THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
&-***
Established 1867.
SYLYANUS SMITH 5; COMPANY,
Wholesale Kish * * Dealers, *
No. ^I-Ol TM^HIIS SxReex,
GLOUCESTER, MASS.
SVLVANUS SMITH. E. ». BRADLEY. HOWARD F. SMITH.
ESTABLISHED IN 1859.
D. C. & H. BABSON,
producers, N
WHOLESALE DEALERS IN FISH,
GLOUCESTER, MASS.
JOHN W. ROWE,
. . . Jobber and Retailer of . . .
Dry Goods and Gar petings,
117 MAIN STREET,
GLOUCESTER, .. . . MASS.
J. Q. BENNETT. W. A. BENNETT.
DEALERS IN ALL KINDS OF
-A.
Franklin. ( C3A c^ Anthracite.
iv£^ ^
HARD AND SOFT WOOD
Sawed and Split to Order and Delivered at Short Notice.
COR. ROGERS AND DUNCAN STS.,
GLOUCESTER, MASS,
GRIFFIN & CO.,
DEALERS IN
WOOD AND COAL,
Wharf, 21 Fort Square, GLOUCESTER, .... MASS.
M. H. PERKINS, % i 23
. : Registered Pharmacist. : .
Physicians' Prescriptions Compounded with Care and Accuracy.
A Full Line of Druggists' Goods of all Descriptions.
272 MAIN STREET,
GLOUCESTER, MASS,
F. T. HALL, JR.,
DEALER IN
BOOTS, SR0ES AND RUBBERS,
HONEST GOODS AT FAIR PRICES.
No 266 1-2 MAIN STREET, MADDOCKS' BLOCK.
There are Many . Advantages in . Trading .... With ..... Leading .... Cash . . .- . . Houses
EVERYONE KNOWS IT! COMPETITORS ADMIT IT.
B. Haskell & Sons,
ARE THE
IB.
i
Carry the Largest Stock of Standard }|r Crockery and Class, Nails, Hardware, Etc., J In the City. Sell Meats, Fresh and Salt, Lower than the Lowest.
ESTABLISHED
1865.
JONAS SPAULDING. STEPHEN A FROST.
SPAULDING & FROST, General Cooperage.
BARRELS, HALFS, QUARTERS, KITS AND PAILS. FISH, PICKLE, MO- LASSES AND GLUE PACKAGES.
FACTORY, CLEVELAND STREET,
Gloucester, Mass.
Established 1877.
L. H. MERCHANT & CO.,
BOX MANUFACTURERS,
Plain and Fancy 0100D PRlHTIflG of Every Description.
Wax and Parchment Papers.
ADVERTISING SIGNS ON WOOD. SISflli AND
KITS AND PAILS. HALF AND QUARTER BARRELS, Etc. BOTTLE CASES OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. COMPRESSED SAWDUST IN BALES
Willow and Cleveland Streets, Gloucester, Mass.
KRANK STANWOOD,
. . . UJhoiesale Dealer in ...
Dry and Piekled pish,
AND
H 75 L- I BUT.
94 and 96 Commercial St.,
GLOUCESTER,
WILLIAM DENNETT,
Wholesale, Retail and Commission Dealer in
Kreshi Kishi. .
HALIB6T A SPECIALTY.
Wharf at Fort Point, GLOUCESTER, MASS.
H. HUNT,
. . . DEALER IN . .
, CARPETS and UPHOLSTERY,
125 & 127 Main Street,
GLOUCESTER, . . . MASS.
E. G. HOTCHKISS & COMPANY,
HIGH CLASS GOODS ......
BONELESS FISH A SPECIALTY.
41, 43, 45 & 47 ROGERS STREET, GLOUCESTER, _MASS.
ESTABLISHED 1868.
GEORGE K. BHRNHRD,
THE CARRIAGE MAKER. ...
PHIISTINC K
No. 6 Commercial Street, . . Gloucester, Mass. WM, F, MOORE & GO.,
dlholesale pish Dealers.
MACKEREL A SPECIALTY.
Commercial St, and Pavilion Beach, Gloucester, Mass,
J. C. CALEF & COMPANY,
. DEALERS IN .
Dry Goods
AND-
Cat*petings.
Nos. 83 & 85 Main St., GLOUCESTER, . .
G. H. & W. A. [NICHOLS,
PRINTERS.
BOOK f\ND PflMPHLET WORK
OF ALL KINDS.
411 UNION STREET,
Rooms 5,6,7& 11. LYNN, MASS.
JAMBS H. TARR,
Gloucester, Mass., U. S. A.,
M AND FACT UKKK OK
f4euj England Bt*and Copper Paint
For Wooden Bottom Vessels and Boats; Also,
MARINE ANTI-FOULINE PAINT
For Iron Vessel's Bottoms.
The above Paints have been thoroughly tested the past ten years, and their good qualities are well known to the Commercial World.
PORT TOWNSRND, W. T., March 4, iS8,8. JAMKS M. TARR, KSO., Gloucester, Mass.
Dear Sir : — I feel under obligations to highly recommend your Copper Paint as the best I have ever used on a vessel. The Schooner " Mollie Adams " had it on her for four months and a half, and she has come 'round the Horn in all the warm weather in the North and South Atlantic, and North and South Pacific, and she looks extra well. There are no barnacles or grass on her; the paint has worn off but very little, and I cheerfully recommend it to all as an A i article. Vours truly,
CAI-T. SOLOMON JACOI'.S.
NEW YORK, April 15, 1892.
Having applied JAMES H. TARR'S Anti-Fouling Paint on the bottoms of Iron Vessels at my Dry Dock, Pier 52, E. R., to a certain extent the past two seasons, I am pleased to state the same has given general satis- faction, and parties who have used it desire that 1 keep it in stock for this season's use.
WM. JENKINS X- CO., East River Dry Dock, Pier 52, East River.
ESTABLISHED 1855.
JAS. G. TARR & BROTHER,
Wholesale . Fish Dealers.
ROCKY NECK, GLOUCESTER, MASS.
JAMES G. TARR.
D. SHERMAN TARR.
B. N. TARR
DAVID TARR. T. L. TARR.
M. BUNKER,
75 MAIN STREET, . . . GLOUCESTER, MASS.,
the
Largest Millinery . Establishment . .
WE KEEP THE LARGEST STOCK, WE SELL MORE GOODS, .
. . and Employ More Help than any House in Essex County. Our Millinery .
. . is the Most Stylish, our Salesladies and Trimmers are Superior. In con- .
. . nection with our Millinery we have a Bleachery, where we Renovate and .
. . Remodel Old Hats to look like new. We also Manufacture most of our . . . Hats in the Latest Designs. For Style and Prices Call at .....
76 MAIN ST., . . GLOUCESTER, MASS.
EDWARD W. HOWE, * * *
. : Pharmacist, : .
18 MAIN STREET, GLOUCESTER, MASS.
Physicians' Prescriptions Carefully Compounded. Proprietor of Howe' Blackberry Cordial, a Sure Cure for Cholera Morbus.
Established 1888.
J. HOWARD PROCTER,
Furniture, Bedding and Upholstery,
NOS. 119 & 121 MAIN ST., GLOUCESTER, MASS.
TAPPAN,
CLOTHING,
ONE
PRICE.
LARGEST STOCK, LIGHTEST STORE, CENTRAL LOCATION, EASILY FOUND, STRICTLY ONE PRICE, ALWAYS THE LOWEST.
ESTABLISHED 1833.
VINCENT SPRING PHARMACY.
PARTICULAR ATTENTION GIVEN TO COM- POUNDING PHYSICIANS PRESCRIPTIONS.
DIRECTLY OVER THE SITE OF THE ORIGINAL VlflCENT WILLIAM J. MADDOCKS, PROPRIETOR,
266 7WVKIN STREET,
C. A. MASON,
Jobber and Retailer, ® @
Dry and Fancy Goods, ^
NO. 274 MAIN STREET. OPP. BOSTON BRANCH GROCERY,
GLOUCESTER, MASS.
BOSTON STORE.
W. G. BROWN £ Co,
Wholesale and Retail Dealers in
FOREIGN f\ND DOMESTIC
• VII v I W*
FRENCH, ENGLISH
GERMAN, AND AMERICAN
Dt*ess Goods, Silks and Velvets
IN GREAT VARIETY.
AILL^TH^POPU I LAR J3RAINDS_ATJ]HE LOWEST MARKET PRICES.
LADIES', MISSES' AND CHILDREN'S
JACKETS, CLOAKS, CAPES AND LONG GARMENTS.
Boys Knee Pants, the Largest Line in Gloucester.
SOLE AGENTS IN GLOUCESTER FOR BUTTERICK'S PATTERNS.
186 & 188 Main Street, Gloucester, Mass.
August 23, 1892.
\VfE this day complete our 516th week selling Men's Cloth- ing at the Old Stand
COR. MAIN and PEARCE STREETS.
Our Motto is and always has been "Reliable Goods at Honest Prices."
D O. F=ROST,
GLOUCESTER, MASS.
W. J. HARRIS,
Dealer in
Boots, Shoes and Rubbers,
STREET,
GLOUCESTER.
WM. E. CALL & Co.,
WHOLESALE ANL) KETA1L DKALBKS IN
36 Washington St. and 1 Washington Sq.,
LARGEST FACTORY, LARGEST SALE, AND ACKNOWLEDGED THE BEST.
^ON,». ivf 1M%
^r^ M*fe^i%v?3.A.&*w''^
PRIZE MEDALS AWARDED TARR&WONSONS COPPER PAINT.
Taw & WODSOD'S Copper Paint,
FOR WOODEN VESSELS' BOTTOMS.
A perfect substitute for metal sheathing for one year, effectually protecting the bottom from boring of worms, and the adhesion of
Barnaeles, Grass, Seaweed, Moss, Etc.
When used strictly in accordance with directions for use it gives entire satisfaction, and our largely increased sales proves it is preferred to all others.
TRY IT AND YOU WILL USE NO OTHER.
THE BEST IS CHEAPEST.
IT HAS NO EQUAL
Jj^"" Heware of imitations, each can bears our patented Trade-Mark and is sealed with stamped cover. Correspondence solicited.
MANUFACTORY. WAREROOMS AND OFFICE. GLOUCESTER. MUSS., U. S. A.
Established 1863.
HISTORY
TOWN AND CITY
GLOUCESTER,
CAPE ANN, MASSACHUSETTS.
BY JAMES R. PRINGLE.
ILLUSTRATED.
GLOUCESTER, X-1 ASS. :
13Y THE AUTHOR. 1892.
Entered According to Act of Congress, in the Year 1892,
By JAMES R. PRINGLE, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.
G. H. & W. A. NICHOLS, PRINTERS, LYNN, MASS.
DEDICATED TO
V. B.
1404174
TABLiE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. Norsemen and Other Early Voyagers .
Was Thorwold Buried on Cape Ann, "The Cape of the Cross!" Gosnold, Pring, Champlain, Smith and Other Intrepid Navigators Cruise in New England Waters.
CHAPTER II. Cape Ann Visited by the Chevalier Champlain in 1606 .... 14
Comes to Anchor in the Harbor Which He Names Le Beauport. Kinds a Thrifty Tribe «f Indians Tilling the Soil. Frustrates a Warlike Attack. History of the Red Men of the Cape.
CHAPTER III. Foundation of the Massachusetts Colony .18
Town Settled in 1623 by the Dorchester Company. Pilgrims Secure Rights on the Cape. Miles Standish, Capt. Hewes and Roger Conant. Home Company Recalls Colonists and Abandons the Settlement in 1625. Conant and the Greater Part of Those Remaining Remove to Salem. Robinson's Annisquam Colony in 1630. Reinforcements from Plymouth. Town Incorporated in 1642 and Named Gloucester.
CHAPTER IV.
Town Begins Corporate Career 24
First Selectmen. Saw-Mills, Ship-Building and Timber Laws. First Meeting House and Pastors. King Philip's War. First Land Grants. Resists Gov. Andros. Witchcraft Delu- sion. Other Happenings.
CHAPTER V. The Early Settlers 36
List of Those Who Became Inhabitants of Cape Ann before 1700. Hardy Pioneers Who Left Pleasant Homes in Old England to Hazard New Fortunes in the Western World.
CONTENTS. 5
CHAPTER VI.
From 1700 to 1750 54
Exodus from the Old Village. Second Parish. Phillip's Piratical Gang Captured. Division of Woodland in 1723. Third Parish. Emigration to Falmouth and New Gloucester. King George's War and Gloucester Company at I.ouisburg. Peg Wesson. Old Defences at Fort Square. List of Settlers Who Came Here Between 1700 and 1750. Fifty Years of Progress. Foreign and Domestic Commerce.
CHAPTER VII.
From 1750 to 1800 67
Active Participation in French Wars. At Crown Point. Unfortunate Acadians. At Ticon- deroga. Town Prosperous. Small Pox Prevails. Denounces Stamp Act and Tea Tax. Overt Acts of Disloyalty. Town Prepares for Impending Conflict. Boycotts Tories. Gloucester Troops at Bunker Hill. Young Webber Kills Major Pitcairn. Linzee's Attack. Privateering Operations. Impoverished Condition of the People. Return of Peace. Revival of Commerce. Difficulties with the French. John Murray's Preaching. Shay's Rebellion. Constitution Ratified. Negroes. Selectmen. Poor House. Evening of the Century.
CHAPTER VIII.
From 1800 to 1860 90
Sketch of Front, now Main Street. Opposition to the Embargo Act. Unwelcome War of 1812 Attack on Sandy Bay. Privateering. Sandy Bay Universalists. Split in the First Parish. Formation of the Evangelical Congregational Society. The Unitarian Church. Slow Growth in Population. View in 1817. In 1830. Fishing and Commerce. The Dr. Moriarty Episode. History of the Fishing Bounties. Forty-niners. Accession to Population. Old Training Days.
CHAPTER IX.
From 1861 to 1866 114
Minutemen of '61. Patriotic Women. Co. G Helps Save Old Ironsides. First Three Years' Men. Patriotic Resolutions Adopted. Co. G Given a Grand Reception on Its Return. Rockport's "Kimball Guards." Fish Business Increased. Disastrous Gale. State Aid and Bounties. Pirate "Tacony" Destroys Fishing Vessels. Government Erects Forts. Recruit- ing for the Navy. Great Fire of 1864. Demonstration Against Disloyalists. Records of Soldiers and Sailors.
CHAPTER X.
From 1866 to 1874
Marked Increase of Population. Era of Prosperity in the Fisheries. New Town House Erected. Destroyed by Fire. Rebuilt. Severe Gale. International Courtesies. Election Tide Turns. Canadian Cruisers Sei/.e Fishing Vessels. Political. Visit of Henry Samuelson. M. P. Presentation. Canadians RenSw Hostilities. Recapture of the "Horton.'' More Seizures. The Fishery Question Reviewed
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
Incorporation as a City 237
First Efforts For the Adoption of a City Charter Fails. Second Successful. Divided Into Wards. First City Election. Robert R. Fears Elected Mayor. Allan Rogers Chosen as Chief Executive. Centennial Exhibit. The Halifax Commission and Its Award of $5,500,000. Mayor J. Franklin Dyer. The Fortune Bay Riot. William Williams Elected Mayor. Pro- test Against the Treaty of Washington. Joseph Garland Elected Mayor. Mr. Williams Re-elected. Succeeded by William H. Wonson, jd. John S. Parsons the Next Chief Execu- tive. Successful Crusade Against Lawbreakers Trouble With City Marshals. Fishery Troubles Renewed. David I. Robinson Chosen Mayor. Retaliatory Bill. Seizures of Fishing Vessels. Bayard-Chamberlain Treaty. Modus Vivendi. Mayor Robinson Refuses to Sign Liquor Licenses and Resigns. W. W. French Elected. More Seizures of Vessels. ,Asa G. Andrews, Mayor. 1892. The 250th Anniversary of Incorporation.
CHAPTER XII. The Fisheries 281
Early Pursued in American Waters. Rise and Growth of the Industry in Gloucester. Fishing Grounds. Methods of Catching Cod arid Mackerel. Statistics. Co-operative Feature. Evolu- tion of the Schooner.
CHAPTER XIII. Places of Interest 288
General Description. Rafe's Chasm. "Old Mother Ann." "Whale's Jaw." Rocking Stone. The Magnolia. The Willows. Drives by Sea and Shore.
CHAPTER XIV.
Churches and Schools 291
Congregationalists. Unitarians. First Lniversalist Church in America Established by Rev. John Murray. Capt. Benjamin Hale, Jr., First Preaches the Baptist Doctrine at Sandy Bay. Methodists of the Cape. Roman Catholic Church. Episcopalianism. Schools.
CHAPTER XV. Fires and Murders 309
Early Conflagrations. Fires of 1X30 and 1*64. Other Events of this Character. Serious Casualty at the Dale Residence. Pluinmer, Parsons, and Other Murders.
CHAPTER XVI. Miscellaneous . . . . 319
Old Houses. Custom House and Post Office. Water Works. Newspapers. Banks. Glouces- ter LyccMim anrl Sawyer Free Library. Huntress and Gilbert Homes. Secret Societies.
Business Men of Today 331
Comprehensive Review of Leading Industries and Firms Engaged in Commercial Enterprises.
PREFACE.
THE approach of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incor- poration of the town of Gloucester, and the demand for a history which shall present the principal events that have occurred from its discovery and settlement has led to the writing of this work. The record of the town in the civil war, in many respects one of the most important in its annals, is here given for the first time. Coming when the ranks of the veterans are fast being depleted, this portion of the work cannot but prove of value. The complications arising from disputes between the Canadian Government and American fishermen, with the record of seizures of fishing vessels, also receive their initial presentation.
This work, prepared at intervals during an active service in the journal- istic profession, is submitted to the public as the effort of one desirous of advancing in every way the interests of his native town.
JAMES R. PRINGLE.
AUGUST, 1892.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
CHAPTER I.
Norseman and Other Early Voyagers.
WAS THORWALD BURIED ON CAPE ANN, "THE CAPE OF THE CROSS !" GOSNOLD, PRING, CHAMPLAIN, SMITH AND OTHER INTREPID NAVI- GATORS CRUISE IN NEW ENGLAND WATERS.
A DOWN the misty corridors of time, when Prince Sweyn of Den- mark, banished from his father's realm, was flaunting the Danish raven in the face of Ethelred the Unready, king of England, the unworthy descendant of the great Alfred, while Robert I, son of Hugh Capet, was on the French throne, and when Europe was first awakening from its barbarism, the adventurous Norse sea kings had discovered, and to some extent inhabited what is now termed America. Of this fact, in the light of recent historical discoveries, there can be no doubt. At the end of the tenth and the beginning of the eleventh centuries Labrador, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New England, and perhaps other sections were visited, and settled temporarily. The Scandinavian Sagas, through the efforts of the Royal Society of Copenhagen, have been given to the world, and the proof contained in them concerning the discovery of the new conti- nent is uncontrovertible. The recent researches of Prof. Horsford and his strong arguments, backed by documentary evidence, go to show that the fair city of the Norsemen, Norumbega, was founded on the banks of the classic Charles. To be brief, we gather from these Sagas, which are a sort of epic poem recounting, besides other achievements, the deeds of the men who from the Scandinavian shores first saw the New World, that a Norse navigator, by name Herjulfson, was caught in a storm off Greenland and driven west- ward to Newfoundland and Labrador. Herjulfson made no attempt
10 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
to land, but he and his crew carried home wonderful stories of the newly discovered country. This account stirred the ambition of the Norsemen to pursue the discovery farther, and in 1001, fourteen years later, Lief Erickson, with a hardy crew, turned the prow of his craft toward the New World. He reached the continent, cruised southward as far as Rhode Island, and was charmed by the mildness of the climate and attractiveness of the country. He in turn was followed by his brother Thorwald, who sailed leisurely along the coast from Nova Scotia to Rhode Island, making frequent stops at convenient bays and mouths of rivers to conduct explorations into the interior. In 1004 Thorwald set sail from the southern part of Vineyard, Rhode Island, steered eastward and then northward. He ' "passed a remarkable headland and bay which was opposite another headland." This he called "Kialarnes" or the "keel cape" from its resemblance to the keel of a ship. There is no doubt but what this was Cape Cod.
Thence he sailed along the eastern coast of the land to a prom- ontory which there projected and which was covered with forest. Having anchored in the bay, Thorwald and his crew went ashore to explore. He was delighted with the place. "Here," said Thorwald, "it is beautiful, and here I should like to fix my dwelling." Some time was consumed in wandering about the shore, and when at length they were preparing to leave the boats they discerned three hillocks of sand which, from their curious appearance, attracted attention. The party immediately investigated and found that these were composed of canoes, overturned, covered with sand as a dis- guise. Underneath each of these canoes were found three Indians or "Skrellings" in the quaint Norse language. They were evidently a reconnoitring party. The Indians showed fight and both were soon involved in a hand-to-hand conflict in which eight of the sav- ages were slain, one escaping in a canoe. He evidently spread the news, for in a short time after Thorwald and his crew were safe on board the ship a multitude came from out another part of the bay toward the place where the Norse ship was anchored and com- menced a furious onslaught with arrows on the crew. The latter endeavored to protect themselves by raising battle screens about the sides of the ship. Thorwald was everywhere directing the skirmish. The "skrellings" continued to shoot for a while and then retired but not before the mighty Thorwald had received a mortal wound. Per-
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 11
ceiving that his end was near he summoned his band to his couch and said, "I now advise you to prepare for your departure as soon as possible, but me you shall bring to the promontory where I thought it good to dwell. It may be that it was a prophetic word which fell from my mouth about my abiding here for a season. There you shall bury me and plant a cross at my head and also at my feet and call the place Krossanes (the cape of the cross) in all time to come."
Here the renowned viking died, and his sorrowing band did as directed, and buried him with rude obsequies, after which they sailed away from the spot.
Where did Thorwald land and receive his mortal blow ?
Opposite a remarkable headland enclosing a bay, which is no doubt Cape Cod. He sailed northward, when he discovered the second cape. It was a thickly wooded promontory, with beaches, and we know it was a cape, for he named it the Cape of the Cross. What two conspicuous headlands opposite each other in Massachusetts Bay but Cape Cod and Cape Ann ? " Here it is beautiful," exclaimed Thorwald just six hundred years before the renowned navigator, the Chevalier De Champlain uttered the same sentiments on first be- holding this beauteous bay. Champlain made a map of the place " Le Beauport" but Norse art had not yet attained to that. Cham- plain tarried, so did Thorwald and both had fights with the natives, the Norseman, as we have seen, disastrously.
In all the Norse annals of travel in North America there is no more certain and direct evidence than that which makes it probable that Thorwald landed and was buried on the thickly wooded prom- ontory which he named the " Cape of the Cross " latterly named Cape Ann.
Still another brother of this enterprising family Thorstein arrived with a band of followers in 1005, and in 1007 Thorfinn Karlsefne, the greatest navigator of his time, came over with one hundred and fifty men, and explored the New England coast, sailing as far as the Capes of Virginia. Other bands followed and colonized various sec- tions of the country.
The Norsemen supposed that the country was only a projection of Greenland. Their principal theatre of action, as ascertained from old Norse manuscript, was in the territory which they called Vinland extending from Cape Ann to Martha's Vineyard. The old chroni- clers maintain that it was a pleasant and beautiful country, and,
12 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
compared with their own barren and cold land, there cannot be any doubt but what they were sincere. However, there were no oppor- tunities for commerce with the savages, the spirit for exploration and discovery was satisfied, and they abandoned the new found land, returned to their old home, and whetted their appetite for adventure by overrunning and conquering portions of England and France.
The re-discovery of the New World opened an avenue to satisfy the adventurous ambitions of the hardy travellers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Prominent among these were John and Sebastian Cabot, Jacques Cartier, the Chevalier De Ghamplain, John Smith, Bartholomew Gosnold, Martin Pring, De Monts and others of note. These men embarked for the Western Continent, and cruised about various sections of the Atlantic coast, but there is no record, as far as known, that any of these landed on what is now Cape Ann until Champlain and De Monts touched ashore for a few hours' tarry in 1605, Champlain revisiting the locality and anchoring his ship in Gloucester harbor the next year, an account of which is given in the succeeding chapter. Capt. Bartholomew Gosnold, who sailed along the New England coast in May, 1602, in the ship "Concord," landed and had dealings with the natives somewhere on the Maine or Massachusetts coast, but the exact locality has not been determined. He may have sighted our Cape before he stood across the bay to the headland which he named Cape Cod.
In 1603, Capt. Martin Pring, in the good ships "Speedwell" and "Discoverer," cruised close in shore from Penobscot Bay to the southwest, entering several harbors on the passage. His object, in which he was unsuccessful, was to procure a cargo of sassafras, then prized highly for medicinal purposes. There is strong ground, from the record of the voyage, for the supposition that Capt. Pring landed on the Cape, but as there is no evidence to fix the precise spot, the honor must be accorded to Champlain, of being the first white man to press his foot upon the rocky shores of Cape Ann.
Capt. John Smith, the famous navigator, cruised along the coast in 1614, sighting what is now Cape Ann, which he termed the fair headland, Tragabigzanda, in grateful remembrance of the Turkish maiden who is said to have saved his head from the force of the Mohammedan scimetar. He also named the three islands which lie near the head of the Cape the Three Turk's Heads to commemorate one of his intrepid feats, when he successively beheaded three Mus-
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
13
selmen in mortal combat. The favor shown by Smith in the bestowal of names on the Cape, which were associated with some of the grateful recollections of his life, or, as in the case of Champlain, expressive of the natural beauty of the place, is certainly a high compliment, especially so from navigators who had opportunities to observe the varying charms of other sections of the seaboard.
14 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
CHAPTER II.
Cape Jinn Visited by tine Chevalier Clnarnplain in
1600.
•
COMES TO ANCHOR IN THE HARBOR WHICH HE NAMES LE BEAUFORT. FINDS A THRIFTY TRIBE OF INDIANS TILLING THE SOIL. FRUS- TRATES A WARLIKE ATTACK. HISTORY OF THE RED MEN OF THE CAPE.
THE first visit, which is well authenticated, of a white man to what is now the shore of Cape Ann was made by the Chevalier Champlain, one of the most adventurous of the early voyagers to the New World. In July, 1605, De Monts and Champlain, with a small company, cruised along the New England coast until they came abreast of what is now Rockport, which they named Cape aux Isles, from the three islands in that vicinity, now Straitsmouth, Thacher's and Milk islands. While tarrying near this island a canoe containing five or six savages put off from the shore and approached the bark, but the Indians did not come aboard, being evidently out for recon- noitring purposes. After rowing at a respectful distance they re- turned to the land, where they commenced to dance.
Champlain went ashore to see them. They appeared to have no fear of the strangers, but stood their ground, no doubt influenced by the peaceful signs and indications made by the white men. They were given a knife and some biscuit, which caused them to dance even more vigorously than at first.
Champlain's object was to acquire some information of the coast, if possible, and in order to do this he traced a map of the locality on a board, and motioned the savages to continue. They seemed to be very intelligent, for one of their number took the charcoal and con- tinued the drawing, making a representation of a very large bay, on the shores of which they put six pebbles at equal distances, giving Champlain to understand that each stone denoted the residence of a tribe and chief. They also drew the representation of a river.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 16
Champlain must have had an interpreter, for he says the Indians " told us that those who dwell in this country cultivate the earth as the others whom we have seen before." The bay drawn by the Indians referred, no doubt, to Ipswich Bay, and the river, "which extends very far and has sand flats," is the Merrimac.
Champlain did not round Eastern Point and explore the harbor on this voyage, but made another excursion in the vicinity of what is now Cape Ann in September, 1606, entered the harbor and tarried for a time, effecting necessary repairs to his ship and its accoutre- ments. He named the harbor Le Beauport, the beautiful harbor, and as far as we have any certain knowledge he was the first white man who trod the shores of Cape Ann.
At that time Cape Ann was the home of a thrifty settlement of Red Men. Champlain drew a map of the place, which was after- wards published with an account of his travels, which was reprinted in Quebec in 1870. The map referred to gives a very graphic picto- rial illustration of the topography of what is now the heart of the city. On this map is delineated a few trees, and at frequent intervals wigwams, with smoke issuing from an aperture, occupy the ground. Near each of these habitations is an enclosure, evidently a corn field.
When Champlain landed the savages had already gathered their harvest. There were some two hundred in number seen by the discoverer, the chief of whom was Ouiouhamenec, who, accompanied by Cohonepec, paid Champlain a visit shortly after he came ashore, and they were hospitably entertained by the French voya- gers. Onemechin, a Saco chief, also came to see Champlain, and was given a coat, but gave it away because it did not fit him.
The surprise upon seeing the white man a year before, on the occasion of the landing near Rockport, had worn off. No doubt the strange event had been communicated to the surrounding Indians, and the visitors had been the subject of much comment. Whether they supposed that Champlain and the whites had returned to take permanent possession is not known, but they resolved to make an attack on the newcomers. That these Indians retained all the pristine craftiness and bravery which characterized the red men when first discovered by the whites is evidenced from the fact, also pictorially represented on the map, of an attempt, which was frustrated, to ambush and capture or kill a party of the palefaced invaders who were trespassing on their shores.
16 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
Fortunately the savages were discovered by Champlain and flanked by the Sieur de Poutrincourt with eight arequebusiers, at which event the savages retired in great haste. Champlain, who believed that the red men intended to surprise and capture his party, immediately ordered his men to the boats, and put to sea in order to get away from them. Perceiving this, the Indians entreated him to stay one day longer, when they said that more than two thousand men would come to see his party. On hearing this Champlain got under way and sailed from the harbor as soon as possible.
At the time of Champlain's visit the Indian settlement was in a prosperous condition. The savages were quite thrifty and were clearing land all the time. Their method in securing open ground, as described by Champlain, was to cut the trees some three feet from the ground, burn the branches, and sow their corn between the stumps, and when the roots became sufficiently pliable they were taken from the ground.
When the first settlers came from Dorchester, England, in 1623, to set up a fishing stage in what is now Gloucester, there were few traces of savages, and but little evidence of Indian occupation. Whether pestilence or other causes led to their final desertion is a matter of speculation. The only evidences of their occupancy were found on the northerly side of the Cape, where great heaps of clam shells attested their former presence. The town was thus spared from the terrors of Indian warfare, so common an experience with the early settlers in other sections. From this absence of the Indians arises the paucity of Indian names on the Cape.
Arrowheads and pipes have been dug up in numerous quantities, Wheeler's Point being a prolific mine for these relics. Household implements, as the stone handmill for pounding corn, have also been exhumed. Recently what was evidently an Indian burial ground was discovered at Annisquam, in the process of some excavations. Ten skulls and a slate pipe, probably of Indian manufacture, were brought to light in the course of this digging.
The two that remain are Wingaersheek and Annisquam, the desig- nation of the harbor on the northerly side of the Cape. The earliest mention of the latter name is in Wood's map, in 1634, where it is spelled Anasquam, and in Josselyn's " Account of Two Voyages in New England," in 1638, the orthography is Wondoquam. Various surmises have been made as to the meaning of the word. The
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 17
Indian words " Winne," "Wonne," etc., are said to signify something pleasant, and the word " Squam " is said to mean "a breaking water beach," the combination " Wonne " and " Squam " giving us " beauti- ful breaking water beach," a plausible meaning when the surroundings are taken into consideration. Hon. J. Hammond Trumbull, LL. D., who is said to be the only person who can read Eliot's Indian Bible in the original, says " the name is certainly derived from ' Wanash- aque-ompsk,' 'the top or extreme point of a rock." ' The learned doctor further states " that he has little doubt that 'Wanashquomskgut' originally belonged to the headland of the Cape, and was transferred to the harbor and river. Wingaersheek almost universally accepted as the Indian name of Cape Ann, is repudiated by Dr. Trumbull, who says that the word is not Indian, or, if so, is changed in the spelling to such a degree as to make it unrecognizable. Prof. E. N. Horsford, the learned Norse antiquarian, comes to the rescue and says that the word " Wingaersheek " is an undoubted corruption of the German name, low Dutch, Wyngaerts Hoeck, which occurs on many maps of the period between 1630 and 1670, especially in Ogilby's "America." Wyngaerts Hoecks is from Wyngaerten, and is the equivalent of what the Northmen designated as Vineland, and as Champlain, in his account of his visit here in 1606, says that grapes were found quite plentiful, the application may not have come amiss.
In the latter part of the seventeenth century some Indians set up a claim to the ownership of the land upon which the land is situated, and in town meeting, Dec. 25, 1700, Lieut. William Stevens and Ensign Joseph Allen were chosen and deputed by the inhabitants of said meeting to manage and make " a full compensation about our township with those Indians that hath laid claims to the land of our township." The committee met the Indians, talked over matters, and in town meeting, Feb. 12, 1701, voted to sell some of the town lands to raise money to pay what charges the town is indebted for, and about the purchasing of the township of Samuel English, Indian. The amount paid to settle in full was seven pounds. Our city has a copy of the deed from Samuel, and an effort is being made to obtain the original. Said English afterwards made claim on the town of Beverly for a similar sum, which was also paid.
It will thus be seen that the first settlers received a clear title to their lands. These are all the facts known concerning the Indians on Cape Ann, and brings this chapter of local history to a close.
18 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
CHAPTER III.
Foundation of the Massachusetts Colony.
TOWN SETTLED IN 1623 BY THE DORCHESTER COMPANY. PILGRIMS SECURE RIGHTS ON THE CAPE. MILES STANDISH, CAPT. HEWES AND ROGER CONANT. HOME COMPANY RECALLS COLONISTS AND ABANDONS THE SETTLEMENT IN 1625. CONANT AND THE GREATER PART OF THOSE REMAINING REMOVE TO SALEM. ROBINSON'S ANNISQUAM COLONY IN 1630. REINFORCEMENTS FROM PLYMOUTH. TOWN IN- CORPORATED IN 1642 AND NAMED GLOUCESTER.
AS FAR as known no Europeans visited Cape Ann after Cham- plain departed in 1606, until 1623, in which year a colony was established on its shores mainly through the efforts of the Rev. John White, a Puritan minister of Dorchester, England, who collected a company of emigrants for the purpose of colonization in the new world.
In March, 1621, Capt. John Mason, a merchant of London and governor of Newfoundland, received from the Plymouth Council a grant of "all the land from the river Naumkeag around Cape Ann to the river Merrimac," etc. This track was the first grant by the council of the territory of Cape Ann, but the grantee never attempted to settle his holding.
Gloucester, then, was first settled in 1623, and although the greater part of the original colony returned to England or to Salem in 1626, there is no evidence that it was wholly deserted, and it is very proba- ble that a few inhabitants remained permanently and were joined by others within a few years.
The early voyagers were much impressed with the value of the waters of Cape Ann as a source of supply for codfish, and on return- ing to England gave glowing accounts of the profits to be derived from the pursuit of fishing voyages in Massachusetts bay, which was then accounted the finest fishing grounds in the world. Gosnold, who named Cape Cod, reported that the codfish were so thick that they " pestered " his ship. Capt. Smith also gave similar testimony
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 19
as to the plenteousness of fish. At that time, quite a traffic was had with Bilboa in salted fish, and some dozen sail of craft were pur- suing the fisheries in Massachusetts bay in 1621 with the best success.
Commerce is always reaching out its benificent arms, and the business men of Dorchester conceived the purpose of founding a permanent settlement in Massachusetts, which was to be the basis of their fishing operations. The colony to be established on land was to render assistance to the seaman, and also to turn its attention to agriculture, and if possible be made self sustaining by raising a sufficient amount of cereal for the needs of settlers as well as for the men permanently engaged in fishing.
Accordingly, a ship of 50 tons was purchased, and the colonists set sail for the new world. It was by accident rather than design that the company landed at Cape Ann, as no particular spot in New Eng- land had been selected. They arrived late in the season, but secured a good catch, and set sail for Spain, perhaps for Bilboa, the principal market of the period.
Before leaving, according to the designs of the promoters, 14 of the "spare men" were landed with provisions "at Cape Ann."
The voyage, however, did not prove a financial success, the ex- penses being heavy. The other settlements in New England at the time were Plymouth, 1620 ; Weymouth, 1622 ; Nantasket, Piscataqua River and Saco, Monhegan, and a few people along the Maine coast.
There is no record, of which we have any knowledge, of the names of the men who first settled Cape Ann. They were probably from the respectable yeomanry about Dorchester, who were induced to emigrate by the advice of the Rev. Mr. White.
PILGRIMS SECURE RIGHTS.
The Dorchester Company had no grant of this territory, and their possession was soon to be disputed by others. The Plymouth colony, then in a half starving condition, determined to prosecute the fishing business. Accordingly Edward Winslow was sent to England in 1623 to make preparations, and to raise capital for the enterprise. Incidentally, it is quite probable that he learned of the undertaking of the Dorchester company at Cape Ann, and fixed upon the locality as the best place to establish a fishing stage. He, therefore, with Robert Cushman, procured from Lord Sheffield, a member of the
20 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
council from New England, a patent conveying to them and associates "a tract of ground in New England in a known place there comonly called Cape Anne."
This patent was broad and comprehensive in its scope as to gov- ernment, but permanent settlement evidently was not contemplated.
Armed with authority, they sent the ship " Charity" over in 1624, and caused a stage or wharf to be erected on Cape Ann. But arriving late in the season, and having a shiftless master and crew, the voyage was a failure.
Early in the next year the 14 colonists left by the Dorchester com- pany were joined by 18 recruits, the ship used the year previous and a remodeled Flemish fly boat of 140 tons being dispatched anew to the fishing grounds. The catch, however, was small and the season unprofitable. John Tylly and Thomas-JlaxdeJierr. two of the first settlers of whom we have any record, came over this year, the first to oversee the fishing voyages, the latter to superintend the work of the settlers.
Operations were renewed the next year, in 1625. Roger Conant was chosen governor of the colony, and John Lyford, an Episcopal clergyman, was appointed to minister to the spiritual wants of the people. Provisions, cattle and other necessaries were also provided.
An agreement had been arrived at in 1624, by which the Dorches- ter company was to pursue its fishing operations on Cape Ann, probably under a license from Winslow and his associates. Three ships were sent out by the company in 1623, but one became dis- abled early in the season and, although good fares were secured, the company became deeply involved in debt, and decided to abandon its project of founding a fishing colony at Cape Ann. The ships were sold and the company proceeded to abandon the colony. Mr. White gave as a reason for the non-success of the scheme the "ill carriage" of the men and that they were "ill commanded."
The Pilgrims also procured a ship and pinnace with which to pursue their fishing operations in 1625, and transferred the scene of operations of their "salt man" who had come over to Plymouth the year before to Cape Ann. This enterprise came to an untimely end, the salt house and pans being destroyed by fire.
STANDISH, HEWES AND CONANT.
During this year occurred a dramatic episode which nearly result-
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 21
ed in blood shed. Among the actors were two of the most promi- nent men in the early history of the country. A number of mer- chants in England, for some reason, were opposed to the fishing operations of the Pilgrims. They therefore dispatched a ship to Cape Ann, and upon the arrival of the craft, her crew probably having been instructed for the purpose, seized all the provisions and the stage of the Pilgrims, evidently intending to oust the men of Plymouth and hold possession by force of arms. The captain of the semi-piratical ship was named Hewes and, having obtained posses- sion, he barricaded the stage head with hogsheads and prepared for a seige.
That redoubtable Pilgrim warrior, Capt. Miles Standish, soon appeared on the scene, and from the land demanded the uncondi- tional surrender of the usurpers. This request, Hewes, from his coign of vantage, refused. Hot words flew thick and fast Between the rival commanders, and serious trouble would no doubt have resulted but for the coolness and moderation displayed by Roger Conant who appeared on the spot as a peacemaker and by his tact prevented the shedding of blood upon the soil. He proposed a compromise by which both parties were to maintain separate stages on the field, each respecting the right of the other. This was accepted and trouble was averted. Thus from the first, with the valiant captain of the Pilgrims for one of its chief disputants, began the fisheries troubles which have loomed up so seriously on the horizon of later days. This incident occurred on what is known as Stage Fort, the place affording excellent opportunities for pursuing fishing operations, while one of the rocky promontories that jut into the sea was no doubt the scene of the barricade. However, the Plymouth vessels made good catches and as it has been quaintly expressed, both went "joyfully home together," the larger craft tow- ing "ye lesser ship at his stern all ye way overbound." This was practically the end of the Pilgrim's fishing operations on Cape Ann. They visited the Cape for fishing operations in a few instances, some years later.
COLONISTS RECALLED.
As has been stated, the Dorchester company gave up its project at the close of 1625 and recalled the colonists, the greater part of whom went home. Roger Conant and a few others resolved to stay but in the next year removed to Salem. It is very probable, how-
22 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
ever, that men were left to care for the property on the fishing stage and that perhaps one or two others, men of "ill carriage" and unde- sirable neighbors were not invited to accompany the rest of the colony to Salem. Conant and the greater part of those remaining set out through the woods driving their cattle before them, with all their possessions and settled in Salem. Tradition says that the path they travelled was afterwards laid out as the highway between Gloucester and Salem.
Gloucester is therefore the oldest settlement in the Massachusetts colony and the spot on which the colony was founded. As has been said, there is no reason to believe that it was permanently aban- doned but that it has been continuously the home of white men since 1623. Some of these settlers would reflect little if any credit on a community. Among them was a man named Fells who, with his paramour fled here from Plymouth to escape his just deserts at the hands of the outraged Pilgrims. Thomas' Morton, of Merry- mount notoriety, settled here, having been driven from other sec- tions of the colony. Rev. Francis Higginson and other passengers sent over by the Massachusetts company in the ship "Talbot," anchored in the harbor in 1629 and picked "strawberries, goose- berries and wild roses." Among the settlers at Cape Ann who removed to Salem with Conant, of whom we have record, are the following : John Woodbury, who came from Somersetshire, Eng- land. He was made a freeman in Salem in 1631 and filled various offices of trust. His son Humphrey was, without doubt, the father of Humphrey who removed from Beverly to Gloucester in 1677. John Balch come from Bridgewater, England, and was admitted a freeman of Salem in 1631. He died 1648. Peter Palfrey became a freeman of Salem in 1631 and a representative in 1635. He died in Reading in 1633. Goodman Norman and his son William Allen and Walter Knight were members of the Dorchester company. William Allen, who probably remained within the precincts of Cape Ann, was an early settler of Manchester as he was one of a company for erecting a village on the spot in 1640. Rev. John Lyford, the Episcopal clergyman who has been referred to, conducted the first Christian worship on the shores of the Cape. He was, without doubt, a man of the grossest tendencies and totally unfit for the high office which he presumed to administer. Last, but not the least among the settlers at Cape Ann was the first authorized ruler,
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER, 28
its governor, Roger Conant. His sturdy virtues have immortalized his name. After his removal to Salem he was elected a freeman in 1631 and a representative in 1634. He died at the age of 86, Nov. 1 6, 1679.
ROBINSON'S ANNISQUAM SETTLERS.
The half deserted fishing hamlet soon received accessions to its population and in 1630 or 1631 a band of Pilgrims, under the leader- ship of a son of the Rev. John Robinson, landed at Annisquam on the northerly side of the cape which they took possession of for the purpose of conducting operations. They erected a stage and made provision for the accommodations of their families. The account of this settlement which has come down to us is meagre and tradition- ary. As is the case with many important events, history is silent regarding this salient point in local annals.
MR. THOMSON'S FISHING STAGE.
By an act of the General Court, May 22, 1639, "f°r tne encourage- ment of Mr. Maurice Thomson, merchant of London, it was ordered that a fishing plantation should be begun at Cape Ann, and that said Mr. Thomson should have places assigned for the building of houses and stages and other necessaries for that use and shall have sufficient lands and other liberties there as shall be needful and fit for their occasions."
The court empowered Mr. Endicott, Mr. Humphrey, Mr. Win- throp, Jr., William Pierce and Joseph Graf ton, or any three of them, to set out the said plantation and all lands and other accommoda- tions to such as shall be planted there and none to be settled there but by their allowance. Certain exemptions were also granted to encourage fishing operations. Again the records are silent as to the outcome of this project and it is probable that Mr. Thomson never came over to carry out his designs, although the town records of 1650 state that "Will Southmead hath given him that parcel of land in the harbor upon which Mr. Thomson's frame stood," etc., which goes to show that an agent of Mr. Thomson had erected a fishing stage as contemplated. The business of fishing was well apace by 1639, f°r Thomas Lechford, who resided in Boston at that period, and returned to England where he published a book, states that "at Cape Ann where fishing is set forward one Master Rashley is chap- lain." Other writers give concurrent testimony so it is reasonable to
24 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
suppose that the infant fishing hamlet was well established during the decade between 1630 and 1640. Mr. Thomson's stage was lo- cated at Duncan's point.
PLYMOUTH COLONISTS.
Another reinforcement of settlers arrived in February, 1642. They came from Plymouth colony under the leadership of Rev. Richard Blynman.
INCORPORATION AS A TOWN.
The community had now grown into sufficient prominence to ask for incorporation. Steps to that end were taken in 1639, but the final act of incorporation was not passed by the General Court until May, 1642. That body, in October, 1641, designated commissioner to view and settle the bounds of Ipswich, Cape Ann and Jeffries's Creek now Manchester, and Messrs. Downing and Hathorne, depu- ties from Salem, were appointed to dispose of all lands and other things at Cape Ann. In accordance with this provision the first assignment and disposition of lots was made by Downing and Hathorne in February, 1642.
NAMED GLOUCESTER.
The name selected by the incorporators for their town was Glou- cester, from the fact that a majority of the settlers were from the peaceful and quiet cathedral city in England of that name, and wished to perpetuate old associations and pleasant memories in the land across the sea.
There are several derivations for the name. The city was founded by the Britons and called the Caer Glow, which signifies the fortress of Glow, a prince of the country. Some writers affirm that the name is derived from the British words, glow, handsome and caer a city. Again it is said that the translation of the name, as known by the ancient Britons, is the "city of the pure stream."
The Roman is the source, however, very generally accepted, for the names. When the Roman legions invaded Britain the necessi- ties of the case, as well as the policy of the Romans, made them permanent occupiers and not temporary visitors. As in Gaul, they aimed at the subjugation of the country. In different parts of the land and with an eye to the best location, large fortified camps called castra, were made, usually fortified with trees, and made in the form of a square. The Romans, when they took possession of the British
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 25
city, called it Gleveum Colonia, and under Claudius, it received the name of Claudius Castra. The necessities of trade gradually trans- formed the martial camp into a commercial city. Booths for the sale of goods were erected in the streets of the camps, and commerce made the interest of soldier and native identical. The name castra became corrupted by the native into Chester, and the camp of Clau- dius into Gleaucestre, and to its present form. The various cities in England, many of the names of which are found in New England, ending with cester or Chester are all said to derive their names from the fact of their having been Roman camps. The site of the camp in Gloucester, England, can still be traced, the north, east, south and west gate still surviving in name.
Another version : The site was a Roman station under Aulus Plautius. It became a city of Mercia and under the Saxons was named Gleauncestre.
The designation Cape Ann was applied to our headland shortly after the visit of Capt. John Smith, by Prince Charles in honor of his mother, Princess Anne of Denmark.
Thacher's island received its name from a melancholy incident in the early history of the town. On the I2th of August, 1635, a pinnace having on board Rev. John Avery, wife and six children, Mr. Anthony Thacher, wife and four children, and another person, was blown ashore on the island during a gale, and all but Thacher and his wife perished. They were bound from Ipswich to Marble- head. The survivors were taken off and on their departure the place was christened "Thacher's Woe."
26 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
CHAPTER IV.
Begins Corporate Career.
FIRST SELECTMEN. SAW MILLS, SHIP-BUILDING AND TIMBER LAWS. FIRST MEETING HOUSE AND PASTORS. KING PHILIP'S WAR. FIRST LAND GRANTS. RESISTS GOV. ANDROS. WITCHCRAFT DELUSION. OTHER HAPPENINGS.
THE commissioners appointed by the General Court designated eight men as a board to govern the settlement before the town was incorporated, namely, Walter Tybbot, Mr. Fryer, Mr. Milward, Mr. Addes,- George Norton, Obadiah Bruen, Mr. Sadler, William Stevens. Their functions were similar to those of selectmen. In 1642, the next year, when the town had been duly incorporated, the selectmen chosen were : Mr. Stevens, Mr. Addes, Mr. Milward, Mr. Sadler, Obadiah Bruen, George Norton, Mr. Fryer, and Walter Tybbot, and these were succeeded annually by a board chosen in town meeting until the incorporation as a city, in 1873.
Thus launched into a corporate form of government, the town was firmly established. New settlers came, slowly at first, to make the Cape their home, welcomed by the little band already on the spot, providing they were desirable neighbors. Thrift and energy characterized these pioneers, and if perchance a wandering Indian, surmounting one of the neighboring heights, and hearing the busy click of the woodman's axe as he cleared the space about his home, or observed the smoke from the chimney of his humble abode as it curled lazily upwards through the trees, he may have foreseen in these indications of activity and life, were the red man of a prophetic mind, the beginning of that process, which, commencing then upon the Atlantic seaboard, was to end only when the last descendant of his race, in no far distant generation, was to look outward upon the mild Pacific and backward upon the history of his kind, deprived at various stages of their birthright, the American continent.
The social conditions of pioneer life are at the best crude, and the want of various conveniences of older communities fall heavier upon the women, on whom are entailed many hardships. Scat-
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 27
tered and isolated, all looked forward to the coming of the Sabbath day, when they might gather with the rest of the little band, and offer up their heartfelt devotions to the Giver of all good things. After the services, no doubt, the more secular topics were well discussed, and the various happenings of the week gone over in detail. Birth, marriage, and death are common in every social condition, and the advent of a little stranger, the marriage of the son and daughter of a pioneer, or the death of one of the com- munity were events of uncommon interest.
TIMBER LAWS, SAW MILLS, SHIP-BUILDING.
As to the condition of the settlers, it may be said that there was sufficient arable land to raise an ample supply of cereals and vegeta- bles, the harbor yielded an inexhaustible supply of good fish, while the flocks and herds furnished both meat and clothing, the busy housewife spinning the wool and weaving it into homespun. Thus comfortably spent were the lives of the first settlers, and we no where hear of those periods of famine which furnish so pathetic a chapter in the early history of other settlements. The timber growing on the Cape, especially the oak, furnished the best of material for ship building. Indeed, the greater part of the first laws passed were in relation to the cutting of timber. The manufacture of boards, clap- boards, hoops, staves, as well as the cutting of cord-wood for outside consumption, was well underway by 1645. The laborious hand pro- cess for working timber was early superseded by water power. The various brooks and tide-water rivers furnished excellent power. A mill was erected near Beaver dam about 1642, also some years later on Sawmill river, near the present location of the grist mill at Riverdale, at various sections, at West Gloucester, at Freshwater Cove, and at numerous other places. These drove a thriving business in sawing timber and grinding corn, and the woodland of the Cape became rapidly depleted, so much so that in 1667 the town voted, under certain penalties for violation, to restrict the cutting of cord-wood within the territory from Brace's Cove to Little Good Harbor beach, and in 1669 it was agreed that no cord-wood be sold out of town under three shillings and sixpence per cord. For several years after- wards each family was permitted to cut 20 cords of wood on the common, but no more.
A committee was appointed by the General Court to settle the
28 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
bounds between Ipswich and Gloucester, and they submitted their report in March, 1642, fixing a certain bound. In 1671 various persons, probably the heirs of John Mason, who had been granted a large tract including Cape Ann, set up a claim to the territory, but the title was pronounced invalid by the best English lawyers, and the claimants finally allowed the matter to drop.
Ship-building was also carried on very early. Among the acces- sions to the town William Stevens who came to Boston in 1632, and in 1642 appears in Gloucester as one of the town commissioners. He was the most competent shipbuilder in New England at the time, and held many offices of trust in the community. He received an extraordinary grant of 500 acres of land on the westerly side of Annisquam river and six acres on Meeting House neck, but resided near the waterside at Pavilion Beach. As early as 1633 he built a ship here for a Mr. Griffin, which was followed by the building of several others. The value of such a man in instructing mechanics in the art of ship-building, especially in a community whose future lay in a maratime direction was incalculable. To how great a degree he moulded the character of the town's industry can be conjectured. FIRST MEETING HOUSE AND PASTORS.
The first regular worship on the Cape was conducted under the ministrations of Rev. Richard Blynman, who emigrated from Wales to Plymouth. Becoming involved in a controversy at the latter place he, with a number of adherents, removed to Gloucester in 1642. He received a grant of 40 acres of land at Kettle Cove, now Magnolia. A meeting house was erected as early as 1633 on the northwesterly slope of Beacon hill. This was a small log struct- ure. Hard by a half acre of the field in that vicinity in 1644, was reserved for a burial ground, and here all that was mortal of the early settlers was laid to rest. This spot is, without doubt, the site of what is the Bridge street burial ground. Mr. Blynman was engaged in the ministry here until 1649, removing the next year with a company of other settlers to New London. His labors here characterized by much disturbance, the meetings were broken up, etc. He is spoken of as a man of sweet, humble, heavenly carriage yet he was before the court on a complaint of Anthony Day, acknowledged the truth of this accusation but was discharged with the warning "to beware of the like rash carriage in the future." He was probably a man of good parts possessed of a violent temper.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 29
After Rev. Mr. Blynman's departure, WilHam Perkins of Wey- mouth settled here in 1650 to minister to the spiritual needs of the depleted band of worshippers. Shortly before his arrival the town, through the selectmen, set off 10 acres of upland for the use of teach- ing elders forever, also a half acre of upland reserved for the town to build a house for the use of teaching elders "under the meeting house where it now stands" and furthermore, 10 acres of fresh marsh above the head of Little river. Mr. Perkins remained here until 1655 when he removed to Topsfield. In a pioneer settlement no agency is so effective in uniting a community into a compact and coherent body as its spiritual guide. This was soon apparent to the settlers, and after a six years' vacancy in their pulpit arrange- ments were finally made with the Rev. John Emerson to become the pastor of the settlement. His salary was fixed at ^60 per annum, payable in corn and other cereals, fish, beef or pork. In 1672 the town voted that he should receive one-eighth of the salary in money, and in 1679 ne was awarded an additional £8 together with his firewood. In 1673 £So was voted by the town for the erection of a parsonage. He was quite thrifty at his death in 1700 at the age of 75, was possessed of a considerable estate for the times including three saw mills. The second meeting house was erected before 1664, at a cost of £60 not including the labor, Robert Elwell and Clement Coldam being the committee in charge. After serving its purpose about 40 years it was taken down. Mr. Emerson's ministry was highly successful, his methods in spiritual as well as secular affairs were energetic, and the congregation had grown at his death to three times the number at his settlement. He was also the first ecclesiast from the time of Lyford who steered clear of entanglement either in the court or with his parishioners, if we except Chaplain Rashley of whom we have slight knowledge.
KING PHILIP'S WAR.
As has been pointed out in an opening chapter, the peculiar situa- tion of the town rendered it exempt from the ravages of the red men. The town's quota for the Indian war of 1675, as raised by draft were Hugh Rowe, Thomas Kent, Vincent Davis, Jacob Davis, Joseph Allen, Joseph Somes, Joseph Clark, and Andrew Sargent. All of these men probably were not in actual service, but may have provided substitutes. Joseph Somes was killed during the hostilities.
30 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
Among those granted lots of land at Kettle Cove for their service during this war were Joseph Clark and Hugh Rowe, of the original quota, Timothy Somes drawing a lot for Joseph Somes, who was killed, and John Bray, Nathaniel Bray, John Day, Moses Dudy, John Fitch, John Haskell, Edward Haraden, Isaac Prince, Samuel Stan- wood, John Stanwood, and Philip Stanwood, these latter, no doubt, acting as substitutes for those originally drafted. It is estimated that this number comprised nearly one-fourth of the citizens capable of military service.
FIRST LAND GRANTS.
The first settlers "located " on the land, which, in their judgment, was most desirable for their particular needs, each newcomer selecting a tract that had remained unclaimed. Pre-emption was a clear title to possession, and until February 27, 1688, no grant of land had been made. On the date specified, however, it was voted at a town meeting that every householder and young man who had attained his majority and was a native of the town, capable of the rights and duties of citizenship, should be granted six acres of land.
Rights of way for free passage were provided for, and the inhabi- tants were given the privilege of cutting wood upon these lots for their own use. Accordingly, 82 lots, in numerical order, were laid out on the easterly side of the Cut, and were drawn for and secured by the following persons : Joseph Allen, Richard Babson, John Babson, Ebenezer Babson, Anthony Bennett, Nathaniel Bray, John Bray, Joseph Clark, Joanna Collins, Ezekiel Collins, John Cook, Job Coit, Anthony Day, Ezekiel Day, John Day, Thomas Day, Nathaniel Day, James Davis, junior, William Dolliver, Peter Duncan, Isaac Elwell, senior, Isaac Elwell, junior, Jacob Elwell, Robert Elwell, Samuel Elwell, William Ellery, Rev. John Emerson, John Emerson, junior, heirs of Isaac Eveleth, Sylvester Eveleth, John Fitch, Bartholomew Foster, Joseph Gardner, Stephen Glover, John Hadley, Edward Haraden, John Haraden, Sarah Haraden, John Hammon, Samuel Hodgkins, Henry Joslyn, Thomas Judkin, Thomas Millet, John Millett, Francis Norwood, Francis Norwood, junior, Jeffrey Parsons, John Pearce, Isaac Prince, Thomas Prince, senior, Thomas Prince, junior, Thomas Riggs, senior, Thomas Riggs, junior, Abraham Rob- inson, Hugh Rowe, James Rowe, John Rowe, senior, John Rowe, junior, William Sargent, senior, William Sargent, junior, William Sargent, 2d, John Sargent, Samuel Sargent, Nathaniel Somes, Timo-
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 31
thy Somes, Morris Smith, Robert Skamp, James Stevens, senior, James Stevens, junior, William Stevens, Samuel Stevens, Philip Stanwood, Samuel Stanwood, John Stanwood, Jonathan Stanwood, Thomas Very, William Vinson, Thomas Witham, Henry Williams. John Elwell, who was absent at the time of the drawing, claimed and received a lot in 1707.
There were 31 lots laid out west of the Cut bridge in that section of the town comprising West Gloucester and Magnolia. They were drawn as follows : Thomas Bray, senior, Thomas Bray, junior, John Clark, Peter Coffin, Nathaniel Coit, Richard Dolliver, Jacob Davis, James Davis, Richard Dike, Timothy Day, William Haskell, senior, William Haskell, junior, Benjamin Haskell, Joseph Haskell, Mark Haskell, Nathaniel Hadlock, Josiah Kent, Thomas Lufkin, Thomas Lufkin, junior, Nathaniel Millett, John Pulcifer, Thomas Penny, deceased, Jeffrey Parsons, senior, James Parsons, John Parsons, Andrew Sargent, John Sargent, James Sawyer, Henry Walker, Rev. John Wise of Chebacco, Humphrey Woodbury.
RESISTS GOVERNOR ANDROS.
In 1688, several of the towns of the Massachusetts colony refused to pay the odious taxes imposed by the tyranical governor, Sir Edwin Andros. As in later days, the people were active in protesting against this exaction. Among the rebellious towns was Gloucester and, as a result, seven of the prominent citizens were arraigned and fined at Salem for the refusal of the town to honor the terms of the warrant. The names of the citizens were William Haskell, James Stevens, Thomas Reggs and Thomas Millet, the selectmen, Timothy Somes, constable and William Sargent. All but Somes were fined 40 shillings each to which ,£3 i shilling was added for fees. Somes was discharged on the payment of fees.
WITCHCRAFT DELUSION.
The witchcraft delusion of 1692 extended to Gloucester but hap- pily none of the accused were put to death. In the summer of that year its symptoms became manifest when Ebenezer Babson and his family reported that strange noises, as of persons running about his house, were heard almost every night. Babson, on returning at a late hour also saw two strange men come out of his house and disappear in his cornfield. He stated that he could hear them converse and that one said, "The man of the house is come now,
32 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
•
else we might have taken the house." The entire family, becoming alarmed, retired to the garrison to which place they were followed by two men. On another day Babson, who seems to have experi- enced a monopoly of these occurrences in the town, saw strangers who appeared like Frenchmen, and at another time the number was increased to six. A party went in pursuit. Babson overtook two and tried to fire at them but, strange to relate, his gun persistently missed fire. A short time afterwards he saw three men, one wearing a white waistcoat. This time his rifle proved trusty. All fell beneath his unerring aim but on his approaching the dead or wounded men arose and ran away, one discharging a gun as he went. At length one of these spectral marauders was surrounded so that escape was impossible. He was shot by Babson, but this time when Babson approached to take possession of the body it mysteriously disappeared. For quite a time afterwards a company, supposed to be French and Indians, prowled about the garrison and held loud conversations in a swamp near by. Babson, on his way to the har- bor to carry the news, was fired upon. The people became greatly excited and appealed to the outside towns for help. Ipswich re- sponded with 60 men to assist in putting these strange intruders to flight. The excitement soon abated, Babson seeming to be the only person to whom these extraordinary manifestations were revealed. Six women of the town were imprisoned on the ground of being witches. Abagail Somes was one of the first accused and was confined in Boston nearly seven months, being released Jan. 3, 1693, without trial. Ann Dolliver, wife of William Dolliver, and four other females were accused of witchcraft but fortunately returning reason of the people, prevented their execution. Rev. John Emer- son, the clergyman of the town, wrote concerning these occurrences and in defence of his parishioners : "All rational persons will be satisfied that Gloucester was not harmed for a fortnight altogether by real French and Indians, but that the devil and his angels were the cause of all that befel the town."
OTHER HAPPENINGS.
The increase of population up to 1700 was scanty. Settlers came and went. In 1693, the town's quarterly tax, levied by the colony government, was £68 us, over one-half of which was poll tax, the citi- zen paying the highest amount being Peter Coffin, who was assessed
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 33
£2 1 8s. and 6d. Fully one-quarter of the population resided at West Jjloucesier, where the land was better adapted for farming purposes. The roads in those days were scarcely broken, and in very bad condi- tion. The greater part of the population east of the Annisquam river was centered in the upper part of ward 6. By far the shortest route to church and the principal part of the village was to cross the marsh from the west parish side to Biskie, now Rust's island, thence across the river to Trynall cove, thence down Ferry lane to what is now Washington street. A public ferry was established there in 1694, Samuel Hodgkins being the ferryman, the ferry being con- tinued for 100 years, and the transportation always conducted by a member of the Hodgkins family.
The last act of any magnitude undertaken by the settlers, at the close of the century, was the erection of a meeting house. In town meeting, Dec. 23, 1697, the people being of one mind religiously, a committee of three, consisting of Samuel Sargent, John Parsons, and Benjamin Haskell were chosen to supervise the erection of a meeting house, the dimensions being 40 feet square and 16 feet stud. A tax was levied on the town for its construction, but it was not raised until May, 1 700. It was the third erected in town, and occupied the site on the meeting house green, still preserved for common use, in Ward 6, hard by the main thoroughfare. Its cost was .£253, it being furnished with a short tower, bell and pews, and was, no doubt, the chief and most imposing public building of the town in the days when church and state, locally considered, were one.
In 1699 the population was about 650, scattered over the whole area of the town. Notwithstanding this slow growth, the commu- nity prospered materially. The greater part of the original log houses had been superseded by frame dwellings, or the logs had been cov- ered with boards. Timber was plenty, and the large number of saw mills furnished facilities for its ready manufacture into lumber of the desired dimensions. This in itself was an excellent indication. The character of the houses of a community mark with unerring hand the development of the self-respect, and furnish a sure criterion of the energy of the inhabitants.
One of New England's famous authors, in a work, the scenes of which are laid in the early days of a neighboring city, states that the first products of civilization are a cemetery and a prison. The code of laws, especially those governing morals, were excessively puritanical
34 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
and several cases are on record where an ignominious punish- ment was inflicted upon offenders. Although the necessities of the town had not as yet required the erection of a jail, yet, about this time, a public whipping post and stocks were erected. They were main- tained until about 1770, and the location of these implements was in a field, between Middle and Main streets on the one side, and Hancock and Centre streets on the other.
In regard to marriage, it is curious to note that up to 1700 it was considered as a civil, and not of a religious nature. Although a regularly ordained minister of the gospel was, with the exception of a brief interval, settled among the people, none but magistrates performed the ceremony, and as such a functionary did not take up his abode in town until 1700, couples were obliged to journey to some neighboring town where a magistrate resided, in order to be made man and wife.
Relative to material prosperity, and more especially in reference to the marine industry of the town, it may be said that at this period some dozen shallops, sloops, etc., were owned by the inhabitants and fishing, on a small scale, from about 1680 was beginning to be profitably pursued. There is also reasonable evidence to suppose that the port was used as a convenient place to evade the payment of customs taxes for, in 1680, John Price, a passenger from Piscata- quis to Boston, on a craft that put into Cape Ann for a harbor, deposes that he saw taken out of a pink and a fly boat here several casks, saddlery, chests, etc., and put on board one of William Sargent's boats to be taken to Boston, to be delivered to their owner, a Mr. Best of that town. This merchant told Price that he, Best, was the owner of the goods. Thus those were the halcyon times when practical tariff reform and encouragement of home indus- try were synonymous terms.
Standing with one foot upon the threshold of the eighteenth century and taking a farewell glance, we find no great difficulty in making a mental picture of the town. The lusty arm of the wood- man had done much to thin the thick growth of the timber found when the prow of Champlain's craft cleft the waves of Beau- port bay or, later, upon the advent of the Dorchester colonists in 1623. Still quite a respectable growth remained in what is now the thickly settled portion of the city. The shores were fringed with woods, through which well defined paths might be seen leading,
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
36
in a few instances, to small and rudely constructed wharves or, in the majority of cases, to the mooring place of some small shallop. The houses of the settlers, scattered at infrequent intervals were, in the main, hidden by the forest. One or two, however, could be observed which had been located in a commanding situation, from which the surrounding wood had been felled. Was there a prophetic mind among this pioneer band who saw clearly in succeeding years that this quiet and unsettled spot was in future time to be the site of a city which, judged by its own standards, was to stand pre-eminent among its rivals in the new continent and perhaps in the whole world ?
36 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
CHAPTER V.
The Early Settlers.
LIST OF THOSE WHO BECAME INHABITANTS OF CAPE BEFORE 1700— HARDY PIONEERS WHO LEFT PLEASANT HOMES IN OLD ENGLAND TO HAZARD NEW FORTUNES IN THE WESTERN WORLD.
THE controlling motive which impells men to seek their for- tunes in new fields, or unknown climes, is generally a desire to better their condition. And so we may safely assume that the majority of our first settlers were induced to leave their homes in old England by the accounts of the superior opportunies which the new country offered for advancement, and the glamour which always invests the description of virgin fields of enterprise and endeavor.
Not all the newcomers, however, can be said to have been actuated by the pecuniary consideration. A good sprinkling of the leading pioneers, as Miles Standish at Plymouth, Roger Conant, Obadiah Bruen and others of the Cape Ann contingent, left pleasant and even luxurious homes to rough it in the new world, governed, no doubt, by that spirit which animates the more adventurous among all classes in every country.
However, there is no doubt but what the greater part of the early settlers were composed of those whose capital consisted mainly in their strong and sturdy purpose to carve out a home and, perchance, a competence, in the new land.
Despite the assumptions of some, the Cape must have presented an inviting aspect to those who came to make the spot their habita- tion for, doubtless, the various relays of immigrants arrived in the spring or early summer, when nature was at its best, and at that period the thickly wooded character of the territory hid the rocky nature of the soil as it appears to-day denuded of its growth of wood. The first duty of the settler was to select a site for his home, gener- ally in some sheltered and secluded nook, secure from the blasts of winter. Material grew close at hand, and a log house of small dimen- sions, generally of one room and an attic, was constructed in short
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 37
order. Here the household gods were set up, and here the perma- nent foundation of the community was firmly established.
No attempt has been made to give a genealogical history of these families, or those who succeeded them during the first half of 1700. Besides lack of space, a detailed statement of family history would be interesting only to the immediate few concerned. The subject may be dismissed, therefore, with the statement that the inhabitant of Gloucester of to-day who traces his lineage back some 200 or more years is a composite of the whole, if the term may be allowed, that is to say that the comparatively small number of inhabitants up to 1855, and the non-accession up to that time of outside popula- tion, resulted in marriages, which, in the course of time, effectually linked all the permanent settlers in the common bonds of consan- guinity.
Of the settlers here before 1650 about 30 lived within the limits of the thickly settled portion of the city as it exists to-day, compris- ing wards 2, 3, 4 and 5. Nearly a score resided in the upper part of ward 4, three on the tract comprising land between Duncan and Pearce streets, five lived beyond near the base of Union hill and two somewhere about what is now the junction of Prospect, Washington and Foster streets. On the westerly slope of Beacon hill lived five of the original colonists named Felch, Streeter, T. Smith, Baker and Cotton. This locality is now known as Done Fudging. Settlers named Ashley, Milward, Listen, Luther and several others lived along the harbor front. These were here before 1642 and may have been members of Mr. Thompson's company. Settlers came and went as they were impressed favorably or unfavorably. The greater part had land in different places, and interchanges were frequent, often by verbal agreement. Of those who came at or before 1650 about 30 located permanently.
About 1670 the pedestrian touring the cape leisurely, and taking a census, would have found 62 families of 49 different names, 1 10 men of different names having made their abode here for longer or shorter periods up to that date. In the central part of the city to-day, clustered at various distances along the inner harbor, resided the families of Samuel, Isaac, Josiah, Joseph and Thomas Elwell, Thomas Prince, senior and Thomas Prince, junior, Bartholomew Foster, James Gardner, Stephen Grover, Charles, James and Hugh Row, Robert Skamp, Thomas Very, \ William Vincent (or Vinson),
88 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
near Vincent Cove, John Curney, William Coleman, John Curney, Peter Duncan, on the spot in the vicinity of Duncan street, Osman Dutch and ! William Ellery.
Leaving the central part of the city as it is to-day, proceeding up the path now known as Washington street, the wayfarer came to the tract known as the "neck of houselots" which extended north from Governor's hill including the land between Squam and Mill rivers, the present ward 6, namely known as Riverdale. There were living then about 15 families in this vicinity namely, those of Joseph Allen, Joseph Clark, Anthony Day, John Fitch, Thomas Jones, Thomas Judkin, Thomas Millett, Job Millett, John Pearce, William Sargent, Morris Somes, Thomas Somes, Philip Stanwood, James Stevens, Rev. John Emerson. At this time the mill, meeting house, tavern, etc., were located in this vicinity.
Further on, on the enclosed water known as Goose Cove, were the families of Thomas Riggs, town clerk and school-master, Francis Norwood and John Hammons. Continuing to Lobster Cove were the families of Edward Harraden and Henry Witham who occupied several acres extending from the head of the cove to Ipswich bay then called Planter's Neck. Continuing, the traveller wended his way through an unbroken forest at what is now Pigeon Cove and Rockport, the first settler in that vicinity, Richard Tarr, making inroads in the forest primeval on the south side of Davison's Run about 1690, followed by John Pool about 1700 who settled near Tarr. The circuit of the cape was made until "Farms" in ward 2 were reached. Here were located with their families John Rowe, James Babson, and on Eastern Point were located Abraham Robinson and Robert Elwell.
Across the Cut bridge in ward 8, at the head of Bray's hill over- looking Stage Fort, was the dwelling of Jeffrey Parsons, and further along at Fresh Water Cove Samuel Dolliver, who owned the largest herd in town, 10 cows, had taken up his abode.
At what is known as the West Parish in the immediate vicinity of Walker's Creek and Little river, mainly engaged in farming, were Thomas Bray, James Davis, Jacob Davis, Richard Dike, Sylvester Eveleth, Richard Goodwin, Nathaniel Hadlock, William Haskell, father and son, Joseph Haskell, Thomas Kent, Thomas Lufkin, Nathaniel Millett, Thomas Penny and Henry Walker. Fishing and farming about equally engaged the attention of the entire village.
\;
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 39
Subjoined is a list of the names of those settlers who were in town at or before 1 700 :
WILLIAM ADDES, one of the first selectmen. He was here in 1649 but is not mentioned as a landowner otherwise than that he disposed of a lot on Eastern Point. He is also spoken of building a barque. He removed to New London, Conn., in 1658. His daughter Millicent married William Southmeade. MARTHA AGAR. Her daughter Hannah died in 1696 aged 10 years.
JOSEPH ALLEN. The Aliens were among the first settlers, William Allen being one of the party sent over by the Dorchester company. He probably settled in Manchester and is, without doubt, the ancestor of the Aliens of the present day living hereabouts. Joseph came here it 1674, and was given a grant of land and a common right. He was a black- smith. He built a house on the land near the meeting house. He was elected selectman at frequent intervals and a representative in 1705. He was twice married, first to Rachel Griggs in 1680, and next to Rose Howard in 1684. He died in 1724, aged 71. His immediate descendants became quite prominent and accumulated considerable property for the times. William, his grandson, emigrated to New Gloucester at the early settlement of the town. Nathaniel, another grandson, after conducting a successful fishing and commercial business, became a bankrupt and removed to Dover, N. H., shortly before the opening of the Revolutionary War.
RALPH ANDREWS first appears on the occasion of his marriage to Aba- gail Very in 1681. He is not recorded as a landowner. He left three sons and two daughters. Others of the name also came here from Ipswich. William Andrews was wounded in one of the expeditions to Louisburg, Cape Breton, and died on the passage home.
WILLIAM ASH. No land appears to have been granted this man. He acquired real estate, however, and sold a house and land to John Jackson in May, 1651. He married Millicent, widow of William Southmeade.
MR. ASHLEY. A lot in the harbor is mentioned, in 1650, as his prop- erty. Thomas Ashley and his goods were attached in July, 1642, on account of William Addes and others.
EDMUND ASHBY was in Salem in 1665 and appears here only at the birth of his son James in 1680.
CHRISTOPHER AVERY and his son James were among the first settlers, having land in various sections of the town. Christopher was a selectman in 1646, 1652 and 1654. He held other important offices but various criminal actions, inconsistent with the strict puritanical code, led to his presentation at court several times. Avery sold his real estate here in 1658 and removed to New London, to which place his son James had preceded him in 1651.
ISABEL BABSON, widow, and one of the first, if not the first practitioner of the obstetric branch of the medical profession in town, was an inhabi- tant of Salem in 1637 but came here a short time afterwards with her son James. She received several grants of land, James settling near Good
40 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
Harbor beach. John Babson was granted two or three acres of land at Straitsmouth to engage in the occupation of fishing and fish curing. One of this family removed to Hopkinton and Manchester, N. H., dying at the latter place, July 31, 1800. James, son of Isabel, is probably the ancestor of all the Babsons in the United States.
THOMAS BAILEY and his wife Mary, appear in Gloucester in 1700.
ALEXANDER BAKER, an early resident, was the owner of a house and land. He lived in Boston many years.
GILES BARGE purchased two acres of land in Fishermen's field in 1653 which he sold in 1655. He also acquired some 260 acres of land at Scar- borough.
WILLIAM BARTHOLMEW was here in 1657, and had a tract of land. He remained in town but a short time when he removed to Boston.
RICHARD BEEFORD appears in an action brought at the Quarterly court in Salem in 1637, but was not probably a resident of Gloucester before 1650. He was a freeman in 1651 and selectman in 1659 and 1660.
ANTHONY BENNETT was a carpenter and probably came from Beverly, where he was living in 1671. He had grants of land here in 1679, and settled on the eastern side of Mill river. Peter, a son, removed in 1718 to Georgetown, Me., and descendants of this family reside in New Glou- cester and other sections of Maine.
GEORGE BLAKE was a selectman in 1649 and Freeman in 1651. He had several grants of land which he sold with the houses thereon and removed to Boxford about 1669 where he died Feb. 12, 1698.
JOHN BOURNE lived in Salem then came to Gloucester, purchasing a house at Trynall cove in 1649 which he sold in 1652. He went to Barba- does in 1661.
JOHN BRIARS was married here 1652 and had several children. He had a grant of land. He left town in 1661.
EDMUND BROADWAY sold land in different places in 1653 and 1654.
THOMAS BRAY was a ship carpenter and had several grants of land among others at the head of Little river in 1647, and on the north side of Cow island marsh in 1651 upon which to erect a house. He undoubtedly settled in that locality where his descendants reside at the present time.
JOHN BROWN built a house here in 1704, near Sadler's Run. John Brown, junior, removed to Falmouth.
WILLIAM BROWN, one of the early settlers, had several sections of land. He resided near the harbor. He was selectman in 1644 and 1647.
OBADIAH BRUEN was the son of John Bruen, a noted Puritan of ancient family, residing at Bruen Stapleford, county of Chester, England. The Bruens traced their ancestry back to the Norman conquest. He came to Plymouth with Rev. Richard Blynman, whom he accompanied when the lat- ter came to Gloucester. Land was granted to him in several places. He probably lived on the southwestern side of the meeting-house green. He was made a freeman in 1642, clerk of the writs, and commissioner to try
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 41
small causes in 1643, and was selectman for several terms, and representa- tive three years. In 1645 ne was licensed "to draw wine." He was town clerk until September, 1650, when he sold his belongings here and went to New London, carrying the records with him. Afterwards he emigrated with his family to Newark.
RICHARD BYLES, a weaver, was the son of Jonathan Byles, of Beverly, first noticed in Gloucester in 1700. He bought land here in Gloucester. By his wife Mary he had eight children. He removed back to Beverly in 1727. One of his sons, Charles, remained in town, purchasing property near Little river. He commanded a company at the siege of Louisburg, in 1745, and again, it is said, at the taking of Quebec. ^He married Han- nah Eveleth, and left two sons^^^Sui
JOHN BUTMAN, supposed to have come from Salem, received a grant on the west side of Annisquam river in 1693, but in 1693 exchanged it for a lot at the head of Lobster cove, where he built his house. He married Sarah Robinson, by whom he had seven children.
HUGH CALKIN had land in several places. He was admitted freeman in 1642, 'was a selectman several years, and representative in 1650 and 1651. In the latter year he left for New London, from which place he left for Norwich, where he died in 1690. Two of his daughters married here.
WILLIAM CARD married Hannah Coit, Jan. 10, 1693, by whom he had five children.
THOMAS CHASE is mentioned in 1650.
ARTHUR CHURCHILL, a probable connection of the Tarrs, died in 1710.
EDMUND CLARK, town clerk from 1657 to November, 1665. John, a grandson, and his wife Ruth, removed to Hampton in 1718. A Mr. Clark probably Edmund, is mentioned before 1650.
MATTHEW COE, a fisherman, lived in Portsmouth in 1640, came to Gloucester before 1647. He had a grant of land on Stage Neck in 1651, which, with a house erected thereon, he sold to Thomas Riggs 10 years later, and removed with his wife and family to Back cove, Falmouth, Me.
PETER COFFIN, son of Tristram Coffin, of Newbury, came to Gloucester in 1688, and occupied a tract of land, comprising some 500 acres, between Essex and Chebacco rivers, originally granted to William Stevens, but which Coffin's father bought of Jonathan Willoughby, of London. His grandson Peter came into possession of the property by entail about 1747, where he resided until his removal to the village near the harbor. He was a prominent citizen, and a leader in the community, serving continu- ously, with the exception of two years, as selectman, from 1753 to 1755. He was representative several terms, from 1744 to 1792 and also was chosen as one of the senators. He was the principal acting magistrate of the town for many years. He died in 1796. His wife was Mary Currier, of Amesbury, by whom he had three sons and seven daughters. His con- nection with various patriotic episodes will be recounted elsewhere.
JOHN COIT, father and son of the same name, were early settlers, hav- ing probably come from Salem, where the name is found in 1638. John
42 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
Coit, senior, had his residence at Wheeler's Point. He was admitted a freemen in 1647, and was selectman in 1684. He went to New London about 1657, residing there until his death, some eight years later, leaving a wife and family. John Coit, jun., married Mary Stevens, May 21, 1652, by whom he had five children.
CLEMENT COLDOM is supposed to have come from Lynn. He was here in 1649, and his residence was on the easterly side of Mill river, toward Goose cove. He was married.
JOHN COLLINS was in Salem in 1643, DUt came to Gloucester a short time afterwards, taking up his residence near the harbor. He was a select- man in 1646, and several times afterwards. He left two sons and daugh- ters, and the progeny in the male line were numerous. John, his son, moved to Salem about 1675, and died before September, 1677. Ebenezer Collins, a descendant, removed to New Gloucester, Me., where he died about 1804.
WILLIAM COLMAN, planter, appears in 1654. He married the widow of John Rowe, Nov. 14, 1662. His residence was near the '* Farms," and was burned, the first fire on record in the town. A reckon the northerly side of Rockport road perpetuates his name.
JOHN COOK. — The first mention of the name of Cook in town is that of Rachel Cook, who married William Vinson in 1661. John Cook married Mary_JElwell, Feb. 2, 1680. Eli as Cook had a dwelling-house in Smndy bay, in 1738, but it is not known that he belonged to the first family of the same name.
THOMAS CORNISH, married Mary, daughter of John Stone, Sept. 4, 1641. The records do not speak of any grant of land to him, but he had a house and land. He probably went to Exeter, N. H., where a person of the same name resided in 1652.
WILLIAM COTTON may have resided here a short time, but Boston was his permanent residence.
JOHN CURNEY came from Falmouth, Me., about 1671. He married Abagail Skellin, who he probably brought with him, Nov. 18, 1670, by whom he had several children.
ZACCHEUS CURTIS and his wife Jane are mentioned in 1659 only on the occasion of the birth of a daughter.
JOHN DAVIS the progenitor of a long line of the name which still exists in the town to-day, bought a house, barn, orchard and land of Richard Window in 1656. This property was probably situated near Walker's Creek. He removed to Ipswich after a residence of several years, but left his son James and Jacob residing here from whom a prolific line of descendants have sprung.
ANTHONY DAY came here in 1645, probably from Ipswich. He did not settle permanently until 1657 when he bought a house and land near the Poles. His wife was Susanna Matchett. Both lived to an advanced age, he to 91, she to 94. They had eight children, seven sons and one daughter. A descendant, John, settled in Norwich. The Days of West Gloucester are not connected with Anthony, but trace their ances-
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 43
try to Isa^c Day who came from Ipswich and married Martha Botham before 1700. The Bothams appear to have been here early, and a spot near the Day homestead is still known as Botham's hollow.
NICHOLAS DENNING married Sarah Paine in 1697 and a Nicholas Den- ning married Elizabeth Davis in 1699 and had six children. The widow of George Denning was living in 1738 in West Parish, where it is supposed the family originally settled. The Dennen name is found in that locality at the present time.
RICHARD DIKE resided in West Parish where he bought a house and land of Thomas Kent in 1688. The name was not perpetuated in town beyond the second generation. Dike's Meadow, the site of the water storage basin may have derived its name from this settler.
SAMUEL DOLLIVER came from Marblehead and in 1652 bought a farm at Freshwater cove of Thomas Milward. His wife was Mary Elwell by whom he had four sons and two daughters. About 1725 adescendant emigrated to Falmouth, Me., where three of his sons were married. The name still survives in town to-day.
WILLIAM DUDBRIDGE had land recorded to him in 1645.
MOSES DUDY was a servant of Robert Elwell. He was impressed into •the military service of the colony for which he received a grant of land at Kettle cove which he sold to John Rowe in 1680.
PETER DUNCAN, who carried on a small trading establishment, bought a house and land in 1662 near the inner harbor, a portion of which, long known as Duncan's Point, now one of the most valuable tracts in the city. His wife was Mary, daughter of Deputy Governor SirnondSj by whom he had several children, but the name is not perpetuated by descendants in the town. Duncan street derives its name from this settler.
JOHN DURGEE, weaver, appears here first in 1695. He probably came from Ipswich. In 1704 he had land at Chebacco side upon which to erect a house besides other lots. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Jeffrey Parsons by whom he had nine children. John and William removed to Hampton, Conn., where their descendants are numerous.
OSMAN DUTCH is mentioned early as a purchaser of land. His resi- dence was on the eastern side of the harbor, called long afterwards, from its miry character, "Dutch slough." He was selectman in 1650. His son Robert married and removed to Ipswich. He was a soldier in the Indian war of 1675 and was severely wounded and maltreated by the enemy in a skirmish and left for dead on the field. He recovered, however, and eventually rejoined his friends.
WILLIAM ELLERY, the progenitor of a family who became one of the v most prominent in the history of the town, is first heard from on the occa- sion of his marriage, Oct 8, 1683, to Hannah, daughter of William Vinson. He was admitted freeman in 1672, was selectman a few years and a repre- sentative in May, 1689. Benjamin, his son, settled in Rhode Island, first at Bristol and then at Newport. Benjamin's grandson, William, born at Newport, Dec. 22, 1727, was a member of the Continental Congress in 1776 and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The
44 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
distinguished theologian, William Ellery Channing, D. D., was a descend- ant in the fifth generation from the Gloucester settler. Descendants of the family still occupy the Ellery house, in ward six, probably the most historic house in town, built by the Rev. John White shortly after the latter settled here.
ROBERT ELWELL. This name appears in the colony records in 1635. He was admitted a freeman in 1640 and was a member of the Salem church in 1643. He bought land in Gloucester in April, 1642. He finally settled at Eastern point and was selectman in 1649 and several times afterwards, and a commissioner to try small causes in 1651. He married twice and had six sons. Succeeding generations were quite pro- lific and held prominent positions in the towns civil and commercial affairs. His descendants keep the name alive in town to-day.
PETER EMONS and his wife Martha first appear in town in 1700.
WILLIAM EVANS had a grant of land in 1647 and was a selectman in
\ 1648. In 1653 he removed to Topsfield. '^k
1 SYLVESTER EVELETH (or Eveleigh) as he himself wrote it, had land fj recorded to him on the north side of the mill pond in December, 1648. '^*!\ He was selectman in 1648, a freeman in 1652 and a representative in $^ 1673. He lived at West Parish, where he had large tracts of land. He was licensed to keep a public house. An old house built by a son or grandson still stands. He was married twice and one of his two sons, Joseph, removed to Ipswich at which place he died, having reached the venerable age of 105 years. One of his sons removed to West Gloucester, settling on the family estate at the head of Little river. One of the latter, Nathaniel, settled in New Gloucester, Me. All those who hear the name Eveleth in surrounding towns are no doubt the descendants of this early settler.
HENRY FELCH, one of the earliest settlers, was here in 1642 and owned six acres of land ground. He may have removed to Reading and after- wards to Boston.
JOHN FITCH bought a house and land of George Blake in 1667.
JAMES FOGG was probably here in 1649. He was tne owner of land in 1651 and this is the last of his appearance on the records.
BARTHOLOMEW FOSTER bought real estate on the westerly side of Main street in 1669. He was engaged in marine pursuits, one of the first persons recorded as owning vessel property. None of his descendants perpetuates the name here.
MR. FRYER, probably Thomas Fryer, who resided in Salem in 1639, was here for a short time only in 1642.
JOHN GALLOPE is mentioned as a seller of woodland before 1650. An early inhabitant of Boston by the same name was a fisherman and a pilot, and his craft was wind bound in Cape Ann harbor in 1632.
JAMES GARDNER came to Gloucester in 1631, married the daughter of William Vinson, who gave him some land, and lived in the most easterly section of the town. He had three sons.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 45
GEORGE GIDDINGS is said to have come from Ipswich about 1690, and married Mary Skamp in the same year. He also had a second wife. He had five sons and five daughters.
CHARLES GLOVER, a ship carpenter, was at Salem in 1641, and was made a freeman. HeTWas selectman therein 1644. He was married twice, and left one son, Samuel.
STEPHEN GLOVER was here in 1649, an^ nad a small grant of land in the harbor, where he probably lived until his decease. He was selectman in 1659 and 1667, and from 1669 until his death. He married the daugh- ter of William Stevens, who died shortly after in childbirth.
RICHARD GOODING, or Goodwin, is called the son of Richard Window. He had a grant of land here, married, and had children, but his name was not perpetuated here beyond the second generation.
JOHN HADLEY had a half acre of upland near Little Good harbor. He married Hannah Lowe in 1707, by whom he had children, sons and daughters.
NATHANIEL HADLOCK had land near Ipswich. He married and had children, seven sons and two daughters.
SAMUEL HAIEWARD has the distinction of being the first man whose marriage is on the records in town. He married the daughter of Henry Felch, March 2, 1641. Two children, Samuel and John, were born to them.
JOHN HAMMONS, in June, 1663, had land near Goose cove. In 1660 he married Mary Somes. He left five children, but the name seems to have died out here very early.,
JOHN HARDIN, said to be from Weymouth, bought land here in 1652, and married the widow Tybbot in the same year. He was selectman in 1665. After that date his name does not appear in town.
EDWARD HARADEN came from Ipswich, and in 1657 bought all the real estate owned by Robert Dutch on Planter's neck, and was the first perma- nent settler in that part of the town. He undoubtedly resided and did business at Squam point. He had several sons and daughters, and his descendants were quite numerous. Jonathan removed in early life to Salem, and in the Revolutionary War was lieutenant of the "Tyrannicide," and afterward commanded a privateer.
WILLIAM HASKELL, connected with the family of Roger Haskell, of Salem, appears in Gloucester in 1643 and in 1645. Mention is made of land owned by him at Planter's neck. He left town, returning once more in 1659, settling at West Gloucester, on the Annisquam, where his de- scendants still reside. Descendants removed to Stratham, Attleboro, Hampton, Newburyport, and New Gloucester, Me. The posterity of William Haskell is believed to have been more numerous than any other settler of the town.
ZEBULON HILL came from Bristol, England, and land in various places is recorded to him previous to 1650. He removed to Salem where he
46 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
died about 1699. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Agnes Clark, Nov. 1651. He had several children. His brother John located in Beverly.
SAMUEL HODGKINS and wife Hannah appear in town in 1684. Previous to this there were Hodgkins in Ipswich. Samuel was appointed ferry keeper at Trynall cove in 1694 where he had erected a dwelling. His first wife having died he married Mary Stockbridge, May 3, 1725. Fifteen children, seven sons and eight daughters were born to him. Some of the family removed to Falmouth, now Portland, Me. A large number of his descendants perpetuate the name, and reside near the original location of their ancestors.
JOHN HOLGROVE of Salem had land here in 1647, and in 1649 a house in the harbor. He departed with his wife in a short time afterward, and their conduct was such that the community had reason to rejoice in their going.
WILLIAM -HouGH, house carpenter, lived at Trynall cove, opposite Biskie now Rust's island. He married Sarah, daughter of Hugh Calkm in 1645, by whom he had three children born here. He was selectman in 1649 and 1650. In 1651 he removed to New London.
JAMES HUGHES had a wife Elizabeth, and a daughter is recorded, born to them in 1670 besides other children later.
GEORGE INGERSOLL, son of Richard Ingersoll of Bedfordshire, England, was an early immigrant to Massachusetts. He first appears in Gloucester in 1646 when a son Joseph was born to his wife. He owned a house in the harbor which he sold and removed to Falmouth, Me. He removed from the latter place to Salem in 1694. He was a selectman here in 1652, being licensed to keep an ordinary. His son Samuel came to Gloucester about 1700 and was a shipbuilder at Eastern point. Descendants of these settlers are in town to-day.
JOHN JACKSON, a fisherman, bought a house and land of William Ash in the harbor in 1651. He had a wife Eleanor by whom he had a son John. He left town about 1658.
CHARLES JAMES married Ann Collins in 1653. In 1699 he had six acres of land at Kettle cove. He had two sons, Charles and Francis.
Cy
^ THOMAS JONES was in Gloucester as early as 1642, and was admitted a freeman in 1653. He was quite thrifty and his estate when he died in pjtf / 1671, was valued at ^147, 155. His wife was Ursula, daughter of Richard North, by whom he had several children.
HENRY JOSLYN appears here, on the occasion of his marriage to Bridget Day, June 4, 1678. He had a grant of land which he afterwards sold. His first wife having died he married Mary Lambert in 1685. He had several children.
.THOMAS JUDKIN owned several sections of land before 1650. He was married in 1665 to Anna Howard of Salem. He was probably a tavern keeper, his wife carrying on the business at his death.
WILLIAM KENIE sold his house and land to Thomas Prince in 1652, shortly after having removed to New London.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 47
THOMAS KENT, ancestor of the famous jurist, Chancelor Kent of New York, had a house and land before 1649. His sons, Thomas and Samuel, bought land at West Gloucester, and the name is perpetuated in the locality by Kent's cove landing.
JOHN KETTLE had a house in the harbor before 1650. He had several children.
JOHN LANE, wife and children came from Falmouth between 1690 and 1700. He was the son of James Lane, of Maiden, both going to Falmouth in 1658, where they resided until driven away by the Indians. John mar- ried Dorcas Wallis, of Falmouth, whom he brought to Gloucester. They had quite a family of sons and daughters, and the name is perpetuated by numerous descendants in town to-day. He received a grant of a common right in 1702, and in 1704 a grant of 10 acres at Flatstone cove. Lanes- ville, on the north side of the Cape, keeps the name alive in local nomen- clature.
ANDREW LISTON was here before 1642, and had erected a house on Planter's neck. He was licensed to sell strong drink in 1648. He sold his possessions, and removed to New London in 1651.
NICHOLAS LISTON, a transient settler, is mentioned in 1645.
THOMAS LOVEKIN, or Lufkin, its latter day form, was here about 1674. He had lots of land in various places. He left numerous descendants, who keep the name alive in town at the present time.
THOMAS Low, probably a descendant of an early settler of Ipswich, came here about 1692. He married Sarah Symonds, of this town. Their descendants are numerous in town and the neighboring village of Essex.
JOHN LUTHER is mentioned once as disposing of land in the harbor to John Collins in 1649. SOLOMON MARTIN, ship carpenter, sold a house and section of land to Richard Beeford in 1652. He married twice while here, Mary Pindar in 1643, and widow Alice Varnum, of Ipswich in 1648. He had a son Samuel and daughter Mary.
EDMUND MARSHALL bought land near the poles of John Browne which he sold to Anthony Day in 1657.
PHILLIP MERRITT appears on the records only on the occasion of the birth of a son Jacob, to his wife, Mary, in 1700.
WILLIAM MEADES had land in various places and sold three parcels to Thomas Kent in 1647. I" ^48 he took the freeman's oath and was a selectman and constable. In 1651 he had removed to New London.
THOMAS MILLETT came to New England in 1635 with his wife Mary and son. He resided in Dorchester a number of years, removing here in 1655, having previously purchased property in town. He probably was a preacher or elder. A few descendants perpetuate the name.
THOMAS MILLWARD, a fisherman, was one of the first selectmen in 1642. He died in Boston in 1653.
GEORGE NORTON, of Salem, came here before 1642, and had land at Little Good Harbor. He was prominent in the official affairs of the town,
48 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
and was its first representative in 1642, and for the two succeeding years. He had a daughter Mary born in 1643.
FRANCIS NORWOOD fled from England, according to tradition, at the restoration of Charles II. He settled at Goose cove in 1663, acquiring land by grant and purchase, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Clement Coldom. Descendants reside in town.
RALPH PARKER had land near Governor's, now Beacon Hill, in 1647, which he sold, together with a house thereon, to Phineas Rider in 1651, afterwards removing to New London.
ELIAS PARKMAN of Boston in 1651 purchased a house and land of Christopher Avery, and in 1655 had a grant of land. He was a salt maker but his stay here was of short duration.
JOSEPH PAGE had a grant of land at Clay cove in 1699. He married Elizabeth Row in 1705.
JEFFREY PARSONS left England in 1631 and bought land in Fisherman's field in 1655, also a house and land at the same place. Here, until very recently his descendants have continued to live when the estate was purchased and a new edifice erected on the spot by C. J. Peters, Esq. Jeffrey, according to tradition, gained his wife in a romantic man- ner. While journeying to town on a sultry summer day, weary and foot- sore, he sat down at Vinson's spring to rest and refresh himself. The house of William Vinson was hard by, and his beautiful daughter Sarah, observing the traveler, approached him with a drinking cup, the better to slake his thirst. Jeffrey was susceptible, and nothing unwilling, Sarah won a husband at the fountain, and they were married happily, Nov. n, 1657. They had a numerous progeny, and many of their descendants are engaged in the various vocations of life in town to-day. Among their descendants was Theophilus, the Chief Justice of Massachusetts, and men prominent in mercantile life.
THOMAS PENNY bought houses and lands in 1652. He was married three times, leaving a daughter who married Thomas Kent.
JOHN POOL was born according to tradition in Taunton, England. He was a carpenter, and removed here from Beverly in 1700. He married Sarah Haskell, who had been previously wedded to Richard Woodbury of Beverly. He was the second settler in the vicinity of Sandy bay, Richard Tarr having preceded him. He was a man of marked business ability, leaving at his death in 1727 an estate valued at ,£2,832. Descendants reside in Rockport.
ROWLAND POWELL resided here at a short interval about 1659.
HUGH PRITCHARD was a member of Rev. Mr. Blynman's Plymouth company. He came here about 1642. He was a selectman in 1645, shortly after removing from town.
THOMAS PRINCE, one of the first settlers on what is now Main street, came here before 1650. He had several children, but no descendants of this name have been in town or over two centuries.
JOHN PULCIFER (or PULSEVER), according to tradition, settled in 1680 on the road leading to Coffin's beach. He married Joanna Kent by whom
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 49
he had seven children, four being males. The name is still perpetuated here.
PHINEAS RIDER settled near Beacon hill as early as 1649. He left Gloucester for Falmouth, Me., in 1658.
THOMAS RIGGS had a grant of land at Goose Cove in 1658, where he erected a house. He came from England where he had been educated as a scrivener, and consequently held various clerical positions. He was town clerk from 1665 to 1716, 51 years, and selectman for 20 years, besides acting temporarily as schoolmaster. He married Mary Millett, and at her death, Elizabeth Frese. He left a numerous progeny, and descendants perpetuate the name in town.
JOHN RING first appears in 1697. He established tide mills on Sawmill river, where he had his residence. Served as selectman several years, and was schoolmaster in 1705. He left sons, and the name is perpetuated in town to-day.
JOHN ROBERTS appears in town in 1677, on the occasion of his mar- riage to Hannah Bray, a bride of fifteen. Descendants perpetuated the name in town until about 1840.
ABRAHAM ROBINSON. Tradition states that he was a son of Rev. John Robinson, the pastor of the Pilgrims. It is affirmed that he settled at Cape Ann about 163.1. Several children were born to him, one of whom, Abraham, was the first child born of English parents on this side the bay. His grandson, Abraham, received grants of land at Eastern Point, where he settled. Andrew, second son of Abraham Robinson, senior, was a ship-builder at Eastern Point, and seems to have been an original designer of marine craft. In 1613 he departed from the then accepted forms of rigging, and produced the " schooner " craft as it is known to-day. Ac- cording to tradition, he was a man of mighty exploits. He engaged in the Bank codfishery, and often came in conflict with the Cape Sable Indians, who harassed the fishermen at every opportunity. In 1708 he ransomed the sloop " Peacock " which had been captured by the Indians. The next year he determined to "get even" with the enemy. Armed with a commission from the governor, he set sail, touched into St. Margaret's bay, flying the French flag, decoyed two Indians in a canoe within gun shot, killed and scalped them, etc. In 1722, he fitted out a vessel to proceed against the Indians of Canso, who had taken several fishermen. He did effective service, for which he was rewarded by the General Court. On one occasion, his sloop and two men were taken by the Indians, who quickly killed the crew, reserving the captain, who was taken ashore, for their last victim. Discovering a good supply of rum, the savages soon became helplessly intoxicated except one who was on guard. Robinson pretended to be asleep, and when the Indians were lying in a drunken stupor, he attacked the guard and dispatched him. His vessel was some miles away, but he managed to get aboard. He got the craft underway, and was proceeding out to sea at daybreak, when he was discovered by the savages on shore, who, in the meanwhile, had recovered from their debauch. They immediately put off for the-T craft in canoes, and, as the wind was light, gained on the vessel rapidly. They approached in savage
50 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
glee, in anticipation of the recapture, but Robinson had prepared for their coming. Among the stores of the vessel was a quantity of scupper nails having a large flat head and a sharp point. These were placed point up on deck in profusion, and as the Indians sprang over the rail, despite the deadly rifle of the captain who brought down an Indian at every shot, the sharp nails pierced their feet, rendering them helpless and an easy prey to the intrepid mariner, who threw them overboard in short order. The Indians who had not boarded the craft paddled quickly for the shore, and the valiant captain reached home to astonish the townfolk with an account of his adventure.
JOHN ROWE bought land at the "Farms" in 1651, being the first settler in that vicinity. He left two sons, who have transmitted the name to a numerous posterity.
EDWARD ROWSE sold a house and land to Robert Tucker in 1651.
JOHN SADLER was one of Mr. Blynman's company. He was made a freeman in 1642 and was one of the first selectmen. The name disap- pears quite early from local history. Abial Sadler had land here in 1689.
JAMES SAWYER, a weaver, married Sarah, daughter of Thomas Bray. He may have been a son of William Sawyer, who came to New England in 1640. He had a numerous family of sons and daughters who have per- petuated the name. James, a son, settled at Freshwater Cove, and the place greatly beautified was the country seat of the late Samuel E. Sawyer, a direct descendant and a prominent Boston merchant. Many descendants of this settler are to be found in Portland, and a number of the Gloucester Sawyers are scattered over various sections of the United States.
^WILLIAM SARGENT had grants of land in 1649. He was a selectman several years and a representative in 1671 and 1691. He married Abagail Clarke, by whom he had a large number of children.
x WILLIAM SARGENT, 2d was a native of Bristol, England, and first appears here in 1678, and had grants of land at Eastern Point. He married Mary, daughter of Peter Duncan. He had fourteen children, one of whom, Epes, has perpetuated the name. The family took high rank in mercantile and literary life from the first. None of the descendants of William Sargent, 2d, bearing the name, are in town.
JAMES SAYWARD was here in 1696, and built a house on a piece of land granted him at Cripple Cove. He occupied prominent positions as select- man and representative. He was married twice and left descendants who perpetuate the name in town.
ROBERT SKAMP was granted land in 1674. The name disappears before 1700.
THOMAS SKELLIN was one of the first settlers. He removed to Fal- mouth, where he died in 1667.
THOMAS SMITH was an early settler and a commissioner for ending small causes in 1645. He remained in town but a short time. Richard Smith appears on the early records. James Smith was given land in 1642, but
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 51
soon disappears from local history. Between 1692 and 1702, three persons of the name were in town. One settled at Eastern Point about 1700. All married here and had numerous children.
MORRIS SOMES, one of the earliest settlers, was proprietor of land on the easterly side of Mill river. He was married twice, his second wife being Elizabeth Kendall, of Cambridge. He had numerous children, his first child, Mary, being born in 1642. Descendants still perpetuate the name, the present efficient city clerk, John J. Somes, Esq., whose services in pre- serving and recopying the old town records, have been invaluable to the city, he being a direct descendant.
WILLIAM SOUTHMEADE, one of the earliest settlers, had a grant on the lot on \vhich Mr. Thompson's fishing stage had been erected. He married Millicent, daughter of William Addes, leaving three sons, one of which set- tled in Middletown, Conn.
PHILLIP STAINWOOD (or STANWOOD,) as the name has been written since the third generation on Cape Ann, was here in 1653 and next year pur- chased a house and land of Robert Tucker ; also had a grant at Lobster Cove. He was a selectman in 1667. He died in 1672, leaving four sons and four daughters. Many of the descendants emigrated early to different sections of the country, and all of the name throughout the United States, are probably descended from this settler. Decendants are among the business men of the town to-day.
WILLIAM STEVENS, was in New England before 1632, and a very promi- nent shipbuilder. He came to Gloucester about 1642, when he was appointed one of the commissioners for ordering town affairs. He occu- pied the office of selectman, commissioner for ending small causes, town clerk and representative. His progeny occupied high rank in the com- mercial and social life of the state.
STEPHEN STREETER, whose stay was short, may have resided here before 1642. He removed to Charlestown in 1644.
JOHN STUDLEY, another transitory settler, owned land here in 1649.
HARLAKENDEN SYMONDS, son of the deputy governor, bought land near the "green." He removed from here after a few years' residence.
GEORGE STOVER had a grant of land at Cripple Cove in 1698. He mar- ried Abagail Elwell, but removed from town some years afterwards.
RICHARD TARR, the first settler of Sandy Bay, now Rockport, and the founder of one of the most prominent families in the social and commer- cial life of the cape, came from the west of England to America about 1660 and settled in Marblehead, at which place he married his wife Eliza- beth. The precise date of his coming to Cape Ann is not known, but he was here in 1690. He had a grant of land near " Davidson's Run," Sandy Bay, 1697. He died in 1732, leaving an estate of ,£399- His children comprised seven boys and three girls, from whom a numerous progeny have sprung. ,
JAMES TRAVIS (or TRAVERS) had land near the Poles in 1667, but removed from town shortly afterwards.
SOLOMON MARTIN, a ship carpenter, owned a. house and several house lots, which he sold to Richard Beeford in 1652.
52 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
ROBERT TUCKER probably came here from Weymouth, where a party of the same name lived in 1639. His first appearance here was in 1651. He was selectman in 1652 and town clerk until 1656, after which he returned to Weymouth.
JOHN TUCKER is mentioned on the records. He married Sarah Riggs in 1681 and had several children, who have perpetuated the name.
WALTER TYBBOT was another of Mr. Blynman's band. He was made a freeman in 1642 and was a selectman the same year. No male issue, if any were in existence, remained in Gloucester.
BRIDGET VARNEY owned house and land here in 1699. She had several sons and daughters.
THOMAS VERY (or VERREY), a fisherman, was in town before 1650. He had land near the harbor. He married Hannah, daughter of Thomas Giles, by whom he had five sons and four daughters The name died out in town early, but is found in other sections of the county.
WILLIAM VINCENT (orViNSON), as the name was commonly spelled, resided in Salem in 1635 and came to Gloucester shortly after. Francis Vincent married Sarah, daughter of Sir Francis Paulet, maid of honor to Queen Anne, wife of James I. William, who first came to Salem, then to Gloucester, was the son of this couple. He married Rachel Varney in 1661. He built three houses near Vincent Spring. He was admitted a freeman in 1643, and was elected selectman in 1646 and for several years afterwards. He was the first person who received a grant of Five Pound island. He was married twice but the name became extinct here after the second generation. Sarah married a Parsons as before related. Abagail was united in marriage to Jacob Elwell, July 5, 1666.
THOMAS WAKLEY was in Hingham in 1635. He was a selectman in 1646. The name early disappears from local records.
HENRY WALKER had land here in 1650. Walker's creek at West Glou- cester, where he had his residence, was named for this settler. He had no children. »
JOHN WALLIS appears here first in 1678, removing to Falmouth and then returning. Descendants still perpetuate the name.
SAMUEL WEBBER, an inhabitant of Falmouth, Me., in 1681, appears in town in 1695. He probably left town for York before 1700. Michael Webber was a householder in 1704, and in 1725 received a grant of land at Freshwater Cove, where the family has since resided and the name is borne by descendants.
WILLIAM WELLMAN, a sojourner, went to New London about 1651.
NATHANIEL WHARF came from Falmouth, Me., and married Ann, daugh- ter of Thomas Riggs in 1684. Descendants perpetuate the name in town.
WILLIAM WHITTRIDGE appears here in 1684, where he married Mary Roberts. Name disappears here early.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 53
RICHARD WINDOW, carpenter, had a house and land in 1651 near Walker's creek. He was selectman in 1654. The name disappears with the first generation here.
HENRY WITHAM probably lived near Lobster Cove. He married Sarah Somes in 1665, and at her decease was again married to Lydia Griffin in 1691. He left several sons and daughters and the name is perpetuated in town by descendants.
HUMPHREY WOODBURY, grandson of John the early settler mentioned previously, came from Beverly to Gloucester about 1677, and resided on Biskie, now Rust's island. He left a number of sons and daughters and the name survives in town today.
SAMUEL YORK appears in town in 1695 and he became a land owner in 1700.
PHILIP YOUDALL is mentioned in the town records and in 1648 in court records.
JOHN PEARCE had land on Pearce's Point, opposite Pearce island. He was made a freeman in 1651. He was twice married and disappears from town after disposing of his property at Goose Cove to Francis Nor- wood in 1682.
THOMAS HARVEY, a fisherman, is mentioned in 1666, as part owner of a sloop, but nothing more is mentioned concerning him. The name is kept alive, however.
GEORGE HARVEY had a child born here in 1678, and others followed. The name is perpetuated in town today.
HENRY MUDDELL was here early. An inventory of his estate was pre- sented to the Probate Court in July, 1663. A Philip Muddel is mentioned in 1679, once for not living with his wife.
A gentleman in Gloucester, England, who has examined this list says that the names of nineteen of these early settlers will be recognized at once a.s appertaining to the English city and its neighborhood. "The place of settlement," he continues, " appears to have been as unlike our own as possible. It was no beauteous inland vale, watered by one broad stream, bounded by fair hills, carpeted by verdant meadows and embroid- ered with fruitful orchards and cornfields that tempted them."
54 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
CHAPTER VI.
Fron] 1700 to 1750.
EXODUS FROM THE OLD VILLAGE. SECOND PARISH. PHILLIPS' PIRAT- ICAL GANG CAPTURED. DIVISION OF WOODLAND IN 1723. THIRD PARISH. EMIGRATION TO FALMOUTH AND NEW GLOUCESTER. KING GEORGE'S WAR AND GLOUCESTER COMPANY AT LOUISBURG. PEG WESSON. OLD DEFENCES AT FORT SQUARE. LIST OF SET- TLERS WHO CAME HERE BETWEEN 1700 AND 1750. FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS. FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE.
THE year 1700 marks the commencement of a period of thrift and enterprise in local history which has continued to the present time, receiving its severest interruption during the dark days of the Revolution and a less serious but depressing set back in the war of 1812. The first settlers were amply occupied in establishing the town on a secure and firm foundation, and had but little time or means to pursue the fisheries or foreign commerce to any marked extent. The new generation began where the fathers left off, in the onward march of endeavor and success. They branched out, find- ing the evident destiny of the town lay in a marine direction. At the very first a lively domestic trade was plied with Boston in sup- plying wood and lumber, and it is estimated that some 50 craft were engaged in this business as frieghters. The extent of this traffic soon produced a scarcity of timber and the fisheries were given almost exclusive attention. We know that as early as 1711 our fish- ermen worked on grounds as far distant as Cape Sable. The num- ber of vessels steadily increased and in 1716 we note the first of those sad occurrences that has often plunged the community into mourning. In October of that year four out of a fleet of seven vessels went down at sea while on the passage homeward from the Banks and 20 men perished. Despite occasional mishaps of this nature less serious in results, the community prospered and grew until the opening of hostilities in the war for Independence, and throughout the length and breadth of the Masssachusetts colony it would have been a hard task to select a more prosperous
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 56
and thrifty town. Progress and success were steady. Indeed with the exceptions noted the statement will apply to the town during its entire history. There have been no spasmodic booms, no unhealthy mushroom growth, and if in the usual course of business a halt has been called temporarily in the onward march, the ground won has always been firmly held and after a short respite, rank and file, with renewed vigor, have pressed forward toward the goal of success.
The inhabitants of the town commenced the year 1700 with a day of fasting and prayer. At that time they were without a minister, and after several attempts to fill the vacant pulpit, finally chose the Rev. John White, of Watertown. He graduated at Harvard in 1698, 'and was ordained here in April, 1703, his salary for the first year being £6$, afterwards increased to ^90 with ^100 for a set- tlement. In 1750, Rev. Samuel Chandler was appointed as colleague to Mr. White who was then in failing health. The latter died in 1760, aged 83, leaving a reputation which still survives as a faithful and energetic divine. Some years after his settlement here he re- ceived a grant of land below the meeting house green and erected the dwelling still standing and now known as the Ellery house. EXODUS TO THE HARBOR.
As has been previously noted the greater part of the population at first were clustered in the territory now comprised in Ward 6, "up in town" as it is still called. Shortly after 1700 the great increase of the fisheries and commercial interest, and the desire of the people to reside near the harbor led to a general abandonment of this part of the town and a removal to land contiguous to the water front. In 1738 the harbor settlement had so increased in numbers and influence that it erected a new meeting house on Cornhill, now Middle Street and installed Mr. White as pastor. The old organiza- tion resisted this action, but matters were finally compromised by the harbor parish being set off as a distinct organization in 1742, taking precedence as the First Parish, while the parent body was re- duced numerically in rank to the Fourth Parish. A church was formed by the latter in October, 1743, and Rev. John Rogers of Kittery, Maine chosen as pastor. He was a Harvard graduate, and was ordained over the Fourth Parish February i, 1744. He continued his ministry harmoniously for 38 years, passing away October 4, 1782. During the Revolutionary period the number of his parishioners became depleted to a great extent, perishing at sea
56 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
or in captivity during the struggle, which reduced a once prosperous community to dire poverty. The parish worshipped in the old meeting house on the green, a new edifice being erected in 1752. This in turn was demolished in 1840.
THE SECOND PARISH.
In 1710 the inhabitants residing at the west parish petitioned the town for land in their precinct upon which to erect a meeting house. As has been shown they were obliged to travel from three to five miles via the ferry to attend religious services. In March, 1716, they petitioned to be set off as the second parish and in June of the same year they were incorporated as such by the General Court. They erected a meeting house in a commanding spot and November 28, 1716, Rev. Samuel Tompson, of Newbury, a graduate of Harvard in 1710, was settled as their pastor. He married Hannah Norwood by whom he had several children and died December 8, 1724, aged 83. He was laid to rest in the old burial place of the parish and his tomb, stone is still standing.
CAPTURE OF PHILLIPS' PIRATICAL CREW.
In 1723 and 1724 a gang of pirates and freebooters under com- mand of the notorious John Phillips infested the New England waters. During their first season of marine depredations they had taken 34 vessels, which they looted, killing or maltreating crews. In April, 1724, the sloop Squirrel of Annisquam, commanded by Andrew Haraden, while engaged on a fishing voyage was taken by Phillips. The Squirrel was a fine new craft, therefore Phillips aban- doned his own vessel and appropriated the fisherman for his piratical purposes. The vessel had been sent to sea so hastily that the craft had not been finished inside, consequently tools were left aboard to complete the work when the conditions were unfavorable for fishing. Phillips employed Haraden and the other prisoners in the finishing of the craft. One of the men, Edward Cheeseman planned a re- capture. Midnight of the i8th was the time appointed. The vessel was ploughing through the water at a lively rate when Cheeseman seized John Nott, one of the pirate chiefs, who was on deck and threw him overboard. At the same time Haraden despatched Phillips with a blow from an adze, James Sparks the pirates' gunner suffered the same fate as Nott, while a man named Burrell, the boatswain was killed with a broad axe. Capt. Haraden sailed home to Squam with the heads of Phillips and Burrell fixed at the mast
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 57
head of the recaptured craft. A number of prisoners were brought in, but on trial at Boston all but two were acquitted on the charge of piracy, it being held that they were forced men. Four, John Rose Archer, William White, William Phillips and William Taylor were found guilty of piracy and were sentenced to death. The first two were hung at Charlestown Ferry and White's body was suspended in irons on Bird Island. The last two were reprieved for a year and a day to be recommended to the King's mercy. It is said that Hangman's Island in Annisquam river, now covered by the rail- road bed received the name from the fact that two of the bodies of the dead pirates were suspended from gibbets erected in its center. The General Court granted Haraden, Cheeseman and Philmore £42 each, and ^32 each to five others concerned in the recapture and breaking up of this dangerous gang of buccaneers. DIVISION OF WOODLAND IN 1723.
Notwithstanding the parcelling out of the land in 1688, an exten- sive area remained unassigned. Before 1661, the proprietor of every dwelling-house was a commoner, or entitled to a right in the common land. In 1757 there were 145 claims to these privileges acknowl- edged as valid. Shortly after 1700, numerous grants of land were voted to new comers. Several sub-divisions of their holdings were made by these commoners, the last apportionment of woodland being in 1723, when 217 lots within the bounds of the town were disposed of, the terms being such that about every male citizen who had attained his majority received a certain tract. In 1725 the unoccupied herbage land, amounting to 1325 acres, was distributed among the commoners.
The names of those receiving woodland in 1723 furnishes a good directory of the male inhabitants of the town in 1704, all who were residents at that period being included in the list of grantees as follows : Joseph Allen, Joseph Allen, jr., Ralph Andrews, Benjamin Averill, John Babson, Richard Babson, Anthony Bennett, Richard Byles, Thomas Bray, Nathaniel Bray, John Bray, John Brown, John Burrell, John Butman, William Card, Ezekiel Collins, Nathan- iel Coit, John Curney, Elisha Curney, James Davis, Lieut. James Davis, John Davis, Jacob Davis, Ebenezer Davis, Aaron Davis, Sam- uel Davis, Anthony Day, Nathaniel Day, Ezekiel Day, Joseph Day, Timothy Day, John Day, John Day, jr., Thomas Day, Joseph Day, jr., Nicholas Denning, Richard Dolliver, John Dolliver, Peter Duncan,
58^ HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
Moses Durin, Richard Dike, John Burgee, Robert Elwell, John Elwell, John Elwell, jr., Isaac Elwell, Elias Elwell, Jacob Elwell, Ebenezer Elwell, Eleazer Elwell, Nathaniel Ellery, Isaac Eveleth, Job^Eveleth, Peter Emons, John Fitch, Samuel Foster, James Gard- ner, Joseph Gardner, John Gardner, George Giddings, John Gilbert, James Godfrey, Richard Goodwin, Samuel Gott, Samuel Griffin, Daniel Guttridge, John Hadley, Edward Haraden, Joseph Haraden, John Haraden, Benjamin Haraden, John Harris, George Harvey, William Haskell, William Haskell, jr., Henry Haskell, Joseph Has- kell, Joseph Haskell, jr., Joseph Haskell, 3d, John Haskell, Benjamin Haskell, Benjamin Haskell, jr., Benjamin Hoppin, Nathaniel Hadlock, John Hammons, Samuel Hodgkins, Joseph Ingersoll, Samuel Inger- soll, Charles James, Francis James, Henry Joslyn, Josiah Kent, John Kent, Thomas Lufkin, Ebenezer Lufkin, John Lane, Thomas Millett, Thomas Millett, 2d, Nathaniel Millett, William Manning, John New- man, Francis Norwood, Francis Norwood, jr., Joshua Norwood, Joseph Page, William Pain, Jeffrey Parsons, James Parsons, Nathan- iel Parsons, John Parsons, Ebenezer Parsons, John Pool, Thomas Prince, John Prince, John Pulcifer, Thomas Riggs, sr., Thomas Riggs, jr., John Riggs, Andrew Riggs, William Ring, John Ring, David Ring, John Roberts, John Roberts, jr., Abraham Robinson, Abra- ham Robinson, jr., Stephen Robinson, Andrew Robinson, Stephen Row, Abraham Row, Isaac Row, Samuel Row, Thomas Sanders, Nathaniel Sanders, William Sargent, William Sargent, jr., William Sargent, 2d, John Sargent, Nathaniel Sargent, Samuel Sargent, Thomas Sawyer, John Sawyer, Nathaniel Sawyer, Abraham Sawyer, James Sayward, Morris Smith, John Smith, John Smith, jr., Timothy Somes, Timothy Somes, jr., Phillip Stainwood, John Stainwood, Jonathan Stainwood, Samuel Stevens, David Stevens, Jonathan Stevens, George Stover, Richard Tarr, John Tucker, James Wallis, Michael Webber, Nathaniel Wharf, William Whittredge, Rev. John White, Thomas Witham, Humphrey Woodbury, Ezekiel Woodward, Samuel York, Joseph York, Benjamin York.
THIRD PARISH.
At Rev. Mr. Thompson's death the second church chose Rev. Richard Jaques of Newbury as its pastor. He was a graduate of Harvard in 1720 and was ordained in November, 1725, receiving ;£ioo settlement and £\<x> as salary. He continued in this relation until his death in 1777, not without differences with his people at
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 59
the latter end of his pastorate when he suffered an attack of paralysis and became feeble and infirm. He then accused his people of in- gratitude and the parishoners relieved his mind on this score by voting him 20 shillings extra each month. In 1769, Rev. Daniel Fuller was appointed his colleague. Another evidence of increase in wealth and material resources is presented in the fact that a new parochial division was made in 1728 when the third parish was set off as a separate precinct the General Court incorporating it as such in June of the same year. Rev. Benjamin Bradstreet of Newbury, the latter place a prolific mine for ministers for the town, a graduate of Harvard in 1725, was chosen as minister, beginning his duties in 1728, continuing until his death in May, 1762. The meeting house of this parish was erected at Lobster cove. The covenant of this church was signed by Benjamin Bradstreet, Edward Haraden, Sam- uel Lane, Joseph Thurston, John Lane, Samuel Gott, James Lane, Jethro Wheeler, Daniel Collins, Anthony Bennett and Benjamin Davis. The bounds of this parish included substantially what is now known as Squam, Lanesville and Bay View. Robert Dutch was the first to settle in this vicinity. He sold his holdings to Edward Hara- den in 1656 and the latter was probably the first permanent settler in that locality. Before 1700 the Day, Norwood, Lane, Davis, York, Sargent and Butman families had located within the precinct and the names survive today. Others followed soon after 1700 and the place became quite a thriving little settlement from which fishing was energetically and profitably pursued.
EMIGRATION TO FALMOUTH AND NEW GLOUCESTER.
The natural increase in population together with the constant stream of new comers produced a scarcity of farming land. Con- sequently in 1727 and 1728 a tide of emigration set toward what is now Maine, then a part of Massachusetts. The motive to better material conditions prompted their ancestors to make the uncertain venture in America, and today, the ruling passion, strong, impels their descendants to seek new and enlarged fields of endeavor.
Thus in the year mentioned Richard Babson, John Brown, Anth- ony Coombs, John Coy, Ephriam Foster, Thomas Haskell, Benjamin Ingersoll, Thomas Millett, John Millett, Joseph Pride, Thomas Red- ding, Jeremiah Riggs, Ebenezer Roberts, John Sawyer, Isaac Saw- yer, Job Sawyer, Jacob Sawyer, Jonathan Stanwood, John White, William White, Benjamin York, John Curtis, John Dolliver, William
60 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
Davis and William Elwell, emigrated from Gloucester and were ad- mitted inhabitants of Falmouth, now Portland. John Haskell, Phillip Hodgkins, Jedidiah Hodgkins, Robert Nason, Thomas Sargent, Wil- liam Stevens and James Stanwood of this town were also admitted as inhabitants of Falmouth, but it is not certain whether all these latter took up their residence in that town. »
Another wave followed about 10 years later when in 1736 a grant of 3040 acres of land lying in the rear of North Yarmouth was se- cured from the General Court. In February, 1738, this tract was divided among 60 proprietors, three lots being reserved for public purposes. Work was begun a year after the apportionment and two years later some ^500 had been expended in laying out a well con- structed road of 12 miles, and in building houses, a sawmill, bridges, etc. The promoters freighted settlers by water as far as North Yarmouth, voted to build a meeting house, and indeed "boomed" their new town with much of the same energy and spirit as is dis- played to-day in like enterprises in the west and south. Indian raids, however, interfered materially with operations and in 1744 the settle- ment was abandoned from this cause. The work of re-settlement was commenced with renewed vigor in 1754. All that had been accom- plished during the first years had been destroyed by the red men. In J753 a blockhouse was built, some twenty families residing in its vicinity. The General Court, on account of the exposed condition of the town made it a garrison. The fear of incursions by savages gave the place a precarious existence until the end of the French and Indian war in 1763 removed this dreaded and menacing obstacle to the progress of the new town. From that time it began to increase in population and prosper in material affairs. Among those who went from here to New Gloucester were : Benjamin Rob- erts, Nathaniel Eveleth, William Goodrich, Nathaniel Bennett, Eb- enezer Collins, Perkins Eveleth, Job, Israel, John, Nathaniel, Jacob Haskell and Jacob Haskell, jr., David Millett, Isaac, Samuel, David and Edward Parsons, John Prince, Jonathan, Zebulon and William Rowe, James, Roger, John and John Stenchfield, jr., William Warner and Davis Woodward.
New Gloucester is in Cumberland County, Maine; has fine farm- ing land, a large portion of which is intervale. The Maine Central railroad connects the town with the outside world.
The writer passed through the place during the two preceding
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 61
years while on a trip in this section of Maine. Everywhere were evidences of thrift and prosperity. Substantial dwellings, large and commodious barns, well kept and neatly painted, gave evidence that the citizens of today had lost none of the thrift and energy which characterized the parent stock. KING GEORGE'S WAR AND GLOUCESTER COMPANY AT LOUISBURG.
In 1744, what is known as King George's war, between France and England began in Europe and extended to the New World. The objective point of England in America was the reduction of Louisburg in Cape Breton. This place, " the Gibraltar of America," had been strongly fortified, the best engineering talent of France being employed in constructing its defences. At that period a fleet of French vessels, equal in tonnage and producing about the same amount of fish annually as Gloucester at the present time, made the place its headquarters. The presence of the French in these waters was a constant menace to the rapidly growing industry of Gloucester on the Grand Banks, and perhaps some of the home fishing vessels had already been captured and destroyed. Although Louisburg was deemed almost impregnable, yet the New England colonies consid- ered its destruction of vital importance. Accordingly, 4000 troops, mainly from Massachusetts, under Sir William Pepperell, embarked 'for the place in March, 1745. At Canso they were joined by a British naval force, and such was the vigor and bravery displayed in the campaign that the hitherto invincible fortress was captured and the French flag levelled. The fruits of this victory were lost, for in 1748, by the terms of peace drawn up at Aix-La-Chappelle, Louis- burg was restored to the French. In 1750, Generals Amherst and Wolfe once more compelled the commander of the place to capitu- late, and reduced the whole island. Thus, on the return of peace, this danger spot to the American fisheries, then the basis of a great French marine industry, was wiped out. To-day the graceful Glouces- ter fishing clippers anchor unharmed hard by the scene of these conflicts, and their crews roam unmolested over the deserted ramparts of this once grand fortress, speculating perhaps on the impotency of even powerful kingdoms to change the manifest destiny of a future nation.
Gloucester was well represented at the reduction of the place in 1745, furnishing a company of 45 men under Capt. Charles Byles. Capt. Thomas Sanders, of this port, who for some years had been in
62 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
command of a provincial government cutter, also rendered valuable services during the expedition. Among those of Capt. Byles' com- pany wounded during the progress of hostilities was Job Stanwood, who lost his left arm. The Provincial government granted him an annual pension of £,1$. David Stanwood was also wounded, for which he received a pension, a son of Thomas Ayres is said to have been lost while engaged in the expedition, and James Parsons and Samuel Goodwin contracted a sickness from which they died on their return. The locally famous Peg Wesson story comes in here. Not- withstanding the severe lesson of the witchcraft delusion, belief in the existence of witches had by no means died out. The woman Wesson lived in what was then called the Garrison house, stand- ing on the spot now occupied by the Catholic parochial residence, removed a few years since to Maplewood avenue, where it serves as a tenement house. Wesson was accounted a witch. Shortly before departing, several of Capt. Byles' company visited Peg and so exasperated her by their conduct that she threatened them with a visitation of her wrath at Louisburg. While encamped before the latter place, the attention of the Gloucester men was attracted by the peculiar actions of a crow which circled just above them. Fruit- less endeavors were made to shoot the bird of ill omen. Finally a soldier suggested that the crow must be Peg Wesson transformed, according to the belief concerning the supernatural powers of witches. In this event, no bullet except one cast from silver or gold would possess the properties sufficiently potent to puncture her skin. A silver sleeve button was hastily rammed into a gun, and discharg- ed at the bird, which fell wounded in the leg. Upon their return to Gloucester, the soldiers learned that at the precise time when the crow was wounded, Peg Wesson fell near her house receiving a frac- ture of the leg, and furthermore, that the doctor, on dressing the limb extracted a foreign substance from the bone which proved to be the same sleeve button fired at the crow before Louisburg. The truth of this happening as recounted was generally accepted at the time.
OLD DEFENCES AT FORT SQUARE.
In 1743, what is known as the old fort on Commercial Street, now encroached upon and surrounded by buildings, was completed. On this point, well selected strategetically, is a hill which effectually commands the inner harbor. In 1741 and 1742, the General Court
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 63
appropriated ^527 to defray the cost of fortification. Breastworks were thrown up and eight 12-pounders placed in position in the fort. The immediate cause of its erection was the fear of French incur- sions, but these fears were never realized. An effort had been made as early as 1 703 to fortify the place, but the petition of the selectmen to the General Court for an appropriation for the purpose was refused. The petition shows that the harbor, even at that early date, was extensively frequented for shelter, and was " very seldom free from vessels."
LIST OF SETTLERS BETWEEN 1700 AND 1750.
The following settlers, as far as known, comprise those who came here before 1750. The persons bearing the same names in town to-day trace their descent in a direct line from these founders of their families on Cape Ann. Only those are mentioned whose descendants, except in a few instances, live in town at the present time.
SAMUEL GRIFFIN appears in town on the occasion of his marriage to Elizabeth York, December 15, 1703. He probably came from Ipswich, where Humphrey Griffin settled in 1641. Samuel had a grant of land on the road leading from Lobster Cove to Sandy Bay. His numerous de- scendants are among the active and energetic business men of the town.
SAMUEL GOTT came from Wenham in 1702, finally locating near Rock- port.
JOHN GILBERT came from Wenham in 1704. He was the ancestor of Addison Gilbert, who died a few years ago leaving a fortune of some $250,000, which he bequeathed to various charitable institutions of the town.
THOMAS AND NATHANIEL SANDERS appear in town in 1702.
PETER LURVEY removed here from Ipswich in 1710.
PAUL AND PETER DOLLIVER came to town e'arly in 1700. Paul settled at Freshwater Cove, Peter locating on what is now Main Street, on the lot still in possession of a descendant.
PHILEMON WARNER came from Ipswich in 1710. His son Nathaniel commanded a company at Bunker Hill, and was afterwards in Washing- ton's army.
SAMUEL PEARCE first appears here in 1713. His immediate descend- ants became the most prominent men in commercial life of the community, two, David and William, accumulating large fortunes for the times, although business reverses in later life reduced both from affluence to poverty.
ICHABOD YOUNG appears here in 1716.
NATHANIEL RUST had a small tract of land near Little River, West Gloucester, in 1729, and his marriage is recorded in 1717.
64 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
RICHARD LANGSFORD had land near Pigeon Hill. He married Mary Row in 1719.
JOSIAH GROVER married Hannah Dolliver in 1719. About the same time EDMUND and his family came from Ipswich and settled at Sandy Bay. Their ancestor EDMUND came to Salem in 1637.
EBENEZER MARCHANT came from Yarmouth in 1719, a JABEZ MAR- CHANT soon following. The latter married Abigail Babson.
JOHN WILLIAMS was here early in 1700.
JOHN WONSON located in Sandy Bay, married Honor Wise in 1720, and had secured a house by 1726. Samuel, one of his sons located at Eastern Point, where his descendants have increased and multiplied, and stand to-day prosperous and energetic among the business men, respected and honored in the community.
DR. NICHOLAS WEBSTER, the town's first regular physician, appears here in 1712.
DR. EDWARD TOMPSON was here in 1717, and removed from town in I725-
DR. DAVID PLUMMER settled permanently in town, marrying Ann New- man in 1723.
WILLIAM FEARS is first mentioned on the occasion of his marriage to Monie Stanwood in 1721.
JONATHAN TRASK removed here from Salem in 1722.
WILLIAM TRASK was one of Conant's settlers at Salem in 1628, and may have come originally to Cape Ann under the auspices of the Dor- chester company in 1623.
THOMAS SAVILLE came from Maiden, and married Mary Haraden in 1722.
WILLIAM COAS, a noted privateering captain in the Revolution war, came from England to Gloucester in 1723, and settled at Eastern Point.
JOHN STACY first introduces the name to Gloucester in 1723. He was licensed as an innholder.- He came from Salem, and was the son of Thomas Stacy of that town.
GEORGE DENNISON married Abigail Haraden in 1725, when he is first mentioned.
WILLIAM STEELE and wife are first mentioned on the records in 1732. Five sons were born to them.
JONATHAN FELLOWS came from Ipswich, and settled at Annisquam about 1740.
EBENEZER CLEAVES appears here in 1774.
JOHN HALE of Newbury came here in 1746.
JOSEPH CLOUGH appears in 1748 on the occasion of his marriage.
JOSEPH EVERDEAN also appears in 1748, when he married Anna Broom,
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 65
one of six daughters of JAMES BROOM, a famous tavern-keeper at the cor- ner of Middle and Pleasant Streets. Broom left no male issue.
Others who settled permanently here between 1700 and 1750, the greater part of whom have descendants residing in town are as follows :
John Andrews, Phillip Bayley, Benjamin and Enoch Boynton, Stephen Butler, William Burns, Jacob and Stephen Burnham, John Choate, Samuel Clark, Thomas Cotton, John and Anthony Coombs, John Curtiss, Felix Doyl, Thomas Foster, Edward Fearing, Charles Glover, Andrew Grimes, James Hardy, Joseph Herrick, William Hilton, John and Solomon How- ard, Robert Honnors, Joseph Killam, Nathaniel Kinsman, John Knight, Nathaniel Low, Isaiah and James Marsh, William Moore, Thomas Oakes, James Pearson, John Redding, George Tappan, Jethro Wheeler, Benjamin Winter, William Younger.
William Pew came from Virginia after 1750, and founded the family on the Cape. The Presson, Prindall, Proctor, Friend, Watson and other well- established Gloucester family names first appear in town between 1750 and 1800.
FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS.
The growth of the town from 1700 to 1750 had been vigorous. At the first mentioned date, the harbor front and what is now the heart of the city was covered with an almost unbroken stretch of wood. Fore, now Main Street, was a mere path through the forest with a few settlers' houses abutting near its course. The contrast fifty years later was quite marked. A number of wharves broke the regu- larity of the water front, a respectable village, with its church on Cornhill Street, and tidy well kept dwellings had come into exis- tence, and a general air of content and prosperity prevailed on every hand. Fore Street had assumed the position it has always re- tained, that of the principal business thoroughfare of the town. The growth of trees with the exception of a few isolated clumps and noble specimens left for ornament had disappeared. Everywhere was thrift and life. Where but a bare dozen of small craft were owned in 1700 there were some 70 or 80 large fishing vessels. These were sent to the Banks during the summer and in the winter the fares of fish, together with the produce from the farmers of the adjacent towns, were dispatched in the larger craft to the West Indies where the cargoes met a remunerative market. Such is the pleasing picture at that period of colonial life. The causes which contributed to this result may be profitably reviewed.
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC COMMERCE.
The British, Spanish and French had large possessions in the West Indies. It was the policy of the home governments to restrict the
66 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
dealings with these colonies by passing stringent laws, compelling the inhabitants to trade exclusively with the mother country. Prior to the Revolution, New England merchants, being subjects of Great Britian, had unrestricted trade with the British West India ports. Notwithstanding the rigid laws of non-intercourse of the French and Spanish, illicit voyages were often made to the West Indian ports of these governments. In fact there was an enormous smug- gling trade carried on at this peroid. At times the pressing need of supplies, obliged these governments to suspend the provisions of their prohibitive laws, and the governors were given discretionary powers to allow the vessels of the North Atlantic Colonies licenses to trade, discharge cargoes, repair, etc. Indeed, these officials could be approached by the payment of a small fee, the requisite license generally obtained, and during the greater part of the period, traffic regular and clandestine,. was carried on with all these islands virtually without restriction. Various sections of New England participated in this profitable trade. A general cargo of fish, produce, live stock, etc., could be sold in the English islands for money ; the vessel would then go to Trinidad or the Dutch possessions, buy molasses, spices and coffee at low figures and return home with the cargo and in addi- tion quite an amount of hard cash. In this trade Gloucester partici- pated, reaping a goodly return, and the large fleet of vessels and en- suing prosperity were the tangible evidences of results achieved.
This commerce, locally considered, was the direct offshoot of the fisheries. The nearest market was sought for the product of sea and land. A coasting trade also sprang into existence quite early. These latter voyages were made in winter, the bays and rivers of Maryland and Virginia penetrated and a profitable trade estab- lished with the inhabitants, mainly barter. A staple part of the outward cargo was New England rum which met with a brisk de- mand. The northern traders interfered so much with the business of the local dealers that in the course of time laws were passed which, in the long run, compelled our merchants to abandon the busi- ness. Under these adverse circumstances, some shady transactions with slaves for stolen goods were reported and other proceedings of a like dubious nature are recorded. The Gloucester maratime inter- ests escaped the French men-of-war during the early colonial strug- gles and also the buccaneers of the Spanish main, two only of the local craft being captured.
HISTOKY OF GLOUCESTER. 67
CHAPTER VII.
Frorri 1750 to 1800.
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN FRENCH WARS. AT CROWN POINT. UN- FORTUNATE ACADIANS. AT TICONDEROGA. TOWN PROSPEROUS. SMALL POX PREVAILS. DENOUNCES STAMP ACT AND TEA TAX. OVERT ACTS OF DISLOYALTY. TOWN PREPARES FOR IMPENDING CONFLICT. BOYCOTTS TORIES. GLOUCESTER TROOPS AT BUNKER HILL. YOUNG WEBBER KILLS MAJOR PITCAIRN. LINZEE'S AT- TACK. PRIVATEERING OPERATIONS. IMPOVERISHED CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE. RETURN OF PEACE. REVIVAL OF COMMERCE. DIFFICULTIES WITH THE FRENCH. JOHN MURRAY'S PREACH- ING. SHAY'S REBELLION. CONSTITUTION RATIFIED. NEGROES. SELECTMEN, POOR HOUSE. EVENING OF THE CENTURY.
THE year 1750 marks the commencement of a new era in colonial ' history, and from this date may be traced the beginning of the feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction which ultimately led to the war of the Revolution and Independence. At that period Gloucester contained about 2700 souls. The community was in a thriving con- dition ; the Bank fisheries were firmly established and profitably pur- sued, and as has been said foreign commerce added to the town's revenues.
Four generations, and perhaps more had been born on the soil since the early settlers came over from England. The ties which bound the first comers to the old home grew weaker with each suc- ceeding generation until at the date under consideration the senti- ment of loyalty had been well nigh extinguished. Climatic, and other influences had worked the inevitable result. The people had become thoroughly American, needing only the opportunity to de- monstrate the intensity of their devotion to their native land. In Gloucester as much as in any other community in Eastern Massa- chusetts the warlike spirit was early fostered and developed. The attempts of the French to firmly establish themselves in the terri- tory adjacent to the great fishing grounds was looked upon with alarm. The fishing interests frequently suffered annoyances at the hands of French cruisers and their allies, the Indians.
68 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
Therefore, Gloucester having a vital interest in asserting what the citizens assumed to be their rights, more so perhaps than non-maratime communities of the provinces, assumed a prominent part in the early conflicts with the French and Indians. Accord- ingly, when a union of the English colonies in North America for mutual defence was suggested, William Stevens, representative at the General Court, was sent to Albany, where a convention of del- egates conferred and adopted the scheme as proposed. Troops were also sent to the front.
One company from Gloucester was in the expedition against Crown Point. Its officers were as follows : Capt., Jonathan Fellows; Lieut., John Row; Ensign, Samuel Fellows. Little is known of its record while in service.
About 50 of the unfortunate Acadians, ruthlessly torn from their homes during the expedition against Nova Scotia in 1755, were quar- tered for a short time in town but were removed to other places.
AT TICONDEROGA.
Up to 1758 the French had waged the more successful campaign in America, but the undaunted hand of Pitt, the friend of the col- onies, was at the British helm, and active preparations were made to renew the contest. The military spirit ran high and in May of that year about 80 men were enlisted in town for the service under the command of Capt. Andrew Giddings. They participated in the abortive attempt on Ticonderoga. In July, Louisburg, C. B., one of the French strongholds in America, once more capitulated to the English forces and the news was received here with especial satis- faction. This good tidings was followed by the equally pleasing in- formation of the fall of Quebec the next year. If any part was taken in this last event by Gloucester there is no record of the fact, but tradition credits the town with a small number of soldiers in Wolfe's army at the Plains of Abraham.
TOWN PROSPEROUS.
With the defeat of the French came peace and renewed prosperity. The town continued to grow and thrive, the people being in comfort- able circumstances, but nine paupers being "on the town" at this period. Commerce with the West Indies was in a flourishing condi- tion. The Bilboa trade was also very profitably pursued. In 1 767, there was sent to that port from the towns of Essex county
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 69
fifty thousand quintals of fish of which Gloucester contributed a goodly share. The merchants commenced to live in fairly comfortable style, although no great fortunes had been accumulated up to that time. Some half dozen of the wealthiest men had acquired from $8,000 to $10,000 each, and the riches of the community were distrib- uted on substantially the same basis as at present. The town expenditures in 1757 were $1070, increasing to about $2250 from 176710 1775.
SMALL POX PREVAILS.
Town affairs went quietly on in the even tenor of their way until 1 764 when the small pox became epidemic, eight deaths resulting before it ran its course. A guard was established at the Cut and at the Battery to prevent strangers who might communicate the disease, from coming into town before receiving a vigorous disin- fecting.
DENOUNCES STAMP ACT AND TEA TAX.
In 1765 came the Stamp Act, the opening act of oppression by the British Parliament, which paved the way for revolution. The people, October 7, in town meeting assembled, unanimously expressed their disapproval of its passage, and instructed their representatives in the General Court to exert every lawful effort against its enforce- ment. The year 1766 was dark indeed, being notable for one of those marine calamities whose sad recurrence has so often brought mourning and sorrow to Gloucester homes. In March of that year a violent gale arose on the Banks, and nine vessels out of nineteen foundered or were wrecked, with the loss of all their crews. In consideration of this great infliction, the General Court abated the town tax ^50. The odious Stamp Act was repealed, but the act imposing a duty on tea and other articles imported by the colonies passed in 1767, met with as strenuous opposition, and in town meeting the citizens adopted resolutions of a character pre- viously passed by the people of Boston, pledging themselves to abstain from the use of the taxed articles, and to take measures to foster home industries.
At a town meeting held December 25 and 28, 1772, a committee of correspondence, consisting of Daniel Witham, Peter Coffin, Jacob Parsons, Jacob Allen, Solomon Parsons, Joseph Foster and Samuel Whittemore was chosen to confer with similar committees in Boston regarding the tyrannical measures of the governor, the resolu-
70 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
tions adopted by the Boston citizens denouncing the arbitrary acts of the crown officials were fully, endorsed, and the representative to the General Court was instructed to use every lawful effort to obtain a redress of grievances. Next year, 1773, three cargoes of tea were sent to Boston by the East India Company, and the indignation of the populace was aroused to the highest pitch in protest against the payment of the obnoxious duty. Gloucester, from the first, a hot bed of patriotism, strengthened the hands of the Boston compatriots by adopting a set of resolutions in town meeting assembled, December 15, declaring in the strongest possible terms "that they viewed with the greatest satisfaction the action of Boston in glori- ously opposing this pernicious innovation " pledging themselves to use the most " strenuous exertions " not only that there should be no teas landed in town, but to have no commerce with any person iden- tified in any manner " in buying or selling that detestable herb ; " declaring that they would " oppose every species of tyranny and usurpation, and, if we are compelled to make the last appeal to Heaven, will hold ourselves in readiness to join the town of Boston in all measures to extricate ourselves from tyranny and oppression," and that " the thanks of the town be presented to the town of Boston for the vigilance and activity they have always discovered in guard- ing against the subtle machinations and in combating the open out- rages of our enemies in Great Britain, and in this country and this town shall always record them the friends of human nature and guardians of that heavenly palladium — the liberties of America."
These resolutions were published in the "Salem Gazette" and forwarded to Boston. From their tenor can be judged the intensity of the popular feeling against the imposition of the obnoxious duties. The times were indeed ripe for a revolt. On the next day occurred the famous "Boston Tea Party" and its destruction of the "detest- able herb."
OVERT ACTS OF DISLOYALTY.
The Boston Port Bill, closing that port, was the answer of the home government, and other measures seriously restricting the libsrties of the people soon followed. The example of the merchants of Newburyport in agreeing on a policy of non-intercourse with Great Britain or her West India possessions was unanimously adopted by the citizens in town meeting assembled, and a committee includ- ing the principal business men of the place, was chosen to confer
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 71
with the merchants of other maratime towns in regard to measures most expedient for the occasion. The greater part of the citizens also signed a covenant not to trade with the inhabitants of Great Britain. In order to relieve the destitution occasioned in Boston by the enforcement of the Port Bill, contributions were solicited from the outside. Gloucester's response was 120 sheep, contributed in November, 1774, together with ^117 in money, which were duly forwarded to Boston in March, 1775. In that year the General Court held its session at Salem, when the delegates were chosen to the Continental Congress, at which the Governor dissolved the house. The delegates again assembled at Salem and constituted themselves a Provincial Congress, Peter Coffin and Daniel Witham, a venera- ble patriot, being chosen members from this town. The citizens held steadfast to their compact in declining to have commercial deal- ings with Great Britain, or the British West Indies. In November, at an adjourned town meeting, a vote was passed guaranteeing an indemnity to the constables if they turned over the Province tax into the town treasury. This was done, the money being deposited with the treasurer, who in turn was directed to pay it to the receiver appointed by the Provincial Congress, the amount remitted being £136. This was certainly a most substantial and overt act of disloyalty. Another Provincial Congress assembled at Cambridge, February I, 1775, Peter Coffin and Samuel Whittemore being the town's representatives.
TOWN ARMS FOR IMPENDING CONFLICT.
The breach between the colonists and mother country became wider each succeeding day until the "irrepressible conflict" seemed close at hand. March 6, 1775, it was voted, by the advice of the Pro- vincial Congress, that the military companies with arms and ammuni- tion should be inspected on the following Thursday and a report of their condition submitted to the town. Again the Provincial Con- gress sent forth a recommendation, which was virtually a call to arms and every preparation was made in the way of securing sup- plies of arms and ammunition in order that all might be in readiness when the first clash should occur between the troops of the King and the Provincial soldiery. A company of minute men was formed under the command of Nathaniel Warner. The Sixth Essex regi- ment at that time consisted of six companies belonging in Gloucester and one in Manchester.
72 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
TOWN BOYCOTTS TORIES.
The sympathizers with the crown, the Tories, were unpopular, and, at the town meeting held March 6, a committee was ap- pointed to interview suspects and report at a future time. They attended to that duty designating Epes Sargent, Esq., the only person who declined to furnish the satisfaction demanded by the town and give proof that he was a harmless citizen. He was a prominent merchant largely engaged in the fisheries and foreign commerce. Thereupon the town voted to forbid all persons to have any commerce with him or his abettors. He was compelled to re- move to Boston where even greater indignation and obloquy were heaped upon him on account of his loyalist sentiments. He finally returned to Gloucester where he was coldly received. He died from the effects of inoculation in 1779, on the occasion of a small pox scare. He pleaded in vain for exemption from this medical treat- ment, having a dread that the operation would prove fatal. The authorities were inexorable and the result was as he had apprehended. There is no doubt, judging from his commercial prominence in the community that, if he had embraced the patriotic side, his request for exemption from inoculation would have been granted.
Dr. David Plummer was also suspected of sympathizing with the crown at the outbreak of the Revolution and nothing but a public declaration of sympathy with the patriots appeased the people. It appears that there were quite a number of Loyalists in town. A large grant of land in Nova Scotia was given the Cape Ann Associa- tion in 1784, to William Clark and Associates. About 150 families from Cape Ann and other towns of Essex county under the leader- ship of Clark settled in New Brunswick. The tract now bounded by Middle, School and Church Streets is said to have been owned and abandoned by refugees.
GLOUCESTER TROOPS AT BUNKER HILL.
In the midst of this fever of unrest came the tidings of the con- flict at Lexington and Concord. The town was wild with excite- ment and but one sentiment animated the citizens, the spilling of patriotic blood must be avenged. An attack was expected on Glou- cester inasmuch, as has been pointed out, the town had been one of the most aggressive in the province on the patriotic side and the place had attracted attention from the fact that the acts of Par- liament regulating the trade of the colonies had been wilfully viola-
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 78
ted, the ships fitted for foreign commerce from the port were en- gaged in smuggling and their owners evaded the payment of duties by false entries, being aided and abetted by the custom house offi- cers, who, for a consideration, overlooked these delinquencies. Now that hostilities were commenced the citizens expected an early at- tempt on the part of the British forces to inflict castigation upon them for sins of omission and commission. The town was easily accessible from the sea, had but slight defences and a sufficient naval force could bombard the place with comparative ease even if repulse was sustained in an attempt to land. Accordingly many of the inhabitants on a peaceful Sabbath clay as a measure of safety removed their women and children in haste to West Parish and Ipswich.
Prompt action was taken by the town. The representatives to the Provincial Congress were instructed to act as their judgment dicta- ted on the momentous question of a change in governments.
Firearms and ammunition were secured, and a committee of safety, consisting of 31 of the most prominent citizens, was selected. The minute men were mustered out, and enlistments for the regular service actively prosecuted, the town agreeing to support the families of such soldiers as so desired during their absence, and to furnish arms and blankets for those who were not provided with these necessaries. Recruits came forward rapidly, and five companies were dispatched to join the patriotic forces encamped around Boston. The total number from the town in the field was 225, besides those who were engaged in naval service. Two of the Gloucester companies were in the fight at Bunker Hill. One was commanded by Captain Nathaniel Warner, who enlisted his men in four days. Captain Warner made hot haste to the scene of the battle. Arriving on the ground, he applied to General Putnam for instructions, and was told to go to the fort, but for some reason the company divided in two sections. One squad, under the captain, pro- ceeded to the redoubt ; the other, commanded by Lieutenant Burn- ham, marched on and took a position near the southwest corner of the fort, delivering a sharp fire into the enemies' flanks. Two men of this detachment were killed and three wounded, when the provin- cial troops fell back. Meanwhile Captain Warner's portion of the company had been ordered out of the redoubt, and quickly took a position where the firing was hottest — at the rail fence. A gun
74 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
barrel in the hands of Captain Warner burst, several shots struck his person, but were deflected by some metallic substance, so that he escaped uninjured. The provincial troops fought bravely, but were at length compelled to retreat.
The men killed in this company were Benjamin Smith and Daniel Callahan. Smith was standing close to Benjamin Webber when shot and expired almost instantly. Webber was wounded in the right arm while in the act of firing his last charge. Alexander Par- ran was also hit in the right arm, which was injured so badly that it became useless.
YOUNG WEBBER KILLS MAJOR PITCAIRN.
Benjamin Webber, referred to above, performed an act during this conflict which deserves more than passing mention. News came of the conflict at Lexington, and was followed by the enlistment of Captain Warner's company. Webber was then a mere boy, engaged on his father's farm at Freshwater Cove. Imbued with patriotic ardor, he determined to enlist. The family, however, had no suitable musket, and such was the scarcity of arms at that imme- diate period that none could be obtained. Webber, however, heard of an old Queen's arm to be had at Lanesville, and set out on foot for that locality, where he procured the piece, which had been lengthened with a section of barrel tubing, brazed on. He enlisted and went to the front. At the rail fence, young Webber's attention was drawn to a British officer on horseback actively engaged in directing the movements of his troops. It was Major Pitcairn, brave, but somewhat boastful. " Do you see that officer on horseback ? " remarked Webber to a comrade, "Well, I am going to try and bring him down." Raising on his knee, the young farmer took unerring aim, fired with deadly effect and Major Pitcairn fell mortally wounded. Some time afterward an effort was made to secure this musket as a historical souvenir, but it had disappeared and could not be traced. Some curiosity seekers desirous of obtaining the weapon broke into the Webber residence at the Cove, and stole an old weapon used by Mr. Webber in his gunning expeditions, under the impression that it was the arm used at Bunker Hill. But in this they were mistaken. Such is the story told the writer some eight years ago by the late Mr. Benjamin Webber, a man of the highest respectability and veracity, whose descendents still occupy the old homestead erected on the
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 75
land granted to their ancestor Michael, at Fresh Water Cove. This account is here given to the public for the first time.
Capt. Row's company marched from Gloucester, June 12, and on the evening of the i6th reached Breed's hill where they assisted in throwing up the redoubt, a part of the company afterwards being directed to carry off the intrenching implements. On their return this section was placed on the extreme left wing of the Provincial forces, being separated as in the case of Capt. Warner's command. They were engaged at the rail fence, which they helped to construct, and bore the brunt of the battle and fought with as equal valor as Capt. Warner's men. Three of these men were killed and two wounded. Francis Pool and Josiah Brooks were slain at the rail fence and William Parsons at the redoubt.
Daniel Doyle was hit by a ball and William Foster wounded in the wrist, but both without serious consequences.
Following is the roster of these two companies.
CAPT. WARNER'S COMPANY.
Nathaniel Warner, captain ; John Burnham, lieut ; Daniel Collins, ensign ; Jonathan Woodman, sergeant ; William Kinsman, sergeant; Alex Parran, sergeant ; Jarrus Lincoln, sergeant ; Richard Simpson, corporal ; Nathan Glover, corporal ; Jonathan Butler, corporal ; Nymphas Stacy, corporal; John Warner, fifer; Jonathan Somes, Andrew Kelcy, Nathaniel Bennett, Moses Ring, Daniel Callahan, Benjamin Clark, Andrew Bray, Josiah Brown, Levi Lane, Moses Bennett, James Preastly, Josiah Burk, Benjamin Smith, Vinson El- well, William Averill, Robert Callaghan, Thomas Ayres, David Row, Benjamin Webber, Samuel Marshall, Josiah Ingersoll, Joshua Day, Joshua Polen, Zerubbabel Allen, Isaac Bray, Larrey Trejay, Solo- mon Parsons, John Andress, William Segurs, William Grimes, Aaron Stevens, Peter Seavery, Jeremiah Burnham, John Chaplen, William Grover, Thomas Millett, Joseph Somes, Ezekiel Woodward, Eli- phalet Wharf, Ebenezer Tarbox, Jonathan Pike, Ebenezer Goslen (or Joslyn), William Johnson, Nathan Brown, Joseph Howard, Lemuel
Collins.
CAPT. ROWS COMPANY.
John Row, captain ; Mark Pool, lieut ; Eben Cleveland, ensign ; Daniel B. Tarr, sergeant ; William Haskins, sergeant ; William Dav- ison, sergeant ; William Foster, sergeant ; Jonathan Row, corporal : Thomas Finson, corporal ; John Gott, corporal ; William Low, cor-
76 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
poral ; Benjamin Davis, drummer; Isaac Haskell, fifer; Jacob Allen, Obadiah Atkins, David Averill, Eleazer Butman, Daniel Butler, David Crage, Henry Clark, Daniel Doyl, Dominicus Davis, Samuel Clark, Joseph Dresser, Richard Dresser, Thomas Dresser, Caleb Elwell, James Phipps, Ebenezer Gott, Joshua Gore, Bennett Haskins, Wil- liam Jumper. John Clark, Joseph Lane, James Lurvey, Francis Lane, Samuel Low, Henry Morgan, Henry Parsons, Hugh Parkhurst, Joseph Parsons,, Jeffrey Parsons, John Row, junior, Joshua Row, Peter Richardson, William Row, Daniel Somes, John Smith, Eph- raim Sheldren, John Tarr, John Tarr, junior, Jabez Tarr, James Tarr, William Woodbury, Ebenezer Witham, Spencer Thomas, Jonathan Parsons, Peter Emmons, Thomas Edes, John Youlin, John Parrott, Joseph Low, Aaron Riggs, Francis Pool, Josiah Brooks, William Parsons.
ATTACK OF CAPT. LINZEE.
The fears of the inhabitants that an attack would be made on the town, presumably from the sea, were realized in August, 1775, when the sloop of war Falcon, Capt. Lindsay (or Linzee) appeared in Ips- wich Bay, hove to, and sent a barge containing about 50 men ashore to secure a supply of mutton from, the flock of sheep grazing on the Coffin farm at West Gloucester. Major Coffin observed their move- ments and anticipated their design. He hastily gathered some half dozen men, armed them with rifles and, concealed behind sand mounds, kept up such a brisk firing that the sailors in the barge, sup- posing that a large company were ready to receive them, thought it prudent to desist from their sheep foraging intentions. On return- ing the barge's load captured a sand lugger, supposing the craft to be from the West Indies. Linzee continued to cruise in Massachu- setts bay and on the 8th of the month intercepted two West Indian- men bound for Salem. He captured one and chased the other into Gloucester harbor, the craft being run ashore on the flats near Ten Pound island.
This episode, of course, had been observed from the shore and a large concourse of citizens had assembled near the spot where the schooner lay. They resolved to defend the craft at all hazards. Linzee anchored his ship and prepared to take possession of the prize. He sent in three barges containing 22 men armed with mus- kets and swivels. These boarded the craft but had no sooner reached •the deck than a sharp fusilade was opened upon them from two
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 77
old swivels and a company of men with muskets stationed at Vinson's Cove. Three of the boarding party were killed at the first volley, and the lieutenant in command wounded in the leg, the fierce fire compelling the detail to return to their ship. Linzee then sent in a small schooner and a cutter, armed with a full complement of men, to secure the merchantman. He also dispatched a boat load of men ashore at Fort Point to fire the town, at the same time directing a vigorous bombardment at the center of the village, one shot taking effect in what is now the Unitarian church, where, sus- pended above the entrance to the vestry it may be seen to-day. A detail of the citizens observing the boat load of men headed for the fish sheds on Fort Point, quietly repaired to the place, and made the firing party prisoners before they could execute their designs.
A fierce fight took place for the possession of the beleaguered ship. Finally the villagers triumphed and captured the entire party, several of whom were wounded severely, one dying a short time after. Twenty-four of the company were sent to the American camp at Cambridge, and a number of impressed men to their homes. Two of the citizens, Benjamin Rowe, who was killed instantly, and Peter Lurvey, mortally wounded, comprised the number of the town's loss in the affray. The centennial of this event was observed in 1875 by a grand patriotic celebration at Cape Pond grove at which Governor Gaston and other notables were present and made fitting addresses. The sword of Captain Linzee crossed with that of Colonel Prescott, a Revolutionary patriot, may be seen at the rooms of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston.
PRIVATEERING OPERATIONS.
In order to be better prepared for future assaults breastworks were thrown up at Stage Fort, the Cut, Duncan's Point and Fort Point. This, however, was the last attack by sea or land that the people experienced.
After the battle of Bunker Hill the greater part of the companies from this place returned, and soon after Linzee's repulse, commenced to annoy the enemy from the sea by conducting privateering opera- tions from their fishing boats. An important capture brought to port this year was the ordnance ship " Nancy," from London to Boston, loaded with articles of the greatest value to the Continental army. Privateering thus commenced, grew in importance. During
78 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
the year 1776, the privateer "Yankee Hero," of Newburyport, rein- forced by twenty men from Sandy Bay, was decoyed off the latter place into an attempt to take the disguised British ship "Milford," the crew made prisoners, taken to New York and confined aboard a prison ship.
In 1777, a bounty of £6, increased afterwards to ^14 was paid each soldier who enlisted in the continental army. Recruits came forward very slowly, a company for three months' service under com- mand of Mark Pool joined the northern department of the American army. The privateering fever, however, was strong, and the first important venture of this kind was that of a converted fishing schooner named "Brittannia," changed to the more appropriate designation, "Warren." She was commanded by Capt. William Coas and captured two very valuable English merchantmen, the " Picary," of 400 tons, bound from Tobago for London, and the " Sarah and Elizabeth," from Jamaica to London. She was captured, on her third cruise, under command of Silas Howell, and taken to New York.
The " Langdon" was another fisherman converted into a privateer, but she never returned to port. The "Union," under the command of Capt. Isaac Somes, captured a ship bound to Lisbon with fish, and a brig with a cargo of salt. The latter was fitted for privateering, renamed the "Gen. Mercer," and cruised with a Philadelphia priva- teer about the coast of France, taking several brigs. Besides these there was a number of small craft which cruised about during the day, pouncing upon any incoming British merchantman, returning to port at night. These were kept under a sharp surveillance by the British frigate " Milford," which patrolled the bay.
In 1777, the "Gloucester," a new brig owned by David Pearce and others, was fitted out for privateering under command of Captain John Colson. Her crew, including officers, was composed of 130 men, and she mounted eighteen carriage guns. High hopes were built on the success of her cruises, as this project was by far the most expensive of the kind in which the citizens had yet embarked. She sailed in July, and when a few days out, captured the brig " Two Friends," with a cargo of wine and salt which was sent into port under command of Captain John McKean ; also a fishing brig, the " Spark," brought into port by Isaac Day. Nothing was ever heard after this from the craft, the loss of which is said to have made
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 79
sixty widows, and plunged the town into the deepest misery and gloom. The privateer " Speedwell," commanded by Captain Phile- mon Haskell, captured three fishing brigs during the year, two of which, refitted here for the West India trade, were retaken by the British cruisers with cargoes. In 1778, nothing daunted by past misfortunes, the ship " General Starks " was fitted out, some Ipswich people lending aid. This craft measured 400 tons and mounted eighteen guns. She was commanded by Captain William Coas, but met with ill success. The "Speedwell" was again put into commission this year, but met with a poor run of luck, and was obliged to return to port empty handed.
The next year, 1779, the " Gen. Starks" was once more fitted for a privateering cruise under command of -Coas. She sailed in April, and on the tenth day at sea captured a brig from Limerick with a cargo of provisions, which were sent home and most joyfully received by the people, who were in dire need at the time. After engaging in a hot contest with two British cruisers off the Azores, from which he escaped, Coas captured the British ship "Porcupine," mounting fourteen guns. With unexpected magnanimity, he restored the defeated captain his ship, after helping himself to her guns, provisions and light sails. He next captured a brig from Bris- tol with an assorted cargo which was sent to port, and a few days afterwards a sloop bound out, which was sunk. While refitting at Bilboa, thirty of his crew were down at once with yellow fever, sev- eral of whom died. The authorities at Bilboa offered Captain Coas a reward of $1000 if he would capture an enemy's cruiser then in the bay. He proceeded to sea, decoyed the craft with a crew of sixty men within gunshot, captured and carried her into Bilboa, receiving $1600 for the ship, besides the reward. On the cruise home, after a hot fight of two hours, an English packet from Jamaica was taken and sent to port. Next in order was the capture of three fishing brigs, after she arrived home in September with 84 prisoners. During her cruise in the succeeding winter, under command of James Pearson, she captured three ships at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, six more being taken by a Newburyport and a Salem privateer, the Newburyport craft being commanded by John Somes of Gloucester. The season's work of the "Starks" had been highly successful, but on Captain Coas' venturing out in the craft for another campaign, he was captured by a British frigate
80 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
and taken to Halifax with his crew, where they were confined as prisoners. He was lost at sea, with some of his officers, while on the passage from Boston to Halifax. A second cartel with some of the " Starks" crew came to Gloucester, where the men, sick, and in some cases unable to walk, were landed.
Among other privateers that were commissioned from this port was the "Wasp," Isaac Somes, master. She took a brig laden with provisions, which was sent home, and, in conjunction with the Salem privateer " Harlequin," a ship laden with rum ; the brig " Wilkes " was built by Daniel Pearce for the merchant service, and fitted out for privateering under the command of Job Knights. She met with poor success, being taken, recaptured, again falling into the enemies' hands in West Indian waters ; the brig "Success," owned by David Pearce, was taken and carried to Halifax ; the brig " Friend- ship," built by William Pearce, captured a ship and a cargo of rum ; "Gloucester Packet," a converted prize taken by the "Starks," was purchased by David Pearce, and while commanded by John Beach, captured a brig with a cargo of flour; schooner "Union," owned by William Gee, commanded by Daniel Parsons, with a crew of thirty men, captured a brig from Ireland with provisions and clothing; shallop "Speedwell," commanded by Thomas Saunders, was chased ashore near Canso and lost; ship "Tiger" of sixteen guns, John Tucker, captain, was captured and taken into Halifax ; brig " Ruby," Solomon Babson, commander, took a brig from Ireland laden with provisions ; brig " Robin Hood," Sargent Smith, captain, took a British packet mounting sixteen guns, with a crew of one hundred men and forty passengers. These prisoners were exchanged for the crew of a local privateer which had been made captive ; the " Civil Usage," Captain John Smith, with sixty men, engaged in a fight with an English packet ship of greatly superior force, until Smith was obliged to haul off. He received a wound in the throat, from the effects of which he died; ship "Tempest," supposed to have sailed about 1782, commanded by Isaac Somes, was accom- panied by the ship " Polly." Both were in the Gulf Stream when a terriffic thunderstorm arose, and when the gale abated, the Tem- pest was no where to be seen. Her name and decorations were greatly disapproved of by the religious people, who saw in her fate a retributive act of the Omnipotent One, for such an overt act of sacrilege.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 81
It will thus be seen that the town's efforts during the war, after the opening struggle at Bunker Hill, were mainly directed at preying upon the commerce of the enemy, a form of warfare for which the people, by their environment and occupation, were peculiarly fitted.
GREAT POVERTY OF THE PEOPLE.
The constant drain of resources and men for privateering, the great losses thereby, and the cutting off of the foreign commerce during the war engendered poverty and want. In 1775 the town dispatched two vessels to Virginia to buy grain, but so pressing were the necessities of the case, that the town authorized the selectmen to buy or borrow 200 bushels of corn. The extreme destitution pre- vailing attracted attention from outside, and donations came for- ward, notably from the Society of Friends in Pennsylvania. In 1776 at the annual town meeting it was voted to petition for the abate- ment of the Province tax for the year. The town remained patriotic to the core in spite of these adversities, and on the 24th of June, at a largely attended town meeting voted unanimously to support the Declaration of Independence with their lives and their fortunes if the resolve should be passed, and on the receipt of the news of the passage of the document it was read from the pulpits and copied into the town records. In 1777, the extreme poverty which fell mainly with its attendant hardships upon the shoulders of the female por- tion of the community was intensified by the appearance of that dread scourge, the small pox. A pest house was built near the premises of Richard Varrell on what is now known as the old Pest House road near Bond's Hill, but happily the disease did not become epidemic. In this year at a town meeting the committee of safety was directed to let the lands belonging to refugees and to sell their buildings, indicating that there must have been a number, who from various causes, sought royalist protection. In 1778 small pox again prevailed to an alarming extent, and hospitals were built in various sections of the town to accommodate those who had been inoculated, although this form of treatment was at first vigorously opposed by the citizens. The year 1779 was characterized by the reappearance of this disease, spreading on every side to an unusual degree. In fact, it became so virulent that the prejudice against inoculation was overcome and the practice became general. The social condition of the town grew rapidly worse, although the community met every demand and furnished its proportion of men and clothing.
82 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
The year 1780 opened gloomily. Over 400 of the town's best men had fallen on land, perished at sea or in prison. The people were in a truly woeful condition, nearly one-fifth of the population being dependent almost wholly on charity. The paper money issued by the Continental Congress had long before depreciated extensively in value and in this year the town voted to borrow $120,000 for the pur- pose of furnishing 32 soldiers, its quota for six months' service in the Continental army and $6,000 was paid to three men who enlisted, the town offering that sum to each man as bounty for the remainder. Over $300,000 was voted in this year to pay soldiers and furnish supplies for the army. In 1781, the town's quota for the Continental army was 48 men and by August it had complied with the demand, together with its share of clothing and provisions for the army. In March, 1782, the ship "Harriet," owned by David Pearce, loaded for a foreign voyage, was boarded during the night by a party of British coast skirmishers, who got the craft under way. The owner, on arising in the morning, was astonished to see his ship sailing away in the offing. He immediately gave a general alarm by vigorously ringing the church bell, collected a large force of volunteers, and gave chase in the ship "Betsey," over- taking and recapturing the Harriet the next day without a struggle. Light winds prevailed, or the craft would probably have reached a place beyond the power of the people to retake her. The brig of 14 guns, whose crew had taken the merchant ship out, was also captured and brought to port at the same time. Great was the rejoicing of those on shore when they saw the Harriet and the cap- tured brig stand up the harbor. The declaration of peace between Great Britian and the United States reached here October 22, 1783, and was received with great rejoicing. An enormous oak some 23 feet in circumference, was standing on the hill at Dun- can's Point where a seven-gabled stone residence has been built. To this the people repaired and illuminated the tree in honor of the great occasion. Thus transfigured in its old age it became a prey to waste several years after. In 1782, Jacob Allen, town treasurer, was accused of irregularities in office, and was superseded by Nehemiah Parsons. Allen turned over a balance of $34,000 to the town in de- preciated paper money when it was claimed that fully one-half the amount was due in silver. An attachment was put on his estate but the matter was quietly dropped.
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 83
The pastor of the First Church through these trying times was Rev. Eli Forbes, D. D., a native of Westborough and a graduate of Harvard. He was installed June 5, 1776, and died December 15, 1804, leaving a reputation as a zealous and faithful servant.
RETURN OF PEACE.
The effects of privateering oh the community were most deplor- able. Indeed the same may be said of the history of the business in any of the seaports whose citizens were engaged in its pursuit. Briefly stated, the many risked their lives for the gain of a few ; in Gloucester the Pearces being the main promoters of these schemes. However, the war left no other avenue of employment for shipping and sailors. The sum total of British ships taken during the Revo- lution by the combined fleet of American privateers was over 650, inflicting a severe loss to the British mercantile interests. The desertion of that part of the village known as Dogtown was no doubt greatly accelerated by the enormous drain of the male mem- bers of that section who shipped aboard the privateers, losing their lives beneath the waves or in prisons, leaving mothers, wives, child- ren and the aged in dire destitution to eke out an existence as best they could. The deserted dwellings, the half-filled cellars marking their site, perpetuate a mournfully pathetic tale to those who follow local annals and recall vividly the sufferings entailed on the inno- cent by the operations of war.
REVIVAL OF COMMERCE.
Very soon after peace was declared foreign commerce began to prosper anew mainly with the British West Indies, but despite the fact that a treaty of peace had been made with Great Britian, the latter refused to enter into negotiations for a commercial treaty until near the close of the century, although the United States was extremely anxious to conclude a treaty of trade. This West Indian traffic was by far more profitable than any other branch of business pursued. Just after the Revolution there was great poverty, the country being heavily in debt with an almost worthless Continental paper money. As before the Revolution there was a great demand for our goods in the British West Indies because we could supply them more cheaply and with better quality than any other nation. Then again, our captains had made friendships with the merchants of these islands, which even the events of war could not dissolve.
84 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
The Yankee and the Englishman in the islands were kith and kin and congenial in business relations. Although the home govern- ment passed restrictive navigation acts the people and governors of the British West Indies totally ignored these laws as far as Ameri- can vessels were concerned and we had practically free entry to their West Indian ports. It was the duty of the commanding offi- cer of the British fleet stationed there to see that the navigation laws were enforced, but when Nelson, in 1783, endeavored to break up the connivance between our captains and the British custom offi- cials he met with such determined opposition from the inhabitants of the islands that he was compelled to desist from his attempts. In- deed the captains of American vessels which he had taken, aided and abetted by the merchants of the islands, brought suit for damages against Nelson, on the ground that he had seized their ves- sels after they had been entered by the custom authorities, and so unpleasant did they make it for him that he was afraid to leave his ship for eight weeks, fearing arrest on a civil process. There is little sentiment in trade and it is always seeking to sweep away restrictive barriers to its greater freedom, as this incident of history plainly teaches.
We had plenty of fish and produce and gladly jumped at the op- portunity to renew old and profitable commercial associations. As a result, foreign commerce quickly revived and obtained an importance it had never before reached. In 1790, as a result of the condition above outlined, Gloucester had over 40 ships and schooners employed in this interest, the amount of tonnage registered during the year under the acts regulating commerce, being 4018 tons, comprising four ships, nine brigs, 23 schooners and seven sloops. For the next 20 years foreign commerce was at its zenith and ships belonging to the town in common with those of Salem, Boston and other New England maratime cities visited the principal European, and in some cases East Indian, ports, besides engaging in the regular traffic with the West Indies.
DIFFICULTIES WITH THE FRENCH.
France and the United States, at the close of the Revolution, made a treaty of alliance, whereby the latter was to assist the former in defending her West Indian possessions. Between 1790 and 1800, France and England were at war, and England captured those islands. Instead of assisting France, our government, in 1794,
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 85
•entered into a commercial treaty with Great Britain. This greatly incensed the French. They charged us with being ingrates, inas- much as they had helped America achieve her freedom, although her assistance was rendered more from a desire to annoy England than any abiding faith in the principles for which the colonists were fighting. Accordingly she entered upon a course of reprisals, and French privateers began to prey upon American shipping. Glouces- ter suffered from this to quite an extent, seventeen ships, valued with cargoes at $175,000, being taken. In 1798, the relations between the American and French governments became strained in conse- quence, and when hostilities seemed imminent, fifty-two men of Cape Ann shipped on board the sloop of war "Herald," to participate in what was thought to be certain war. Happily, another conflict was averted. The French spoliation claims arose from these depreda- tions, inflicted prior to September 30, 1800. Demand was made by- the United States on France for indemnification, but the latter gov- ernment urged as a set off, broken faith in violating the" treaty of alliance. This was acknowledged by the United States, and it was agreed on our part, to assume the payment of all claims arising from French depredations, and the matter was thus settled. Claimants have frequently petitioned Congress for reimbursement. Bills to this effect passed during the administrations of Polk and Pierce, but were vetoed. Efforts are being made at the present time, by the heirs of original claimants, for the allowance of these sums so long unpaid which have been acknowledged as valid, settlement having been made in a few cases, and it is probable that in the course of time, the government will discharge all its obligations in this respect. During the warfare the French cruisers destroyed over 1500 Ameri- can merchantmen with cargoes.
Among the ships taken was one owned by David Pearce, the cargo -of which, as entered at the Gloucester custom house, was valued at $19,000. He, at this time, was considered worth nearly $300,000, an enormous fortune for the times. This proved to be the begin- ning of a series of reverses. Shortly after, one of his ships, valued at $10,000, was lost in the Indian Ocean. Misfortunes came thick and fast, reducing him from affluence to poverty, in which condi- tion his last days were passed.
JOHN MURRAY'S PREACHING.
A notable event during this period was the advent of the Rev.
86 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
John Murray in town and his vigorous arraignment of the tenets so- dear to the followers of John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards. He came to Gloucester in 1774, and amid great opposition preached the doctrines of Universalism, founding the principles which he preached as firmly as the granite rock of the storm-beaten Cape. Elsewhere will be found a more extended notice of this noted man and his work.
SHAY'S REBELLION. CONSTITUTION RATIFIED.
At the breaking out of Shay's rebellion in Rhode Island in 1787, a company was raised by a vote of the town and sent to the front under command of Capt. John Rowe, but the insurrection quickly subsiding, the troops were disbanded some six months after. Decem- ber 1 8 of the same year Daniel Rogers, John Low and William Pear- son were chosen as delegates to the State convention for the pur- pose of ratifying the Constitution of the National Government adopted at Philadelphia. So well were the citizens pleased with the services of their delegation and all it implied that they were given a grand reception and banquet at Somes' Tavern on Front Street, which was a notable event in the annals of even that hostelry famed for the superior excellence of the punches brewed there.
NEGRO POPULATION.
At this period there was quite a number of negroes held here as slaves, nearly three hundred in number. They were probably brought here from Virginia during the peroid when active commer- cial intercourse was held with that state and may have been ex- changed for merchandise. Col. Coffin at his farm at Coffin's Beach held a large number of these, as did Nathaniel Ellery and other prominent merchants of the town. Some of the attics of the large houses were fitted up with slave pens for the accommodation of the blacks. These negroes, as was characteristic of their race, were very convivial and once each year were granted a holiday when they held a merry carnival at the Pine Tree Tavern which stood on the right of Western Avenue, about 100 yards this side the bridge. Slavery, however, did not flourish in northern soil and shortly after the Revolution the negroes disappeared. But two families of the descendants of these first colored people reside here, in West Parish, to-day. It is curious to note that since that time Gloucester has presented no attractions for the colored race, and the two
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 87
families above named constitute the only representatives of the race who have lived here sufficiently long so that they come within the category of permanent residents. Many of the very eldest remember a venerable ex-slave, Bacchus, whose appearance was a ter- ror to the children of the town and the mere mention of his name has lulled many a restless little one to quietness when all other means had failed.
SELECTMEN. POOR HOUSES.
In the early days of our town government, the selectmen held their meetings at the various taverns for the transaction of public business. From the records we should judge the dinners and drinks were quite an event in connection with the day. Landlady Judkins entertained the selectmen in the first part of the eighteenth century, the amount of her bill in 1704 being £it which the town voted to pay. After her, George Harvey, John Day, Thomas Millett and John Stacy severally appear to have furnished entertainment for the town fathers, and the bill appears to increase. In 1740 James Stevens furnished the refreshments and " licker," his tavern being what is now the old Ellery house, and the bill was about four pounds. After that time these bills seem to have been unsatisfactory to the voters, for in March, 1745, it was voted: "That the selectmen should be allowed for the ensuing year, a salary of £,$ for doing the town business, and find themselves." All of the above taverns were situated " up in town." James Broom and Jonathan Ingersoll also kept houses of entertainment in those days on Middle Street. Later, in 1749, Mrs. Mary Perkins, a widow, obtained a license to keep tavern and draw spirits.
The first poor house was erected by the town in 1719, but was never very popular. It had only one occupant, Ruth Miller, for a number of years, and was called her house. In 1733 the town voted to instruct its selectmen to let the same, and board out the poor. In 1748 the expense was about one hundred and fifty dollars for the maintenance of seven individuals. In 1757 the number boarded had increased to nine, and the expense was about two hund- red dollars. The poor were annually let out until 1796, when the almshouse was erected on Granite Street, which served the town about fifty years, until the present structure was built. EVENING OF THE CENTURY.
The man who viewed the town from East Gloucester in 1775 and
88 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
in 1799, would probably have noted no material difference in the general outlook. Up to the time of the Revolution, three-quarters of a century of unceasing prosperity had left its impress. Cornhill, now Middle Street, was laid out in 1735 as the principal street of resi- dences in the town. After 1750 began the erection of those large square and gambrel-roofed edifices so much affected by the prosper- ous merchants of the olden time, an account of which is given else- where. Indeed, the greater part of the substantial looking struct- ures, which still predominate on the street in question, were erected before the Revolutionary period. The war cut the source of the town's prosperity sharply off for the time being, and inflicted a blow from which it was just beginning to recover in the last decade of the century. But the hundred years of progress had indeed been mar- vellous. Where, at the beginning of the century, had been a thickly wooded plot, was a thriving town. The most conspicuous objects were the meeting house and the large residences of the mer- chants. In those days these houses had extensive grounds and terraces ; later, these areas have been built upon, and the space closely occupied. For example, the grounds of the mansion, now the Gilbert Home, included a large space westward and southward to the Pavilion and the sea, with fine carriage drives, and the residences on Middle Street, in many instances, had terraces extending to Front Street, while the houses of the humbler citizens on the Back and other rear streets, smaller gambrel-roofed edifices were clustered as reasonably near as was compatible with the maintenance of a gener- ous-sized kitchen garden. " Up in town " were erected several of those large-sized structures by the more prosperous residents, which still remain. While the houses of the wealthy classes, large and solidly constructed, still stand, the smaller dwellings of those of humbler station have fast disappeared before the march of improve- ment. Still a comparatively accurate picture of the town's appear- ance at the time may be obtained, if one will eliminate from his mind the modern structures when drawing this mental picture. The principal wharves were located in the harbor cove, the great scene of marine activity being centered at the Pearce wharf, between Boyn- ton's coal pocket and Andrew's spar yard. Here was the headquar- ters of the Pearces, those local commercial princes, who had ventures in every sea, and whose argosies, richly freighted with the products of two hemispheres, landed the stores in their generously propor-
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
89
tioned warehouses, and here, getting down to a lower flight, it may be mentioned in passing, were ample facilities used for converting the cargoes of molasses into that delectable decoction, New England rum.
With the exception of the old fort but one wharf and building of any consequence had been erected on Fort Point. From Duncan's Point, on the spot now occupied by the buildings and wharves of the Atlantic Halibut Company, down the water front to the head of the harbor, but a few small and unpretentious piers met the eye. Two or three large firms monopolized the commercial business, their wharves being centered in harbor cove.
Population in 1765, 3762 ; in 1775, 4945 ; in 1790, 5317 ; in 1799, about 5300.
.
90 HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER.
CHAPTER VIII.
Frorri 1800 to 1860.
SKETCH OF FRONT, NOW MAIN STREET. OPPOSITION TO THE EM- BARGO ACT. UNWELCOME WAR OF 1812. ATTACK ON SANDY BAY. PRIVATEERING. SANDY BAY UNIVERSALISTS. SPLIT IN THE FIRST PARISH. FORMATION OF THE EVANGELICAL CONGREGA- TIONAL SOCIETY. THE UNITARIAN CHURCH. S.LOW GROWTH IN POPULATION. VIEW IN 1817. IN 1830. FISHING AND COMMERCE. THE DR. MORIARTY EPISODE. HISTORY OF THE FISHING BOUN- TIES. FORTY NINER'S. ACCESSION TO POPULATION. OLD TRAIN- ING DAYS.
ROUNDING into the present century, we may, at the beginning of the year 1800, make a short review of the town at this stage of its history. Wonderful indeed were the changes that had been made during the past hundred years. In no section was this more marked than along what is now Main, then Fore or Front Street, since 1700 the principal thoroughfare of the town. The traveller through its precincts in the latter named year, would have plodded along through a winding and thickly wooded lane, the only residents at whose abode he would have tarried to exchange friendly greetings being the Babsons, Princes, Elwells and Collinses.
If his years had been prolonged and his faculties active, enabling him to make the journey once more through its length, he would have failed to recognize the place were this his first view of the high- way since 1700 so great had been the march of improvement,
Our present Main Street was the first avenue laid out as a public highway. According to the old town records of Sept. 11, 1642, "It is ordered that the highwaie should be laide out through the lots of Mr. Fryer, Walter Tybbott and Hugh Calkin, who shall have consid- eration out of Henry Felch, his six acres of hoed ground, for that which the town takes from them, the town giving Henry Felch such satisfaction for his labors as is thought fit by four men as are chosen to see his labor." By tracing the records of land owned it appears that this was Fore or Front and what is now Main Street, and was the first highway laid out ; Back, afterwards High, now Prospect
HISTORY OF GLOUCESTER. 91
Street, following May 20, 1646. There are no ancient houses at present standing on Main Street. The march of progress on this, our principal business thoroughfare, has not allowed the few old structures which escaped the flames of the two great fires to remain.
The appearance of this street at the beginning of the century was substantially as follows : Commencing on the westerly or Gilbert Corner, now occupied by Bott Bros., was the tavern kept by Jonathan Low who furnished entertainment for man and beast. A large stable was situated in the rear to accommodate the stage business which he established in 1788. Two trips were made to Boston each week. This was quite a journey to undertake in those days of these old fashioned lumbering vehicles, and was not accomplished with the ease with which we of to-day step into the nicely furnished and heated steam cars and are landed in the Hub in about 80 minutes. Then, three days were consumed to make a business trip to Boston, now easily accomplished in ten hours.
The tavern, of course, was the principal rendezvous. At night, the citizens assembled in the spacious bar-room to exchange news, relate jokes and experiences, and to partake of a mug of the