF OLD BRISTOL From the Bristol Gazette, October 5, 1833.
AUCTION
SHEEP, CATTLE, PRODUCE, ETC. Will be sold at Public Auction, on Saturday the 19th day of October next, at 10 o'clock, a. m. on the MOUNT FARM, of the late John Bradford, 200 Sheep, two pairs working Oxen, and a Beef creature; several excellent Cows, and a number of young Heifers and Swine. 30 Tons best English Hay; a stack of coarse Hay; a stack of Oat Straw; some corn Fodder; Rye, Oats, Corn and Potatoes. Also a great variety of Farm- ing Tools, in good order; a Riding Chair and a Sleigh. Conditions of the sale will be liberal. Should the above day be stormy the sale will be postponed to Monday, 21st October at 10 o'clock, a. m.
N. Bullock Admr. to Estate of J. Bradford, Esq.
From the Gazette and Companion, February 13, 1836.
AUCTION SALE
DELIGHTFUL COUNTRY SEAT
To be sold at Public Auction,
On THURSDAY, the 3d day of March next, at II o'clock a. m. on the premises, all that excellent, fertile and extensive estate in Bristol, long known as the MOUNT FARM, formerly the residence of Gov. Bradford, and more recently of the late John Bradford, Esq. containing up- wards of 300 acres of first rate Land, divided into lots of suitable dimensions, of tillage, grass and forest, and wholly fenced with stone walls. Standing on the farm is a large and commodious Mansion House, two capacious barns and all other necessary buildings. There is also a large and productive Orchard of apple, and a variety of other fruit trees. The Garden lands are ex- tensive and in a high state of cultivation. The grass lands abound with perennial springs which afford an unfailing supply of water to the pas- tures throughout the season, and fertilize por- tions of the principal meadows. Washed by the waters of Mount Hope Bay on the East and
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South, and indented with several deep coves, the farm gains annualy a more copious supply of sea- weed and other manure, than any other in the county. Persons wishing to survey the premises before the sale, will please call on John S. Pearse, or Walter W. Bradford, residing on the estate, or on N. Bullock, or the subscriber in Bristol. Conditions will be liberal and announced at the sale.
B. W. BRADFORD
BURIAL OF COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY IN 1826
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY, the hero of Lake Erie, born in South Kingstown August 23, 1785, fell a victim to yellow fever at Port Spain (Trinidad), on his 34th birthday, August 23, 1819, and his remains were interred on that island the following day.
Seven years after, by a vote of Congress, his remains were brought to his native place, in the U. S. Ship Lexington, Captain Shubrick, which had been specially assigned by the Government for that purpose. The authorities of Newport, being appraised of the arrival of the ship, at once took measures for a public funeral occasion, and Monday, the fourth of December, 1826, was set apart for that purpose. Invitations to the military and civic authorities, and citizens of the State generally, were ex- tended, and the response was prompt and general. The morning of the fourth opened with a sharp, biting, cold air, wind northeast and cloudy. Our citizens (Bristol) generally having accepted the invitation, were astir early, and with the military companies, in- cluding the Bristol Train of Artillery, Col. Samuel Taylor, and Bristol Light Infantry, Capt. William P. Monro, embarked on board the sloop Emeline, Capt. Henry C. Coggeshall, and Becca and Betsy, Capt. Peter Gladding, while an additional number, of whom were Rev. Father Taylor of the Methodist Church and
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the writer, took the sloop Susy and Ann, Capt. William Lawless. A fair wind soon wafted us to Newport, which we found draped in mourning for the occasion.
The ship Lexington lay at anchor in the inner harbor, with her spars manned and colors at half mast, as were also the numerous shipping, and flagstaffs on shore. The companies landed at Long Wharf and soon the steamer Washington, Captain Bunker, ar- rived, bringing the military companies from Providence and vicinity, with the Governor and Staff, and civic officers, and a great body of people.
The military escort was soon formed and proceeded to Clark's wharf at the south part of the town. In the meantime four boats from the Lexington, bearing the remains, left the ship and pro- ceeded to the landing place. The slow movements of the boats with muffled oars, measuring at the rate of two strokes per min- ute, with the firing of minute guns and tolling of bells, made a deep impression upon the minds of all beholders.
The remains were received by the U. S. Marines and placed on a funeral car provided for the purpose. The line of march was then formed and moved with slow and measured steps to the sound of martial music, direct to the cemetery. The escort was pronounced to be the finest military display ever witnessed in the State, being composed of the following chartered commands:
Providence Artillery; Newport Artillery; Bristol Train of Artillery; Providence Cadets; First Light Infantry, Prov- idence; Second Light Infantry; Bristol Light Infantry; Prov- idence Volunteers; Newport Volunteers; Pawtucket Rifle Corps; United States Troops from Fort Walcott; and a company of U. S. Marines from the Lexington. Next to the troops came the hearse bearing the remains, preceded by eight U. S. seamen as pallbearers, all of whom served with the Commodore at Lake Erie.
The funeral car was constructed after the model of the boat in which Commodore Perry left the Lawrence, at the battle of Erie. It was elevated on carriage wheels and on the prow sat a gilt spread eagle; above was a canopy supported on standards, the
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whole richly hung with fine black cloth over velvet, and a golden star representing each State. Beneath this canopy was laid the coffin, of mahogany, enclosing two interior coverings of lead, and enveloped in the U. S. flag, with the uniforms, hat and equipage of the deceased and the sword presented to him by Congress. The hearse was drawn by four white horses, each with a sable plume on the head and black mounted harness.
Captains Crane and Shubrick, Creighton and Turner, Chauncy and Kearney, all of the Navy, acted as bearers. Three lads, sons of the deceased, with other relations followed next. A body of seaman from the Lexington, one hundred and eighty in number, in the neat garb of the sailor, with a large number of civic and military officers brought up the rear of the procession and thus marched to the cemetery at the north end of the town, amid the firing of minute guns, the toll of bells and solemn sound of mar- tial music.
Arriving at the cemetery the military opened columns and the procession marched through to the grave. The impressive service of the Episcopal Church was read by the venerable Bishop Griswold of Bristol (who rode across the island that morning, in a private carriage ) and the remains of the hero were deposited in their last resting place amid three volleys of musketry. The pro- cession returned to town, and the military re-embarked for home.
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