YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY C- THE HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD, BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS: I3JCJ.CDINQ A HISTORT OF THE OLD TOWNSHIP OF DARTMOUTH . AND THE PRESENT TOWNSHIPS OF WESTPORT, DARTMOUTH, AND FAIRHAVEN, FROM THEIE SETTLEMENT TO THE PRESENT TIME. EY DANIEL FJCKETSON. NEW BEDFORD: PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOE. 1858. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, BT DANIEL RICKETSOJT, In the Clerk's office of the District Court of Massachusetts. B. Xindsey, Printer, 21 Hamilton street, 2jfeiv Bedford. 853 PKEEACE. Twenty-seven years ago, when a youth of sev enteen years, I conceived the idea of writing a history of my native place in the form of a lec ture, for our then small and newly organized Ly ceum. I entered upon my task with the ardor of youth, diligently searching every book and record that I could obtain for the earlier portion of my history. I then betook myself to the oldest inhab itants; a large number of those who had grown up with the place from its earliest history, as a village, being still alive. From these interesting and in telligent old people, some of whom had reached their ninetieth year, T obtained a good store of rem iniscences. These, with what I gathered' from the records of the old township of Dartmouth, (which township it will be seen originally included New Bedford, Fairhaven, Westport and the present township of Dartmouth,) and such books as con tained any mention of our place, with a succinct account of the voyage of Bartholomew Gosnold to these shores in 1602, I compiled, and delivered IV before the said Lyceum, on Tuesday evening, March 6th, 1831. This was the day of small things, it is true, for our now flourishing Lyceum. We then depended altogether upon home productions for our weekly entertainment; and many quiet, pleasant times we used to have of it, in those ante-railway, ante- electric-telegraph days. Such is the brief history of the origin of my undertaking; and now, at a time of life when it may be reasonably concluded that most of the effervescence of youth has passed off, with subdued feelings and moderate expectations of success, but with a heart none the less warm from the lapse of time in its interest for the spot of my birth, I again enter upon the task, with a sense of pleas urable duty of putting together what information I have from varied sources been enabled to collect, gathering up the fragments lest nothing be lost; so that those who come after us may have a nucleus round which to form a more full and complete his tory, when our youthful city shall take its place, as it is evidently destined at no very distant day to do, if it has not already, among the chief cities of this country. I have endeavored to make this history truthful, and, in order to effect this primary object, have rejected everything which I was not fully convinced as being authentic. To the friends who have af forded me assistance in the preparation of my task, I would return my warmest thanks. The following is the introductory sketch to the lecture before alluded to, as it originally appeared. Youth is the only apology that will be required for its faults. ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION. The fondness with which we are inspired for the spot of our nativity seems to have been generated with ourselves; nor can time or distance eradicate it. Whatever fortune attends us, or whatever cir cumstance may induce us to leave our natal soil, whether we traverse foreign countries, or have set tled in another clime, still we are neither withdrawn nor estranged from it, but turn with pleasure to the scenes of our childhood and companions of our youth. Poets of all ages have sung its bless ings, and the sympathetic muse delights to wander over its joys and scan its beauties. This enthusi astic fire, this glowing flame, that burns within the heart of every one, neither age nor circumstance is able to quench. The Frenchman, when far away from his native land and winged retrospec tion brings him to his own sweet home, sighs for "the blushing vine-hills of his delightful France;" and the rude inhabitant of the Emerald Isle, driven from his country by the extremest necessity, still bears the latent spark within his bosom ; and, too, the illiterate Laplander, having seen the light of the civilized world, gladly returns to his sledge and deer. * VI It behoves every American to be acquainted with the history of the place which gave him birth. The history of this country is neither wrapped in ob scurity, nor hidden in uncertainty: there are no fictitious names, no fabled account of heroes; every thing is authentic, and much within the memory of people yet living. While other nations are boasting of their an tiquity, and exulting in the mysterious deeds of their ancestors, we pride ourselves in the recency of our origin, and the well-known achievements during the struggle for liberty, as well as for the rapidity of our increase. Scarce two centuries ago, this spot was one forest wild, the abode of the tawny Indian and wild beast; its vast wilderness had never been penetrated by civilized man, nor the peace of its people injured; the smoke arose free from the un molested wigwam, and the woods re-echoed to the shrill war-whoop; the wild deer bounded through the glade, and the light canoe was swiftly paddled over the Acushnet. Then the Indian with a light heart roved over the soil where our town now rests, and with careless joy, through the forest that once crowned yon hill, pursued the animated chase. Oft this has been the scene of the feast, the dance, and the song of fearless, thoughtless joy. •But these have all departed: our mansions have succeeded the Indian's hut, and he is now known but by a few mouldering bones turned up by the plough-share, and we daily tread above the graves of his once mighty race. The same ethereal vault vu o'erarches this land, the seasons roll on as before, and the waves break upon the same shores, but not to the Indian : he has long since been gathered to his fathers, and we are now the undisputed lords of the land. New. Bedford, March 1, 1831. I am aware that much of the material of this history is wanting in arrangement, but it should be remembered that I have been obliged to collect my information from a great variety of sources, and at different times during a period of many years. The labor of an original work of this kind is much more arduous and difficult than of many more important works of history where the labors of others can be brought into requisition. I trust, therefore, my readers will make all due allowance should the want of a more regular method be sometimes observable. It has been my chief object to snatch from the oblivion to which a large portion of our early his tory was fast hastening, and to collect together, as much as possible, for preservation. In a good de gree I feel the assurance of having accomplished this purpose. The first number of my historical sketches ap peared in the New Bedford Daily Mercury, on Sat urday, September 27th, 1856. This was followed by others on the succeeding Saturdays, which, with some alteration and considerable addition, com prise this volume. Vlll Although I do not claim to have performed my task thoroughly or to my own satisfaction, I have been gratified at the generous reception my labors have met with from my friends and the public of our vicinity, and, for the want of a better history of my native place, have undertaken to embody these hastily written sketches in the form of a book. Trusting that this volume, with humble preten tions, will meet in some measure the want of a bet ter performance, I submit it to the public. D. R. Brooklawn, near New Bedford, " May 1st, 1858. CONTENTS. Page Preface, i » iii Chapter I. The Old Township of Dartmouth— Discovery of the Coast by Bartholomew Gosnold in 1602 — Early Settlement — Deed from the Indian Sachem Massasoit to Governor Bradford and others — The Original Survey of Dartmouth, 13 II. The Indians of Dartmouth — Troubles of the Early Settlers- Order of Court relative to the Support of the Ministry — Difficulty of Enforcing the Same — Origin of the Name of Dartmouth — Ralph Russell, and the Russell Family — Joseph Rotch — Origin of the Name of New Bedford — Early Quakers — Gosnold's Settlement at Cuttyhunk — Identification of the same by Dr. Belknap — Survey of the Township by Order of King Philip — List of the Original Purchasers, 20 III. Character of the Early Settlers of Dartmouth — Destruction of their Property by the Indians — Order of Court, 1678, for More Compact Settlements — Old Colony Records — Freemen of Dartmouth — Names of the Original Proprie tors — Proprietors' Records — Old Houses — Indian Relics,. .30 IT. The Early Friends or Quakers — First Meeting-House, built in 1699 — Tisit of Early English Friends — Joseph Russell, Sen. — Causes of the Decline of the Society of Friends — Record of Meetings — Early Business — Joseph Russell, Jr. — His Ancestor Ralph Russell,. . .' 37 V. The First Representative to the Old Colony Court, John Rus sell—Names of those who had Taken the Oath of Fidelity, 1684 — Old Record — Early Land-Owners — Longevity of Early Inhabitants — First House in the Village of Bed ford—First Ship— Her Part in the Boston Tea-Party, 44 Chapter Page VI. The Whale-Fishery— Burke'sTributetotheEarly Whalemen- Early Enterprises— The Effects of the Eevolution— The Old Ship Eebecca— Anecdote of the Early Strictness of Friends — Relics of Whaling in the Olden Timo 53 VII. The Village of Bedford — Statistics by Abraham Shearman, Jr. — Captain William Gordon's Account of the Invasion by the British Troops during the Revolutionary War — Schedule of Property Destroyed — Anecdote of the Intre pidity of a Woman — First Candle-Works — Causes of Prosperity, 70 VIII. March of the British Troops to Acushnet and Fairhaven — Destruction of Property on the Way— New Bedford and Fairhaven Bridge — Light-House at Clark's Point — The Bedford Bank— Notice of John Pickens, Joseph Ricketson and George Howland — Reflections upon those Times, 78 IX. The Acushnet River, from its Rise to the Harbor of New Bed ford—Islands in the River — The Native Indians — The Last of the Wampanoags — Settlement of Fairhaven, 88 X. The Whale-Fishery, continued from Chapter VI — Biograph ical Sketches — Architecture of Older and More Modern , Buildings, &c, .^rrr/.lOO' XI. Buzzard's Bay — Its Discovery by the Northmen, afterwards by Bartholomew Gosnold — Origin of its Present Name — The Elizabeth Islands — Naushon and the Bowdoin House — Trip to Naushon in 1856, ' 116 XII. Early Newspapers — Sketches of an Old Ship-Master and Mer chant—Old Editors of the New Bedford Press, 137 XHI. Recapitulation inPart of Former Matters — Partial Genealogy of the RusseU Family— Old Proprietors — Cases of Lou-" gevity, &c, 152 XIV. The Mode of Travelling in Olden Times — Sketches of Two Journeys on Horseback, one of which breaks off rather ' suddenly — Reminiscences of Old Citizens, 166 , XV. Old Settlers — The Original Surveyor of Dartmouth — Genea logical Sketches of several Old Families— ^Reminiscences of the Indians, 179 XVI. Early Intercourse with England — Letter of Introduction Giv en to a Merchant of this Place by a Firm in London pre vious to the Revolutionary War — A Stray Leaf from the Diary of said Merchant — Old Houses — Genealogical Sketches of Old Families — Historical Reminiscences, 195 XVII. An Old Pensioner's Story, .213 XVHI. Preliminary Remarks upon the Mercantile Profession — Views' in relation to Mercantile Character — Tbe Value of Probity and Integrity in Commercial Pursuits — Sketches of Two Old Merchants, drawn from life, 227 XIX. The Writer's Views in regard to the Title of his Production — Reminiscences of Elisha Thornton and James Davis. Two XI Chapter pagc Distinguished Ministers of the Society of Friends in New Bedford, and General Remarks upon their Characters and Influence, 236 XX. The Early and Continued Anti-Slavery Character of New Bedford — Biographical Sketch of Capt. Paul Cuffce — Lines Written by Phillis Wheatley 252 XXI. The Topography of Old Dartmouth, continued from a previ- ous^chapter — The Villages in the Vicinity of New Bedford : Eussell's Mills, Westport, Smith's Mills, Acushnet, Long Plain, and Padanavam or South Dartmouth Village: with General Observations interspersed, 265 XXII. The Destruction of Property by the British Troops — Extracts from the Official Letters of General Grey, the Commander of the Expedition, to Sir Henry Clinton— Letter of Robert Fanshawe to Sir Henry Clinton — Doctor Dwight's Account of the Invasion, during a visit to New Bedford, from in formation obtained of Judge Pope's Incidental Obser vations — Additional Account of the same, of a later date, by Judge Pope — Further Eeminiscences of the Revolution, from a retired ship-master of Fairhaven, 278 XXIII. Eetrospective View— List of Vefsels Eegistered for 1818 and 1819— State of the Whale-Fishery in 1830 — Capture of a British Brig-of-War by the Armed Sloop Providence — The Old Ship Maria— Memorandum of Samuel Eodman, Sen.: Abstract of her Voyages — A Eeminiscence of In terest to the Votaries of Mammon— Narrow Escape — The September Gale, and its Effects upon the Shipping of New Bedford, 300 XXIV. Ecclesiastical, Legal, and Medical Reminiscences — Dialectic Society — Fragment Society — New Bedford Lyceum — Friends' Academy — Climate — Public Eoads and Streets,. .314 XXV. Separate Notices of Westport, Dartmouth, and Fairhaven — Freemen of Dartmouth, 1686 — Warrants of Colonel Samuel Willis for the Impressment of Soldiers — Extracts from the Plymouth Eecords relative to the Early Affairs of Dart mouth — Further Eeminiscences of Naushon — Note relat ing to the Northmen's Visit to this Coast — Prize Brought into New Bedford by-Lieutenant Thomas Truxton, 1776,. ..340 XXVT. Incorporation Aot of New Bedford and Fairhaven as a Town ship, 1787— Act of Separation of New Bedford and Fair haven, 1812— Orthography of Acushnet— List of the Light- Houses in Buzzard's Bay — Old Advertisement relating to the New Bedford Bridge, from the Columbian Courier, 1798 — First Whaling Voyage to the Pacific Ocean from Nantucket — Notice of Captain William Claghom — Cap tain Edmund Gardner's Account of a Portion of |his Sea faring Life— The Progress of New Bedford — Statistics of the Whale-Fishery, 360 XII Chapter Page XXVII. Visit to Cuttyhunk and Gosnold's Islet, August 9th, 1858 — Muster-Boll of the Company of Captain Thomas Kempton, 1775 — Additional List of Revolutionary Soldiers of Dart mouth — Lines by Doctor Daniel Hathaway on the Deatii of Daniel Russell, 1772 — Records from Old Burial-Placcs — Letter of Jabez Delano, 1727 — Synopsis of the Natural History of this Vicinity — Conclusion, -.-. .374 Index, 409 HISTORY OP NEW BEDFORD. CHAPTER I. THE OLD TOWNSHIP OF riARTMOUTH — DISCOVERY OF THE COAST BY BARTHOLOMEW GOSNOLD IN 1602 — EARLY SETTLEMENT — DEED FROM THE INDIAN SACHEM MASSASOIT TO GOVERNOR BRADFORD, AND OTHERS — THE ORIGINAL SURVEY OF DARTMOUTH. New Bedford was originally a part of the old township of Dartmouth, from which it was set off and incorporated into a separate township in the y*ear 1787. The old township^ of Dartmouth for merly included the present townships of Dartmouth, Westport, New Bedford and Fairhaven, and was purchased of the Indians in 1652. That part of the old township of Dartmouth which includes the present township of New Bedford was known to the Indians by the name of Accushnet, or Accoos- net, and sometimes Accushena; Fairhaven as Scon- ticut; Dartmouth as Apponeganset, and Westport as Acoaxet./ The Acushnet River, and the adjoin ing shores upon which New Bedford stands, were first discovered in 1602, by Bartholomew Gosnold, who sailed from Falmouth, England, on the 26fh B 14 of March of that year. The names of the persons who embarked on this voyage, as far as they have been ascertained, arc as follows: Bartholomew Gosnold, Commander; Bartholomew Gilbert, 2d officer; John Angel; Robert Saltern, who was af terwards a clergyman; William Streete; Gabriel Archer, gentleman and journalist; James Rosier, who wrotean account of the voyage and presented it to Sir Walter Raleigh; John Bricrton; and Tucker. There were thirty-two persons in all, eight of whom were mariners. " The design of the. voyage was to find a direct and short. course to Virginia, and upon a discovery of a proper seat for a plantation, twelve of the company were to return to England till further assistance and supplies could be sent them." The fine group of islands known as the Elizabeth Islands was first discovered by Gosnold, and so called in honor of the Queen of England. The island now known as Cuttyhunk they called Eliza beth. Here they made their place of rendezvous, and upon an islet in a small fresh-water pond built a place of defence and a store-house. "While some of Gosnold's men labored in build ing a fort and store-house on the small island in the pond, and a flat-bottomed boat fo go to it, he crossed the bay in his vessel and discovered the mouth of the river on the west shore of which New Bed ford is now built. On the shore he was met by a company of natives, men, women and children, who with all courteous kindness entertained him, giving him skins of wild beasts, tobacco, turtles, hemp, artificial strings colored (wampum,) and such like tjiings as they had about them. The stately groves, 15 flowery meadows and running brooks' afforded delightful entertainment to the adventurers." Bel knap. Their original intention, as will be seen from the preceding extract, was for twenty of the company to remain, and for the others to return to England with the vessel, and bring or send them supplies. But they suddenly changed their minds, and after having loaded their vessel with sassafras root and furs, on the 17th of June they set sail for England, and arrived at Exmonth, Devonshire, after a pleas ant passage of five weeks. Bartholomew Gosnold died in Virginia on the 22d of August, 1607, whither he had gone with Captain John Smith. About 30 or 40 years after this, the country began to be settled by the English, and owing to the hos tility of the Indians they were under the necessity of living in garrisons. In the year 1676, Capt. Church, in his History of the Indian War, speaks of a garrison at Russell's Orchard, which was sit uated near the head of the Apponeganset River, in Dartmouth. In this garrison was born Joseph Russell, a son of whom, by the same name, I shall have occasion to mention hereafter. There was also another garrison on the east side of the Acushnet River, about one mile north of the village of Oxford, the remains of which are still to be seen. The following is a copy of the deed from Mas sasoit or Woosamequin, and his son Wamsutta, or Moanam, who was also called by the English 16 Alexander. Philip of Pokanoket, whose true name was Pometacom, was also a_son of Massasoit, and younger than Alexander. " 33ra0for6 (Sobernour. 1654. A deed appointed to be recorded. New Plymouth, November the 29th, 1652. Know all men by these presents, that I, Wesam- equen, and Wamsutta my son, have sold unto Mr. William Bradford, Captain Standish, Thomas Southworth, John Winslow, John Cooke and their associates, the purchasers or old-comers, all the tract or tracts of land lying three miles eastward from a river called Cushenagg, to a certain harbour called Acoaksctt, to a -flat rock on the westward side of the said harbour. And whereas the said har bour divideth itself into several branches, the west ernmost arme to be the bound, and all the tract or tracts of land from the said westernmost arme to the said river of Cushenagg, three miles eastward of the same, with all the profits and benefits within the said tract, with all the rivers, creeks, meadows, necks and islands that lye in or before the same, and from the sea upward to go so high that the English may not be annoyed by the^hunting of the Indians in any sort of their cattle. And I, Wesam- equen, and Wamsutta, do promise to remove all the Indians within a year from the date hereof that do live in the said tract. And we, the said Wesam- equen and Wamsutta, have fully bargained and sold unto the aforesaid Mr. ^illiam Bradford, Captain Standish, Thomas Southworth, John Winslow, John Cooke, and the rest of their associates, the purchasers or old-comers, to have and to hold for them and their heirs and assigns forever. And in consideration hereof, we the above-mentioned are to pay to the said Wesamequen and Wamsutta as followeth: thirty yards of cloth, eight moose- skins, fifteen axes, fifteen hoes, fifteen pair of 17 breeches, eight blankets, two kettles, one cloak, 2 £ in wampan, eight pair stockings, eight pair of shoes, one iron pot, and ten shillings in another comodi- tie. And in witness hereof we have interchangeably set to our hands the day and year above written. In the presence of) *°™ ™LOW. Jonathan Shaw, JOHN COOKE. ^ Samuel Eddy. ) WAMSUTTA. ALM. mark." A fine picture of the landing of Gosnold upon our shores has been painted by our fellow-towns man, William A. Wall. From a notice of this picture made by the writer of this history at the time of its exhibition in 1842, the following extract is taken: li The artist has combined the authentic accounts of the event with the natural scenery in a most happy manner. The conception of the whole affair is exceedingly beautiful. The time is early morning — the sun not yet risen; but his strong light is breaking from the east across the water and the Elizabeth Islands in the distance, the light clouds are Hying away before the gentle breeze, and the dewy freshness of early day is seen upon all things around, while a thrush, from his seat upon a neighboring tree, is chanting his sweet salutation to the hardy adventurer. Gosnold, with his first officer, Bartholomew Gilbert, Gabriel Archer, 'gen tleman and journalist,' and several of his men, are seen upon .the shore, which, together with a group of Indians with whom they are trading, forms the chief attraction of this beautiful picture. The fig ure of Bartholomew Gosnold well represents the 'active, intrepid and experienced mariner,' as he is 18 called by an old historian. vThe boat from which they have apparently just landed is held by a sailor with a boat-hook, while another, leaning over the • gunwale, is musingly looking up the river. A sweet quiet pervades the whole scene; and the re flection of the British flag, drowsily hanging from its staff at the stern of the boat, is seen upon the glassy water. The ' small bark ' which bore them across the Atlantic, with her sails loose, is seen in the offing. The mind is involuntarily carried back to that beautiful morning; and the sweet serenity of the scene must awaken the pleasantest reflec tions in the mind of the spectator." Below is a copy of the record of the settlement of the bounds of Dartmouth made with Philip. Record of Deeds, Plymouth Colony, Book 3d, page 323. " Whereas, according to an order of court, held at Plymouth, bearing date the third day of October, Anno Domini 1664, wherein Phillip, Sagamore of Pokannockett, &c, was desired to appoint an agent or more to set out and mark the bounds of Acushna, Coaksett, and places adjacent, the said Sachem sent John Sassamon, on the 19th day of November, in the year aforesaid, to act in his behalf in the prem ises, whoe hath set the bounds of the said tract and tracts as followeth, viz.: at Acushena three miles to the east according to the deed bearing date November 29th, 1652, from a black-oak marked on four sides, running upward north into the woods eight miles, arid downward south with so much of the island Nakata as falls within the said line ; at Akoaksett, from a white-oak marked on four sides, standing on the west side of the head of the cove, ranging up into the woods north six miles and an 19 half to a great pond, unto ' a white-oak marked, standing upon the west side of the pond, near the south end of the said pond ; by reason of the run ning of the pond, one mile on the east side upward to a black-oak marked on four sides, standing near a maple tree on the side of the said pond, about the middle of it, which pond is called Watuppa ; the upper bounds to run from tree to tree upon a strait line, and at the head of the westernmost arm from the said white-oak to the flat rock ex pressed in the deed aforesaid." 20 CHAPTER II. THE INDIANS OF DARTMOUTH — TROUBLES OF THE EARLY SETTLER'S — ORDER OF COURT RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY — DIFFICULTY OF ENFORCING THE SAME — ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF DARTMOUTH— RALPH KUSSELL AND THE RUSSELL FAMILY — JOSEPH BOTCH — " ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF NEW BEDFORD — EARLY QUAK ERS— GOSNOLD'S SETTLEMENT AT CUTTYHUNK — IDEN TIFICATION OF THE SAME BY DR. BELKNAP— SURVEY OF THE TOWNSHIP BY ORDER OF KING PHILIP — LIST OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASERS. In my former chapter was given the original deed of the purchase of the old township of Dartmouth of Massasoit or Woosamequin, as he is called in the deed, and his son Wamsutta, alias Moanam and Alexander. Massasoit was also the father of Philip, or Pometacom, the great Indian warrior and chieftain. He, as well as his brother Alexun* tJerj who succeeded their father, were denominated "kings" by the early settlers. Their home was at Montaup, or Pokanoket, now known as Mount Hope, near Bristol, Rhode Island, The Indians who inhabited this section of country (Dartmouth,) the Acnshnets, Apponegansets, and Acoaxsets, were a part of the great tribe of Wampa- noags, overwhich Woosamequin, or Massasoit, was the chief Sachem. The early settlers of Dartmouth as well as those at Plymouth, found in Massasoit a firm and devoted friend,, and he has been called "the good Masssaoit." Although his dying injunc- 21 tions to his sons Alexander and Philip, (so named by the English from the great Macedonian gener als,) were to continue in' friendly relations with the English, his counsel was little heeded by the former, and violated in the most savagemanner by the latter. The early settlers of Dartmouth suffered greatly from the depredations and violence of the Indians ; and at one time they were completely broken up, and obliged to forsake their homes and resort to garrisons for protection. This fact reaching the government at Plymouth, the following order of court was passed : "1675_, 14th October. This court taking into their serious consideration the tremenduous dispen sations of God towards the people of Dartmouth, in suffering the barbarous heathen to spoil and de stroy most of their habitations, the enemy being greatly advantaged thereunto by their scattered way of living, do therefore order that in the rebuilding and resettling thereof, that they so order it as to live compact together, at least in each village, as they may be in a capacity both to defend them selves from the assault of an enemy, and the better to attend the public worship of God, and ministry of the word of God, whose carelessness to obtain and attend unto we fear may have been a provo cation of God thus to chastise their contempt of his gospel, which we earnestly desire the people of that place may seriously consider of, lay to heart, and be humbled for, with a solicitous endeavour after a reformation thereof, by a vigorous putting forth to obtain an able, faithful dispenser of the word of God amongst them, and to incourage him therein, the neglect whereof this court, as they must and God willing, they will not permit for the future." Book 5th, Court Orders, page 102. 22 As Plymouth was so called from the fact of that being the name of the last port the Pilgrim Fathers left, so I conclude that our old township of Dart mouth was named from the circumstance of the two ^vessels, the Mayflower and the Speedwell, which it will be remembered sailed together, put ting back 1o the port of Dartmouth on the British Channel, for repairs upon the latter vessel, and consequently it is reasonable to conclude that Dart mouth was early settled by some of the passengers that came over in the Mayflower, as the Speed well was abandoned on account of unseaworthi ness.* One of the earliest settlers of Dartmouth was Ralph Russell, who came from Pontipool, England, and had been engaged in the iron business with Henry and James Leonard of Taunton. He set up an iron forge at "Russell's Mills," which place received its name from him. Ralph Russell was the progenitor of the Russell families of New Bed ford, and the ancestor in the fourth remove of Joseph Russell, from whom New Bedford received its name. In the year 1765, Joseph Rotch, grand father of the late William Rotch, Jr., moved from Nantucket to this place, then known as Dartmouth, for the purpose of pursuing the business of the whale-fishery. Here he became acquainted with Jo seph Russellj before mentioned, a substantial farm er, who included in his broad domain a large part * As no name of those who came over in tne Mayflower appears among those of the early settlers, the name of Dartmouth was proba bly adopted by the original purchasers, all of whom were passengers .in the Mayflower. 23 of the most valuable portion of the land on which New Bedford now stands. His residence, a large old-fashioned farm-house, stood at the head of William street, and near the mansion of Charles W. Morgan. Union street was his cart-path to the shore, at the head of which, on the County road, was a red gate. This way was afterwards called " King street," and subsequently " Main street," a name familiar to the ears of many of our citizens ; and one which it is to be regret ted has been set aside for the less agreeable and no more appropriate one now adopted. " Bridge street " was about the same time changed to " Middle street," a name far less characteristic of its origin, as well as that of old Main street, the latter having been the original main street of the place, and the former leading to the New-Bed ford and Fairhaven bridge — proving that changes are not always improvements. The name King street, as the one in Boston formerly so called, was undoubtedly abandoned from patriotic mo tives. As a little village had already begun to appear, it was thought necessary to give it a particular desig nation from the rest of the old township; and upon a public occasion Joseph Rotch suggested that the name should be "Bedford," in honor of Joseph Russell, who bore the family name of the Duke of Bedford, which was readily adopted by the rest of the inhabitants, and the old gentleman was after wards known as "the Duke." This, it will be re membered, was in "the Old Colony days, when we 24 lived under the King." It being afterwards ascer tained that the same name had been previously / given to a town in the state, it was called New Bedford. Many of the early settlers of Dartmouth were Quakers, who probably sought this then sequestered region as an asylum for the enjoyment of their peculiar religious faith. In the year 1671, the following order of court was passed, which probably grew out of the scruples of the settlers, as Quakers or Friends '. " 1671. In reference unto the town of Dartmouth, it is ordered by court, that whereas a neglect the last year of the gathering in of the sum of fifteen pounds according to order of court to be kept in stock towards the support of such as may dispense the word of God unto them, it is again ordered by the court that the sum of fifteen pound be this year levied to be as a stock for the use aforesaid, to be delivered unto Arthur Hatheway and Ser jeant Shaw, to be by them improved as opportu nity may present for the ends aforesaid." Book 5th, Court Orders, page 41. This order of court does not appear from the following one passed several years afterwards to have proved effectual. The good people at Ply mouth appear to have been particularly exercised for the spiritual interests of our early settlers. "1674. Wednesday, the 24th of this instant, is ap pointed by the court for the inhabitants and purchas ers of Dartmouth to meet together for the settling of the bounds of their town, at which time the Gov ernour, Mr. Hinckley, the Treasurer, Mr. Walley, •Lieut. Morton and John Tomson did engage to give meeting with others to propose and iiideavour 25 that some provision may be made for the preaching of the word of God amongst them." Book 5th, Court Orders, page 102. Capt. Gosnold, in 1602, named a round hill in fhe present township of Dartmouth, "Hap's Hill," lying between two good harbors, which fall within the limits of the said town, being Pascomansetand Apponeganset. The hill is unquestionably one of those now known as the "Round Hills," near " Dumpling Rock." In my last chapter I made mention of the occu pation of the island Cuttyhunk by Gosnold. On the 20th of June, 1797, Dr. Belknap, the historian, visited this island, and saw the cellar of a store house, built by Gosnold in 1602. The authenticity of this important relic has been doubted by some; but the writer of this history has the authority of several eye-witnesses in corroboration of this im portant fact. " It is a vestige of the first work per formed by Europeans on the New England shores. Here they first penetrated the earth ; here the first edifice was erected. And from this humble begin ning have arisen cities, numerous, large and fair, in which are enjoyed all the refined delights of civil ized life." Although Bartholomew Gosnold cannot be considered as the founder of New Bedford, yet, as he was the first Englishman or European who visited our shores, our history may with much pro priety take its date from the time of his visit. Here, during the last of May or the first part of June, A. D. 1602, this "active, intrepid, and experienced sea man, from the west of England," landed upon our- 26 shores, eighteen years before the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers upon Plymouth Rock. A more permanent settlement was intended, and had not the slight disagreement before alluded to taken place in the company, it would undoubtedly have been made. "Jhincc CSofou'iiouv. 1660. A writing appointed to be recorded, as followeth : * ' At a general meeting of the purchasers, at Ply mouth, the seventh of March, 1652, it was ordered and fully agreed unto and concluded by the whole that all that tract of lands lying from the purchas ers' bounds on the west side of Acoughcusse to a river called Accusshaneek and three miles to the eastward of the same, with all islands, meadows, woods, waters, rivers, creeks, and all appurtenances, thereunto belonging, should be given to those whose names are hereunder written, containing thirty-four shares, and was then given, allotted, assigned and set over to them by the whole, to have arid to hold to them and their heirs and assigns forever, to di vide and dispose of the same as they should see good ; and they are to satisfy the Indians for the purchase thereof, and to bear all other due charges that shall any way arise about the same, according to their several proportions. •WILLIAM BRADFORD, a moie- EDWARD HOLMAN. ty. Mistris JENNEY. Captain STANDISH. JOSHUA PRATT. Ms. COLLYARE and SARAH Me. HICKES. BREWSTER. THOMAS SOUTHWORTH. Mr. ALDEN. JAMES HURST. Misiris WARREN. EDWARD DOTY. ROBERT BARTLETT. JOHN SHAW. JOHN FAUNCE. FRANCIS COOKE. MANNASSES KEMPTON. JOHN COOKE. GEORGE MORTON. SAMUEL CUTBERT. JOHN DUNHAM. JOHN CRACKSTON: the one- WILLIAM PALMER. half of John Cracltston land, THOMAS MORTON. which was Mr. William Brad- 27 ford.Senr. His land was passed CONSTANT SOUTHWORTH. over to the said William Brad- GEORGE SOULE. ford, to Mr. John Howland. PHILLIP DELANOY. STEPHEN TRACYE. MOSES SIMONS. FRANCIS SPRAGUE. EDWARD BUMPAS. HENERY SAMPSON. FRANCIS EATON. PETER BROWNE. Whereas these purchasers, who by agreement of the whole had their proportions of purchase land falling unto them in the places above mentioned, who by agreement had their several names entered into a list together, with some other old-comers, under the hand of the Hona Govr late deceased, they did desire that the list of their names might be recorded, but the above-written original list of names, and the agreement, could not be found in some years, so that it was judged lost, these pur chasers notwithstanding still desiring that what was their right might be recorded, whereupon order was given by the aforesaid Governour that it might be done, in which record, for want of the original list, the names of some are entered contrary to the original grant and agreement of the purchasers, as appears by it, and also by divers other purchasers as well as themselves, which is an occasion of some difference already, and may be of more, there fore it is ordered by the General Court held at Ply mouth, the 8th June, 1660, that the abovesaid orig inal list should be entered, and the other to stand in the book not defaced, but to be void, null and of none effect." The following record, although nearly a recapit ulation of the survey made by order of King Philip, as published in the first chapter, is interesting and valuable, as containing a full list of the names of the original purchasers of Dartmouth. This list was for several years lost, and the preceding rec ord from memory was made; but the original being 28 afterwards found, it was recorded, and the other made null and void. Record of Deeds, Plymouth Colony, Book 2d, page 107. " The names of those who by order of the pur chasers met at Plymouth the seventh day of March, 1652, who by joint consent and agreement of the said purchasers are to have their parts, shares or proportions, at the place or places commonly called and known by the names of Acushena, alias Acqucs- sent, which entereth in at the western end of We'eck- atay, and to Coaksett, alias Acoakus, and places adjacent, the bounds of which tract fully to extend three miles to the eastward of the most easterly part of the River or Bay called Acusshna aforesaid, and so along the sea-side to the river called Coak sett, lying on the west side of Point Pritt,* and to the most westernmost side of any branch of the aforesaid river, and to extend eight miles into the woods, the said tract or tracts of land so bounded, as abovesaid, which is purchased of the Indians, which were the right proprietors thereof, as appears by a deed under their hands, with all marshes, meadows, rivers, waters, woods, timbers and other profits, priv ileges, emunities, commodities and appurtenances belonging to the said tract or tracts above expressed, or any part or parcel thereof, to belong unto the parties whose names are underwritten, who are in number thirty-four whole parts or shares, and no more, to them and their heirs and assigns forever: Mr. WILLIAM BRADFORD, one whole part or share. Captain STANDISH, one whole part or share. Mb. JOHN ALDEN, one whole part or share. Mr. COLLYER and SARAH BREWSTER, one whole part or share. Mr. HOWLAND and WILLIAM BASSETT, one whole part or share. GEORGE MORTON, one whole part or share. MANASSES KEMPTON, one whole share. JAMES HURST, one whole share. JOHN DUNHAM, Senr., one wholo share. JOHN SHAW, Senr-., one whole share. * Gooseberry Neck (Point Peril. ) 29 FRANCIS COOKE, one whole share. JOHN COOKE, one whole share. JOSHUA PRATT, one whole share. GEORGE SOULE, one whole share. CONSTANT SOUTHWORTH, one whole share. THOMAS SOUTHWORTH, one whole share. Miss JENNINGS, one whole share. STEVEN TRACYE, ono whole share. JOHN FAUNCE, one whole share. HENRY SAMPSON, one whole share. PHILIP DELANOYE, one whole share. Miss WARREN, one whole share. ROBERT BARTLETT, one whole share. WILLIAM PALMER, one whole share. EDWARD DOTYE, one whole share. SAMUEL H1CKES, one whole share. PETER BROWNE, one whole share. FRANCIS SPRAGUE, one whole share. MOSES SIMONS, one whole share. ' SAMUEL EATON, one whole share. THOMAS MORTON, one whole share. SAMUEL CUTBERT, one whole share. EDWARD HOLMAN, one whole share EDWARD BUMP ASS, one whole share. In all thirty-four parts or shares." So it appears that the whole township of Dart mouth in 1652 belonged to thirty-six persons. 30 CHAPTER III. CHARACTER OF THE EARLY SETTLERS OF DARTMOUTH- DESTRUCTION OF THEIR PROPERTY BY THE INDIANS- ORDER OF COURT 1678, FOR MORE COMPACT SETTLE MENTS—OLD COLONY RECORDS — FREEMEN OF DART MOUTH—NAMES OF THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS- PROPRIETORS' RECORDS — OLD HOUSES— INDIAN RELICS. The last chapter closed with the list of the names of the original purchasers of Dartmouth, but few of whom, however, settled here; and I have been able to trace but five or six out of the whole num ber, which was thirty-six, in the early records of .the town. The land appears to have been taken up by a class of people not particularly identified with the Puritans, and many of them Quakers, whom the government at Plymouth, as will be seen by their- Court orders, found it difficult to control. A frugal and industrious people, busily engaged in agriculture, the early settlers of Dartmouth do not appear to have been guilty of any other offense than the want of obedience to the rigid requisitions of the Court, in regard to the support of a minis try, and the observance of the Sabbath, according to the views of the government. But the sturdy Dartmouthians, with their strong admixture of the nonconformity of the disciples of George Fox, baffled their efforts with a steady perseverance, and in the year 1691. refused the payment of taxes, and sent no Representative to the Court. 31 The people of Dartmouth having suffered a great deal in the loss of property destroyed by the Indi ans, owing to their scattered way of living, the fol lowing Order of Court was passed: "1678. To John Cooke, to be communicated'to such of the former inhabitants of Dartmouth as are concerned herein. The Councell being now assembled, considering the reason and necessity of that order of the General Court made the 14th Oc tober, 1675, respecting the rebuilding or resettling the Town of Dartmouth, a copy whereof is here with sent, and considering with all that all the peo ple of that place, by their deserting it, have left it to the possession of the enemy, which through the good hand of God on the endeavours of this Col ony is now recovered again out of the enemies' hand, do so much the more look at it as a duty in cumbent on this Councel to see the said order ef fectually attended, do therefore hereby prohibit all ' and every of the former inhabitants of the said town of Dartmouth, or their or any of their as signs, to make any enterance or building or settling in any part of the said former Township of Dart mouth untill satisfactory security be first given to the Court or Councel by some of the principle per sons heretofore belonging to that place that the said Court Order shall in all respects be attended by them, as the transgressors of this prohibition will answer the contrary at their peril." Book 5, Court Orders, page 124. For a copy of the order referred to, see the pre vious chapter. With the following orders, I shall close my ex tracts from the Old Colony Records. They are valuable as addition to the scanty materials afford ed for my history of this early period. 32 " 1664, June. At this Court all that tract of land commonly called and known by the name Acush- ena, Ponagansett and Coaksett is allowed by the Court to be a township, and the inhabitants there of have liberty to make such orders as may conduce to.their common good in town concernments, and that the said town be henceforth called and known by the name of Dartmouth." Book Ath, Court Orders, page 72, Colony Records. "1665, June. Dartmouth proportion of the rates or taxes, 10 £." Book 4, Court Orders, page 103. "1667, J one. Serjeant James Shaw and Arthur Hatherway are appointed by the Court to exer cise the men in armes in the town of Dartmouth." Book Ath, Court Orders, page 104, "1667, July. John Cooke, of Dartmouth, is authorized by Court to make contracts of marriage in the town of Dartmouth, and likewise to admin ister an oath to give evidence to the Grand In quest, and likewise to administer an oath to any witness for the trial of a case as occasion may re quire; and in case any person or persons residing in this jurisdiction shall have occasion to commence a suit against any stranger or foreigner, it shall be lawful for the said John Cooke to issue out war rants in His Majestie's name, to bind over any per son or persons to answer the said suit at His Maj estie's Court, to be h olden at Plymouth at anytime, by attachment or summons, as occasion may re quire, and that he shall give forth suppoenies to warn witnesses." Book 4, Court Orders, page 163. "An exact list of all the freemen in Dartmouth on the 29th May, 1670: JOHN COOKE, WILLIAM SPOONER, JOHN RUSSELL, SAMUEL HICKES, JAMES SHAW, WILLIAM PALMER." ARTHUR HATHEWAY, Court Orders, Book 5, page 205: 33 _ "1671, July. Arthur Hathcway, of Dartmouth, is appointed by Court to administer an oath to any witness, to give evidence to the Grand Inquest in that town, as occasion may require." Book 5, Court Orders, page 48. "1673, 4th March. John Smith, of Dartmouth, is appointed to be Lieutenant of the military com pany of Dartmouth, and Jacob Michell to be en sign-bearer of the said company." Book 5, Court Orders, page 96. But few of the original purchasers of Dartmouth settled here, as will be seen by comparing the fol lowing list of the names of the proprietors in the confirmatory deed of William Bradford, Novem ber 13th, 1694 : MANASSEH KEMPTON, SETH POPE, JOHN RUSSELL, ARTHUR HATHAWAY, PELEG SLOCUM, STEPHEN WEST, JAMES SISSON, JOHN RUSSELL, Jr., ABRAHAM TUCKER, JOHN TUCKER, THOMAS BRIGGS, JONATHAN RUSSELL, JOHN HATHAWAY, GEORGE CADMAN, JACOB MOTT, ELEAZER SMITH, RETURN BABCOCK, BENJAMIN HOWLAND," WILLIAM SHEARMAN, THOMAS TABER, JONATHAN DELANO, ' JOSEPH RUSSELL, STEPHEN PECKHAM, ISAAC POPE, ELEAZER SLOCUM, JOHN LAPHAM, JOSEPH RIPLEY, ¦ DANIEL SHERMAN, MARY DAVIS, THOMAS TABER, Jr., LETTICE JENNEY, SAMUEL ALLEN, VALENTINE HUDDLESTONE, EDMUND SHEARMAN, SAMUEL JENNY, MARK JENNY, AARON DAVIS, GILES SLOCUM, RALPH EARLE, Jr., WILLIAM EARLE, son of R. E., JOHN SHEARMAN, SAMUEL SPOONER, WILLIAM SPOONER, JOHN SPOONER, Jr., JOHN SPOONER, THOMAS MITCHELL, JOHN TINKHAM, JOSEPH TRIPP, JAMES TRIPP, WILLIAM MACOMBER, SAMUEL CORNWELL, SAMUEL SHEARMAN, GERSHOM SMITH, SAMUEL HICKES, ELIZABETH RICKETSON, JOSEPH TABER. 31 By this it appears that Dartmouth at the date of this deed was owned by fifty-six persons, called proprietors. The land was afterwards surveyed by Benjamin Crane, and divided, apportioning 800 acres to each proprietor — called in the old records " the eight- hundred-acre division." Crane held a commis sion in the reign of Queen Anne, as surveyor, and became quite celebrated. His name is familiar to all who have consulted the " Proprietors' Records." These records are of much value in establishing the original boundaries of land, and are often brought into court for that purpose. There are still standing several of the houses built by the original settlers, dating back to the time im mediately succeeding " King Philip's War," which commenced in the year 1675. During the war the inhabitants of Dartmouth were completely dispersed by the Indians, and it is probable that most of the houses, except such as were used as garrisons, were destroyed. One of these old houses, now an in teresting ruin, is owned by Thomas Wood, and stands about a mile to the northeast from the vil lage of Acushnet, another in Oxford Village, Fair haven, built by the ancestor of the late John Taber, still older. These are in the present township of Fairhaven. The next is in Dartmouth, about three miles from New Bedford, and on a cross road about one mile northeast from the village of Padanaram, lately occupied by David Howland, who died a few years since at an advanced age. The other, still in good preservation, and occupied, stands about four 35 miles to the south-west of Russell's Mills, owned by Peleg Sherman, and known as the " old Ricket- son house," which was built by William Ricket- son, who died in 1691. His wife was Elizabeth Ricketson, whose name appears in the list of pro prietors. William Ricketson was one of the orig inal proprietors of Dartmouth, and the ancestor of those who bear his name. All these houses, except the one in Oxford, were substantial two-storied buildings, with huge stone chimneys and capacious fireplaces with ovens, seen^ only in the oldest houses, capable of receiving several feet of wood, from four to six feet long, so that the children used to sometimes sit upon the ends of the logs, and look up the chimney at the stars. These houses were severally built by the ancestors of families still living upon or near the homes of their fathers. The old slock of people of Dartmouth was an in dustrious, as well as a hardy and vigorous race ; and to this day^L good share of these qualities remains, giving enterprise and endurance to their possessors. Besides the garrison at "Russell's Orchard," near the head of the Apponcgansct River, there was an other on the cast side of the Acushnet River, a short distance northeast of the Isle of Marsh. The locations of both these garrisons arc discernible, and there is a spring of water near each, the spot having probably been chosen with reference to theref'. Several Indian- burial-places have been dis covered in the vicinity of New Bedford within a few years, near the shores of Hie Acushnet, upon high and dry places. The remains of a large niim- 36 ber of these once noble possessors of our soil have been exhumed, and at one time the writer examined the skulls of a number. In most of these, every tooth was preserved, and sound, both upon the up per and lower jaw, and many of them indicated an advanced age, the back' or molar teeth being much worn and grooved. On some of these skulls the coarse black hair still remained. Arrow-heads, stone hatches, adzes, gouges, &c, have been from time to time turned up by the plough-share. The writer has in his possession a handsome and curi ously wrought tobacco-pipe, manufactured from a dark-colored soft stone, taken from one of the Indi an graves— -also a quaint glass bottle and some trifling brass ornaments, indicating the burial to have taken place after the arrival of the white peo ple. The bottle undoubtedly contained the Indians' great curse, "fire-water," as it was found with its nose resting upon the mouth of the skeleton. How great must have been the fall and degradation of the poor native, thus to desire the companionship of his greatest betrayer and destroyer, beyond the 37 CHAPTER IV. TOE EARLY FRIENDS OR QUAKERS— FIRST MEETING HOUSE, BUILT IN 1699— VISIT OF EARLY ENGLISH FRIENDS— JOSEPH RUSSELL, SEN.— CAUSES OF THE DECLINE OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS— RECORD OF MEETINGS— EARLY BUSINESS— JOSEPH RUSSELL, JR.— HIS ANCESTOR RALPH RUSSELL. As I have before stated, the Friends early found their way to Dartmouth. Their first meeting-house was built in the year 1699, but a monthly meeting had been established previous to this time, which was held at a private house. This meeting-house was very large, and occupied the spot where the present Apponeganset meeting is held. The old house, having become somewhat dilapidated, and larger than was needed, was taken down many years ago, and the present, a smaller one, erected upon the same place. A yearly, or half-yearly meeting was at one time held here. The land, con taining six acres, was given to the society by Peleg Slocum, in the year 1698. The name of this an cient Friend is mentioned in the journals of trav^ elling ministers of the society at this time. The Friends of Dartmouth were a numerous and influential people, and in the early part of the last century comprised a considerable portion of all the inhabitants. The influence of their principles and peculiarities aro observable among the people gen erally of this quarter even at this day. Living at 38' pe&ce with all men, of frugal but hospitable hab its, the Friends soon became a prosperous and happy body. Devoted to agriculture and other simple and honorable pursuits of life, their, homes became the abodes of comfort and cheerfulness, and so they continued until the unfortunate schisms- entered among them, which, as has proved the case with other large Christian bodies, have broken and weakened their numbers and influence. Many of the early distinguished ministers of the society from Great Britain, as well as those from other parts of this country, visited the Dartmouth Friends. Al though tbe devoted founder of the sect, George Fox, was in New England, and at Newport, in the year 1672, it does not appear that he reached Dart mouth, or the other meetings in this quarter. But Thomas Story and Samuel Bownas, who were among the original Friends, were here ; the former as early as 1699, and again in 1704; the latter was in America as early as 1702, but did not reach Dartmouth until Ms second visit, in 1727. Samuel Bownas was a man of vigorous intellect, and an eloquent minister. He appears also to have been of a liberal spirit and a peaec-maker, as the follow ing extract from his journal shows. Speaking of u circilmstance which occurred at that time in the meeting at Dartmouth, he says: "A narrowness of spirit did some hurt amongst fhem, and produced some uneasiness, which I en deavored to remove; it was chiefly occasioned by a young man's being, as some thought, too much in the fashion, although plain compared with some 39 others ; yet some thought this reason sufficient to refuse his proposal of marriage among them, al though well recommended from the monthly meet ing where he was a member; upon which 1 shewed them that as he was so well recommended by certif icate, they could not reject his proposal according to our discipline. The meeting, after we had some further conference about it, let' the young people proceed, and matters grew easy, and the cloud of difference dispersed and vanished, which was like to have hurt both monthly meetings. From thence [he adds] I went five miles to Joseph Russell's, in order to take shipping to Nan tucket." This Joseph Russell was the father of Joseph Russell, Jr., before spoken of as the founder of New Bedford. His house stood near the head of Wal nut street. The first Friends' meeting-house in New Bedford was built in the year 1785 ; this too was the first house built expressly for religious worship in New Bedford. A school-house had previously been their place of meeting. This building stood on the east side of Third street, between School and Wal nut. The old meeting-house, having become too small for the society, was removed, and the pres ent large and commodious brick edifice was built upon the lot the other had occupied, on Spring street, about thirty years ago. The land, compris ing nearly half an acre, was given them by the afore said Joseph Russel], who was a member of the society. Until within a short time previous to this, the society of Friends in New Bedford as well as in 40 Dartmouth had continued to prosper, and among its members were still included a large portion of the most respectable and enterprising inhabitants. But the palmy days of the society were fast passing away, and even as early as 1807, a writer on Nan tucket says: "The number of the Quakers [there] is probably diminishing, for many are driven from their society by the strictness of their discipline." But the great schism, principally on doctrinal grounds, which commenced about thirty-five years since, gave the destructive blow to the society, and here as well as elsewhere its influence was severely felt. Many who had long been among the most in fluential and exemplary members withdrew, or wers disowned upon grounds of a difference of opinion on doctrinal points. Those who adhered to the doctrine of the Unity were denominated by the one party, " Hicksites," and those who adhered to the doctrine of the Trinity (although they repudi ate this term) were called by the other, Orthodox. These distinctions still remain; but each party has suffered still further divisions in its ranks. The society of Friends has done a good work ; and the cause of truth and humanity will ever be indebted to them for their support and promotion. Could they but exercise still further the true spirit of Christian liberality, their usefulness in the cause of human progress would be greater ; but the rigor of their rules and regulations ("the discipline" of the society, so called) is thought to be unfavorable to their increase as a sect. 41 The early Friends were a plain and self-sacrific ing people, and the testimonies which they bore with so much heroic fortitude against the bitterest persecution, were not without their influence upon many not members of their society. It is fervently to be hoped, then, that a society on the perpetuity of whose 'peaceful principles so much of the well-being of mankind depends, will once more, forgetting all minor differences of opin ion, become, in the language of the poet Cowpcr, "like kindred drops united into one." There are at present 14 meetings of Friends within the limits of the old town of Dartmouth, — two at Apponeganset (the oldest,) one each at Smith's Neck and Allen's Neck, two in Westport, two at Newtown (Smith's Mills,) two in New Bedford, and one each at Acushnet, Long Plain, Rochester and Faii-hav'en. These are divided into three monthly meetings, so called. According to a pamphlet published in IS 19, Dartmouth had at 'that time 202 members, Westport 178 members, New Bedford '445 members — the aggregate S25 members. There are two quarterly meetings held annually in New Bedford, viz., on the first 5th- day in the 4th and 12th months, forming a part of ' the Sandwich quarterly meeting. The. other two quarters are held at Sandwich and Falmouth. The early business men, and many of the me chanics, were members of the society of Friends, and to their industry and enterprise the present prosperity of New Bedford is much indebted. They laid the foundation on which the supcrstrucl- 42 ure of our great commercial establishment has been built, now the third seaport in the tonnage of sailing vessels in the United States. Though the war with the mother- country crushed the business of New Bedford, a portion of the place, as well as the shipping, having been burnt by the British troops, still they persevered, Until finally, by the beginning of the present century, the village of Bedford had become next to Nantucket in number of vessels and amount invested in the whale-fishery. It is to be hoped that the example of these worthy men of business for probity will be respected and emulated, so that we may reasonably hope for a continuance of that prosperity which their honest enterprise did so much to produce. It is my intention in this history to make a few biographical notices of some of the early set tlers of New Bedford and the old township of Dartmouth, and of a few of the more prominent ones of a later date, — those identified with the growth and prosperity of our place. In these rec ords I shall endeavor to be just and true, "nothing extenuate or set down aught in malice." Should I therefore give offence to any friend or relative of a subject under notice, it will be unintentional. Joseph .Russell, of whom I have before spoken as the founder of New Bedford, was born in the old township of Dartmouth, near the head of the present Walnut street, September 8th, 1722, O. S., and died at his house, which, as before stated, stood at the head of William street, September 16th, 1840, aged 82 years. He was descended from 43 Ralph Russell, before mentioned, whose name ap pears the earliest among the settlers of Dartmouth, having established an iron-forge at "Russell's Mills," so called from this circumstance, and who had previously been connected with the Leonards in the iron business at Taunton, as will appear by the following record: "In 1652, the first extensive iron-works in North America were erected at Taunton by James Leon ard, Henry Leonard, and Ralph Russell, who came from Poutypool, Monmoutliskire, England, and settled first at Braintree. It was at a town meet ing conferred and agreed upon between the inhab itants of Taunton and Henry Leonard of Braia- txee: 'Imprimis. It was agreed and granted by the town to the said Henry Leonard, and James Leon ard his brother, and Ralph Russell, free consent to come hither and join with certain of our inhabit ants to set up a bloomery-work on the " Two Mile River." ' Ralph Russell removed to Dartmouth and was the progenitor of a numerous and respectable pos terity." Baylies' History Plymouth Colonjj, part II, page 268.. 44 CHAPTER V. THE FIRST REPRESENTATIVE TO THE OLD COLONY COURT, JOHN RUSSELL— NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAD TAKEN THE OATH OF FIDELITY, 1684— OLD RECORD — EARLY LAND-OWNERS — LONGEVITY OF EARLY INHABITANTS— - FIRST HOUSE IN THE VILLAGE OF BEDFORD — FIRST SHIP— HER PART IN THE BOSTON TEA-PARTY. 1665. The township of Dartmouth was rep resented at the Old Colony Court, Plymouth, for the first time, by John RusseU, who was probably a son of Ralph Russell, before mentioned, who established the iron-forge at Russell's Mills. This - village was at that time and for many years after wards the head-quarters of Dartmouth. It is pleasantly situated upon the west side of the Pas- camanset or Slocum's River, and the scenery around is remarkable for its picturesque beauty. This river takes its rise in the north part of the township of New Bedford, at the beautiful little lake near the residence of Jonathan Tobey, about. eight miles from the city. This lake or pond is - generally known as " Myles's Pond," but the Indian name for it was " Sa'ssaquin." * The stream affords valuable water-power in its course, particularly at the pleasant and thriving little village of Smith's Mills, North Dartmouth, where there is a substan- * Sassaquin was probably the name of a chief who resided npon the shore of this lake; as Tispaquin, a small lake in Plymouth County, was so called from the sachem of that name — sometimes in the old records written Waiuspaquin. 45 tial stone grist-mill and a factory, owned by Messrs. William & John Cummincrs. John Russell represented the town of Dartmouth from 1665 to 1683, with the exception of two years, 1666 and 1673, when John Cooke, whose name, as well as that of John Russell, is among those of the original proprietors mentioned in the confirmatory deed of 1692, was chosen. 1685, Joseph Tripp was the representative; 1686, John Cooke; 1689-90, Seth Pope.' It is probable for several of the first years the representative made his journey to Plymouth on foot and by the old Indian paths. The distance from Russell's Mills to Plymouth could not have been less than forty milers. This journey in the winter season must have been quite a formidable affair, as the snow would be deep in the woods and render snow-shoes necessary. We can imagine one of these sturdy yeomen, warmly wrapped up in his home-manu factured wool, perhaps with a friendly Indian as guide, plodding his way through the narrow forest path, his mind possessed with the importance of his office and his mission. The number of rep resentatives would undoubtedly be satisfactorily small to the closest economist if such a mode of reaching the seat of government were now required. " 1684. Here follows the names of those that have taken the oath of fidelity: JOHN COOKE, • RICHARD KIRBY, JOHN RUSSELL, JOSEPH '1 RfPP, JOHN SMITH, JONATHAN DELANO, ARTHUR HATHAWAY, THOMAS TABER, SAMUEL , JONATHAN RUSSELL, \ 46 JAMES LAWSON, WILLIAM WOOD, JOHN SHEARMAN, SAMUEL CORNELL." Dartmouth Records. The books in which these early records were kept are in a very dilapidated state, and a con siderable portion on separate leaves, without any order or arrangement. They have evidently been consulted a great deal, appearing much worn, and in some parts quite illegible. Those descended from the early settlers who are desirous of making a genealogical record will find these old books of value for reference. The " Proprietors' Records"* are quite volumin ous, and contain records of the original purchases, and the surveys made by "old Crane," as he is familiarly termed, who held his commission, as before stated, under Queen Anne. I shall for the present leave these old records for future reference, and make such extracts from them from time to time, as may be necessary for my object. Previous to the Revolution, the land of New Bedford lying between the " Cove" and the " Head of the River" was mostly ow ned by a few families; commencing south with the Aliens, thence north, the RussellsJ Kemptons, Willises, Peckhams, Hathaways, and the Wrightingtons. These peo ple were substantial farmers, and the old large and comfortable farm-houses of each of these families generally stood upon the west side of the County road, and within the memory of many now living. * These are now in the safe of the Register of Deeds office, New Bedford. 47 Their farms extended to the river on the east, and about the same distance on the west, embracing extensive fields, pastures, and woodlands. The observer will be surprised to ascertain upon survey how large a portion of this section was arranged into farms more than a hundred years'ago, regularly walled, with the stone in their natural state, and in many places standing as firmly at the present day as when first built. The amount of labor done by these worthies in clearing, fencing, and bringing inte a state of culture these large tracts of land, must have been very great. There was no com plaint of poor soil in those days; large families were reared; and the products of the soil supplied all the necessaries and many of the comforts of life. A more robust, happy, and prosperous people than the old yeomanry of Dartmouth could hardly be found. The original stock of the people of New Bedford was a long-lived race, many of them reaching ninety years ; and one case of extreme longevity, that of Patience Kempton, who died in the year 1779, aged one hundred and five years six months. She was a daughter of Elder John Faunce, of Plymouth, who died in 1745, aged ninety-nine years. It is my intention hereafter to make a record of those of our inhabitants remark able for longevity. " In the winter of 1760, John Loudon of Pem broke purchased of Joseph Russell an acre of land, the first lot that was sold from his homestead farm, a few rods south of what is now called the Four Corners," on which he erected a house in the sum- 48 rner of 1761. The deed of the land was drawn by Jireh Willis, Esq. This was the first house erected within the limits of the then contemplated village. Several other houses had been erected previous to the year 1765, when Joseph Rotch made his purchase." The older houses upon the farms along the County road were not included in the village. In the yisar 1767 the first ship was launched. She was built under some buttonwood trees, near where Hazard's wharf now lies. Her name was the Dartmouth, and belonged to Francis,* son of Joseph Rotch. The first voyage she made was to London, with a cargo of whale oil, and while going out of the bay struck upon a ledge of rocks, but was not materially injured. This was one of the vessels that carried the tea into Boston harbor which was thrown overboard. The following account of this affair, so important in its consequences, is from Gordon's History of the American Revolution, the oldest record of the circumstances I have been able to obtain, and written by a cotemporary. The author, William Gordon, D. D., although an Englishman, appears in this sketch, as well as in his other historical records of the events of the Revolution, to have been free from undue bias against the Americans. "'The day before the last meeting [the meeting of the Governor and his Council, 29th November, 1773] Captain Hall, in the Dartmouth, came to an * The widow of this gentleman is still living in this city at an advanced age, by whom I am informed that it was her husband, and not his father, who owned the Dartmouth. anchor near the castle, having on board one hun dred and fourteen chests of tea; and on the day of their meeting comes into the harbor. On the same day a notification is posted up in all the parts of the town, inviting every friend to his country to meetf at nine o'clock to make united resistance to the most destructive measures of the administration. The meeting of the people at Boston and the neighboring towns is continued by adjournment to the next day (November 30th,) when it is deter mined that the tea shall be returned. Faneuil Hall being too small for the assembly, they adjourn to the Old South meeting-house, and confirm the former determination by voting 'that the tea shall not be landed, that no duties shall be paid, and that it shall be sent back in the same bottom.' They further vote 'that Mr. Rotch, the owner of the vessel, be directed not to enter the tea at his peril, and that Captain Hall be informed, and at his peril not to suffer any of the tea to be landed.' They also appointed a watch of twenty-five men to be a guard upon the Dartmouth, lying at Grif fin's wharf. / A letter is received from the con signees, offering to store the teas till they can write and receive further orders, but the proposal is re jected. Mr. Greenleaf, the sheriff, appears, and begs leave to read a proclamation from the Govern or, wtyeh requires the people forthwith to disperse, and to surcease all further proceedings. He is allowed to do it; and upon finishing, there is a loud and general hiss. The people afterward vote 'that Captain Bruce on his arrival do conform to the votes respecting Hall's vessel; that no tea from Great Britain be landed or sold till the act impos ing the duty is repealed; that the captain of the present watch be desired to make out a list for the next night, and so on until the vessels leave the harbor; that should the watch be molested, that the inhabitants be alarmed by the tolling of the 50 bells at night, and the ringing of them in the day; that six persons be appointed to give notice to the country towns upon any important occasion; that every vessel with tea have a proper watch ; and 'that their brethren in the country be desired to afford their assistance on the first notice.' " * '"December 14th. The people of Boston and the neighboring towns that have agreed to act in 'concert with Boston meet at the Old South meeting- ,house,' and conclude upon ordering Mr. Rotch to k apply immediately for a clearance for his ship. Meanwhile the Governor receiving intimation that kshe would be sent to sea, and that it might not be through the ordinary channel by the castle, ac quaints Admiral Montague, and desires him to take the proper precautions; on which the Admiral orders the Active and King Fisher to be fitted for 4 sea, and to fall down and guard the passages out of the harbor. The Governor likewise renews in writing his orders to. Colonel Leslie to suffer no vessel, coasters, excepted, to pass the fortress from the town without a permit signed by himself. A sufficient number of guns are loaded on this special occasion." " The assembly are acquainted that the Collector cannot give Mr. Rotch a clearance until the vessel is discharged of dutiable articles. * . November 16. Mr. Samuel Phillips Savage, of Weston, is chosen moderator. The number assembled from town and country is thought to be some thousands. Upon the present crisis sev eral gentlemen deliver their sentiments ; and Mr. Josiah Quincy, Jr., his, to the following purpose : ' It is not, Mr. Moderator, the spirit that vapors within these walls that must stand us in stead. The exertions of this day will call forth events which will make a very different spirit necessary for our salvation. Whoever supposes that shouts ¦ f 51 and hosannas will terminate the trials of 'this day entertains a childish fancy. We must be grossly ignorant of the importance and value of the prize for which' we contend; we must be equally ignorant of the power of those who have combined against us; we must be blind to that malice, inveteracy, and insatiable revenge, which actuate our enemies, public and private, abroad and in our bosom, to hope that we shall end this without the sharpest conflicts — to flatter ourselves that popular resolves, popular harangues, popular acclamations, and pop ular vapor, will vanquish our foes. Let us consider before we advance to those measures which must bring on the most trying and terrible struggle this country ever saw.' About three o'clock in the afternoon the ques tion is put : ' Will you abide by your former resolution with respect to not suffering the tea to be landed? ' It passes in the affirmative, nem. con. Mr. Rotch is ordered to make a protest and pro cure a pass for his vessel. He waits -upon the Governor at Milton, who offers to give him a letter to the Admiral for protection, which he declines, fearing in that case the rage of the people, and being in no concern about his ship, as that is not the object of resentment, but the tea. He inti mates to the Governor that some of the leaders of the people wish the ship to go down and be stopped at the castle, 'for then they will be rid of the affair, and may say they have done all in their power.' While Mr. Rotch is absent, the speakers in the meeting keep the people together by engaging their attention till he returns, which is before six o'clock, when he informs the body that upon apply ing to the Governor for a pass, he received for an answer, ' I cannot give you a pass consistent with the laws and my duty to my King, unless the vessel is properly qualified from the Custom- House.' Upon this there is a great deal of dis- 52 * v. putiiig, when a person disguised like an Indian gives the war-hoop in the front gallery, where there are few if any besides himself. Upon this signal it is moved .and voted that the meeting be imme diately dissolved. The people crowd out and run in numbers to Griffin's wharf. .,-At the same in stant a number of persons, chiefly masters of vessels and ship-builders from the north end of the .town, about seventeen, though judged to be many ^rnore as they run along across Fort Hill, dressed as Indians and repair to the tea-ships, and in about two hours hoist out of them and break open three hundred and forty-two chests of tea, and discharge their contents into the salt water. They are not in the least molested. The multitude of spectators upon and about the wharf serve as a covering party. The whole business is conducted with very little '"tumult, and no damage done to the vessels ot any other property; when finished, the people return quietly to their own towns and habitations." "I have made an extract of this full and particular account of that famous event sometimes styled the "Boston Tea- Party," for the purpose of show ing the part which one of our early citizens and his ship held in the matter. ^CHAPTER VI. THE WHALE-FISHERY — BURKE'S TRIBUTE TO THE EARLY WHALEMEN — EARLY ENTERPRISES — THE EFFECTS OF THE REVOLUTION — THE OLD SHIP REBECCA — ANEC DOTE OF THE EARLY STRICTNESS OF FRIENDS — RELICS OF WHALING IN THE OLDEN TIME. The beautiful- and eloquent tribute of Edmund Burke to the early whalemen of New England, in his noble speech before the British House of Com mons in behalf of the American colonies, has been often quotedj but I do not know of a more, appro priate introduction to the sketch of this most im portant branch of commercial enterprise, in which our history is so intimately interested, than by bringing it before my readers in this place. ¦.' "Look at the manner in which the people of New England have carried on the .whale-fishery. Whilst we follow them among the tumbling mountains of ice, and behold them penetrating into the deepest recesses of Hudson's Bay and Davis' •Strait— -whilst we are looking for them beneath the. Arctic Circle, we hear that they have pierced into the opposite region of polar cold — that they are at the antipodes, and engaged under the frozen serpent of the south. Falkland Island, which seemed too remote and romantic an object for the grasp of national ambition, is but a stage and rest ing-place in the progress of their victorious industry. Nor is the equatorial heat more discouraging to them than the accumulated winter of both the poles. We know that whilst some of them draw the line and strike the harpoon on the coast of Af- , 54 ' -5""-. *' rica, others run the longitude, and pursue their gi gantic game along the coast of Brazil. No ocean .but what is vexed with their fisheries ; no climate that is not witness to their toils. Neither the per severance of Holland, nor the activity of France, nor the dexterous and firm sagacity of English en terprise, ever carried this perilous mode of hardy enterprise to the extent to which it has been pushed by this recent people, — ¦ a people who are still,, as. it were, in the gristle, Und not yet hardened into tbe bone of manhood." ¦: And this people, so justly eulogized .for' their hardy and noble daring, and enterprise, were natives of Nantucket and New Bedford,™ men whose youth and manhood were spent upon the ocean, and in whose declining years many of us remember as among ^ur most useful and honored citizens. ?The debt our nation, as well as ourselves, owes to them is very great, and their virtues and sacrifices should ever be duly remembered. The whale»fishery is of a very ancient origin, and .dates back even before the time of Alfred the Great. But the information in regard to it at this early period, as well as for several centuries afterwards*, is merely incidental, yet sufficient to establish the fact that it was an enterprise early engaged in by those adventurous pioneers upon the ocean, the old Northmen. The whale was not' only sought after by these hardy seamen for the oil it produced, but also for the food which they obtained from the tongue. And even at the present day the whale is nearly as important and necessary to the natives of the Northwest Coast, as a means of livelihood, as ..'¦•¦"¦•. 55 the buffalo is to the Indian beyond the Rocky Mountains, or the reindeer to the Laplander. At this early period it is not probable the whale bone was deemed of much importance ; but in the fifteenth century it became an article of commerce, and was estimated at an enormous value ; and the tail of every whale taken by her subjects was re served for the especial use of the Queen of England. The Portuguese, during the same century (the 15th,) were noted for their marine adventures, push ing their hopeful enterprises beyond the stormy cape of Africa, which in their enthusiastic confi dence they named "the Cape of Good Hope." THe Portuguese as well as the Spaniards, those upon the maritime districts, have ever evinced a strong love for the ocean ; and for many years the former have been more or less to be found among our whalemen, many of them excellent seamen, but unfortunately too often of a violent and re vengeful nature. A part of New Bedford at the south end of Water street is now known as Fayal, from- the large number of the Portuguese from that and other ports in the Portuguese dominions. In fact our city is a microcosm. Not only the Portuguese and Spaniard, but Dutch^ Swedish,* Norwegian,. German, French, "English, Scotch, Irish, and other natives of Europe, as well as of Asia and . Africa, the Sandwich-Islanders, New- Zealanders, &c., &c, are to be found among our seamen, and more or less of them in port the greater part of the time. The Dutch were also early famous for their mar itime . exploits, and the whale-fishery was for a 56 -.-..' long time - prosecuted by them with great vigor. To them is attributed the improvement if not the invention of the harpoon, the use of the reel and line and the lance. At one time the Dutch had 'a fishing settlement, or place of rendezvous, on the island of Spitzbergen. The attention of the. early settlers of New Eng land was early called to the whale-fishery, from the unyielding nature of the soil, which rendered it necessary for them to look to the sea for their sustenance^ As early as 1690 they had reached the banks of Newfoundland in their pursuit of whales. But the voyages of the early whalemen of Nantucket and ' New Bedford were upon the coast, and for several years did not reaeh beyond the capes of Virginia and Cape Hatteras. The "right whale," balcena myslicetus, was the only species known to the first adventurers. The "sperm whale," the cachelot or physeter macro- cephalus, was not found until they had reached more southern latitudes. In the 16th century the Biscay fishermen, fol lowing in the track of Sebastian Cabot, had. pur sued the whale-fishery to the banks of Newfound land, and probably farther south, for in the abstract made by Dr. Belknap from the journal of the voyage of Gosnold to this coast, is recorded the following passage: '* From a rock which they called ' Savage Rock,' a shallop of European fabric came off to them, in which Were eight savages, two or three of whom were dressed in European habits. From these circumstances they concluded that some fishing- 57 vessel of Biscay had been there, and that the crew were "destroyed by the natives." The war with England completely broke up the whale-fisheTy, for, notwithstanding the noble effort <>£ the great statesman before quoted, the govern ment of Great Britain turned a deaf ear to all the ^advice' and remonstrance of her friends. The mother* country, not satisfied with having so Completely frustrated the business of our fore- -fathers by the war of the Revolution, after peace "had been declared, continued to offer the bounty, equal to forty dollars for each man employed, which they had done previous to the war. But few* Americans, however, accepted this bribe; and notwithstanding the efforts of the King of France, Louis XVI, who fitted out several vessels on his own account, and offered a bounty of nine dollars to every American whaleman who should emigrate to France, the whale-fishery* here continued to in crease, and in the year 1789 an average of one hundred and twenty-two vessels was employed. / The whale-fishery has claimed the attention of many literary and scientific men, and the works of Scoresby and other English writers upon the Arctic regions and the Northern whale-fishery,* are full of * An Account of the Arctic Regions ; with a History and Description of the Northern Whale-Fishery. By William Scoresby, Jr., F> R. S. E. 2 vols. Edinburgh, 1820. Journal of a Voyage to the Northern Whale-Fishery, &c, in the Summer of 1822. By WiUiam Scoresby, Jr., &c. Edinburgh, 1823. " Death of Dr. Scoresby. Dr. Scoresby, the veteran of Arctic enterprise, died at Torquay, England, on the 21st of March, 1857, after a lingering illness. Science loses a great deal by his death. Hia father was one of the most daring and successful seamen in the northern whale-fishery, when that service was among the chief sources 58 r-' ¦ ¦ interesting and instructive matter. The speech of the Hon. William H. Seward before the United States Senate in 1852 is a valuable compendium of all the most important statistics of this great branch of commerce* And to these productions' I. am indebted for many 'of the. most important facts and statements herein made. To Joseph Russell, the founder of New Bedford, is also attributed the honor of being the pioneer of.; the whale-fishery of New Bedford. It is well authenticated by the statements of several cotem-" poraries, lately deceased, that Joseph Russell had pursued the business as early as the year 1755. As early as 1765, "the sloops Nancy, Polly, Grey hound, and Hannah, all from forty to sixty tons, owned by Joseph Russell, CalebR ussell. and Will iam Tallman, were employed in the whale-fishery." These vessels made their voyages during the warm weather, and the whales were taken off the capes of Virginia, so that but a few weeks' ab sence was required for the accomplishment of the ~ * of the commercial wealth of the nation and one of the best nurseries of the British navy; and the deceased, from his youth, was inured to the hardships and perils of the Arctic seas. After his retirement from active service at sea, says the Literary Gazette, he resolved to enter the church ; and after holding appointments in less congenial locali ties, he found in the maritime town of Hull a sphere which afforded full scope for his benevolent efforts for the social and spiritual welfare of sailors. His scientfic career in the latter years of his life is well known. His reports to the British Association, and his numerous observations on the influence of the iron of vessels on the compass, were connected with inquiries of the utmost importance to navigation. It was in prosecuting these researches, and with a view to determine various questions of magnetic science, that Dr. Scoresby undertook a voyage to Australia, from which he returned in 1856, with his constitution much enfeebled from the arduous labors to which he had subjected himself." 59 voyage. The process of trying out the oil was deferred until their arrival home, when the vessels were brought as near as possible to the shore upon the broadside, and the butts containing the pieces of the whale called blubber were drawn to the try-house near the shore by" ox teams. The place of landing, with the original try-works, was near the foot of Centre street. The account-ljooks of our first merchant .as Well as the founder of New Bedford, Joseph Rus sell, are now in the possession of his grandson, William T. Russell, of this city. They were kept with great accuracy, in sterling currency of course, and the penmanship very handsome. They com mence in the year 1770 and continue to 1777. Other vessels were added by Mr. Russell, viz.: the brig Joseph & Judith, the latter name for his wife, whose maiden name was Judith Howland;, the brig Patience, for one of his daughters ; the brig No Duty on Tea ; and the brig Russell. These vessels were all employed in the whale-fishery, which had now reached to the West Indies, the Bay of Mexico, Western Islands, and even to the coasts of Brazil and Guinea. The war with the mother country, as before stat ed, put a stop to the business, but it was again re sumed immediately after the declaration of peace. The voyages now became more arduous, and were extended to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. " The ship Rebecca, Joseph Kersey, master, is said ..to have been the first American whaler that doubled Cape Horn and obtained a j;argo of oil in the Pa- • 60 cific Ocean. She was owned by Joseph Russell & Sons, and Cornelius Howland, and sailed from New Bedford the 28th of September, 1791, and returned the 23d of February, 1793, with a full cargo of oil." The late Captain Joseph Wheldon of North Fairhaven was a boatsteerer in the Rebecca on this voyage. On a visit to him a short time pre vious to his death, he stated to the writer that he received two hundred dollars in silver from the late Gilbert Russell in the settlement of his voyage, and that he never felt richer in his life than at this time. The Rebecca was built in New Bedford by George Claghorn, and was launched in the month of March, 1785, near the spot now occupied by the .wharf of the late firm of Wilcox & Richmond. Col. Claghorn was also the builder of the United JStates frigate Constitution.* "A handsome female figure-head had been made in Philadelphia for the Rebecca, and was placed upon her previous to launching; but there being considerable objection made to it on the part of members of the society of Friends, of which the owners were members, it was removed. A mock funeral was held over it by a few gay young men, one or more of them sons of Joseph Russell, when it was buried in the sand upon the shore. * The following advertisement appeared in " Russell's Commercial Gazette," Boston, Sept. 11, 1797: NAVY YARD, BOSTON. THE Constructor has the honor to inform his Fellow-Citizens that the Frigate Constitotion is to be launched into her destined Element ou . Wednesday, the 20th inst., at 11 o'clock. GEORGE CLAGHORN. 61 Although the Rebecca was only of 175 tons, she Was considered a very large vessel, and was visited as an object of wonder. It was no small matter to obtain a captain sufficiently experienced to take charge. At length Capt. Haydon, who had made several foreign voyages, was engaged, and the late Capt. Cornelius Grinnell was her first mate. The ship proceeded to Philadelphia, and thence took a cargo to Liverpool. The captain on the return passage was taken ill, and rendered incapable of continuing the command, which devolved upon the first mate, who conducted the voyage so much to the satisfaction "of the owners that the command of her was given to him on the next voyage. Capt. Grinnell was one of our most successful ship-mas ters, a gentleman of the old school, and one of that class of worthies with which the rise and progress of New Bedford is inseparably connected. The Rebecca was finally lost on her homeward passage from Liverpool in the winter of- 1803-4. She is supposed to have foundered during a severe gale which occurred on the coast of England soon after she left port. The Rebecca was so named from the eldest daughter of Joseph Russell, the wife of Daniel Ricketson. She died 3d mo. .1st, 1836, aged 90 years, at the house of her son the late Joseph Rick etson. The following reminiscences of the whale-fiish- ery, furnished by William C. Maxfeld of this city, and previously published in the New-Bedford Mer cury, are interesting and valuable: 62 " The first, a license issued from the Custom- House at Newport, bearing date the 4th day of September, 1770, to the sloop called the Wren, is signed by Joseph Wanton, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Colony of Rhode Island, &c, and countersigned by Charles Dudley, Collector, and bears the broad seal of the Colony of Rhode Island, and also the seal of the Customs of the port of Newport. Stephen Davis, of Dartmouth, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, is master of the Wren, and takes the neces sary oath. She is a square-sterned vessel of eight een tons burthen, was built in Dartmouth in 1770, and was owned by the master, Caleb JTripp, and William Davis of Dartmouth. By indorsements on the back, we find that she was afterwards command ed by William Tillinghast, Fortunatus Shearman, Jonathan Soule, Daniel Tripp and William Smith. We have next a journal of the whaling-voyage of the sloop Betsey, of Dartmouth. The first page bf this is missing. The first date is July 27th, 1761. We give the'following extracts from the log. It will be seen that the names of the captains spok en with are give.n, but not those of their -vessels. 'August 2d, 1761. Lat. 45 54, Ion. 53 57, saw two sperm whales; killed one.' ' August 4th. Lat. 44 27, Ion. 51 36, sounded on the Grand Bank, in 45 fathoms. Saw humpbacks.' ' August 6th. Spoke with John Clasbery ; he had got 105 bbls.; told us Seth Folger had got 150 bbls. Spoke with two Nantucket men ; they had got one whale between them; they told us that Jenkins & Dunham had got four whales between them, and Allen & Pease had got 2 whales between them. Lat 42 57.' ' Sunday, August 9tk Saw sperm whales ; struck two and killed them between us,' (naming their consort.) 1 63 'August 10th. Cut up our blubber into casks ; filled 35 hhds.; our partner filled 33 hhds. Judged ourselves to be not far from the Banks. Finished stowing the hold.' 'August 14th. Sounded; got 45 fathoms. Tried for codfish, but got none.' ' August 20. Lat. 44 deg. 2 min. This morning spoke with Thomas Gibbs; had got 110 bbls.; told us he had spoke with John Akin and Ephraim Delano and Thomas Nye ; they had got no oil at all. Sounded; got no bottom. Thomas Gibbs told us we were but two leagues off the Bank.' * August 22. This morning saw a spermaceti and killed her. Saw a sail to leeward, standing west ward.' 'August 23. Went to work on the head; filled six hhds. Went on board Capt. Shearman and rafted blubber.' 'August 28. This morning saw a sloop; spoke with her; it was Wilmot West; had got 65 bbls. Saw a spermaceti ; it set in foggy ; lost sight of him. Lat. 43 deg. 22 min.' ' August 30. Saw a spermaceti, but could not strike her. Lat. 43 deg. 14 min.' 'August 31. Squally; thunder and lightning. Saw spermaceties plenty.' ' Sept. 2. Saw a spermaceti spout. It set in thick and foggy.' 'Sept. 3. This morning at 8 saw a spermaceti; got into her two short warps and the tow-iron ; she drawed the short warps and the tow-iron, and ran away. In the afternoon came across her; got an other iron in, but she went away. Judge ourselves to be nigh the Banks.' 'Sept. 5.* Saw spermaceties; chased, but could not strike;' 64 * Sept. 6. Yesterday afternoon saw whales ; struck one, but never saw her again.' 'Sept. 7. Saw a school of small spermaceties; Captain Shearman struck one out of the vessel and killed her; brought her alongside of our vessel; cut in her body. Lat. 43 deg.' On the 17th Sept. they made the land, and sup posed to have ended the voyage. The rest of the log for that voyage is missing. The captain's name of the sloop Betsey does not appear. No estimate is given of the oil taken. This journal shows that sperm whales were tak en near the Newfoundland Banks, and that several vessels cruised about that ground as early as 1761. We now give the following abstracts from the journal of a whaling voyage dated 1762, in the same hand-writing as the preceding journal. The journal of the commencement of the voyage, and while they were on the cruising-ground for whales, is missing. The first date of the journal is 2d Sept., 1762; at this date it appears they had put away for home; oil obtained not stated. ' Sept. 2, 1762. This day judged ourselves to be abreast of Cape Race. Spoke with Shubel Bun ker and Benjamin Paddock; they told us that we were 15 leagues to the westward of the Bank.' 'Sept. 3. Kept her W. by N.JN.; wind east; moderate, but a bad sea. Knocked down try- works.' ' Sept. 15. Spoke Henry Folger and Nathan Cof fin; they judge they came off of Brown's Bank yesterday, and off George's this morning.' ' Sept. 17. Made land, the Highlands of Cape Cod.' Here the journal ends, without giving the name of the port they arrived at. We have next the following, illustrative of what would be called a poor voyage in these days: 65 SKrTLBMBNT OF SlOOP BETSEY'S WHALE VOYAGE, 1767. Tuns. Bbls. Gals. 8 6 - 2£ body oil, at £160 per tun, £1313 17 1 7 head matter, at £200, 375 £1688 17 6 Sundry charges for settling the voyage, 66 19 8 £1631 17 10 Men's shares, . 709 19 **•'. £921 18 10 Sundry bills against the sloop for outfits, 1140 12 1 Leaving a loss to the owners of £218 13 3 Upon the back of the log we find some figure- work, headed 'What we judge we owe Jpseph Rotch & Sons for sloop Betsey,' which throws some light upon the cost of fitting a whaler at that time. It is as follows : £ s. d. Before we began to fit for whaling, 4 bbla. of Pork, 60 lbs. of Tallow, / 60 lbs. of Butter, 1 Tow-line, 45 bushels of Corn, 3 cwt. of Bread, 66 qr. of Flour, Leather and sundries, Coffee — 1 Cheese, 2 bushels of Beans, 1 cwt. of Cordage, 2 lbs. of Twine and Breeks, 45 00 0 103 10 0 15 00 0 20 10 0 63 00 0 60 12 6 14 00 0 17 10 0 15 00 0 18 00 0 4 00 0 84 00 0 11.18 0 £402 00 6 We then have the following additional memoranda of expenses : Tallman & Russell, to 5 lbs. tea, Two pails, and 1 shovel, andjboards, Tabour, for mending boats, Richard Dilno and Abisha Dilno, Jonathan Smith & Sampson, blacksmith, Louden & Hudson, William Claghorn, sundries, Carried oyer. 10 12 6 9 10 0 12 00 0 22 10 0 35 00 0 10 00 0 184 00 0 £636 13 0 £ t. dr 685 13 0 ' 150 00 0 40 00 0 .•238 00 0 23 00 0 14 00 0 66 Brought over, David Shepherd, new cask, Sundries put in, John Slocunv sundries, Cheese, • Jethro Hathaway, beef, 166 lbs., £1100 13 0 Thus it will be seen that when our fathers began to do business upon the great waters, it was by no means upon the scale of our present great_ com mercial enterprises. It does not become us, how ever, to forget the debt we owe so entirely to their enterprise, bravery and hardihood." Tbe following is a description of the interesting picture of " The Origin of the Whale-Fishery," by William A. Wall, made by the author of this work at the time of its exhibition in 1853: "Upon the shore lies keeled over on her side one of the small vessels then employed for whaling; the model of the craft, a sloop, indicates a primitive idea of naval architecture, and was undoubtedly the work manship of some old Dartmouth mechanic. By the side of this sloop, but otherwise concealed from view, is seen the sail of another little' vessel, with the union jack of old England drooping from the mast-head. The river lies peacefully outstretched, with a view of the west side of Palmer's Island and . the shore along by the ' Smoking Rocks,' and Nau shon in the distance. * Where now stand our wharves and ware-houses, the primeval forest trees are seen extending their roots to the water's edge. Lixthe foreground of the picture, and that which will be to most its chief interest, is seen a group of the early inhabitants of New Bedford, or rather 67 Bedford, as it was then called, busily employed. Under an old shed is seen the try-pot, with its at tendants; also the jaws of a whale thrown upon the roof. More conspicuous, and nearer the be holder, stands one man in a red flannel shirt, with a patch on the breast, pouring oil from a long- handled dipper into a wooden-hooped barrel; an other handling over the blubber; and still more prominent, a fine-looking fellow is coopering a bar rel, in conference with an Indian, who, with his baskets and moccasins for sale or barter, is seated upon a broken mast. Further on, seated upon the frame of a grindstone, and giving directions to a colored man (evidently one of the old stock of Guinea negroes, some old ' Pero,' ' Quash,' or ' Pom pey') who is holding his master's horse by the bri dle, is seen in his broad-brimmed hat and Friendly coat, the founder of New Bedford and the father of her whale-fishery, Joseph Russell." Previous to the Revolutionary War, a sloop from New Bedford commanded by Captain John How land captured a whale in the Strait of Belle Isle, which yielded 215 bbls. I would refer those desirous of further informar tion relative to the sperm whale to the valuable work of Lieut. Maury, U. S. N., on the Winds and Currents of the Sea. Washington, 1851. I shall conclude this chapter with the following old Whaling Song, probably the oldest extant, The author, Dr. John Osborn, was born in Sand wich, C. C, in the year 1713. He was educated at Harvard College, and was afterwards a physi cian in Middletown, Ct. 68 A WHALING SONG. When spring returns with western gales, And gentle breezes sweep The ruffling seas, we spread our sails To plough the wat'ry deep. For killing northern whales prepared, Our nimble boats on board, With craft and rum, (our chief regard,) And good provisions stored. We view the monsters of the deep, Great whales in numerous swarms; And creatures there, that play and leap, Of strange, unusual forms. Cape Cod, our dearest native land, We leave astern, and lose Its sinking cliffs and lessening sands, While Zephyr gently blows. Bold, hardy men, with blooming age, Our sandy shores produce ; With monstrous fish they dare engage, And dangerous callings choose. Now towards the early dawning east We speed our course away, With eager minds and joyful hearts, To meet the rising day. Then as we turn our wandering eyes, We view one constant show ; Above, around, the circling skies, The rolling seas below. When eastward, clear of Newfoundland, We stem the frozen pole, We see the icy islands stand, The northern billows roll. As to the north we make our way, Surprising scenes we find ; ' We lengthen oiit the tedious day, And leave the night behind. Now see the northern regions, wnere Eternal winter reigns ; One day and night fills up the year, And endless cold maintains. When in our station we are placed, And whales around us play, We launch our boats into the main And swiftly chase our prey. 69 In haste we ply our nimble oars, For an assault designed; The sea beneath us foams and roars, And leaves a wake behind. A mighty whale we rush upon. And in our irons throw: She sinks her monstrous body down Among the waves below. And when she rises out again, We soon renew the fight, Thrust our sharp lances in amain, And all her rage excite. Enraged she makes a mighty bound ; - Thiclf foams, the whitened sea ; The waves in circles rise around, And widening roll away. She thrashes with her tail around, And blows her redd'ning breath; She breaks the air, a deaf 'ning sound, While ocean groans beneath. From numerous wounds, with crimson flood She stains the frothy seas, And gasps, and blows her latest blood, While quivering life decays. With joyful hearts we see her die, And on the surface lay; While all with eager haste apply To save our deathful prey. 70 CHAPTER VII. THE VILLAGE OF BEDFORD— STATISTICS BT ABRAHAM. SHEARMAN, JR. — CAPTAIN WILLIAM GORDON'S AC COUNT OF THE INVASION BT THE BRITISH TROOPS DURING THE REVOLUTIONART WAR— SCHEDULE OF PROPERTT DESTROTED— ANECDOTE OF THE INTRE- PLDITT OF A WOMAN— FIRST CANDLE-WORKS — CAUSES OF PROSPERITT. Our place was for a long time known as the vil lage of Bedford; and to many, even at the present time, the sound of this time-honored designation is much more familiar than that of the City. In fact, a considerable portion of the natives of New Bedford, those who have reached the meridian of life or older, usually omit the prefix (which as be fore stated was not originally adopted) when speak ing of the place, and call it only Bedford. Offices have been and still are held under the present city ©rganization by those even the names of whom are not known to many of the older portion of the in habitants, and to whom the name of City is as though it were not; and Bedford is the only place they recognize or know. This may be considered a fitting prelude to the following interesting sketch from the 13th volume 2d series of the Massachusetts Historical Collections, supposed to have been writ ten by one of our most estimable fellow-citizens, the late Abraham Shearman, for many years a prominent member of the Society of Friends, 71 whose sterling virtues, and the important part he contributed to the early history of our place, will deserve a more extended notice among our worthies. "The village of New Bedford stands in a pleas ant situation, upon the west side of Acushnet River, in latitude 41 deg. 37 min. 30 sec. north, longitude 70 deg. 52 min. 30 sec. west from Greenwich, according to Knight's Survey. It lies north and south, upon a gradual ascent from the water, and exhibits a pleasing view of the harbor. The streets (three running north and south, and twelve east and west) are of good width, and cross each other at right angles. The houses, which are with few exceptions built of wood, are in general well finished, and possess an air of neatness. In the year 1765, there were two or three small ves? sels employed in the whale-fishery. In the course of ten years, at the commencement of the year 1775, when a period was put to business, the num ber of whalemen increased to forty or fifty. According to the valuation of 1801, the number of dwelling-houses in the village was a hundred and eighty-five. The public buildings are a meet ing-house for Friends, one for Congregationalists, two large school-houses, one for each of those societies, 'an alms-house, and a small market-house. The principal dependence of the inhabitants is on commerce. In 1790 there were only two or three square-rigged vessels; there are now [1802] nearly twenty sail of ships. During the late war they have principally been employed in- the freighting business from New York and the southern ports of Europe. Voyages have also been made to Europe and the East and West Indies directly from this port. Since the peace they have been returning in some measure to whaling. Ship building, 'the manufacture of cordage, for which purpose there are two ropewalks, and the manu- 72 facture of spermaceti candles, are advantageously pursued. In 1796 a company was incorporated to build a bridge across the Acushnet River, to connect Bed ford with the villages of Fairhaven and Oxford; which has since been accomplished at the expense of about thirty thousand dollars. The bridge, in cluding the abutments and the space taken up by two islands which it crosses, is upwards of four thousand feet in length." I also find in said volume the following addi tional "note of July 24, 1807," probably by anoth er hand: "In Bedford there are seven wharves; between ninety and a hundred ships and brigs, containing each on an average two hundred and fifty tons; and between twenty and thirty small vessels: twelve of the ships are whalemen. In 1805 there were be longing to this place seventy-three ships and thirty-nine brigs. A lot of a quarter of an acre of land sells for five hundred dollars to two thousand dollars. Bedford contains a little short of three hundred dwelling-houses; Fairhaven about one hundred. There are three ropewalks in Bedford, and one in Fairhaven. The depth of water in the harbor is from three to four fathoms. Common tides rise five feet. The lighthouse, which stands on Clark's Point, shows one light. The bridge mentioned above was this year in the montlf of March swept away by the tide. It is now rebuild ing and will soon be finished." The following interesting account of the prep arations for defence of our place during the Rev olutionary War, and its burning by the British troops, I received in the year 1831 from the late 73 Captain William Gordon, who was an eyerwitness of the events : "During the early part of the Revolution, the inhabitants of Bedford and Fairhaven, thinking it necessary to have a fortress to protect them from the depredations of the British privateers, erected the small fort at the entrance of the harbor, on the east side of the river, upon the rocky prominence called by the native Indians Nobscot. It contained ten iron cannon of different calibre, namely: one eighteen-pounder, three twelve-pounders', five nine- pounders, and one six-pounder, mounted on garri son carriages. The garrison consisted of a captain, one lieutenant, several non-commissioned 'officers, and about twenty privates.' It had sundry com manders during the interval between its erection and demolition. In the early part of the Revolution, when many privateers were fitted out of . Boston and Provi dence, Bedford harbor became a receptacle for the prize vessels which they captured, it being the only port this side of the Chesapeake that was not in the power of the British. On this- account, the government of Massachusetts, thinking it proper to aid in its protection and defence, sent a detach ment from the Massachusetts Train Artillery, fur nished with four field-pieces and an ammunition wagon laden with munitions of war, from Boston, which arrived at Bedford March 1st, 1778. At this time the town was stored with prize goods of every description, which being discovered by the British, Sir Henry Clinton dispatched an expedi tion under the command of General Gray against it. On the 5th of. September the fleet entered Clark's Cove, and formed a bridge of boats to the shore, on which landing between, four and five thousand 'men, they marched into town. When they arrived, most of the inhabitants, having been 74 alarmed by a discharge of cannon at the fort, had fled- They immediately began their work of plunder and conflagration, and in a short time most of the town was in flames. About seventy sail of shipping, beside a number of small craft, were destroyed. The damage done at this time amounted to the value of $422,680. After having committed their spoliation at Bedford and about the town, they marched to the head of Acushnet River, and down the east side into Sconticut Neck, where they encamped until Monday. While sta» tioned here, a party of their troops entered the fort, which the garrison had abandoned on the arrival of the British, kSfbwing their number, which was but a handful of .men, unable to cope with so strong a force. Here they spiked up the cannon, knocking off their cascabels and trunnions, burnt the platform and gun-carriages, and totally dis mantled it. After this they reembarked on board tlieir shipping. The niglit after their embarkation, they attempt ed to land a large number of troops at Fairhaven, . jn order to burn that village ; but when they were beginning to land, and had set fire to two or three stores,. Major Israel Fearing, who had the command pf about one hundred or one hundred and fifty • men, fired upon them and they immediately re treated aboard their ships, taking their dead and wounded with them. ¦ On Tuesday following they departed, and pro ceeded to Martha's Vineyard, from which they took off a large number of oxen and about ten thousand sheep." The following is a copy of a list of the property destroyed at this time by the British troops, made at the time by the late Gilbert Russell : " Ship Harriet. Ship Fanny (French prize.) Ship Mellish (Continental.) Sljip Hero. 75 Ship Leopard. Ship Spaniard. Ship Caasar. Barque Nanny. Snow Simeon. Brig Sally (Continental.) Brig Rosin. Brig Sally (fish.) Schooner Adventure. Sehooner Loyalty (Continental.) Sloop Nelly. Sloop Fly Fish. Sloop (Captain Lawrence.) Schooner Defiance. Schooner Captain Jenny. Brig No Duty on Tea. Schooner Sally (Hornet's prize.) Sloop (Bowers.) Sloop Sally (12 guns.) 3rig (Ritchie.) Brig Dove. Brig Holland. Sloop (Joseph R.) Sloop Bociron. Sloop Pilot Fish. Schooner (the other side.) Brig Sally. Sloop Retaliation. Sloop (J. Brown's.) Schooner (Eastward.)" Amounting to 7 ships, -1 barque, 1 snow, 8 brigs, 7 schooners, 10 sloops — 34 sail. . Benjamin Taber, Leonard Jarvis, J. Lowden, J. Gerrish, W. Claghorn, ' DWELLING-HOUSES. . 2 V. Childs, 1 Joseph Rotoh, 1 Joseph Rotch, Jr., 1 Joseph Russell, 1 SHOPS, &C. Joseph Russell's, Shops (small,) Candle-house, L. Kempton, Rotch & Jarvis's shop, Warehouses,Joseph Rotch's barn, Chaise-house, Isaac Hbwland's distilhouse, 1 Cooper's shop, 1 Warehouses, 3 Joseph Russell's barn, 1 Joseph Russell's shop, 1 Church's shop (shoe,) 1 Store, 7 Joseph 1 Warehouses (old,) j Russell's, 2 Ropewalk, and one house ; A. Smith's blacksmith shop ; Benjamin Taber's shop." In all 11 houses 20 shops, &c, and 1 ropewalk, The intrepidity of a woman, who remained in her house while the British soldiers were perform ing their work of*destruction, is worthy of note. A company of the plunderers entered the house, and after having stripped her pantry of its stores, such •as doughnuts, apple dumplings, &c, came into the room, where she sat unconcernedly knitting, and, 76 taking the fire from the hearth, were preparing to burn the house, when she, not being able to retain her patience any longer, seized a pail of water, and dashed the fire out. They again set fire to the house, and she again extinguished it. The maraud ers then threatened her with death if she still per sisted,- and were preparing to fire the building the third time, when orders came for their march, and they departed without accomplishing their design. Thus this courageous woman preserved the house for its owner, who, being a wealthy man, gave her the. exorbitant recompense of five pounds of rice. A short time previous to the Revolutionary War, a wealthy merchant of this place (Joseph Rotch, or his son, William Rotch, Sen.) was concerned with Aaron Lopez, an eminent Jew of Newport, in a fleet of about fifteen &;iil, most of which was fitted here. These vessels woe to assemble at the'Falk- land Islands, and thence pursue the whale-fishery. A part of the fleet was to be employed in taking the oil, and the leinnindcr in transporting it to London. They intended to have settled at Port Egmond, or to have made this their place of ren dezvous ; but the intervention of the war frustrated the undertaking, and but one vessel of the whole fleet arrived at the destined port. The remainder was supposed to have been captured by the British cruisers. When we contemplate the discomfitures and heavy losses of our early merchant* by the war of the Revolution, the embargo, the last war with England, and by French privateers, our admiration 77 is excited at^the composure with which these ad versities were met, and the renewed courage with which" they entered upon the work of repairing their broken fortunes. Previous to the Revolutionary War a candle- house, tlie first in the place, was built by Joseph Russell; and Capt. Chafee, who had been engaged in manufacturing spermaceti in Lisbon, was em ployed by Mr. Russell at the then large salary of $500 per year. This building stood near the corner of Centre and Front streets, and was burnt by the British during the general conflagration of the place. To the industry, enterprise, and above all to the honorable commercial character of our- early mer chants and men of business, are we indebted for that foundation upon which all the future success and prosperity of New Bedford is built. No doubt but the principles of the society of Friends, of which order was a large proportion of our predecessors, contributed greatly to the support of that character for honesty, prudence, and morality, which so much distinguished them. That our continued prosperity and future success depend upon the support of such a character among our men of business, no one who has been a careful observer of the real causes of success or -failure in a commercial coin- munii) can doubt. 78 CHAPTER VIII. MARCH OF TUE BRITISH TROOPS TO ACUSHNET AND FAIRHAVEN — DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY ON THE WAY — NEW-BEDFORD AND FAIRHAVEN BRIDGE — LIGHT HOUSE AT CLARK'S POINT — THE BEDFORD BANK- NOTICE OP JOHN PICKENS, JOSEPH RICKETSON AND GEORGE HOWLAND— REFLECTIONS UPON THOSE TIMES. The last chapter contained a list of the buildings, shipping, &c., destroyed at " Bedford " by the Brit ish troops on the 5th of September, 1778. The yesscls, which besides our own numbered several privateers and prizes, were lying up the river, from Oxford point to the old wharf at Bclvillc, then known as " McPherson's whaif." After having finished their work of destruction in the village of Bedford, the troops marched up the County road to Acushnet, and on their way stopped at Belvillc. Here they burnt a large two- story house, barn, and cooper's shop, the property of Walley Adams. They also burnt a large ware house of John McPhcrson, the owner of the wharf, a Scotchman by birth. Previous to the Revolutionary War, there was considerable business done at this place, and the number of whalemen owned and fitted here was about as many as at Bedford. A village was at one time laid out here by Capt. William Gordon, under the name of Belville. The name of Glasgow had been proposed, in honor #of Mr. McPhcrson. 79 Here, and farther up the river, were the ship-yards of the noted ship-builders, the Stetsons, by whom several of the best of our earliest ships were built. But the village of Oxford at this period fairly ri valled her neighbor across the river. Here were owned and fitted out several large vessels, — ships, brigs, &c, owned by the Bennetts, Huddlestones, and others. The substantial old bouses still there evince a state of prosperity at that period. But the New-Bedford and Fairhaven bridge so altered the current of the river as to fill up their channel, and, in the words of one of the present residents, " completely ruined the business of the place." We suppose, like other corporations, " hav ing no souls," they are remorseless at such baleful consccnjences. The elements of nature, however, seem to have waged a warfare against this bridge. The act of incorporation was granted in 1796, and in 1807 the bridge was washed away by a great tide. It was soon after reconstructed, and destroyed again by the September gale of 1S15. The present strui t me was built in 1819, and has been the source of nj'.ich contention, on account of the injurious effect it has upon the harbor, by filling up the channel, as well as being a great obstacle to that portion of our business above the bridge. Although great improvement has been made by the construc tion of a wider draw within the past two years, the bridge is still thought by many to be a great public damage. It is undoubtedly a great con venience on many accounts; but it is questionable whether it accommodates the public, better than 80 might be done by ferry-boats; and that the value of our harbor and of property above the bridge, as well as the beauty of the river, is much impaired by it, few will question. Our object is not, however, to make an attack upon this concern; and as the "bridge question," since the repairs made by the Company, seems to be, for the time at least, in a settled state, wc shall leave it. About the time the first bridge was constructed, a wooden lighthouse was built at Clark's Point; at the raising of which, to induce the people to assist, and for the sake of a general jollification at so important an event, a hundred gallon try-pot of chowder, with other entertainment, was prepared. Much to the credit of the sobriety of our prcde- cessors, no one became intoxicated on this occasion. This lighthouse occupied the same spot where the present one stands. It was burnt during a severe thunder-storm in the night, either by lightning or, as some suppose, by a sea-fowl which, being attract- edby thelight, flcwthrough thcglass and overturned the lamps. In the year 1803, the business having much in creased, a bank was incorporated, with a capital of $60,000, styled "The Bedford Bank." Even this amount was supposed to be more than could be loaned, but after the bank had been in operation a' few years, it was found insufficient, and the capital was increased to ft 160,000. The. charter expired in 1812, and was rcne-\\ ed, but this country then being at war with England, the new charter Was. not accepted, and it was determined to conclude SI the affairs of the institution; I have hot been able to find the business records of the "old bank," but so far as I have ascertained, the officers were as follows : THOMAS HAZARD, President. JOHN HOWLAND, 1 CORNELIUS GRINNELL, WILLIAM ROTCH, Jb., V Directors. THOMAS NYE, And others, JOHN PICKENS, Cashier. The Bedford Marine Insurance Company was established in the year 1805, with a capital of $150,000. The following is a list of the officers of this institution: JOSEPH RICKETSON, President. CORNELIUS GRINNELL, JOHN II. HOWLAND, WILLIAM ROSS, THADDEUS SWAIN, STEPHEN HATHAWAY, Je., JAMES HOWLAND, It was at first intended to occupy the "hall" of the Bedford Bank; and Cornelius Grinnell, who had been duly authorized, had procured the consent of the directors of the bank for this purpose ; but this intention was finally abandoned, and the Com pany afterwards purchased of Joseph Austin the old house at the corner of Elm and Water streets, and the office of the Company was in the "two south rooms." The remainder of the house (with the garden and barn) was occupied by Asa Russell, at the rent of eighty dollars per year. The com pany paid four thousand dollars for the lot and buildings. I am thus particular in this a flair, thinking it may be a pleasant reminiscence to those avIio can look back to those clays, as well as 82 to many of a later generation. The operations of this institution, owing to great losses during the war, were closed llth mo. 23d, 1818. The date of the charter was February llth, 1805. Joseph Pickctson was the President during the whole time. His salary was $500 per year. From the close of the affairs of the " old bank " in 1812, until the year 1816, there -was no bank in New Bedford, when the Bedford Commercial Bank was established, with a capital of ftl00,000, which was soon increased to $150,000, and in 1831 the amount had reached §250,000. The present capi tal, 1858, is $600,000. As this bank has held an important position in the business affairs of our place, the following No tice, and the proceedings in pursuance of said No tice in the choice of the first board of directors, and the subsequent choice of president and the appoint ment of a cashier, copied from the business records of the time, are interesting reminiscences : NOTICE. rpHE Subscribers to the Capital Stock of the Bedford Commercial Jl Bank arc notified that their first meeting v. ill be held ou ScTentL- "Day, the 23d instant, at 2 o'clock,!'. 11., at the Office of the Br.i>roi;l> Marine Insurance Company, for the purpose of establishing By-Laws and Regulations, for the orderly conducting tbe affairs of the Corpo ration; for the choice of nine Directors, and such other officers as they may Bee fit to choose; aud also to transact any other business they may deem necessary. WILLIAM ROTCH, Jr., JOSEPH RICKETSON, JAMES HOWLAND, GIDEON HOWLAND, Jr., JOHN A. PARKER, OLIVER CROCKER, New Bedford, 3d mo. 1, 1816. SETH RUSSELL, Jr. " At a meeting of the Directors of the Bedford Commercial Bank, held at the office of the Bedford 83 Marine Insurance Company, 5 mo. llth, 1816, John A. Parker, Cornelius Grinnell, Gideon Howland, Jr., George Howland, Seth Russell, Jr., James Arnold, Joseph Ricketson, Thomas Nye, and Sam uel Hodman, Jr., were chosen Directors of the Bedford Commercial Bank', by the Stockholders on the 23d day of 3d month last, who are all present, except the two last named. Having proceeded for the choice of a President by ballot, George How land had six votes, and is accordingly chosen. Ad journed to meet at this place on the 13th inst., at half-past 7, P. M. In behalf of the Directors. JOSEPH RICKETSON." "5th mo. 13th, 1816. Met by adjournment. Present, George Howland, Cornelius Grinnell, John A. Parker, Gideon Howland, Jr., Joseph Ricket son. Appointed Joseph Ricketson Cashier of the Bank, who has agreed to serve at and after the rate of Five Hundred Dollars per year, it being understood that the Bank shall be opened every day in the week, (First-days excepted,) from 9 o'clock A. M. till 1 P. M. JOSEPH RICKETSON." The old bank building' was taken down in the year 1833 to make way for the present building of the Bedford Commercial Bank, which occupies the same location, but is considerably larger upon the base. ' The old building was a quaint, substan tial-looking affair, and deserves a passing notice. The foundation, or first story, which included the vaults, was of stone, and laid in solid masonry; above this arose two more stories of brick, paint ed a dark red and the lines of the brick obliterated * The building of the old bank "was conveyed to the President and Directors of the Bedford Commercial Bank 8th mo. 30tb, 181G,by John Howland, Isaac Howland, Jr., Samuel Rodman, William Rotch, Jr., Trustees. 84 by the paint; the windows were fortified with heavy cased shutters. A flight of substantial stone steps at the north and the south mounted to a wooden portico, within which was a huge heavy iron-cased door, the peculiar creaking of which is probably remembered by many even at the present day; which door opened into the main room, a large square old-fashioned place, a counter running around three sides, and desks — three in number — protected by railings on the top of them. Behind the front counter, and opposite the entrance door, was thc_ fireplace for wood, which in the earlier days and up to 1826 was the only method of warming the room, and on the cold days of winter usually a cheerful fire was to be seen within it, sputtering and singing away to the chime of the jingling gold and silver. On the south side a flight of stairs, with handsome and substantial balusters, led to what was originally the directors' room, but, as the writer remembers it, a dark, cob- webbed place, the shutters being kept constantly closed, and no longer used except as a deposit for old books, papers, &c. This room was also fur nished with a fireplace, and to his boyish fancy afforded a nice and cosy place in the winter time, when well warmed and lighted, for the good old directors to meet together in, and after the busi ness of the day Was done to have a social chat upon some subject of local interest or national gossip. But to return to the room below: on the south side was suspended a block-tackle for hoist ing up a heavy wooden trap-door, and a still 85 heavier one beneath, opening to the steps that led to the subterranean vaults where the specie was kept. This iron door was fastened by a long tongue-bolt running lengthwise with the door, and drawn by a secret process in another part of the building. There is probably no vault or patent sar- of the present time with their wonderful locks, that offers a surer defiance to the attempts of bur glars. Behind the. desk, upon the left hand of the bank room, might usually be seen busily employed in writing a tall and elder])' gentleman, his cropped gray hair brushed back from his forehead, with a white neck-cloth closely drawn about his throat, a pepper-and-salt-colored suit, the coat long-skirted, with large pockets on the sides, one row of buttons, and of Quaker curve, but with a collar, and small clothes, with knee-buckles, which, with the style of shoes worn by the older men of that day, complete the personal appearance of the venerable and worthy ex-cashier of the old Bedford Bank, John Pickens, Esquire.* At the desk ncx.t west, and in the win ter time to be near the wood fire, stood a man of small stature, with a care-worn but a benignant countenance, a true index of his character, dressed in a kind of half- Quaker style; this was the first * The following are the inscriptions taken from a white marble shaft in the old graveyard at Acushnet village : "John Picken3, of New Bedford, died July 31st, 1825, aged 82 years. He was an officer in the army of the Revolution, and after wards served the town in various offices. He was long esteemed for his piety, integrity, and exemplary life." "Mary Spooncr, his wife, died Nov. 20th, 1809, aged CS years." "This stone was erected by John Pickens of Boston, son of John and Mary Pickens, and their only surviving son." E 66 cashier of the Bedford Commercial Bank, Joseph Ricketson, who through a scries of misfortunes and heavy losses in business, wherein he had sus tained an umblemished character for integrity, was now procuring the support of himself and fam ily upon a salary, as before stated, of §500 per year. He was cashier of this Bank from 5(1- mo. 13th, 1816, to 10th mo. 6th, 1831. His age at the time he was appointed cashier was 45. He died at his house, No. 179 Union street, 10th mo. 9th, 1841, in bis 71st year. George Howland, the first President of the Bedford Commercial Bank, died at his house, 77 Walnut, corner of Seventh street, 5th mo. 21st, 1852, in his seventy-first year. He was chosen Pres ident at thirty-five, and remained in that office until his death, having been half of his life Pres ident of this institution. In looking over the dust-laden books of the old Bank, the Insurance Company, and the early books and records of the present Bedford Commercial Bank, the mind is involuntarily led back to those days when they who are now sleeping beneath the sod of the valley, or fast declining in the vale of years, were the active representatives of our then little business community. Their simple habits, their quaint costumes, their open and unceremoni ous manners, growing out of a large admixture of the principles of the Society of Friends, are brought into contrast with the present bustling and hurry ing crowds in our streets, the jealousies, the ani mosities and general unconcern for each other's 87 weal. Undoubtedly in those days they had their faults and their troubles, but' compared with the present time, even making all due allowance, the old and simple customs of our predecessors appear to have afforded greater comfort. It is, however, usually the case that the immediate successors of an industrious and thriving people become extrav agant in their tastes and pursuits. The value of mental culture is not at once learned, unless brought into contact with those more intellectually en dowed, but usually follows, by the next generation, if the means for acquiring it are not squandered by their predecessors. Tnat the value of education and the cultivation of the higher and more intel lectual tastes are advancing in New Bedford, the interest now manifested in schools, libraries, and lectures, and works of art generally, sufficiently declares. It is thought, however, that as a people the inhabitants of New Bedford arc not as con siderate in their expenses as those of many other places in New England; that there is a great deal of rivalry in domestic arrangements, in houses, equipages, &c.; of which strictures a portion of the members of the Society of Friends is not exempt. It is to be hoped that the rising generation Avill learn to place a higher value upon more solid and lasting treasures in the different spheres of science, philosophy, the fine arts, and polite literature. 88 CHAPTER IX. THE ACUSHNET RIVER FROM 'ITS RISE TO THE HARBOR OF NEW BEDFORD — ISLANDS IN THE RIVER — THE NA TIVE INDIANS — THE LAST OF THE WAMPANOAGS — SETTLEMENT OF FAIRHAVEN. Mv readers must pardon me if I linger upon that part of our ancient township which to the anti quarian and lover of nature is particularly interest ing. The great features of any country or part thereof, it is generally thought, have much to do in the formation of the character of the people which lives within their inflcnce. A peculiar character be longs to all islanders; and those who live by the sea shore, or upon the sides of rivers, lakes, or mountains, partake in a greater or less degree of these nat ural characteristics. Even a few miles separation changes wholly the prominent features of charac ter; and before our population became so much mixed up with those from more distant parts of the country, a decided difference was even perceptible between the inhabitants of New Bedford and those . from a few miles back in the country. I do not al lude to the commercial character, which of course would be observed, but a certain kind of marine influence, seen in the eye, the complexion and the bearing of the one, — a kind of salt-water look", when contrasted with him brought constantly in contact with woods, fields, domestic animals, and agricul ture. * 89 It will not for my purpose be necessary any fur ther to attest to the importance of the natural features of our section, under the head of its topog raphy. We have no mountains, or even very high hills, yet the surface of the country is gently undulating, and of that more quiet order which often affords the most pleasant landscapes. Many people, particularly those of the more sensitive order, tire of or become overpowered by the greater and sublimcr features of nature, such as moun tains, cataracts, &c, and gladly return from the contemplation of these mighty demonstrations of divine power to more gentle and familiar scenes. Charles Lamb, while on a visit to his friend Cole ridge, at Keswick, complained of being every morn ing, on looking out of his window, confronted by Skiddaw, which to his metropolitan eye appeared overpoweringly sublime, although its height is but about three thousand feet, or half that of Mount Washington. No scenery in England has received greater admiration, or become more immortalized in verse, than that about the villages of Olney and Weston, near the river Ouse, as described in the Task, as well as in the elegant letters of the poet Cowper, which have made these otherwise undis tinguished places classic ground. And after all, the scenery so beautifully described by the genius of the poet is said to be inferior in natural charms to most of the rural districts of England. But Cow per returned to it with the "greatest pleasure, after a visit of six weeks at Eartharn, in Sussex, the 90 beautiful seat of his friend and brother poet, Will iam Haley. The discerning eye will find beauty and interest in almost every haunt of nature, how ever unattractive to the general observer; not, however, that our own district requires this illus tration in the. way of apology, for it cannot be ad mitted for a moment but that New Bedford, and the old township of Dartmouth, have their full share of pleasant and picturesque scenery. With an extent of sea-coast, inclusive of the creeks and inlets, of not less than thirty or forty miles, with three fine rivers like the Acushnet, the Pasca- manset, and the Acoaxet or Nocochoke, the old township of Dartmouth, which, as my readers are by this time well aware, included the pres ent township of New Bedford, cannot be regarded as possessing but a small degree of natural beauty. The Acushnet* River, commercially, is the great object of interest to the inhabitants of New Bed ford and Fairhaven, and as before mentioned, hav ing no mountains or other remarkable natural char acteristics, it must ever be considered the great natural feature of our vicinity. Pavers of no great er merit than ours have been celebrated in history and song; and few probably are aware of the pic turesque beauty which it affords. But such is the case; there are views upon our river, and the; ad joining banks, which would attract the eye of the most fastidious lover of nature, and, transferred to ?Sometimes also spelled Jlquesncl and Quishncll. 91 canvas by a skilful landscape-painter, would equal any scenes of a quiet character in New England.* Our river fake its rise near the south shores of two of the beautiful Middlcborough ponds, Ap- ponequet or Long Pond, and Aquitticaset, in a richly wooded dell, about ten miles from New Bed ford, and for some distance on its course is known. by the humble name of " Squin's Brook," so called from Watuspaquin, a noted sachem of the Nomas- ket or Middlcborough Indians, and one of the most prominent allies of the great tribe of Wampanoags in the time of Pometacom, alias King Philip. The little stream, of crystal purity, flows quietly along through the woods and fields, occasionally in tercepted in its course, as its size increases, by those obstacles and usually deformities to most rivers, mills and their dams, to the village of Acush net, a little less than four miles from the city. From this place its course is unobstructed until it reaches the New Bedford and Fairhaven bridge, increasing in breadth until it empties into the liar- bors of the latter-named places, formed by an arm of the sea which makes up from Buzzard's Bay. There are several small islands in our river which add much to its beauty and interest. The south ernmost, " Palmer's Island," at the entrance of the inner harbor, was, before the cedar trees'had been destroyed, an interesting spot, and to the youth of New Bedford formerly afforded a kind of embryo Juan Fernandez for their Saturday adventures. * I should not omit that our fellow-townsman, William A. Wall, has already painted one or more of these views. 92 The craggy .rocks and old cedar trees formed a fine opportunity for the exercise of youthful ro mance, and many will remember with pleasure their experiences in this way.* The next island north lies near the Fairhaven shore, and is known as " Crow Island." A ropewalk' formerly ex tended from the main to this island. Pope's Isl and still retains some of the primeval cedars, and is a very pleasant feature of the river. Fish Isl and has entirely lost its natural beauty by the wharves, railway, workshops, &c, located upon it, forming one of the busiest marts of our busy town. The great draw of the New Bedford and Fairhaven Bridge lies between this island and the main on the New Bedford side. Further up the river is the rocky bluff called the " Isle of Marsh," which, however, is only insulated at high water. A pretty little island without a name, but which might be called Fish-Hawk Island, from the fact of an old tree which stood there until within a few years having been a place of resort for this bold and rapacious bird of prey, may be seen from the Acushnet road in the front of " Woodlce," and belongs to the farm of Willard Nye. These isl ands, as before stated, add materially to the beauty * I find the following interesting historical fact connected with this island, in Drake's Book of the Indians: " When Little Eyes was taken at Cushnet in 1C7G, Lightfoot was sent with him to what is now called Palmer's Island, near the mouth ' cf Cushnet River, where he held him in guard until he could be safely conducted "to Plimouth." Little Eyes, as well as Lightfoot, was a warrior of the squaw Sa chem Awashonks, who resided at Sogonake or Seconet. The former was inimical to the whites, but the latter joined Capt. Church with Awashonks. of our river; and it is desirable that their natural characteristics, particularly those having trees upon them, should be preserved. The views for most of the way from the source or fountain-head to the village of Acushnet are limited, but many of them very pleasant and pic turesque — one in particular, just above the old paper-mill. Here the stream is rendered quite ex pansive by the mill-dam, and on the eastern side is an undulating landscape, well interspersed with trees, and other objects of interest. From the high grounds at the north-west part of the city, known as the " Acushnet Heights," the view up the river is rarely surpassed for beauty ; broad, extensive, stretching for several miles into the north-east, the blue river diminishing gradually in the distance, calling to' mind the truthfulness of those lines of Longfellow, " So blue yon winding river flows, It seems an outlet from the sky." The view from this point is said to have attracted the admiration of that great genius in literature and lover of nature, Washington Irving, while on a visit here a few years ago. The view of the harbor and the villages of Ox ford and Fairhaven, Sconticut Neck, the broad bay, and the islands in the distance, presents a different, but little less pleasing scene. Approached from the south while sailing up the harbor into New Bedford or Fairhaven, the eye stretches for miles up the river and its sides studded with pleasant farms and country scats, terminated by E.:. 94 the spires of the pleasant little village of Acush net, so well known to the inhabitants of both the above places. The ride "around the river," des pite the new road around Clark's Point, is still the favorite drive of all who love the quiet and beauty of rural scenery. Our river affords an abundant variety of scale and shell-fish, such as tautog, scup, bass, 6zc, qua- haugs, clams, and formerly oysters. To the native Indians, the Acushnet river must have been a most valuable source of livelihood, as well as of pleasure. In the eye of imagination, we can revert to those days before the white man had reached these shores, when the noble forest trees grew down to the water's edge, with an occasional clearing upon some dry spot for the growth of In dian corn, and where in wild and silent beauty stood the wigwam, its wreath of blue smoke rising above the trees, the noble sons of the forest, with their bows and arrows, pursuing their game, or in the light canoe of birch bark shooting across the river, or moored upon its bosom catching their scaly prey. So it appeared to the eye of the first discoverer of these shores, before, spoken of, Bar tholomew Gosnold, in 1602. The noble old forest trees have long since fallen beneath the woodman's axe, and the corn-fields, meadows and pastures, with the younger growth of woods, now present a pleasant but far different scene to the eye of the beholder; yet however interesting they may prove to us, in the words of the poet we may say — 95 "Methinks it Were a nobler sight To see these vales in woods arrayed, Their summits in the golden light, Their trunks in grateful shade; And herds of deer that bounding go, O'er rills and prostrate trees below." Old Dartmouth appears to have been at the time of the. advent of the first settlers thickly peopled with Indians belonging to the powerful tribe of Massasoit, the Wampanoags ; and the shores of the three great rivers before mentioned were their favorite residences. Even the Indians from the in terior, those about the Middlcborough ponds, and elsewhere, were in the habit of going occasionally to the sea-shore for shell-fish. The old post-road leading from New Bedford to the said ponds was orig inally the Indian foot-path; and it is also probable that most of the old roads leading from place to place had a similar origin. During the middle and even to the latter part of the last century, a few of the lingering remnant of the once noble possess ors of this soil remained, retaining to the last their ancient form of habitation, the wigwam, or a hut. But one solitary specimen of a full-blooded native is now to be found within the precincts of the old township of Dartmouth, — an aged woman by the name of Martha Simons, who lives in a small house upon an Indian reservation, near the end of Scontieut Neck. She is the last of her race, a lone and almost forsaken creature, a sad but interesting sight to visit, and of so little consequence, even in her own estimation, as to be surprised that any stranger should find anything in her, or her race, to interest him. In must remain a sad commentary 96 upon the cruelty and avariciousness of the white man, that a whole race of a once powerful and noble people should be thus swept away. " Like tho shadows in the stream, Like the evanescent gleam Of the twilight's failing blaze, Like the fleeting years and days, Like all things that soon decay, Pass the Indian tribes away." The following lines were written after viewing a fine picture, entitled THE LAST OF THE WAMPANOAGS:* Sad and alone the warrior sank him down Beneath the branches of a riven oak. Like leaves before the autnmn blast, had flown His once bravo comrades, by the white man's stroke. He looked upon the ancient forest trees, Within whose fostering shade his fathers slept; And as their tops waved 'neath the passing breeze, He sighed adieu, and, though a savage, wept. His bow unstrung, his hatchet cast aside, His war-plumes vainly placed upon his brow; His manly breast no longer swelled with pride — But doomed at last beneath his fate to bow. His heart is broken; and from death alone He seeks a refuge, where ho may again, In broader fields and hunting-grounds unknown, Meet his lost raco, no more to suffer pain. So stretched upon the mossy woodland tuff, He wraps his robe around his heaving breast; The brown November leaves upon him fall, And here alone he finds a final rest. The moaning winds throughout the forest drear A fitting requiem for tho warrior lend;- — But naught to him, now death hath sealed his ear, And kindly to his woes has made an end. D. R. * The Wampanoags were a large and powerful tribe, over which Massasoit (Wasamequin,) and after him his son Metacomet (Po metacom, or King Philip,) presided. The Dartmouth Indians be longed to this tribe. 97 At the north end of the township is the beautiful little sheet of water, known as Mylcs's or Sassa- quin's Pond. It lies about 8 miles north of New Bedford, and is included in the farm of Jonathan Tobey. The Pascamansct River, which passes through Smith's Mills, and empties into Buzzard's Bay^about 4 miles below Russell's Mills, takes its rise from this pond. The scenery around Smith's Mills is very pleas ant, and around Russell's Mills very picturesque, probably more so than any other within the precincts of the old township of Dartmouth. The view of New Bedford from the fort at Fairhaven, with the harbor, shipping, &c, is admired by all strangers, as well as our own people, and that of Fairhaven from the shore near the Smoking Rocks, on the west side of the outer harbor, is also very fine, and entitles the village to its pleasant name. The interests of New Bedford and Fairhaven are in a great degree identical, the chief business of both places being the whale-fishery. Fairhaven is a thriving place, and in 1S55 contained 4693 in habitants. It is a cool and pleasant summer resi dence, having the south-west breeze from the bay, and in this respect possesses advantages over New Bedford ; but on the other hand it is also more ex posed to the cold blasts of winter, particularly from the north-west. Although the two places are but one mile or less apart, and connected by a bridge, each place possesses its individual character, quite distinct from the other. From the early influence of the Quaker principles, New Bedford has been, 98 until within a few years at least, a peculiar place, while our neighbor across the river has resembled more other New England towns along the sea board. In fact, Fairhaven always strikes us as possessing a more marine character, arising proba bly from the principal part of the village lying near the water, and which peculiarity, as the town extends back, will to a considerable degree, as in New Bedford, disappear. After the division of the old township of Dartmouth in 17S7, Fairhaven and New Bedford remained as one township until 1812, when a division was made between them. At this time, and for many years after, the post- office and custom-house were at the foot of Bridge street, New Bedford. Joseph Rotch, who came from Nantucket to New Bedford in the year 1765, not being able to obtain as much land as he wished in New Bedford, made an extensive purchase of land in the rear of the village of Fairhaven. He wished to purchase upon the shore, but not being able to do so, relin quished his intention of settling at Fairhaven, and located himself in New Bedford. The particulars of this event I have given in a previous chapter. Among the original proprietors of Dartmouth mentioned in the confirmatory deed of William Bradford, the Deputy- Governor of Plymouth Col ony, Novetnbcr 13th, 1694, who probably settled on the Fairhaven side of the Acushnet River, were Seth Pope, Thomas Taber, Jonathan Delano, Isaac Pope, Lcttice Jenny, Samuel Jenny, Mark Jenny, Valentine Huddlcstone, Samuel Spooner, William 99 Spooncr, John Spooner, Joseph Tripp, James Tripp, Daniel Sherman, Edmund Sherman, Aaron Da vis, &.c. At the time the British troops marched around the river, after committing their spoliations in New Bedford, ccc, they passed through the villages of Oxford and Fairhaven, without destroying any property, directly to the fort. The troops however landed at Fairhaven the next night; but through the bravery of a young man by the name of Israel Fearing, a major of the militia, and a few others, they "were successfully repulsed, and abandoned their object, which was undoubtedly to burn the place. 100 CHAPTER X. THE WHALE-FISHERY, CONTINUED FROM CHAPTER VI — BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES — ARCHITECTURE OF OLDER AND MORE MODERN BUILDINGS, &C. To our sister queen, the ocean-bound island, Nan tucket, must be awarded the palm of pioneership in this noble enterprise. Other branches of com merce have their attractive and important features, in a greater or less degree. Those who spread their broad canvas and stretch across the almost bound less deep, and bring from foreign climes the com forts and luxuries which have become, as it were, the necssaries of life, bringing into intimate rela tionship people remotely situate from each other, are full of interest, and afford subjects of philosoph ical study and research, expanding the energies, and affording as they do employment to whole na tions ; but for noble daring, heroic enterprise, and thrilling interest, none is so fertile of material as may be found in the annals and history of the whale-fishery. Capt. Scoresby, a practical seaman, as well as a gentleman and scholar, has given in his elaborate works a valuable record of his experi ences ; but it would require the pen of a Defoe or Cooper to do justice to the romance of real life to be found in the experience of many a sailor em ployed in this arduous service. Launching out into the great deep in their small and clumsily constructed vessels, our early adventurers became 101 noted for their courageous and hardy exploits; and with all the improvements in naval architecture, and the modern appliances of comfort introduced on board our whaling vessels, the business may still be considered as the most heroic and hazard ous of all maritime pursuits. Cases are not infre quent where serious calamities occur, cither by the dying struggles of the monster of the deep, or an intended attack by him : boats are shattered, and their whole crews exposed to the double danger of the sea and the exasperated monster; even large vessels are sometimes destroyed.* -*The case of the *The ship Union, of Nantucket, of which Capt. Edmund Gardner, now one of our most respected citizens, was master, was so badly in jured by stiiking a spermaceti whale, in the year 1807, Oct. 1, when only twelve days from Nantucket, that she soon after sunk. The conduct of Capt. Gardner upon this terrible occasion, although a very young man, and this his first voyage as master, is represented as highly judicious and praiseworthy, for by " his prudence, courage and fortitude" they were effectual in preserving good order and in encouraging the crew to use their best exertions for the common safety. After being at sea seven days and eight nights, Capt. Gardner, with his officers and crew, consisting of nine in all, reached the island of Elores, one of the Azores. The ship Essex, Capt. George Follard, on the 20th of November, 1820, in latitude 40' south, longitude 119° west, was attacked by a whale, " which, coming with full speed, struck the ship a little for ward of the fore chains," injuring her so much as to place her in iv sinking condition; but not satisfied with one blow, the same whale struck the ship a second blow, and nearly stove in her bows. By (lie time the ship's company had got on board the boats " the ship fell upon one side and sunk to the water's edge." A narrative of the lc .s of this ship and the great sufferings of the crew has been published. "A Whale Attacking! a Smr. Tho ship Cuban, of Greenock, Captain Galloway, which arrived at that port from Dcmavara in 1 S57 , met with a most extraordinary adventure on her homeward voyage. When in latitude 43 39 north, longitude 2G 50 west, the ship, which was running before the wind at the rate of 91 knots an hour, jeciiml such a severe shock that she heeled over several strakes, and her way was completely stopped, while the men who were sleeping in the star board berths of the top-gallant forecastle were thrown out upon their chests. Shortly after the shock an immense whale rose at a short distance from the ship's quarter, and after lying motionless for a short 102 destruction of the ship Ann Alexander, of New Bed ford, Capt. John S. Dcblois, by a whale, in the Pa cific Ocean, August 20th, 1851, and which gave occasion to the following humorous lines in the London " Punch " of December 6th, 1851, will be remembered by many. THE WONDERFUL WHALERS. {See the Bedford [U. 5'.] Mercury.) Fathers of the oratory, ' List to my surprising tale, Hearken to a wondrous story More than very like a whale-; Each mesmeric marvel-monger, Lend to me your ears likewise; If for miracles you hunger, You shall ope both mouth and eyes. In the ship Ann Alexander, Cruising in pursuit of whales, Bold John S. Deblois, commander, With a crew so galla'ul^sails^ In the South Pacific Ocean, Reaching to the Off-Shore Ground, 'Mong the waves in wild commotion, Several monstrous whales they found. These two boats did follow after, Larboard boat, and starboard too, And with shouts of glee and laughter, The leviathans pursue ; time, as if stunned by the blow, swam towards the vessel, as if with the intention of repeating the attack. It was a moment of intenso anxiety on board. But fortunately when close to the stern the mon ster wheeled round in the opposite direction, and dived, throwing with his tail as he did so a quantity of blood and water on board. It was a moonlight night, and the bulk of the huge animal could be seen distinctly, towering to a considerable height above the surface. When he dived, his tail appeared to those on board to be from 30 to 40 feet out of the water. The pumps were sounded, but the ship was found to be making no water. From tho force of the blow, and the fact that tho second mate thought he heard a whale blowing a short time before the shock occurred, it is supposed that the fish made a regular attack upon the ship, aud was not come in contact with while asleep. An estimate of its immense size and power may formed from the fact of its bringing to a stand-still a deeply laden ship of 600 tons, sailing at the rate of nearly 10 knots an hour." 103 When the larboard boat, commanded By the stout first mate, did soon In a whale, with force strong-handed, Deeply plunge a sharp harpoon. Off the mighty monster started; Pain and anguish gave him cause; Suddenly he backwards darted, Seized the boat between his jaws; Into smithereens he clacked it; Or, as witnesses declare, Who beheld the thing transacted, Bits no bigger than a chair! In the starboard boat, the captain Quickly to the rescue struck, And, although the bark was snapt in Pieces, saved the crew — by luck. Now the good Ann Alexander To their aid the waist-boat sent; Half the band then having manned her, At the whale again tiicy went. Soon the ocean-giant nearing, They prepared to give him fight, Little thinking, never fearing, That the beast again would bite. But without their host they reckoned; At their boat he also flew; Like the first he served the second, Snapped it into pieces too. Sure his jaws, together clapping. Had the gallant seamen crushed ; But, when they perceived him snapping, Straight into the sea they rushed. To afford the help they needed, Bold Dcblois repaired again ; Once more, also, he succeeded, In the aim to save his men. Tired, perhaps, of sport renewing. To their ship this time thev hied, When, behold the whale pursuing, With his jaws extended wide. s Gloating with revenge, he sought 'em; But, with blubber pierced, and gored, He was crippled, or had caught 'cm; But they all got safe on board. Risk the heroes little caved for; Speedily they set their sail In the ship herself — prepared for One more tussle with the whale. 104 Now they reached him — plunged a lance in The infuriate monster's head; Then — of course they had no chance in Closo encounter. — onward sped. . For the ship they saw him making, But the chase he soon gave o'er, Which the animal forsaking, Down on him again they bore: Fifty rods* below tho water, There they saw the monster lie; So, despairing him to slaughter, They resolved no more to try. At this time, Dcblois was standing Sternly on the larboard bow, Ready, with harpoon his hand in, To inflict a deadly blow: Up he saw the monster rising, With velocity and power, At the rate of speed surprising Of full fifteen knots an hour. In an instant — Heaven defend us! — Lo, the whale had, near the keel Struck, with such a force tremendous, That it mado the vessel reel; And her bottom knocked a hole in, Into Which the water poured ; And the sea so fierce did roll in, That the billows rushed and roared! Yet the ship was saved from sinking, Though so riddled by the whale, And Deblois and his unshrinking Crew survive to tell the tale. Strong are those daring fellows, Doubtless, the harpoon to throw; And — to judge from what they tell us — Stronger still to draw the bow! Truly the perils of the whale-fishery are great, and a record of the adventures and escapes on the part of our seamen would make a volume that for ro mantic interest the most fertile imagination would in vain attempt to excel. But for the present my object is to enter a little more minutely into the origin, rise and progress of the whale-fishery than was given in my former article. 105 Although from their greater enterprise in the whale-fishery, its origin is usually acceded to Nan tucket, still the early settlers of Cape Cod, accord ing to the historian of Nantucket, Obed Macy, had made greater proficiency in the art of whale-catch ing than themselves ; " so that in the year 1690 they sent thither and employed a man by the name of Ichabod Paddock to instruct them in the best man ner of killing whales, and extracting their oil." The attention of the people of Nantucket was peculiarly directed to the whale-fisher)', for the first whale, "of the kind called ' scragg,' killed by them, came into the harbor, and there remained for three days, giving them time to manufacture suitable weapons for their purpose;" and "the first sperm aceti whale known to the inhabitants of Nantucket was found dead and ashore upon the south-west part of the island." As previously stated, the whale-fishery was at first carried on in boats near the shore, and subse quently in small sloops, which ventured along the coast, and extended their cruises to several weeks. The process of trying out the oil, it will be remem bered, was done on shore, the " blubber," or pieces of the whale in the crude state, forming the cargo. " The first spermaceti whale taken by the Nan tucket whalers [according to the before-mentioned author] was killed by Christopher Husscy. He was cruising near the shore for right whales, and was blown off some distance from the land by a strong northerly wind, where he fell in with a school of that species of whales, and killed one and brought it home. At what date this adventure 106 took place is not fully ascertained, but it is sup posed not far from 1712. In 1715, the number of vessels engaged in the whaling business was six, all sloops of from thirty to forty tons burthen each,' which produced iillOO sterling or $4,8SS.SS." At this period, and for many years afterwards, the whale-fishery was confined to the island of Nantucket; but by the middle of this century (the 18th) it had been commenced in a small way in New Bedford by Joseph Russell and others. As I have already given this part of its history as con nected with New Bedford, I shall hasten on to events of a later date. The enterprise of our early merchants had been severely tested by the complete prostration of their business during the Revolutionary War, by the ruinous effects of the embargo, the war with Eng land, and the later European war; and it was not until the year 1818 that the whale-fisliery in New Bedford was entered into with that spirit and perseverance which has brought it up to its present important and elevated position in commercial pursuits. At this time the older class of ship-masters had relinquished their calling, and many of them had settled down with their families to enjoy the prod ucts of their honestly acquired wealth. From a familiar acquaintance with the practical part of the whaling business, their knowledge was of great value, and as most of them were interested still as owners 'in the whaling vessels, they soon became 107 ¦ among our most enterprising and successful mer chants. As a body, no marine service has produced a larger number of high and honorable-minded men and valuable citizens than the whale-fishery. From an extensive acquaintance, not only with their own particular department of business, but in their intercourse with the people of foreign na tions during the time of the freighting business previous to 1812, our older class of ship-masters in particular were men of extensive practical knowledge, and marked for their general kindness, hospitality, and urbanity of manners. The foun dation of the wealth now enjoyed by a large number of our inhabitants was laid by them, and it is desirable that their example may be cherished. " The following is an abstract of the duties col lected in this port" for the years inclusive: Years. Duties. Years. Duties. 1801, $58,964 1806, $26,972 1802, 15,527 1807, 40,018 1803, 18,824 1808, 1,324 1804, 27,314 1809, 6,306 1805, 35,163 1810, 10,703 At this date (1810) the whole township of New Bedford, which then included that of Fairhaven, contained but 5651 inhabitants. Although to Joseph Russell must be accredited the honor of being the father of New Bedford, the founder of its whale-fishery, and the first manu facturer of spemaceti into candles, yet to Nantuck et we arc indebted for those distinguished merchants and noble-minded men, the Rotches — Joseph, , William, and William, Jr. — as well as for other enterprising citizens, merchants, and shipmasters. 108 Joseph Rotch, the first of the name that went to Nantucket, was born in Salisbury, Eng., 3d mo. 6th, 1704, N. S. He was an enterprising merchant, and as a man was held in high estimation. His family consisted of three sons, William, Joseph, and Francis. He removed to New Bedford in the year 1765, but returned to Nantucket during the war of the Revolution, and remained until 3d mo. 25th, 1782, when he again removed to New Bed ford. He died llth mo. 21th, 1784, in his eighty- first year, and was buried in the ground belonging to the old Friends' meeting-house in Dartmouth. His wife was Love Macy, daughter of Thomas Macy, 2d, and Deborah Coffin, of Nantucket. She was born 4th mo. 20th, 1713, N. S., and died at Nantucket 3d mo. 25th, 1767, aged 51 years. William Eotch, Sen., son of Joseph and Love Rotch, was born in Nantucket 10th mo. 4th, 1734, O. S., or 12th mo. 15th, 1734, N. S., and died in New Bedford 5th mo. 16th, 1S28, aged 93 years 5 months and 24 days. Elizabeth Rotch, his wife, the daughter of Benjamin and Lydia Barney, was born 4th mo. 3d, 1735, N. S. They were married 10th mo. 31st, 1754. She died in New Bedford 5th mo. 14th, 1824, aged 89 years 1 month and 11 days. Their residence was the " Mansion House," corner of Main (now Union) and Second streets. William Rotch, Jr., was born, as per record, on Nantucket llth mo. 29th, 1759, and died in New Bedford 4th mo. 17th, 1850, in his 91st year. Elizabeth Rotch, his wife, sister of Samuel Rodman, 109' Sen., diccl in New Bedford 1st mo: 30th, 1S28, in her 69th year. Joseph Rotch, tho. ancestor of the E-otch family, lived during the last part of his life in the old house at the corner of Main (now Union) and First streets, lately taken down ; and the spot is now occu pied by the cast end of "Thornton Block." His former honse, which stood where his grandson, William Rotch, Jr., afterwards built, on what was formerly known as "Rotcli's Hill," Water street, was burnt by the British troops during the Rev olutionary War, at the time of the general con flagration. William Rotch', Sen., by whose judicious and persevering efforts his native island was saved from the twofold danger of the refugees and the British troops in the .time of the Revolution, did not make his residence here until the year 1795. Soon after the Revolutionary War he had gone to England, with the intention of establishing himself in tho whale-fishery there, the business being ruined iii this country by the heavy alien duty imposed by the British government upon oil, Great Britain being then "the only market of any consequence for sperm oil." Sperm oil was sold at Nantucket after the peace at .£17 sterling per ton, which before the war was worth neatly £30; and £25 was necessary to cover the expenses, and leave a very moderate profit for the owners. In this desperate State of things, Mr: Rotch saw no alternative for the prosecution of his business, "but: to proceed to England, and thence endeavor to F 110 pursue the whale-fishery." He accordingly, in hia fifty-first year, in company with his son Benjamin, sailed from Nantucket 7th mo. 4th, 1785, in the ship Maria, William Mooers, master, and arrived in England after a passage of twenty-three days. Not being able to make satisfactory arrangements for the pursuit of his business with the English government, he proceeded next to France, and there receiving favorable terms from that govern ment, in connection Avith his son Benjamin, estab lished their business at Dunkirk. After having so settled his business that his son could attend to its prosecution in Dunkirk, Mr. Rotch prepared to return to his native country. Having purchased a ship in England, the name of which I have not learned, but of which William Mooers was master, he left the Downs 10th mo. llth, 17S6, and "after a tremendous passage of sixty-eight days, in which they had twelve heavy storms, they arrived in Boston." " After remaining at home nearly four years," he again, taking his family, or a part thereof, with him, embarked from New Bedford in the ship Maria & Eliza, Abisha Ilayden, master, for Dun kirk, 7th mo. 29th, 1790, and after a passage of thirty-eight clays they arrived. Here he remained until the beginning of 1793, when the war between England and France being expected, Mr. Rotch was obliged to relinquish his business at Dunkirk, and after a year's or more residence in London, finally left, Europe on the 24th of the 71 h month, 1791, with his family, in the ship Barclay, David Ill Swain, master, and after a long passage of sixty-one days once more reached his native land. After a year's residence on Nantucket, he togeth er with his family removed to New Bedford in 1795, then in his 61st year. Here he remained un til his death in 1828, in his 95th year, beloved and respected by all. His venerable and patriarchal appearance during the latter part of his life is well remembered by the writer. Tall and dignified in his person, his face, expressive of benevolence, with his long silvery locks, and the drab-colored suit of the style of the Society of Friends, com bined with his noble and philanthropic charac ter, rendered him an object of profound respect to his fellow-citizens, as wen as to his numerous friends among distinguished merchants, and men in public life at home and abroad. "Friend Rotch," as he was called, was a fine spec imen of a merchant, a man of the strictest integ rity, frank, generous, high-minded in its truest sense, but truly humble in his own self-estimation, of broad and liberal views, devoted to the principles of peace and good will, a friend of the oppressed and down-trodden; in fine, a more perfect character has never fallen to our lot to know, and is probably rarely to be met with in any community. May his noble example encourage others engaged in mer cantile pursuits to emulate his virtues. And truly in this community tbe sweet savor of his life and influence should not be suffered to die out. The writer remembers often to have seen him in one of the old-fashioned square-topped chaises, with a fa- 112 Vorite colored man upon a scat in front of the foot board, driving, as faithfully depicted in the pleas ant picture of "the old Four Corners" by William A. Wall. It is pleasant to recall by the aid of memory those clays of simplicity and peace, when our busy, bustling place was little more than a village. Al though the streets have been graded and many new ones added, and many large and costly edifices have since been built, in the eye of the lover of simple beauty, the village of New Bedford then afforded a far more agreeable sight. The old houses that stood at respectful distances apart, upon what was then and should now be known as Main street, with their front yards, the rows of the now despised but then thrifty and admired Lombardy pop lars that graced either side for most of the way, the stately mansion of Abraham Russell al its head, and the mansion of the venerable Friend Rotch, then possessing ample grounds, with exten sive out-buildings, stables, carriage-houses, ccc, all these, and much more of the same character, have been, so far as beauty and comfort arc con cerned, poorly supplanted by our modern improve ments. The buildings of that day, not only the houses, but the old shops with their bow windows in the best of them, and the warehouses where the old merchants had their counting-rooms, were far more graceful in their outlines than those of a later date. Some of these houses and their surround ings have been rarely surpassed, and please the eye of the cultivated architect, even at the pres- 113 cnt day, much more than the pseudo attempts, and generally abortions, in the way of town and coun try residences. The houses of the two distinguished merchants, WiUiam Botch, Sen., and his son William, with their fine' gardens and grounds, were substantial and pleasant residences, but more par ticularly , that of Mr. Russell before mentioned on County street, and further down, that of Gilbert Russell, before mentioned. The latter, now owned by William R. Rotch, is still, although wanting its former extensive surroundings, one of the finest specimens of a genteel residence to be found in our " city of palaces," as it has been called by strangers. Now that I am upon this subject, it may not be inappropriate to make a few suggestions upon our style of building. It is to be regretted that so many of our more costly houses arc built in a style of architecture which, however imposing at the time of their construction, will not bear a judicious criticism. The form of the Greek and Roman temple, however beautiful and classic, was never intended for domestic residences. The houses of the ancient cities were built in an altogether differ ent style from their public buildings, and their villas were models of grace, domestic case, and retire ment. Every building, whether public, or private, should express the purpose for which it was in tended to be used. In a climate like our own, any style of building which docs not admit of the smht of those objects that arc essential to domestic comfort is at once to be set aside. The temple form, from the necessity of concealing as much ar. 114 possible the chimneys as incongruous, is particularly objectionable. The chimneys, in fact, are con sidered by all good architects, -when properly built and located, as among the most expressive and ornamental features of a domestic residence; and they have been by some old writer very appro priately called "the windpipes of hospitality." There are but few styles of domestic architecture of European origin adapted to the climate of our country as well as to the wants and genius of our people. Those edifices, with their rich ornamental work built of enduring stone, when imitated in perishable wood, are always disgusting to the eye of a person of taste, and suggestive of weakness and decay. The style called the Elizabethan, however beautiful in the old substantial stone or brick houses of England, surrounded by their ex tensive, lawns, parks, and pleasure-grounds, is simply ridiculous when built of wood, and as usual with some of the most important details omitted, or supplanted by an altogether different style, and placed in a lot of perhaps not more than half an acre of ground./ If wood is to be the chief material for our dwelling-houses, and there is much to be said in its favor, owing to its exemp tion from that internal dampness which, on account of our penetrating frosts, renders most houses of stone or brick so objectionable, let us adopt a less ornate style of building than that which appears now to be, so much in fashion. Every house, no matter how small and humble or how large and imposing in appearance, should have a home look; 115 and if this idea is kept in mind, instead of the present, glaring, staring, illy constructed edifices, we shall witness a harmony of c fleet which all must admire. Several of our public, buildings and blocks are very good; and the new Library build ing is generally considered an ornament to the city: but the churches or meeting-houses, with one or two exceptions, are too outrageous to attempt a criticism upon. The Court- House, for which the citizens of New Bedford are not alone responsible, is a perfect abomination. The architect of this monster should have been indicted for malcfeasance. These strictures do not apply any more, and per haps less, to New Bedford than to most other places in New England; for we have really many not only elegant brit graceful residences, and a few plain but substantial mansions upon County street which arc almost unexceptionable. A very little alteration, and that generally in the roof, would render many of the at present distasteful though costly mansions of our citizens beautiful residences. In such a case, the so-called "pediment end," and huge pillars of ivood, would speedily disappear. m CHAl'TER XI. BUZZARD'S DAY — ITS DISCOVERY BY THE NORTHMAN*, AFTERWARDS BY BARTHOLOMEW GOSXOLD — ORIGIN OF ITS PRESENT NAME — THE EUZABETH ISLANDS — NAUSHON AND THE BOWDOIN HOUSE— TRIE TO NAU SHON IN 1850. Buzzard's Bay was discovered by the Northmen in the tenth century,* and by them named Straum fiord;! by Gosnold in 1602, and named "Gosnold's Hope;" and by the early settlers of Dartmouth, "Buzzard's Bay;" — the latter name probably giv en from the fish-hawk, (which in old works upon natural history is called the buzzardet, or little buz zard,) as T suppose, from the great number of this- bird of prey being seen about the shores and isl- * Antiquitates Americana): ante Colum. in Amer. Hafnito, 1837. t Straumfiord: Stream Bay, or Bay of Currents. The Northmen resided in New England eight years, as appcai-s from the following summary made from the account given in the American Antiquities by the author of "The Northmen in New Eng land," Joshua Toulmin Smith: "They left Greenland in the spring of 1007; stayed at Straumfiord (Buzzard's Bay,) during the following winter (1007-S.) in the autumn preceding which Snorri Thorfinnson was born; stayed the following winter (1003-9) at Hop; aud the next (1009-10) again at Straum fiord; and returned to Greenland in the spring of 1010, after an absence of three years. You will remember that Thorvald's party resided here for tho space of three years also, from the summer of 1002 to the spring of 10.05; and that Leif's party resided here one year, from 1000 to 1001; in addition to which Freydis and her husband remained here one year, from 1011 to 1012." While the Northmen were living upon the shores of our bay a son waa born, iu the year 1007, to one of the commanders of the expedi tion, Thorfinn and named Snorri Thorfinnson. There were six wom en in the company. From this, child the celebrated sculptor, Thor- waldsen, is said to be descended. 117 ands of the bay. To a maritime people like our selves, this noble sheet of water becomes an object of great interest. In fact, this " stately sound," as it is termed by the old journalist, Gabriel Archer, who accompanied Bartholomew Gosnold on his voyage to these shores, in 1602, is one of the noblest bays upon the coast of North America. To the people of New Bedford, as well as those who border upon its coast, our bay has always been highly valued. How beautiful its broad and blue expanse of wa ters must have appeared to those early and hardy adventurers, who upon the deck of their little ves sel first beheld it on the morning of the 25th of May, 1602! They were indeed muc'.i delighted with its noble and attractive appearance. Here they came to anchor in eight fathoms of water, a quarter of a mile from the north shore of Cuttyhunk". The same old journalist whose account I am tracing says " This island Captain Gosnold called Elizabeth Isle, where we determined to make our abode. From Eliza beth Island unto the main is four leagues. On the north side, near adjoining unto the island Elizabeth, is an islet in compass half a mile, full of cedars, by me called Hill's Hap, [now called Penckese,] to the northward of which, in the mouth of an open ing on the main, appeareth another, the like, that I call Hap's Hill, [probably the Round Hills,] for I hope, much hap may be expected from it." This island, Elizabeth, or Cuttyhunk', now so completely divested of trees or shrubbery, was then finely wooded with trees of various kinds, snch as "oaks, ashes, beeches, walnut, witch-hazel, sassa- V.-. 118 fras and cedars, with divers other unknown names." The old journalist goes on to say, " In this island is a stage or pond of fresh water, in circuit two miles, on the one side not distant from the sea thirty yards, in the centre whereof is a rocky islet, containing near an acre of ground, full of wood, on which we began our fort and place of abode, dis posing itself so fit for the same." Here then they landed on the day before mentioned. In another account of this voyage, written by John Brereton, the author says, in speaking of this important event, " Captain Gosnold, myself, and some others, went ashore, and going round about it we found it to be four English miles in compass." The island was not inhabited by the Indians, al though it was frequented by them for hunting and fishing. They found the ruins of an old wigwam, and part of a fishing-weir. The island was thickly wooded, the principal trees being beech and cedar. They also found red and white strawberries, which he describes "as sweet and much bigger than ours in England," raspberries, gooseberries, whortleber ries, vines running upon the trees, also springs of excellent sweet water. He also describes the lake of fresh water, "near the sea-side, an English mile in compass, which is maintained with the springs running exceedingly pleasantly through the woody grounds, which are very rocky." They also found "great store of deer and other beasts, as appeared by their tracks," also great numbers of sea-fowl, "geese, mallards, teals, &c." On the north side of the island they "found many huge bqnes and ribs 119 of whales." The little island in the fresh-water pond was also covered with trees ; and they feasted and grew fat upon the young sea-fowl which they found in their nests upon the banks and low trees. .The description given of this island, Cuttyhunk, leaves no room for a doubt of its being the one on which Gosnold and his company landed ; and the identity of the fresh-water pond, the islet within it, and the fact that they erected a "place of abode" and fortified the spot are also beyond a doubt. The cellar of Gosnold's house and fort were distinctly to be seen until within a few years ; and although the ground of this little island has been sacrile giously ploughed over and cultivated, so as almost ' to obliterate the last vestige of this interesting and important ruin, still the exact location of the first abode made by Europeans upon this coast can be identified ; and it is highly probable that upon a careful examination of the spot, and an excavation being made, the cellar might be again found. In the year 1797, Dr. Belknap, the historian, visit ed this spot, and found the remains of the cellar. In the year 1817, July 23d, a party of gentlemen from Boston, taking a sloop from New Bedford, also visited this island, and in a letter published in the North American Review, vol. 5, an account of this visit and its results is given, from which I make the following extract: <' In the western end of the pond is a high islet, surrounded by a rocky margin and covered with a very rich soil, in which were growing the wild gooseberry, the grape, elder, mallows, primroses, J20 eglantine, yarrow, sumach, wild parsnip, beach- plum, wild cherry, wild pea, Solomon's seal, the convolvulus, thoroughwort, and red clover. The stump of a red cedar stood near the shore, and we brought home a piece of it as a remembrance of our expedition. On the northern bank of the islet, about ten yards from the water, wc found a small excavation overgrown with bushes and grass, on one side of which were three large stones in a row at the distance of three feet from each other, having under them other stones of the same size lying in the same direction. Between these were smaller stones, which appeared by their form and smooth ness to have been taken from the beach. In another slight excavation twenty yards south of the former, near the centre and highest part of the islet, were similar stones, but very few in number and not disposed in any apparent order. On dig ging in other parts of the islet, we found more of the same kind. We conjectured that the first excavation -was all that remained of Gosnold's cel lar, and the latter a part of the trench dug for the purpose of forming the fort." A few weeks after this, a party of gentlemen of New Bedford made a visit to this spot, among whom was James Howland, 2d, who ^nforms me that they discovered upon the highest part of this isle); what they concluded to be three sides of the cellar of Gosnold's house, which he estimates to have been about fifteen feet square. There can be no doubt that this was the place of his residence, for there is no other pond con taining an islet in any one of the Elizabeth Islands, The building and fortifications must have been quite substantial, as they were employed three weeks in constructing them. As no mention is. 121 made of masonry or the use of lime, it is probable that the house was'either built of stones and turf or mud, or in imitation of an Indian wigwam, the remains of one of which it will be remembered was found by them upon the main island. In either case, it would in a neglected state have soon fallen down. The old journalist speaks of their being employed at one time in "rubbishing their little fort or islet," by which I understand that they used the bushes and smaller trees for this purpose. So that should nothing more be found than the remains of the old cellar, or should even that be obliterated, sufficient will be left to satisfy any reasonable mind that upon this little islet was erected the first human habitation by the Europeans. Here was the first settlement made by them; and from this little isolated spot the history of the set tlement of this country by the English or any other European nation takes its date.* It is truly a con secrated spot, and should henceforth be devoted to the fostering of that noble and adventurous spirit, as well as the kind and, friendly relations be tween mankind, manifested in the intercourse of ttjese hardy adventurers with the natives they here met. In the name and to the memory of Barthol omew Gosnold, whose bones lie in an unknown grave in Virginia, where he died 22d August, 1607, ).et it be consecrated. Gosnold's islet has lately come into the possession, by purchase, of Thomas Nye, Jr., of New Bedford. •As I find no mention in tic " Antiquitatea Americana) " of any building erected by the Northmen, and as no subsequent settlement here was made by them, I conclude this statement to be con cot. The Northmen probably lived in their vessels. 122 A small round and castellated form of tower, built of stone in a rude but substantial manner, would be in good keeping with the historical asso ciations of this spot, which might be called Gos nold's tower or fort. This, with a flag-staff and, at such times as occupied, with a blue flag spread to the ocean breeze, and inscribed with the name of Gos^nold, or 1602, or any other appropriate de vice, would present a truly picturesque and spirited appearance. The Indian name of this islet was Quawck, and that of the main island now known as Cuttyhunk, Pooculohhunkunnoh. This island contains about five hundred and sixteen acres, and the soil is said to be very fertile ; but how changed from the richly wooded sylvan retreat which it offered to its discoverers in 1602, where among the stately trees the deer browsed or at the sight of man bounded away into some fancied place of safety! The lofty promontory running out from the centre of the island to the northward was called by the Indians Copicut, which name it still bears. • On the 31st of May, Capt Gosnold sailed across the bay, and came to an anchor near the shore, not far from the Round Hills. As I have before stated, there are two distinct accounts of this adventure ; and one of these would seem to place their landing not far from Gooseberry Neck, for the journalist speaks of a neck of land which they "imagined had been severed from the main, but finding it otherwise we perceived a broad harbor or river's mouth." This would answer for the mouth of the Acoaxet or Westport River; but as this neck pf Jand 123 was not seen until the close of the day, and as they had been following the coast westward from Round Hill Point, it is quite certain that the first place of their landing on the main was upon the shore at the Round Hills. In a former sketch of this ad venture, I have represented the scene of the first landing upon the main by Gosnold as within our harbor, having taken this information from others; but by a very careful examination of every point and distance mentioned in the old journals of this voy age, and the most accurate charts of the bay, I am well satisfied that Gosnold and his company land ed and traced the coast along as before mentioned, to wit: from the shore near tbe Round Hills west ward to Gooseberry Neck. . I am thus particular, as it seems desirable that this fact should be estab lished. With the journals in hand, and a correct map or chart, this can easily be seen. On the shore Capt. Gosnold was met by a num ber of natives, men, women and children, "who with all courteous kindness entertained him, giving him certain skins of wild beasts, which may be rich furs, tobacco, turtles, hemp, artificial strings colored, chains, and such like things as at the in stant they had about them." They returned the same day to the fort. A short time after this visit, and while busily employed upon the house, which they thatched with sedge, they espied eleven canoes with fifty Indians in them approaching the island from that part of the main they had visited; "and being loath they should discover our fortification, we went out on the sea-side to meet them." They 124 appeared very friendly, although armed with their bows and arrows. The day was "spent in trading with them for furs, which are beavers, luzcrnes, martins, otters, wild-cat skins, (very large and deep fur,) black foxes, coney-skins, of the color of our hares, but somewhat less, deer-skins (very large,) seal-skins, and other beasts' skins to us unknown." These Indians remained three days with Gosnold and his company, retiring every night to a distant part of the main island. The journalist describes the men as much higher in stature than themselves, and of great symmetry of form. Some of them had thin black beards ; they also had beards of the hair of beasts; and one of them offered to exchange a beard of this kind with one of the sailors whose beard was of a red color, which " they judged to be none of his own." They saw but three women, whom they described as of low stature, "fat, and very Well favored." Their garments were made principally of deer-skin ; and both sexes dressed in a similar manner. The adventurers were delighted with the climate, the beauty of the country, and the fertility of the soil. Their intention originally was for a part of the company to remain for the purpose of forming a colony, but having loaded their vessel with sassa- .fras-root (which at that time was considered val uable for its medicinal properties) and cedar, those who were expected to remain, thinking the cargo would prove very profitable, for fear of losing their share became discontented, and they finally all left on the 18th of June the same year. The vessel 125 which bore these hardy adventurers to these shores was very small, but the tonnage is not mentioned, probably less than one hundred tons. Iler name was the " Concord," and she belonged to Dart mouth, onthe English Channel, Gosnold sailed from Falmouth, England, March 26th, 1602; landed on Elizabeth Island, or Cutty hunk, May 24th, 1602; left for England, June 18th, 1602; arrived at Exmouth, on the English Chan nel, July 20th, 1602; absent 4 months less 6 days. It is highly probable that the earliest settlers of our old township of Dartmouth came from the English town of the same name, and whence Gos nold obtained his vessel, the " Concord." On the return of this little vessel to her port, the voyage and discoveries of the adventurers would be a source of much interest and inquiry among the in habitants. It will also be remembered that in a pre vious chapter I make mention of the fact that the Speedwell, which sailed in company with the May flower from Plymouth, put back into Dartmouth, and was there left. These circumstances undoubt edly excited in the people of this maritime town the spirit of emigration ; and it requires but little effort of the imagination to conclude that from this port sailed the first settlers of our old township of Dartmouth. It does not appear from the journals of Gos nold's voyage I. have made use of that they visit ed all the Elizabeth Islands, but from the descrip tion given in the account of Brereton, there is no doubt but that during their stay at Cuttyhunk 126 they went at least twice to Naushon, which they describe as "greater than they imagined, being sixteen English miles at least in compass." They speak^of the soil being " fat and lusty, finding places where the grass grew." "In mid-May we did sow in this island, (for a trial,) in sundry places, wheat, barley, oats, and pease, which in fourteen days were sprung up nine inches and more."* Of all the Elizabeth Islands, Naushon may be said alone to retain its primeval characteristics. Here the noble forest trees of beech, oak, &c, with the wild grape-vines growing upon them, and the native fallow deer roaming at large, are still to be seen, affording to the lover of nature a scene simi lar to that which so charmed the eyes of Gosnold and his company more than two centuries and a half ago. On the afternoon of the 27th of June, 1856, in company with a congenial friend, I visited this isl and. Leaving New Bedford, in less than two hours our gallant steamer, the " Eagle's Wing," landed us at'Hadley's harbor, upon the east end of the isl and. Our object being to see the natural beauties and productions of this comparatively unmolested * The sources from which I have deduced these historical facts and reminiscences are: " Bartholomew Gosnold's Letter to his Father, touching his Voyage to Virginia, 1602." "The Relation of Captain Gosnold's Voyage to the North Part of Virginia, Begun the Six-and- Twentieth of March, Anuo 42 Elizabethas Reginto, 1602, and Deliv ered by Gabriel Archer, a Gentleman in the said Voyage." " A Brief and True Relation of the Discovery of the North Part of Virginia, Being a Most Pleasant, Fruitful and Commodious Soil, Made this Present Year 1602, by Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, Captain Bar tholomew Gilbert, and divers other Gentlemen, their Associates, by the Permission of the Honorable Knight, Sir Walter Raleigh, &c. Written by M. John Brereton, one of the Voyage." London, 1602, 127 realm of nature, we at once proceeded into the an cient woods, where we were soon amply rewarded by a sight of some of the noblest trees and forest ranges we had ever seen. The beeches, oaks and other trees here grow to a large size, many of them undoubtedly of great age. Soon after our entrance we were greeted by the sight of a beautiful fawn, that stood gazing at us from a thicket at a short distance, but quickly bounded away from our view. The island being private property, the native deer are still preserved ; but at certain seasons, we re gret to say, these beautiful and noble creatures are hunted and shot. Naushon is the largest of the Elizabeth Islands, and is about seven miles in length and a mile and a quarter in breadth. It was formerly the property of the Hon. James Bow- doin, a Governor of Massachusetts, by whom it was bequeathed to his nephew, James Bowdoin, and by him bequeathed to his nephew, James Tem ple Bowdoin, who resided in London. It is now the property, by purchase, of William W. Swain, of New Bedford, and John M. Forbes, of Milton. The old mansion-house upon this island, which has been for many years the summer resi dence of the elder proprietor, Mr. Swain, was built by said James Bowdoin, an old bachelor, who died there while seated in his chair. The house was closed for many years, and had the reputation of being haunted, and was occasionally visited from this cause by the curious. To the natives, this island, as well as the rest of the group, was a favorite resort, both on account of the refreshing ocean breezes of summer and the 128 tempered air of winter, besides affording them the necessaries of life in abundance. To the naturalist, this island affords much attraction. The trees, plants, &c., grow in unusual luxuriance; and we saw a grape-vine, which my companion thought might have dated back to the time of Gosnold, that measured twenty-three inches in circumference six feet from the ground, firmly interlaced with a sturdy beech, each apparently striving for the mastery. The fine old woods were vocal with the songs of birds, and it was singularly pleasing to hear, on this ocean isle, the familiar notes of the wood-thrush, the veery (Wilson's thrush,) the yellow-throat, wood- pewee, &c. So with the plants and flowers which greeted our way. A more genial and heart-moving welcome we could not have desired than was thus afforded us by the bountiful hand of nature. A melancholy interest is attached to this island in the minds of the readers of the beautiful and in structive narrative of the heroic life, sufferings, and death of Robert Swain, a talented and accomplished young man, the only son of Mr. Swain, who lies bur ied in a pleasant and retired spot chosen by himself. Here his exhausted body found its last rest; but the beautiful and noble spirit tha,t invested it dwells in the genial atmosphere of kindred natures. Sacred the spot where virtue lies! Though we may see his form no more, In vain we say the good man dies; He lives more truly than before. Passing out of the woods, we stopped upon a rising ground to view the hospitable mansion of Mr. Swain, which stands upon an elevated spot at the 129 north-east part of the island, commanding a fine view of the broad landscape around, the bay, and the adjoining main. This house, the same before spoken of, is a large old-fashioned mansion, fronting the north, hip-roofed, with several tall chimneys, which with its ample piazzas presents an imposing and agreeable appearance. During the past year (1857) this house has been enlarged by the addition of a wing upon each side, and in other respects materially improved by the proprietors. Mr. Swain is familiariy known as "the governor," but truly he belongs to a more gallant and noble class, the ancient Lords of the Isles; and thus regarding him, we were reminded of the hospitable chieftains visit ed by Doctor Johnson and his friend Boswell dur ing their tour among the Hebrides. Buzzard's Bay lies between north latitude 41 25 and 41 42, and between 70 38 and 71 10 west longitude from Greenwich; from its entrance be tween Saughkonnct Point and the ledge of rocks that makes off from the west end of Cuttyhunk, known as the " Sow and Pigs," it stretches away north-east-by-north for thirty miles, with an average breadth of seven miles, laving the southern shore of old Dartmouth, beautifully indented by those fine rivers, the Acoaxet, the Pascamanset, and the Acushnet; with Dumpling Rock and the Round Hills on the north, while on the south lies the beautiful and noble group of the Elizabeth Islands. Pleasant must it be to our seafaring brethren, after a long voyage into distant oceans, once more to behold the familiar objects herein described. With 130 a fine ocean breeze, the canvas all spread, the sig nal flying at mast-head, and richly freighted, each moment bringing them nearer to those so near and dear, until the anchor drops in our harbor, every object that meets the eye must extend a welcome. The depth of water in our bay is from six to twelve fathoms. The Elizabeth Islands are sixteen in number. Beginning north-east, the first island is Nonamesset, which is a mile and a quarter long and half a mile broad, and contains three hundred and sixty acres. Tthe soil is said to be as good as that of Naushon. The next, Onkatonka, is three quarters of a mile in length and half a mile in breadth. It is sepa rated from Nonamesset on the southeast by Had- ley's harbor. Between Nonamesset and Naushon are two small islands called the Buck Islands. Naushon (or Naushaun) lies southwest from On katonka, separated by a narrow passage. On the south side of Naushon, about, midway, is Tarpaulin Cove, which affords good anchorage, being sheltered from all winds except those .which blow from east-south-east [to east. The Weepeckets, three small islands, the largest of which is not a quarter of a mile long, lie about half a mile north from Naushon. The next island west is Pasque, which is a mile and three quarters long and a mile broad, containing a thousand and two acres. South-west of this island is Nashawena, and between them is Quicks Hole, through which is a safe passage into Buzzard's Bay for ships of the largest class. Cuttyhunk is the westernmost of the Eliza- 131 beth Islands^ and next to Nashawena. This island is two and a half miles long and three quarters of a mile broad. On the south side of this island, which lies open to the Atlantic, is a celebrated beach covered with stones ; these being constantly rolled back and forth by the waves, a booming sound is created, which renders it sublime to the imaginative mind. A little north of Cutty hunk is Penequese, three quarters of a mile long and half a mile broad. This is the island visited by Gosnold, and called by him " Hill's Hap," and from which he took a canoe and carried to Eng land on his return. Gull Island, a mile east of Penequese, is less than a quarter of a mile long. These islands, together with Martha's Vineyard, Chappequiddick, and No Man's Land, form Dukes County, Mass., so called from the Duke of York, who in 1664 received from his brother, Charles II, a grant of New York, including Long Island, Mar tha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the adjacent isl ands. The largest of the islands in Buzzard's Bay, not belonging to the Elizabeth Islands, is West's Island, situated on the east side of Sconticut Point, a neck of land which makes out from Fairhaven, and corresponds with Clark's Point on the New Bedford side.* This island is about a mile and a half long, and three quarters of a mile broad. There are several good farms upon it, the soil be ing very fertile. It was formerly the property of * Sconticut was the Indian name of Fairhaven. 132 John West, who left it by will to help support tlie industrious poor of the town of New Bedford, which then included Fairhaven. Since the division of this town in 1812, this island has belonged to Fair haven. Bird-Island, in the north-east part of this bay, has a lighthouse with a revolving light; Mashno and Ouset, small islesj are situated in the" north-east extremity of the bay. Angelica, a very small isle off Sconticut Point, about six miles frond New Bedford, makes a very handsome appearance in the summer season from the high green grass growing upon it. The Egg Islands, to which par- ties for fishing go from New Bedford, were so named from the great quantities of gulls' eggs for merly found upon them. I am aware that much of the above history does not particularly belong to New Bedford or the old township of Dartmouth, but as connected with our bay, I have made use of it at this time. For the following additional information relative to the Elizabeth Islands, and the list of explana,; tions of Indian names made by the late Judge Da vis, I am indebted to. William W. Swain of this city. " Naushon was granted to Thomas Mayhew, of Martha's Vineyard, in 1641, by the agent of Lord Stirling. It remained in the Mayhew family 42 years, in the Winthrop family 48 years, and 113 years in the Bowdoin family, and with the present proprietors since 1843. Mayhew extinguished the Indian titles by purchase. To one of the owners of Nonamesset the consideration given was two coats. 133 The following is from the recollections of Sam uel Robinson, a tenant of Naushon fifty or sixty years ago. If now living [1857] he would be 98. 'During the Revolutionary War about two hun dred British soldiers were stationed at Tarpaulin Cove for twelve or fourteen months. They built a fort on the east side of the cove, the remains of which are still to be seen. During the war the British came down the bay with eighteen sail of transports and other vessels, and anchored near thp Weepeckets. They landed five hundred men, and demanded all the stock there was on the island. Remonstrance or resistance was useless. They marched to the eastern end of the island, and sep arating, drove the stock to Robinson's Hole, and carried them in boats on board, — say about four teen hundred sheep, thirty-five head of cattle, and twenty-five horses- Some time after a privateer with two tenders anchored in Hadley's harbor, and stripped the island of what stock the fleet left, — : perhaps seventy or eighty sheep, some calves, &c, allowing Mr. Robinson's father first to shear the wool, as it would be of no use to them, and also to retain his cows upon condition he would faith fully deliver up all the sheep, which he did, and worked hard to save the wool.'" "AN INDIAN TESTIMONY RESPECTING THE ELIZABETH ISLANDS. Extracted from the Records of Plymouth Colony. 1 1679. Old Hope,* the Indian of Manomet, saith that he knew the little island, lying next Saconeeset, called Nanomeeset, and a neck of land, or little isl and, called Uckatincet, belonging to the great island called Katomuck, and another little island, lying •Old Hope, a respectable native, lived at Manomet, on the back shore of Sandwich. This name occurs on the jury in 1075 which con demned the murderer of John Sassamin. a 134 between the said great island and Nanomecsct, belonged to Job Antiko, his grandfather Comuck,* apd sp tp Job's father, Thomas Antiko; and the paid Hope further saith that the said great island, palled Katojnuck, and another' little island called Peshchameescl, tp belong to Webacowet. f Will- jam Numack f testifies that he hath often heard his father say the same concerning the said islands, cprnmpnly called Nashanoic Islands' Before wc enter upon an explanation of the abo riginal names which occur in this testimony, it is proper to premise that in 1680 Plymouth Colony fetitioned for a new charter, and as the Elizabeth sjands were then under the jurisdiction of New York, (being included in the Duke of York's second grant of 1673,) it is probable, from the date of this Indian testimony (1679,) that the government of Plymouth Colony was then collecting aboriginal eyidence in order to show that these islands right fully belonged to certain aborigines who had ever been resident in the territory included in Plymouth Colony. After the revolution of 1688, these islands were taken from New York; and annexed to Massachu setts, with Plymouth Colony, 1691. EXPLANATION OF INDIAN NAMES. j3qpor).eeset was'the aboriginal name of Falmouth and is probably compounded of sauki (black) and anaiusuck (shells,) meaning the black or purple eye pf the quahaug clam, which abounds there, and of ¦winch was made the most estimable aboriginal coin. Nanqmeeset has a diminutive termination, and doubtless signifies 'little island,' from nahan, which *The phrase " grandfather Comuck " may be derived from saehimo comaeo,' which means the house of a saclicm, which is longer and larger than a common one, and was probably introduced to show their rightful descent and proprietary. t Webacowet and William Numack lived at Falmouth. 135 occurs in the name for island. Lying near a very large island, it is by comparison small. Uckatincet Was then, it- seems, a neck of land. Time has worn a channel, yet it is fordable for cattle at low water. This name has also a dimin utive termination ; the first part of the phrase is probably ohkeh, one of the terms for 'earth,' or 'ground:' hence it is a simple expression — 'little ground.' * Katomuck is familiar to the reader and traveller as well as historian by the name of Nashaun. The question will be asked, why the natives called it Katomuck, as it appears in the testimony. We can only answer that cautumme is their name for the natural year; hence they give it, to '¦planting ground,' and the planting season. Was not this, therefore, in aboriginal, Planting Island ? f Peshchameesel has also a diminutive termination ; pescha being the root of the name, and by which it continues to be called. The meaning remains a question. The Rev. Experience Mayhew wrote in 1726 iPaskchtanesit,' which is the same name, with a synonymic diminutive termination. It is the Tucker's Island of history. Nashanoiv, according to the testimony, was a collective aboriginal name for the whole group ; at the present period, however, it has, with a very tri fling variation, become a specific name for two of them only, which is well known. Taking the lan guage for our guide, and keeping the testimony in view, we are enabled to explain this 'name in our own opinion conclusively. After consulting those ?It may bo remarked that the letter e in our old records frequently occurs in the place of s, thus giving a hard sound where a soft accent was intended; and this suggestion may account for the whimsical popular variations in some names. ^Coaloom signifies "earth," or "planting ground," in the dialect of the Pelew Islands, and which is evidently the same phrase. So universal is this name for the year .' 136 writers* who have written in the aboriginal dia lects, it appears that nooshun, with unimportant variations, is used in thcsupcrlativc degree — 'the best,' 'all in all,' &c, &c. In Mr. Eliot's specimen of the Lord's Prayer it is the beginning phrase. And in this sense it is evidently used in the Indian testimony; that is, they mean to say they were our fathers' islands, and therefore in their own dialect the Nashanov) Islands. The remainder of this group of islands, not in cluded in this descriptive testimony, are the Wc- peckets, or Weckpeckets, very small, not far from Falmouth back shore; Cuttyhonk, high and large, the outermost and most westerly of all, with Pen- iquesc and Pasquineag, two lesser isles, a mile or two north of it. Kelonck signifies to 'depart,' 'go away,' and is given to a launch of a canoe, to a ship, &c., &c. We have occasionally thought this was the meaning of Cuttyhonk; that is, the mere act of going to it gave it the name. Perhaps We- peckets has been derived from wabacucks (white head eagles,) which are very common on the oppo site shores, and which may occasionally visit them. Peniquese has a diminutive termination, and Pasqui neag a collective; but their meaning, as well as the others mentioned in this note, yet remains a ques tion. Copicut, the small appendage to Cuttyhonk, is truly Cappiquat (thick, dark woods,) which was descriptive in 1602, when it 'was full of cedars.'" •Eliot; Danforth; Cotton. 137 CHAPTER XII. EARLJ NEWSPAPERS — SKETCHES OF AN OLD SHIP-MAS TER AND MERCHANT — OLD EDITORS OF THE NEW BED FORD PRESS. It will be perceived in this history that I have ob served but little order of arrangement. In fact, the material is so scattered, and to be obtained from so widely removed sources, that I should despair in my often hasty preparations of any great amount of success, should I make ever so great an effort for that end. 1 shall attempt but little or nothing more than to rescue from oblivion any facts, how ever trivial, that may be connected with my object. " Colligite fragmenta, ne quid pereat." Before me lies the first number of the first news paper printed in New Bedford, entitled " The Med ley, or New Bedford Marine Journal. New Bedford, (Massachusetts.) Printed and Published by John Spooner, at his Office near Rotch's Wharf. Num ber 1. Tuesday, November 27, 1792. Volume 1." This old sheet, now so dingy and smoky, once pre sented its fair and welcome morning face to our mothers and grandmothers ; and truly welcome must it have been to our honest and simple-hearted predecessors, the villagers of New Bedford. How few of those whose glowing eyes met this humble sheet remain ! The great problem of life to them has long since been solved. But as my object is not 138 to moralize or preach a lay sermon, with the reader's permission I will proceed to examine the contents of this venerable relic of the press. The editor's address to the public is remarkably well written, and seldom, it is to be feared, equalled by like pro ductions of the present day. After having Jntro- duced his paper in due form, the editor goes on to say: "Here is an extensive country, situate remote from a Printing Press — its inhabitants numerous; but a small part of them knowing or being known in the transactions of the world unless they ad vance a large extra sum for their knowledge. To instruct them in the xuays of man at a much cheap er rate, and make each one who rightly improves the advantages arising from a weekly Gazette as knowing as his fellow, &c, the Editor has under taken a Weekly Newspaper, and with this ad dress introduceth for their inspection, the first num ber of his Medley." He concludes with the following: "The Editor flatters himself that so long as his exertions tend to scatter the rays of knowledge, of morality and of refinement among the people, the public will afford him every reasonable encourage ment, in proportion to the utility of his exertions. JOHN SPOONER." Honest old John Spooner! we trust that our pre decessors duly appreciated thy exertions in their behalf, and that thou wast fairly rewarded for thy labors. Worthy disciple of thy great exampler, the illustrious Franklin! may the principles of "morality and refinement" thou endcavoredst to 139 inculcate be ever remembered by thy fraternity and the public. Peace to thy memory ! The first original article after the address, which is also well and clearly written, is upon " The Art of Printing." Next follows what would now be called a fable, but which our editor terms an apo logue, taken front a late London Magazine. Then follows a long article in defence of Lafayette, who had lately been impeached by the National Legis lature of France, taken from "a Gazette printed in Philadelphia." Then an article entitled " Save your Rags!" signed "Nam-Gar," which the reader can reverse. Then the foreign news, collected from a London paper. The " Congressional Proceed ings—Second Congress of Confederated America." "Political Occurrences" — Italy, France, England. "Peace with certain Indians," in which it is stated that "sixteen of the chiefs belonging to the nations with whom Gen. Putnam succeeded in burying the hatchet, are on their way to this city [Philadelphia,] via Pittsburg." No death record : but " Married, in this town, Capt. William Allen to Miss Mary Tabcr; Capt. Gamaliel Church to Miss Lydia Alden." Next follow "Custom House Office, Port of New Bedford, from Nov. 17th to the 24th. — Entries. Sloop Mayflower, Gibbs West, from N. York. — Clear- *ances. Schooner Lively, Rowland Gibbs, a whale voyage. Sloop Jenny, Nichols Stoddard, for New born. Sloop Lively, Shubacl Bunker, for Philadel phia. Sloop Friendship, Job Gibbs, for' Savanna. Ship Dauphin, Stephen Gardner, a whale cargo." 140 " To Correspondents. Thanks to Equitas and Leander. The Editor sincerely hopes their lau dable example will be followed by many of the Sons of Minerva; and that originality will henceforth abound in the Medley." "jfKjy° The Printer has been obliged to alter Ihe dale for publishing the Medley from Thursday as mentioned in his proposals, so as to comport with Ihe arrival of ihe Northern Mail. While thn Stage- continues its weekly route, Saturday will be the day of publication." TAKE NOTICE: rpHE inhabitants of the town of New Bedford are hereby notified, J_ that the Town Committee of accounts will meet at Capt Thomas Crandon's the 30tlr instant at 10 o'clock A. M., to receive and exam ine all accounts brought in against said town. Therefore all persons having such accounts are requested to exhibit them at the aforesaid time and place, WALTER SPOONER, ) T 3ETHRO HATHAWAY, > „ .4, ABRAHAM SMITH, $ Committee. New Bedford, Nov, 23, 1792. WILLIAM ROTCH, JUN., Respectfully informs his Customer t and Friends, He has for sale, Wholesale and Retail, At his »tore in New Bedford, Sail Cloth, of an excellent Quality, of No. '2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8; coarse and fine 5-4ths sheeting; 6 by 8, 7 by 9, 8 by 10, 9 by 11 and 10 by 12 Window Glass; Large and small Looking Glasses, and Plates nnframed ; Glass Tumblers; Twine and Cordage; Flour and Shipbread; Pork; Salt; Philadelphia and Russia Bar Iron, excellent for oart tire; Paints of several kinds; Sheathing Paper, Wrapping Paper, &e. New Bedford, Nov. 23, 1792. Here Comes another, full of marine spirit, with a great wood-cut of an old-fashioned brigantine, with a flag-staff at the stern and another from the bowsprit, and a flag flying from each, headed FOR HAVRE DE GRACE. THE Brig Mary, Cobnelius Giunnell, Master, Will sail on the. 20th of December. For freight or passage apply to Seth Russell,* or to the said Master on' board. • New Bedford, Nov. 22, 1792. A rare chance for the young gentlemen of Bed ford to shake hands with "Johnny Crapeau." And 141 one of them, who for many years was a prominent merchant of this place, and son of the owner of the brig, Seth Russell, 2d, went out as a passen ger. While in Havre the captain and his passen ger, who were intimate friends, were invited out to dine with the consignee, for which occasion it was necessary to have their heads dressed by a barber. While the knight of the comb and brush was at work upon the hair of Mr. Russell, Capt. G. stood behind, giving the barber directions ; and when the operation was finished, his companion's hair was curled, frizzled and powdered in a most charming manner, the excessive fashion even of that day, by the winks and nods of Capt. G., exceeded. So hurry ing out of the friseur's. shop, they returned to the good brig Mary's cabin ; and here our worthy friend, who on the way had attracted much attention from the beaux and belles, got the sight of himself in a mirror, and by the aid of Capt. G. restored his crown to its pristine simplicity. During their stay in Havre, Capt. G. had the fine old nautical portrait of himself painted which has for several years hung in the house of his son- in-law, William T. Russell. It represents him in ' the fashion of that day, with sky-blue-colored coat, buff waistcoat, white cravat, ruffled shirt and wrist bands, his hair brushed back and powdered, the Countenance fresh and expressive of frankness ; before him lies a chart, and in his right hand he holds a pair of dividers. Capt. Grinnell was the fatner of the Hon. Joseph Grinnell, of this city, Hon. Moses H. Grinnell and Henry Grinnell, the G* 142 philanthropic merchants, of New York, — the latter the father of the Kane expedition. Captain Cornelius Grinnell was one of that class of worthy old ship-masters and merchants, of whom I have before spoken. He was born in Little Compton, R. I., 2d mo. llth, 175S, and died in New Bedford 4th mo. 19th, 1850, in his 93d year. His ancestors came from England about the year 1710, and settled as farmers in the place of his birth ; but more remotely of the Huguenots, who emigrated from France to England during the persecution of their sect in 1572. He came to New Bedford a poor boy, and served his apprentice ship with his brother-in-law, Joseph Austen, as a hatter. By the destruction of his property during the general conflagration of the place by the British troops in 1778, he was left several hundred dollars in debt, having just started in business; but being of an ambitious and energetic character, he chose the life of a sailor, and became a ship-master at an early age. His great nautical skill and expe rience, and his extensive intercourse with the most intelligent merchants at home and abroad, prepared him for that successful career which he afterwards led as one of our early merchants. Captain Grin-' nell was a gentleman of the old school, hospitable, urbane, a man of sound judgment and unswerving integrity of character. In his personal appearance, particularly his countenance, he was said strongly to resemble the great Lafayette. He retained until his last years the costume of his earlier (Jays, and was remarkable for the neatness of his person. 143 When passing through our streets, with his quaint but tasteful costume, usually of dark green broad cloth of the best quality, his handsome white-topped boots of the highest polish, knee-breeches, and cane in hand, his appearance was pleasing and attractive; and for many years after the death of that pattern of old-fashioned Quaker gentility and neatness, Samuel Rodman, Sen., was to the eye of the writer, and probably to many others, the best- dressed man of our place. The old class of wor thies which he so well represented is now all gone; and it will be my endeavor from time to time to make a just and respectful notice of them. Their memories are surely worthy of being preserved. While the good brig Mary Was lying at her wharf in Havre, that distinguished merchant, Will iam Rotch, Sen., a sketch of whose ljfe and char acter I have before given, came on board, and the portrait before spoken of, which had been placed Upon the walls of the cabin, was at once recognized by him, and pointing towards it, he said, "That is Cornelius Grinnell." Plow valuable must such a remembrancer, with so many pleasant associations, be to its present possessor and the rest of his family ! But to return to the old "Medley," of which I desire to make thorough Work, as it is probably the only copy of this number in existence:* the next advertisement, headed by a tub-like sloop, with the bowsprit at an angle of forty-five degrees and the main boom to correspond, reads : * Since writing the preceding sketch of the old Medley newspaper, 1 have seen a nearly complete file of all the numbers of that paper, ¦which fully 'sustains the favorable estimate I deduced from the first number. 144 FOR NEW YORK AND CHESEPEAK. THE sloop Mayflower, Gibbs West, Master, WiU sail on or about the first of next month. For freight or passage apply to the Master on board at Rotch 's Wharf, or to Elisha West. I have now reached the last page of this venerable relic of the press; and in the column devoted to the Muses, with the caption "Pierian Spring," I find some original lines on the Acushnet River, which the poet (Elihu Doty, a native of Rochester, Mass.) calls " Quishnet," with this introduction : " For the Medley. Mr. Printer, Anxious to please others, and willing to be pleased myself, I have written the following stanzas to be inserted in the first number of the Medley: by doing which you may possibly oblige many, but I dare say none more than yours, ecc. Leander." The modern Leander does not liken his Quish net to the Hellespont, and Editor Spooner is the Hero of his verse. Here follow the stanzas, which are really very good : Old pow'rful Quishnet quiet slept, Amidst his oozy bed ; Around his shores the marshes swept, • And rushes crown'd his head. O'er his broad back the western breeze, With chilly whispers flew, When Sol behind the leafless trees, The morning curtains drew. Sloping along the Eastern skies, Till almost noon he ran, When thus beholding with surprise, The shining God began : "Rouse! King of waters, and survey The bliss the Gods design For mortal man this happy day, And be the glory thine ! See with what diligence and skill, The Printer rears his press! May its good infl'ence wide distil, And in distilling bless." 146 Apollb spoke, and o'er the waved The sea-green power arose, His breast the dimpling billow laves, And alders shade hia brows'. Around the glist'ning shores he view'd; . Well pleased with, what he saw, -A rev'rend horror still the flood, The winds attend with awe. ** SpooNElt! the pleasing task pursue, Of spreading knowledge round! Tho' to my shores the deed be new, Yet may the work abound. fc My waves shall waft fie Medley o'er, To bless the Eastern side. The Gods approve."— He said no more And sunk amidst the tide. How many poets are there in New Bedford of the present day who can excel this? Farewell, Leander! thou hast probably long since gone down a stream swifter and more endless than thy admired Quishnet! Then follows an original article on " Prejudice-," signed " Equitas," well written and instructive ; after which are three capital anecdotes, under the head of " Variety," also the celebrated Sermon on Malt. Two more advertisements close the page, one of books and bookbinding, by Caleb Greene, and the other of books, by our friend, the editor of the Medley, among which are advertised Watts's Psalms and Hymns, Vicar of Wakefield, Journey to Jerusalem, Expedition of Humphrey Clinker, Devotional Papers, Adventures of Gil Bias, Affec tionate Schoolmaster, &c. The latter must cer tainly have been a rara avis. And here I close my catalogue of the Medley, a sheet of which any editor of the present day need not be ashamed. 146 The successor of the Medley was the " Columbian Courier. Printed and Published by Abraham Shearman, Jun., at the Four Corners, New Bedford. (1 D. 50 cts. per aim.)" This paper continued a little more than five years, from 12th mo. 8th, 1799, to Sd mo. 1st, 1805. Upon the title-page of this humble sheet (even smaller than the " old Medley ") and between the words forming its title, is a strik ing wood-col, of oval form, representing a maritime city, with its spires, observatory, blocks of buildings, ships at the wharves, with their flags flying at mast-head, and a ship and sloop, both under sail, coming into port, 'the one evidently from foreign parts and the other coastwise, a courier upon horseback, riding at great speed from the adjoining country, and all with important news and intelli gence for the " Columbian Courier!" • In the prices current at New York, by the quan tity, March 23d, 1799, superfine flour is quoted at $8 per barrel; common do. at §7.50; butter for export, 18 to 20 cents; cheese — English, 23 to 28 cents, American, 8 to 12 cents; beef — cargo, §6, prime, §7.50, mess, §9 per barrel; wheat, per bushel, §1.50; rye, 75 cents; barley, 94 cents; oats, 33 to 34 cents; corn, 53 to 56 cents; molasses, 50 to 5S cents per gallon; rice, §2 to §2.25 per cwt.; sugar — muscovado, §14.15 to §16.50 per cwt.,. Havana, §13.15 to §16, do. white, §19 to $20, India, first quality, §15.50 to §15.87, lump, per pound, 27 cents, loaf, do., 29 cents; bohea tea, per pound, 62 cents, hyson, §1.35 to §1.43, hyson skin, §1.06 to §1.09, souchong, §1 to §1.06; wine — 147 Lisbon, per gallon, §1 to §1.06, port, §1; gun powder (English,) 25 pounds, §12.50; shot, per cwt., §8.50; cordage, per cwt., §13; candles — tallow, 15 to 17 cents, sperm, 50 to 62 cents per pound; oil — linseed, per gallon,. §1, whale, per tun, §75 to §80, spermaceti, per gallon, S7 to 90 cents; tobacco — very dull — 9 to 11 cents per pound. Attached to a notice directed to Caleb Greene, clerk of the proprietors of the New Bedford bridge, are the following names : William Rotch, Jr., Thom as Rotch, Thomas Hazard, Jr., Preserved Fish, Joseph Maxfeld, Peleg Howland, Benjamin Hill, Isaac Shearman, Ebenezer Perry: New Bedford, 12th mo. 24th, 1798. In the marine news: December 25th, 179S, " Sailed Ship Maria, Paddack, bound to the Pacific Ocean on a whale voyage." This is the old Maria, the oldest whaler, if not the oldest ship, in the United States, formerly owned by Samuel Rod man, Sen., and lately owned by his grandson, Sam uel W. Rodman, of Boston. Her register is 202 tons burthen. The numbers of the Columbian Courier which I have examined are very much occupied with public matters, home and foreign news: "An Address to John Adams, President of the United States," "Fate of Buonaparte," news from Italy, Turkey, Germany, &c. ; "Extract from the British Monthly Review for July, 1797. As a friend to human kind, Mr. Wilberforce is already well known to the public, and his benevolent though hitherto unsuccessful exertions in favor of an in- 148 jured race of men must entitle him to the esteem of every philanthropist." The motto of tho Columbian Courier is given upon the third page of the number before me: «' To mark th' unfoldings of eventful time." The only worshippers before the hymeneal altar are given as follows: • " Married, in this town, Capt. Samuel Borden to Betsey Huttleston, only daughter of Peleg Huttleston, Merchant, of this town." Among the advertisements: NEW INSURANCE OFFICE. JOSEPH RICKETSON, informs the public, That by the request of a number of his Friends he still continues the office of Insur ance Broker, &c. Other advertisers are Howland & Hathaway; Michael -Graham, •William Ross, Jeremiah May hew, Daniel Ricketson & Son, Caleb Greene & Son, William Rotch, Jr., & Co., Seth Russell & Sons, Henry Dean, Jonathan Card; all of whom have passed off the stage of life, and are succeeded by a more ambitious but probably no more happy class in their various pursuits of commercial en terprise. Of the editor of this newspaper, Abraham Shear' man, Jr., I have before spoken, but his superior ex cellencies entitle him to something more than a passing notice. As a man of sound judgment, pure and refined nature, honest, faithful and truly relig ious, all who knew him readily acknowledge'. His fine moral and literary tastes led him, in his long ex perience as the chief bookseller of New Bedford, to 14a furnish his customers with the best works of genius in the different departments of belles-lettres ; and many are undoubtedly willing to acknowledge that from this source, they received encouragement in the fields of literature, among whom the writer of this history, if it be not invidious for him so to do, would gladly add his testimony. Friend Shearman was born uporf his father's farm, about a mile north of the Friends' m-eeting-house at Acushnet, 4th mo. 4th, 1777, and died in New Bedford,' at the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets,- 12th mo. 26th, 1S47, in his 71st year. He was for a lorig time a prom inent and valuable member of the Society of Friends, and held several important offices in this fraternity. Owing to an injury in his youth, he became quite lame and somewhat of an invalid during the remainder of his life, yet his personal appearance was highly respectable, and dur ing bis latter years venerable. He possessed con siderable literary as well as business talent, and his acquirements were superior to most of his co- temporaries; yet, owing to his great modesty, and conscientious scruples lest he should transcend the good order of the Christian society to which he was so much devoted, his accomplishments were but little known, except to his most intimate acquaint ances. His life was one of remarkable purity, and his memory will be long treasured by his friends. On Friday, August 7, 1807, commenced the " New Bedford Mercury," now one of the oldest newspapers in New England. In. the spring of 150 that year, upon a certain day, a tall and Well-dressed young man, erect in person, with cane in hand, stepped briskly into the office of the old Marine In surance Company, at the comer of Elm and Wa ter streets, and inquired for a person with whom he had had some correspondence in relation to the establishment of a newspaper in New Bedford; the " Columbian Courier," as it will be remem bered, having ceased on March 1,1805. This gen tleman was Benjamin Lindsey, Sen., of Boston ; and the interview with the gentleman he sought, who was Joseph Ricketson, Sen., appears to have been satisfactory, as the first number of the Mer cury was issued, as before stated, in the following August. Mr. Lindsey was a man of great energy and in dustry, an editor of the old school. His constant devotion to his profession much impaired his health, and for many of his last years, as remembered by the writer, he bore the appearance of a valetudi narian; but he retained his quick step and industri ous habits to the last. His appearance was remark ably editorial, but decidedly of the olden time, and like his predecessor, John Spooner, of the Franklin school of printers. The New Bedford Mercury during his editorship was of the Federal school of politics, and was ever one of the most consistent and able journals in the State. During the latter part, of his life, he was assisted by his eldest son, the present editor, who established the Daily Mercury, not without the distrust of his father for its success, in 1831, 151 At present there are three newspaper establish ments in this city : the Mercury, daily, semi-week ly, and weekly ; the Standard, daily and weekly ; and the Times, weekly. Mr. Lindsey was a practical printer, having learned his trade in Boston. He was born in Mar blehead, Mass., and died in New Bedford, November 10, 1831, in his 54th year. He was a man of sound judgment, exemplary virtue, unobtrusive in his manners, and died much respected by liis fellow- citizens. 152 CHAPTER XIIL RECAPITULATION IN PART OF FORMER MATTERS— PAR TIAL GENEALOGY OF THE RUSSELL FAMILY — OLD PRO PRIETORS— CASES OF LONGEVITY, &C. Although I have given this work the title of a History of New Bedford, I have included consid erable wfiich more properly belongs to the old town ship of Dartmouth, of which New Bedford is but a part, the old township having been divided in the year 1787, as before stated; and that territory, once known only as Dartmouth, included the present townships of Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford and Fairhaven. The two latter were until the year 1812 one township, under the name of New Bed ford, at which time Fairhaven was separately in corporated. The first settlement of Dartmouth, so far as I have been able to ascertain from a diligent exam ination of the old records, was made at " Russell's Mills," by Ralph Russell, soon after the purchase of the Indian chiefs, Wasamequin and his son Wamsutta, by William Bradford and others, as per deed dated "New Plymouth, November 29th, 1652," a copy of which will be found in my first chapter. Here, upon the west bank of the Pasca manset river, in a beautiful and picturesque region, came the ancestor of the Russell family, the afore said Ralph Russell, who, as before stated, had been engaged with Henry and James Leonard in the 153 iron manufacture at Raynham. In an account of the early settlement of Braintree, Mass., given in the collections of the Massachusetts Historical So ciety, mention is made of a company of iron man ufacturers, who having heard of the facilities for obtaining their ore, had emigrated to that place for the purpose of establishing their business, but were disappointed in the result. Of this company, the said Russell and Leonards moved to Raynham in the year 1652, and established their business on what is known as the " Two Mile River." They originally came from Pontipool, Monmouthshire, Eng., a place still noted for its iron manufacture. Ralph Russell was probably an elderly man at the time he emigrated from Taunton to Dartmouth, and must have died soon afterwards, as the name of John Russell, Sen., who was undoubtedly his son, appears first in the early records of the town ship as a proprietor. The remains of the old iron- forge established by Ralph Russell are still to be seen at Russell's Mills. There were thirty-six original purchasers of the township of old Dartmouth, among whom was Capt. Miles Standish, whose portion was purchased by John Russell, as per deed from Edward Gray, attorney to Miles Standish, dated " March y" 9th, 1664." In the year 1665, Dartmouth was represented for the first time at the General Court at Plymouth, by John Russell. "John Russell, Sen., died y" 13th day of Feb'', 1691-5. Dorothy Russell, wife of John Russell, 154 Sen., died yc 18th day of December, 1687." Dart mouth Records. His age is not given, but he was undoubtedly an old man, as it will be remembered he was the representative in 1665, and was probably born in England. "Joseph Russell, son of John Russell, Sen., was born y" 6th day of May in y" year 1650, and died December 11, 1739, in the 90th year of his age. Elizabeth Russell, ye wife of Joseph Russell, Sen., was born yc 6th day of March, 1657, and died 25th September, 1737." Joseph Russell and John Russell, twin brothers,who were born in the garrison on the east side of Appo neganset River, the remains of which are still to be seen, "ye sons of Joseph Russell and Elizabeth his wife, were born yc 22d of yc month called November, in yc year 1679." "John Russell, Jun., deceased y° 20th day of March, in y° year 1695-6." John Russell, twin brother of Joseph Russell, married Rebecca, daughter of William and Eliza beth Ricketson, 2d mo. 26th, 1704. Joseph Russell, 1st, 'son of the aforesaid John Russell, Sen., settled within what is now the limits of the city of New Bedford. His house stood near the site of the " Tyson house," now owned by Capt. John A. Delano. The original well which belonged to his house is now in the cellar of said Tyson house, and is still in use. Joseph Russell, 2d, twin brother of John, lived on County street near the head of Walnut street. 155 His house was standing within the memory of some of the oldest inhabitants, lately deceased, and the well of the same, still in use, is between the residences of Capt. Caleb Anthony and Barton Ricketson. There is a confirmatory title of land, dated 25tb May, 1711, conveying to Joseph Russell, Jr. (2d,) his homestead, made by Her Majesty's (Queen Anne's) Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions for the County of Bristol : Samuel Hammond, Benjamin Hammond, and Benjamin Crane, sur veyors. Joseph Russell, 3d, the fourth son of the forego ing Joseph Russell, 2d, and Mary his wife, whom I have before mentioned as the founder of New Bedford, was born, as is supposed in the house of his father, near the head of Walnut street, 10th mo. 8th, 1719, and died at his house, near the head of William street, lQth mo. 16th, 1804, aged 85 years. Caleb Russell, Sen., whose house is still standing upon the south part of County street, and Abraham Russell, the grandfather of the late Seth and Charles Russell, merchants, of New Bedford, were also sons of Joseph Russell, Jr. (2d,) and Mary his wife. Judith, the wife of Joseph Russell, 3d, and daughter of Barnabas and Rebekah Howland, was born 1st mo. 14th, 1725, O. S. They were married 5th mo. 29th, 1744, O. S. She died £d mo. 26th, 1807, in her S2d year. Their children were as follows: Barnabas, born 3d mo. 26th, 1745, O. S. ; 156 Rebekah, born 2d mo. 30th, 1747, O. S.; Patience, born 1st mo. 10th, 1749, O. S.; Martha, 12th mo. Wth, 1751., O. S.; Elizabeth, 8th mo. 1st, 1753, O. S.; Abraham, born 2d mo.. 25th, 1756, O. S.; Humphrey, born 5th mo. 25th, 1758, O. S.; Gilbert, born 5th mo. 2d, 1760, O. S.; Mary, born llth mo. 9th, 1763, O. S.; Judith, born llth mo. 26th, 1765, O. S.; Joseph, born 12th mo. 13th, 1768, O. S. Joseph. Russel], 3d, was a man of medium stature, and of rather slender figure. He wore the old-fash ioned costume of the Society of Friends, of which he was a strict member: the long-skirted coat, long waistcoat, and knee-breeches, with buckles in his shoes, or top boots, and a three-cornered hat. His hair, even in his latter years, was thick, and of dark colormixed with gray, his eyebrowsremarkably heavy, and the general expression of his counte nance stern, though at times he could enter into the spirit of humor. He was much devoted to the p.>nciples of the Society of Friends, and in reading the Bible aloud, as was his usual custom, he adapted the peculiar tone of the preachers of his sect. He was a man of great industry, prudence, and enterprise, and of strict integrity of character, a .large farmer, an extensive landholder, and, as before stated, the originator of the whale-fishery and the manufacture of spermaceti candles in New Bedford. He was very hospitable, and his house, as were those of his ancestors, was the head quarters of travelling Friends and other strangers. He gave, as before mentioned, the Society of Friends the lot of land on Spring street upon which 157 the brick meeting-house stands. His wife was a notable housekeeper, and, although very wealthy people, all her daughters were thoroughly trained in domestic duties, and in their turn became worthy representatives of their mother. That Joseph RusseU was a man of much pres ence of mind, the following incident in his life will* show. He was the owner of Gooseberry Neck, a piece of land winch lies in the present township of Westport, near the mouth of Buzzard's Bay, and of which I have previously spoken in my account of this bay. This rocky promontory is completely insulated at high water, and after a heavy blow from the south-west, with the huge Atlantic bil lows dashing against it, presents one of the sublimest scenes upon our coast. Having crossed over to this place on horseback, he remained there some time, and on his return found the tide had come in so much that he was obliged to swim his horse; but the current setting in very strong, anr* the distance being considerable, he found when" part way over that his horse would not be able t» proceed much farther with him upon his back. In this critical situation, he remembered to have read in the journal of Thomas Richardson, one of the early Friends, of a similar circumstance happening to him while fording a stream, who, by slipping off the back of his horse and holding on to his tail, was safely carried over. He at once adopted this expedient, and with like success. A sketch of a similar cliaracter may be seen in one of the tail- nieces of Bewick's " Illustrated Natural History*" ' H 158 The oil-factory of Joseph Russell, of which I have before spoken as the first in New Bedford, and which was burnt by the British in 1778, stood on the north side of "Centre street square." The art of refining spermaceti was at this time known to but few, and by these kept a profound secret. "Captain Chafee, of whom I have also spoken as being employed by Mr. Russell for this purpose, while at work was shut up by himself, lest any one should discover the art. According to Macy's History of Nantucket, the manufacture- of spermaceti candles was not intro duced there until the year 1772. From the same source I learn that "the first manufactory of sperm • candles in this country was established in Rhode Island, a little previous to 1750, by Benjamin Crab, an Englishman." In 1753 Obadiah Brown erect ed candle-works at Tockwotten, now India Point, Providence, and engaged the above Benjamin Crab to conduct the business. After this, in 1751 or '55, Moses Lopez engaged in the same business at New York, and was soon followed by Collins & Reveria, Aaron Lopez, Thomas Robinson, and others. Obadiah Brown in 1753 manufactured about three hundred barrels, which was nearly all that was in that year saved separate from body oil, and not sent to England. He was disappointed of the information which he expected to receive from Crab, and was obliged to learn the secret of refining by his own experiments. In 1761 there were eight manufactories in New England, and one in Philadelphia. 159 In the year 1770, Joseph Russell and his son Bar nabas, who were in partnership, owned, in addition to several whaling vessels, a number of other ves sels trading to southern ports and the West India Islands. They also kept a store, and imported goods from London, by the way of Boston, and their West India goods in their own vessels. To the time of the Revolutionary War their business was in a very flourishing state. During the war their vessels were taken; and their losses by the de preciation of the continental paper money left them at its close but little beside their real estate. The following table of the depreciation of pa per currency during the Revolutionary War is cop ied from a memorandum, in remarkably neat pen manship, by Lydia Tallman,* afterwards the wife of Gilbert Russell, made by her at the age of 17 years. "1777, January 1, 100 Spanish milled dollars equal to 100 dollars paper currency; February 1, 100 do. equal to 107 do.; March 1, 100 do. equal to 109 do.; April 1, 100 do. equal to 112 do. ; May 1, 100 do. equal to 115 do.; June 1, 100 do. equal to 120 do.; July 1, 100 do. equal to 125 do.; Au gust 1, 100 do.. equal to 150 do.; September 1, 100 do. equal to 175 do.; October 1, 100 do. equal to 275 do.; November 1, 100 do. equal to 300 do.; December 1, 100 do. equal to 310 do. 1778, Jan uary 1, 100 do. equal to 325 do.; February 1, 100 do. equal to 350 do.; March 1, 100 do. equal to 375 do.; April 1, 100 do. equal to 400 do.; May 1, 100 *An account of a journey this lady mado on horseback from Bed ford to Nine Partners, Dutchess County, N. Y., with her brother Seth Tallman, her future husbund Gilbert Russell, and his father Joseph RusseU, will be found in the next chapter. 160 do. equal to 400 do.; June 1, 100 do. equal to 400 do.; July 1, 100 do. equal to 425 do. 1779, Jam uary 1, 100 do. equal to 742 do.; February 1, 100 do. equal to S68 do.; March 1, 100 do. equal to 1000 do.; April 1, 100 do. equal to 1104 do. ; May 1, 100 do. equal to 1215 do.; June 1, 100 do. equal to 1342 do.; July 1, 100 do. equal to 1477 do. ; Au gust 1, 100 do. equal to 1630 do.; September 1, 100 do. equal to 1S00 do. ; October 1, 100 do. equal to 2030 do. ; November 1, 100 do. equal to 230S do. ; December 1, 100 do. equal to 2593 do. 1780, Jan uary 1, 100 do. equal to 2934 do. ; February 1, 100 do. equal to 3322 do. ; March 1, 100 do. equal to 3736 do. ; April 1, 100 do. equal to 4000 do." The original proprietors of land on the west side of the Acushnet River, beginning at Clark's Point and following the County road to the Head of the River in order, were as follows: 1. Benjamin Allen, who owned the whole of Clark's Point and as far north as the brow of the hill leading down to Clark's Cove. 2. Joseph Russell, Sen. (1st.) 3. Joseph Russell, Jr. (2d.) They were both living in 1711, father and son. 4. Manasseh Kempton. 5. Samuel Willis. 6. Stephen Peckham, whose land extended from Willis's north line (south side of Linden street) northwardly to the " Russell farm," now owned by the heirs of the late Timothy G. Coffin; including the Coggeshall and Tallman farms, the latter now owned by Willard Nye and Charles R. Tucker. The old Peckham house stood a little to the south west of the entrance gate to " Woodlcc," the 161 residence of the latter-named person. The old cellar has been filled, but the well still remains. 7. John Hathaway, whose land extended from the north line of the "Russell farm" to a little north of the farm of the late Captain William Hathaway, now the property of Benjamin B. Ccvell. 8. The Wrightingtons, who owned from the Hathaway line to the Head of the River, including the land of the village of Acushnet on both sides of the river. The Swifts early in the last century purchased of the Wrightingtons. Upon a stone in the old graveyard at Acushnet is the following inscription: "Tn memory of Dea. Jireh Swift, who departed this life March ye 16th, 1782, in the 75th year of his age." This was the grandfather of'thc late Jireh Swift, Sen., of Acushnet, who died recently at an advanced age. It will be seen by the above statement that the land upon which New Bedford is built originally belonged, as described, to the Russells, the Kemp- tons, and the Willises; and a portion of the descendants of these old proprietors are land holders in their respective localities at the present day. I find, upon a further examination of the old surveys of Benjamin Crane, that all the land lying upon the west side of the Acushnet road, from Stephen Peckham's north line to the road leading over Tarkiln Hill, (which was called the "Rhode Island Way," being the road from Plymouth to Newport,) and west for a long distance, and to tho 162 Acushnet River on the east, was originally owned by John Hathaway. His house, a large old- fashioned, gambrel-roofed mansion, stood until within a few years near the corner of the "Nash road," a little to the east of the present residence of Thomas Nash. The old Wrightington house, a part of the cellar and wall of which are still to be seen, stood upon a knoll a little to the north of the residence of Thaddeus M. Perry, on the Acushnet road. The following is a copy of an old paper without date; but the account being in sterling currency, and the name of Joseph Rotch, Jr., who died in Bristol, England, previous to the Revolution, place it at an early date: Estimate of the expense of 75 rods of stone wall made each side of King street, proportioned among the proprietors of Bedford by Bartholomew Taber, Thomas Hathaway and Jethro Hathaway, amounting to £29 2, L. Moy, to be collected by Joseph Rotch, Jr., and William Tallman, and^iaid to Joseph Russell, viz. : Joseph Rotch & Son, accountable for £19 7 Remains to be collected of the following proprietors by William Tallman, viz.: John Akins^ £ 7 Jeremiah Childs, 6 Jesse Crossman, 9 Isaac Fish, 7 Isaac Howland, 1 Edward Hudson, 9 12 John Lowden, 1 William Macomber, 3 Joseph Russell, 2 Barnabas Russell, 16 Carried forward, £6 18 163 Brought up, £6 18 £19 7 Daniel Ricketson, 7 Daniel Smith, 10 William Tallman, 15 Benjamin Taber, 18 Benjamin Baker, 6 9 14 Lawful money, £29 1 The late William Tallman, son of the one men tioned in the above account, remembered when a boy of riding down King street on horseback and finding it difficult to get along owing to the stones. The writer, a few years before the death of this old gentleman, met him in the hardware store of his son, William Tallman, Jr., who, in a reply to a re mark upon the great variety of tools and cutlery to be found at the present time, told the following anecdote to show the contrast to the days of his boyhood. A son of William Ricketson was sent by his father to the blacksmith's to have a horse shod, with the money to pay for it. On the return home with the horse, the father upon inquiry found a penny missing, and that his son had spent it at the blacksmith's in the purchase of a jewsharp: "Ah," said the old man, "these blacksmith's shops are lick-penny places." "Lick-penny places" in deed! What would the simple-hearted old man say at the extravagance of the present day? A grist-mill belonging to Joseph Russell former ly stood at the head of Main street. It was here when the house of Abraham Russell was raised, 6th July, 1803, and stood a short distance in the rear of the same. In the latter part of the last century, or the first of the present, Abraham Russell established the 164 first line of stage-coaches between New Bedford and Boston. At this time there was no one in New Bedford who bad seen four horses harnessed, except the wife of Mr. Russell, who was a Phila delphia lady, and the harnesses were brought into her kitchen and laid upon the floor, for her to instruct the coachman the way of arranging them upon the horses. As the road had only been used by foot-passengers or by travellers on horseback, it was necessary to cut off the branches of the trees that overhung the road. The late Miss Hannah West, the daughter of Samuel West, D. D., who lived in the house still standing a little beyond the hill at Acushnet, seeing men lopping off the limbs of some fine trees near their house, was at first quite shocked at the seeming outrage, but on "be ing informed of the great object in view, that the Boston stage-coach could pass, she became quite reconciled. At this period, as we read in the old "Medley" newspaper, one mail per week only was received from Boston. The following list of aged persons within a circuit of two miles from New Bedford, in a population not exceeding 20,000 inhabitants, was made by the late Elisha Hathaway, of Boston, a native of New Bedford, in the month of September, 1848: Years. Years. Elizabeth Kempton, Noah Stoddard, Widow Winslow, Elizabeth Peckham, Rhoda West, Nicholas Taber, Seth Tallman. Elizabeth Rodman, 95 Cornelius Grinnell, 90 91 William Rotch, Jr., 88 94 James Shearman, 88 92 Bethiah Russell, 87 91 William Tallman,' 87 91 Betsey Fuller, 87 90 Benjamin Butler, 87 90 Samuel Borden, 86 165 Years. Lois Perry, 86 Humphrey Hathaway 's widow, 86 Elizabeth Taber, Sarah Russell, Samuel Tripp, Edith Russell, Susan Taber, Abigail Hathaway, Phebe Meader, Job Akin, Elijah Kempton, Isaac Negus, Richard Johnson, Manasseh Kempton, Abigail Perry, Abraham Pierce, 8383 8382 82 Rhoda nowland, 82 Charlotte Brightman, 82 Susan Delano, 82 David Howland, 82 Barnabas Taber, 82 Ruth Smith, 81 Mary Taber, 81 William Holmes, 81 John Slocum, 81 Widow Cornell, 80 Pamela Willis, 80 Desire Howland, 80 Judah Butler, 80 Francis Taber, 80 Abraham Allen, 80 Lydia Foster, 80 Miss Rebecca Spooner, who was born on Scon ticut Neck April 12th, 1762, O. S., now in her 97th year, possessing her mind but little impaired, and enjoying a good degree of health, resides at Oxford village, Fairhaven. n. 166 CHAPTER XIV. THE MODE OF TRAVELLING IN OLDEN TIMES — SKETCHES OF TWO JOURNEYS ON HORSEBACK, ONE OF WHICH BREAKS OFF RATHER SUDDENLY— REMINISCENCES OF OLD CITIZENS. In my last chapter I mentioned a journey on horse back made by Miss Lydia Tallman. When a young woman, during the Revolutionary War, she accompanied her brother, Seth Tallman, her future husband, Gilbert Russell, and his father, Joseph Russell, from Bedford to Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York, thence via Albany to Saratoga; passing through Rhode Island and Connecticut going, and returning through the western and middle parts of Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, making a journey of between four and five hundred miles, the last day of which they rode fifty miles. How many young ladies, think ye, of the present day, even with the advantages of riding-schools, can excel this? The roads at this time, too, were not what they iiow are, and a cohsiderable part of the way was through a wild and unsettled country, covered with the primeval woods. It is pleasant to revert to those days of healthful simplicity; and for a moment let us indulge in a picture of this old-fashioned equestrian party. The place of rendezvous for starting would probably be from the house of the elder member of the company, which, it will be remembered, stood near 167 ' the County road, a little to the south-east of the residence of Charles W. Morgan, and near a white mulberry tree, still to be seen there. This journey had undoubtedly been long the subject of conver sation, particularly with the young people, and was not undertaken without due consideration. The time of their journey, though not known, was probably in the spring or early summer. The day of their departure having been duly fixed upon, bright and early the young lady, with her 'fresh and handsome countenance, which she always retained, accompanied by her lover and brother, mounted upon their sleek and well-fed horses, might have been seen proceeding at a brisk trot from her father's house, at the corner of Main and Third streets, to join their elder companion and guide, whom we may conclude they found already mounted at the appointed time before his own door. The. usual farewells being made, the young lady already in the advance, they cheerfully com mence their journey up the old County road. Behind each saddle are the leathern bags which contain their luggage. The gentlemen with smart top-boots and spurs, three-cornered beaver hats, and genteel Quaker costume throughout, the young lady with a neat and tasteful though simple^travelling dress, with pieces of gold quilted into her skirt for security, and hood, all made by her own hands; thus equipped, we may infer they prcs^ited quite, a janty appearance for the occasion. The ok? woods re echoed to the hearty laughter and tiie good-humored 168 sallies of the young couple. An occasional farm house and rural fields only interrupted the nobler features of nature, while in the pauses of conversa tion might be heard the sweet and welcome notes of the wood thrush, or the rougher salutations of the blue jay, and crow. Onward they jog, and crossing Slade's-ferry, are fairly entered upon their way; so bidding them farewell, we must leave the re mainder of the journey, for want of proper infor mation,* to be filled up by our younger and more imaginative readers, hazarding only the conclusion that a more auspicious prospect of happiness has rarely fallen to the lot of youthful lovers. And of this I have unquestionable proof at hand in the sequel, as the happy young couple were afterwards married, videlicet, on the 13th of November, 1783. I have by me a pocket memorandum, or itinerary, which it is refreshing, in this age of unquiet and haste, to peruse, kept by Gilbert Russell on a sub sequent journey, and, as will be seen, a few years after his marriage, through the same route, accom panied by his uncle, William Russell, which will in some measure throw light upon his previous, and as we may conclude happier, journey. The time of absence having been duly calculated upon a broad margin, he records his almanac for the months of October and November of the year 1786 upon the first page of the cover of the book, * The memoranda which I had relied upon for notes of this journey, I unexpectedly found to belong to another one — that which I haye herein recorded. 169 the shape of which was chosen to be readily used from an inside breast pocket. Next follows the description of his watch, as follows: " Marks of my watch : silver watch, made by Robt, Ovington, London; No. 38594 M. Steel chain; brass key; pinchback seal, with frame — fig ure, man's head. Middling size figures for the minutes, and dots." "Steel portmanteau key; chain figured, stampt I. R. inside." "Cash taken with me: 2 Jos, (48,) 4 16—3 guineas, (28,) 4 4 — 1 do., 1 8 5— £10 8 5; 20 dollars, 6 — change, 4 2— £16 12 7." " Wearing apparel taken with me : 3 shirts, 3 stocks, 3 pair stockings, 2 waistcoats, 1 pair breeches, 1 pair shoes, 1 pair buckles, 2 razors — besides what I have on." Next follows — "Description of my mare: about 14 hands high, dark chestnut colour; trots all; mane hangs upon the left side; star on her forehead; brand on her left thigh — marked thus, WP. ; interferes. About 10 years old." Mr. Russell was at this time in his twenty- seventh year, of small but genteel figure, modest and retiring manners, and great neatness of per son and dress, which he retained throughout his life. All things thus ready, at half past two p. m., the 22d of October, 1786, they took their departure, the weather "cloudy and cold, wind N. E." A shade of sadness undoubtedly passes over the mind of the younger gentleman at the thought of his former companion, his now fair young wife, 170 left behind him; but pleasant remembrances, and a slight dash of romance, take the place of sadder thoughts, and clapping his spurs to the old mare he hurries forward, calling to his more staid uncle William, to hasten on. That evening they reach their friend Thomas Durfee's, in Fall River — eighteen miles, — where they remain over night. The next morning (23d) the weather having changed to "warm and fine," they set off at quarter before eight, and dine three miles from Providence, R. I., on "pork, boiled mutton, cabbage, &c," and reach Coventry, where they put up for the night, at William Love's, riding forty miles that day. The next morning they "turn out at three o'clock, get under way at six, with a small air from the westward, clear and warm," ride five and a half miles, and oat their horses ; cross Plainfield River, Connecticut, quarter past nine, eight miles from last stage, and breakfast. Passing through Ripley, "a small town," Windham, "a very pretty town," where they again oated, and dine at Lebanon on "fried pork and eggs." The landlord "gone a courting an old maid of fifty-six, having buried his wife only six weeks before — fie at the age of sixty." Starting again at four o'clock, they reach a tavern at nightfall ; find the landlord at the door, who informs them that "the doors was shut." Fatigued, they "put on" in the dark for the. next tavern, which they find full. Riding two and a half miles farther, they reach East Hartford, in ajl 171 fifty miles that day, " sup on bread and milk," and put up for the night. 25th. <" Fine weather. Got under way a little before sunrise." Cross Hartford-ferry at eight o'clock, and breakfast on steaks and chocolate in "the city." At eleven they arrive in Farmington, ten miles from Hartford, oat the horses, and then put on for Litchfield, our journalist in severe pain; but persevere, and reach their port a little after sunset, having rode thirty-eight miles. " Sup on one cup of chocolate, and no appetite." 26th. Good weather. Get under way before sunrise, although still " quite meagre," cross Mount Tom at eight o'clock, and breakfast on chocolate ten miles from Litchfield. Noon finds them at New Milford, where they oated; and at half past three arrive at their desired port, Nine Partners, after a ride of thirty miles, — a pretty good ride for a sick man; but it appears to have cured him, for no further mention is made of pain or "meagre." This journey of one hundred and seventy-six miles they accomplished in a little less than five days, making a fraction over thirty-five miles per day. Here they remained among their friends and relatives, ten days. While here they attended a "quarterly meeting" of Friends, of which society they were members, and lodged at Daniel Davis's, where they found "a couple of funny men from Danbury, Conn., who kept them up till twelve o'clock, telling stories." These were undoubtedly joking Quakers, who, although rather rare, yet exist, and are usually found to' be quite equal to the humorists of other sects. 172 On the afternoon of the 5th November, they start on what our journalist calls, the second part of their journey, and put up for the night at B. Thomas's. The next day get under way at eight o'clock, cross Plymouth Hill, and "make the mountains on the west side of North River, thirty-six miles distant, although appearing not to be more than four; arrive at Redhook, twenty-two miles from Hudson, riding thirty-eight miles that day. Sup on chocolate, and pass the night at a Dutchman's house." - The next day (Nov. 7th) start at sunrise, ride fourteen miles, and breakfast in Livingston Manor, eight miles from Hudson, at a Dutchman's, on tea and buckwheat cakes; arrive in the city of Hudson at 11 a. m. Dine at Captain Marshall Jenkins's on corned beef, and sup at the inn on tea and steaks. " Supposed to be nearly two hundred dwelling-houses in this city, of all sizes. Thirty- four miles from Albany." 8th. Fine weather and warm. Leave Hudson, pass through Kinderhook, eighteen miles from Hudson, and "at sunset arrive at the ferry, daylight down." Pass the night at Albany, and the next day (the 9th November) they cross the Mohawk River, and at 11 a, m. reach their long looked for port, Daniel Shepherd's, at Niskayuna. On the 10th, attend a Justice's Court. Weather cold. llth. Clear and pleasant. Go to Schenectady, sixteen miles distant. " The town contains about 173 five hundred houses, chiefly Dutch; a few English buildings that are very clever." 12th. They attend a Shaker meeting, and wit ness the usual ceremonies, which are faithfully described. On the 15th they proceed on their journey north easterly; pass the battle-ground at Saratoga; and at sunset cross the North River again, pass through two miles of pine woods, and arrive at Thomas Dennis's, in Saratoga, at 7 p. m. Here he was joined by his father, Joseph Rus sell, whose son Barnabas subsequently settled in Easton, opposite Saratoga, remaining until the 19th, when he "turned his face homeward," accom panied by his father, and lodged that night in a log-house for the first time. 20th. Snow-storm. Dine at "Duel's, in the woods." Cold and tedious riding. Put up at a log-house again. 21st. Clear and warm, the ground covered with snow. Parts with Uncle William, at Akin's. At half past ten reaches Bennington, Vermont, and puts up for the night at "Lapham's," in Hoosack, where they find more snow. Although his father's name is not mentioned on the return, I conclude, as he had a companion throughout the journey, that he was the one. On the 27th, with " new horses," they continue their journey, with the "old sort of blue weather, cold and disagreeable.*' Bait their horses on the east side of the Green Woods, in Worthington ; and at five o'clock, having ridden thirty-five miles, 174 put up for the night .within five miles of North ampton, Mass., and sup on steaks and tea at Edward's Tavern. 28th. Clear and cold. Start before sunrise, and breakfast in Northampton; proceed to the ferry; to their. sorrow find the river frozen over, and being unable to prevail upon the ferryman to cut the ferry open, they go up the river, and find the ice strong enough to pass over with their horses ; put on ten miles further, then oat and warm. The ink froze in his pocket. Pass the night in the town of Palmer, twenty-three miles from Northampton. A colder day they never knew even in winter. 29th. Clear, and very cold. Ride thirty-eight miles, passing through Brimfield and Sturbridge, and halting at Woodstock to bait the horses. Here they find had lately been a severe hurricane, which had torn up apple-trees, large quantities of wood, stables, and roofs of houses. Put up at Killingly, Conn., twenty-eight miles from Providence, — the roads very hard and icy. 30th. Snow-storm. Ride six miles, and get breakfast in Gloucester, R. I. Cross Providence ferry at three p. m., and reach Thomas Durfee's, in Fall River, at seven o'clock, having made forty- eight miles this day. Dec. 1. At one p. m. arrive at home, eighteen miles from last stage. The whole number of miles on this journey, five hundred and thirteen ; greatest number of miles any one day, fifty; amount of expenses, £5, 17 s. 175 10 d.; time of absence, from Oct. 22d to Dec. 1st, forty days. I have made these copious abstracts from the aforesaid journal, as a good specimen of the habits and mode of travelling at this period, which, it will be remembered, was in the year 1786, and thinking it might be particularly interesting to the elder portion of my readers, who were conversant with the parties concerned. Gilbert Russell, to whom we are indebted for these interesting reminiscences, son of Joseph and Judith Russel], was born August 12th, 1760, and died from an injury he received by being thrown from his carriage, August 22d, 1829. Lydia, his wife, a daughter of William Tallman, was born September 30th, 1759, and died September llth, 1840. Mr. Russell was a man of refined taste and of gentle and unassuming manners. He built the house, on County street, which he afterwards sold to its present owner, William R. Rotch, and of which I have before spoken as one of the most genteel residences in our place ; also the pleas ant and tasteful mansion on the corner of Rus sell and Sixth streets, now owned by, and the residence of, S. G. Morgan. His taste in horticulture employed many of his leisure hours. And few men in our community led more unexceptionable lives, or received more re spect for their memory. Some of his experiments in horticulture were quite original. In his extensive and highly cultivated fruit-garden, now the property 176 of his son, William T. Russell, are two large rocks, which the writer remembers to have. been used by this gentleman for the training of grape-vines, one of which was white, and the other black-washed, for the purpose of ascertaining which would ripen the fruit soonest. If the writer remembers correctly, there was no perceptible difference in the result. Nearly all of this generation are now gone, and only one — a sister of the lady mentioned in the foregoing journey — remains of a large family, most of whom lived to a very advanced age. I refer to Mrs. Mary Hawes, daughter of William Tallman, 1st, and the widow of John Hawes, Esq., formerly Collector of this port. She is now (1858) in the ninety-first year of her age, and retains in a remarkable degree the cheerfulness and vivacity of her youth, which are only surpassed by her unyield ing faith and hope in a higher and more enduring sphere of existence. Wi^h considerable skill in verse, the writer found her on a late visit still favored of the Muses, and listened with pleasure and instruc tion to the recital by herself of some devotional stanzas, lately composed, and in which her own personal experiences at the present time are touch- ingly recorded. Another sister, the late Mrs. Elizabeth Taber, was the widow of Captain William Taber of this place, who was a gunner on board the " Royal George" at the time of her loss in September, 1782, and was one of the few persons saved. Eight hundred, who were on board at the time the ship sunk, were lost. While the vessel was sink- 177 ing, Captain Taber threw a light spar overboard, and leaping into the water, with this aid swam ashore. This shocking calamity made so sad and deep an impression on his mind that he was rarely willing to speak of it; I am informed, however, by a gentleman who was an intimate acquaintance, that he had related to him the particulars of this occasion. To those who are uninformed of the circum stances relating to the loss of this noble vessel, the following may be interesting : it appears that" the " Royal George," at the time of her loss, was lying at her anchors off Spithead, between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, where the royal navy fre quently rendezvous, the weather calm and fine, her sails loosened and ensign and other bunting set, and visitors on board, when, by a light breeze against the sails, at the same time a large portion of those on board being upon the leeward side, the ship leaned over, and the lee ports being open, the water rushed in with such rapidity and in so great quantity that the noble vessel, with her braVe eight hundred, and Admiral Kempenfelt, who at the time was seated in the cabin, were lost. The following elegant and descriptive stanzas were written by the poet Cowper upon this sorrow ful occasion, which struck not only to the heart of all England, but of the whole civilized world : ON THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE; SEPTEMBER, 1782. Toll for the brave! The brave that are no more! All sunk beneath the wave Fast by their native shore! 178 Eifrht hundred of the brave, Whose courage well was tried, Had made the vessel heel. And laid her on her side. A land breeze shook her shrouds, And she was overset; Down went the Royal George, With aU her crew complete. Toll for the brave! Brave Kempenfelt is gone. His last sea fight is fought; His work of glory done. It was not in tbe battle; No tempest gave the shock; She sprang no fatal leak; She ran upon no rock: His sword was in its sheath; His fingers held the' pen, When Kempenfelt went down^ With twice four hundred men. Weigh the vessel up, Once dreaded by our foes! And mingle with our cup The tear that England owes. Her timbers yet are sound, And she may float again, . Full charged with England's thunder, And plough the distant main. But Kempenfelt is gone; His victories are o'er; And he and his eight hundred Shall plough the wave no more. 179 CHAPTER XV. OLD SETTLERS — THE ORIGINAL SURVEYOR OF DARTMOUTH — GENEALOGICAL SKETCHES OF SEVERAL OLD FAMILIES — REMINISCENCES OF THE INDIANS. In this chapter I propose to enter a little more into the historical detail of my subject than I have done in my few last. Below will be found a list of the early proprietors and settlers of the old township of Dartmouth, tak en from the early records. These records or surveys are contained in five books, the first three of which comprise the early surveys, made by Benjamin Crane, and his successors, Benjamin Hammond, Daniel Wood, and Samuel Smith, but principally, and in fact most of them, by " old Crane," as he is familiarly called by those who have been accus tomed to consult his surveys. Besides the larger books of records I have mentioned, there are twelve smaller ones, used by the old surveyor as pocket memorandums. The orthography is peculiar, and the penmanship, tliough quaint and somewhat fan ciful, is generally quite legible, and possesses a uniformity, which when once learned, enables the reader to decipher it quite readily. This old surveyor, Benjamin Crane, came from Taunton to Dartmouth, as recorded by himself in one of his pocket memorandum-books, October 2d, 1710. As is usually the fate of old records, those of Dartmouth previous to 1725 were destroyed by 180 fire; but the old surveyor, Crane, being then still living, transferred most of the surveys again from his memorandum or minutes, although undoubtedly much valuable information of an early date has perished with them. The indifference, even on the part of those interested, in regard to early records, is quite sur prising ; men who in the ordinary pursuits of life are methodical and careful appear to possess no interest whatever, at least as far as any exertion is required of them, in their preservation ; and these old records since the death of the last-chosen Proprie tors' Clerk have had no authorized keeper. I would suggest that the records of the township of Dart mouth prior to 1787, which, with the said Propri etors' Records, belong equally to the several townships that formerly constituted the township of old Dartmouth, be deposited with the City Clerk of New Bedford, to be kept with the other books of the town, where they could at any time be consulted by those desiring it. The latter 'records are particularly valuable for genealogical researches, as they contain a large portion of the births, marriages, and deaths of the early settlers. Here follows the list of names of the early settlers and proprietors before mentioned, arranged in al phabetical order : ' ABRAHAM AKIN, EBENEZER ALLEN, JACOB AKIN, v GEORGE ALLEN, JOHN AKIN, INCREASE ALLEN, JONATHAN AKIN, JOHN ALLEN, JOSEPH AKIN, JOSEPH ALLEN, ABRAHAM ALLEN. JOSIAH ALLEN, BENJAMIN ALLEN, NOAH ALLEN, 181 NOEL ALLEN, PHILLIP ALLEN, WILLIAM ALLEN, ZACHARIAH ALLEN, WILLIAM ALMY, CALEB ANTHONY. •*- ABRAHAM ASHLEY, JETHRO ASHLEY, NATHANIEL BABBIT, BENJAMIN BABCOCK, GEORGE BABCOCK, BENJAMIN BAKER, EBENEZER BAKER, JABEZ BARKER, JOSEPH BARKER, STEPHEN BARKER, WILLIAM BARKER, WILLIAM BARKER, RICHARD BEDEN, SAMPSON BEDEN, JEREMIAH BENNET, JOHN BENNETT. STOTEN BOOTH, BENJAMIN BORDEN, EDWARD BORDEN, JOHN BORDEN, JOHN BORDEN, JOSEPH BORDEN, WILLIAM BORDEN, JOHN BRIGGS, THOMAS BRIGGS, HENRY BRIGHTMAN, THOMAS BRIGHTMAN, EZEKIEL BROWNELL, GEORGE BROWNELL, MEHITABLE BURRILL, JONATHAN BUTTS, GEORGE CADMAN, GEORGE CADMAN, WILLIAM CADMAN, ABRAHAM CHACE, BENJAMIN CHACE, DAVID CHACE, JACOB CHACE, JONATHAN CLARK, THOMAS COLEMAN, HANNAH CORNELL, JOHN CORNELL. SAMUEL CORNELL, THOMAS CORNELL, SAMUEL CORNISH, BENJAMIN CORY, CALEB CORY'S" heirs, 'THOMAS CRANDON, CONSIDER CRABO, PETER CRAPO/ / ABISHAI DELANO, JETHRO DELANO, JONATHAN DELANO, NATHAN DELANO, NATHANIEL DELANO, SETH DELANO, THOMAS DELANO, CIIARMONTDEMORANVILLE, JOSIAH DEMORANVILLE, LOUIS DEMORANVILLE, NEHEMIAH DEMORANVILLE, JOHN DENNIS, JEREMIAH DEVOLL, MARY DEVOLL, WILLIAM DEVOLL, AKIN DURFEE, BENJAMIN DURFEE, BRIGGS DURFEE, JOHN EARL, RALPH EARL, WILLIAM EARL, WILLIAM EARL'S heirs, JOHN FISH, THOMAS FITCH, EDMUND FREEMAN, THOMAS GETCHELL, HENRY GIDLEY, BENJAMIN GIFFORD, CHRISTOPHER GIFFORD, ENOS GIFFORD, JEREMIAH GIFFORD, JOSEPH GIFFORD, LEVI GIFFORD, ROBERT GIFFORD, ROBERT GIFFORD. WILLIAM GIFFORP, BERIAH GODDARD, JOHN HAMMOND, WILLIAM HART, BENJAMIN HATHAWAY, ELISHA HATHAWAY, ' JAMES HATHAWAY, JETHRO HATHAWAY, JOHN HATHAWAY, JONATHAN HATHAWAY, MELTIAII HATHAWAY, SETH HATHAWAY, SYLVANUS HATHAWAY, I 182 THOMAS HATHAWAY, THOMAS HATHAWAY, 2d, JONATHAN HEAD, GABRIEL HEX, JOSEPH HIX, MARY HIX, SAMUEL HIX, EXPERIENCE HOLMES, ABNER HOWARD, WILLIAM HOWARD, BENJAMIN HOWLAND, GIDEON HOWLAND, GILES HOWLAND, HENRY HOWLAND, NATHANIEL nOWLAND, • NICOLAS HOWLAND, ZOETH HOWLAND, SAMUEL HUNT. VALENTINE HUTTLESTONE, JOB JENNE,* JOHN JENNE,t JOHN JENNE, Jb., LETTICE JENNE'S heirs, LUTHER JENNE, MARK JENNE, SAMUEL JENNE, SETH JENNE, SAMUEL JOY, JAMES KEMPTON, MANASSEH KEMPTON, JACOB KENNY, JOHN KIRBY, NATHANIEL KIRBY, ROBERT KIRBY, ISAAC LAKE, JOSEPH LAKE, NATHANIEL LAKE, JOHN LAPHAM, NICOLAS LAPHAM, GEORGE LAWTON, ABIAL MACOMBER, EPHRAIM MACOMBER, JOHN MACOMBEB, SAMUEL MACOMBER, THOMAS MACOMBER, WILLIAM MACOMBER, EDMUND MAXFIELD, JOHN MAXFIELD, TIMOTHY MAXFIELD, ZADOCK MAXFIELD, SAMUEL MENDALL, JONAH MERRIHEW, JOSEPH MERRIHEW, PETER MERRIHEW, JOB MILK, LEMUEL MILK, SETH MORTON, ABNER MOSHER, BENJAMIN MOSHER, CONSTANT MOSHER, DANIEL MOSHER, HUGH MOSHER, JOHN MOSHER, JONATHAN MOSHER, JOSEPH MOSHER, MAXSON MOSHER, NICHOLAS MOSHER, SAMUEL MOTT, NATHAN NYE, MICAH PARKER, JOSEPH PECKHAM, STEPHEN PECKHAM, SAMUEL PERRY, DAVID PETTY,, EDMUND POPE, ISAAC POPE, SETH POPE, ICHABOD POTTER, JOHN POTTER, NATHANIEL POTTER, STEPHEN POTTER, STOKES POTTER, ELEAZER PRATT, JONATHAN RICKETSON, TIMOTHY RICKETSON, WILLIAM RICKETSON, SAMUEL RIDER, WILLIAM RIDER, DANIEL ROGERS, PHILIP ROGERS, GEORGE ROWSE, JOHN RUSSELL, JOHN RUSSELL, Jr., JONATHAN RUSSELL, * This is the same name now spelt Jenney. t John Jenuc came oTer in the ship James in 1628, and was elected an assistant of Plymouth Colony in 1637, 1638, and 1639. 183 JOSEPH RUSSELL, JOSEPH RUSSELL, Jr., THOMAS RUSSELL, HENRY SAMPSON, JAMES SAMPSON, JAMES SAMPSON, Jr., JOSEPH SAMPSON, STEPHEN SAMPSON. DANIEL SHEARMAN, EDMUND SHEARMAN, JOB SHEARMAN, JOHN SHEARMAN, JOSHUA SHEARMAN, PELEG SHEARMAN, PHILIP SHEARMAN, SAMUEL SHEARMAN, WILLIAM SHEARMAN, DANIEL SHEPHERD, JOHN SHEPHERD, JAMES SISSON, ELEAZER SLOCUM, GILES SLOCUM, MARY SLOCUM, PELEG SLOCUM, BENJAMIN SMITHS- DELIVERANCE SMITH, ELEAZER SMITH, ELIASHAP SMITH, GERSHOM SMITH, HENRY SMITH, 1IEPSIBAH SMITH, HEZEKIAH SMITH, HUMPHREY SMITH, INCREASE SMITH, JUDAH SMITH, MARY SMITH, PELEG SMITH, AMOS SNELL, ; BENJAMIN SOWLE, GEORGE SOWLE, JACOB SOWLE, JOHN SOWLE, JONATHAN SOWLE, NATHANIEL SOWLE, TIMOTHY' SOWLE, WILLIAM SOWLE, BENJAMIN SPOONER, ISAAC SPOONER, JOHN SPOONER, JOHN SPOONER, Jr., MICAH SPOONER, NATHANIEL SPOONER, Jr., SAMUEL SPOONER, ' SETH SPOONER, WALTER SPOONER, WILLIAM SPOONER, JOSEPH STAFFORD, JOHN SUMMERS, JACOB TABER, JACOB TABER, Jr., JOHN TABER, JONATHAN TABER, JOSEPH TABER, PHILIP TABER, PHILIP TABER, Jr., STEPHEN TABER, THOMAS TABER, THOMAS TABER, Jr., WILLIAM TABER, JONATHAN TALLMAN, EBENEZER TINKHAM, JOHN TINKHAM, PETER TINKHAM, ELISHA TOBEY, ELNATHAN TOBEY, JONATHAN TOBEY, WILLIAM TOBEY, ZACHEUS TOBEY, JOHN TOMPSON, ABIAL TRIPP, BENJAMIN TRIPP, EBENEZER TRIPP, JAMES TRIPP, JAMES TRIPP, JOHN TRIPP, JOSEPH TRIPP, PELEG TRIPP, RICHARD TRIPP, TIMOTHY TRIPP, ABRAHAM TUCKER, HENRY TUCKER, JOHN TUCKER, JOSEPH TUCKER and sons, CHRISTOPHER TURNER, BENJAMIN WAIT, REUBEN WAIT, THOMAS WAIT, RICHARD WARD, THOMAS WARD, MOSES WASHBURN, PETER WASHBURN, ELI WASTE, NATHAN WASTE, JOSEPH WEAVER, 184 BARTHOLOMEW WEST, DANIEL WLLLCOX, SAMUEL WEST, JEREMIAH WILLCOX, STEPHEN WEST, SAMUEL WILLCOX, JOSEPH WHALEN, SAMUEL WILLIS, GEORGE WHITE, JOSEPH WING, JOHN WHITE, MATHEW WING, ROGERS WHITE, DANIEL WOOD, SAMUEL WHITE, GEORGE WOOD, * WILLIAM WHITE, GEORGE WOOD, Jr., SCIPIO WILBOUR, WILLIAM WOOD. STEPHEN WILCOX, It will be remembered that the first purchase of Dartmouth was made of the Indian sachems, Wasamequin and Wamsutta, by William Brad ford and others, in the year 1652, and by them sold to fifty-six persons, whose names I have already given,* as mentioned in the confirmatory deed from the said William Bradford, then governor of Plymouth Colony, dated Nov. 13th, 1694. Many of those whose names are included in the foregoing list were either the heirs of the original proprietors or later purchasers of the same. For more than forty years Dartmouth had been settled when the aforesaid deed was given, and a number of the earliest settlers do not appear in this list of names ; among whom were Ralph Russell and Anthony Slocum, the two earliest settlers of whom we have any account, and who were undoubtedly deceased at the time the said confirmatory deed was given. The land appears to have been regularly pur chased by the earliest settlers, of the Plymouth people; and to have lain in a kind of common or undivided state for many years, each one choosing * See page 83. ^, 185 such a location as he pleased. The parts first settled were, as before stated, at Russell's Mills and Acushnet, also upon the banks of the Pascamanset and Acoaxet Rivers, and upon the necks of land on Buzzard's Bay now known as Smith's and Slocum's Necks. The former was called by the Indians and early settlers Nomquid. Among the first settlers in these necks were Deliverance and Judah Smith, Giles and Peleg Slocum, Benjamin and Nathaniel Howland. The homestead farm of Benjamin Howland, containing one hundred and forty-six acres, on Nomquid Neck, was surveyed May 12th, 1712, and that of Nathaniel Howland May 8th, 1712. Arthur Hathaway, whose name is mentioned in the list of proprietors, came from Plymouth. He married Sarah Cooke in 1652, and their son John was bom 1653. John Hathaway, who was probably the son of said John and grandson of Arthur, was the father of Thomas Hathaway, whose son Jethro was the father of the late Stephen and grandfather of the late Humphrey Hathaway, of Acushnet. Sarah Cooke was probably the daughter of John Cooke, who represented Dartmouth at the Old Colony General Court in 1673, and granddaughter of Francis Cooke, one of the "Pilgrim Fathers" who came over in the Mayflower, 1620. The Hathaways were extensive landholders, derived from John Hathaway, who held a share in "the eight hundred acre division." Their lands were situate on both sides of the Acushnet River, commencing about half way from New Bedford 186 . to Acushnet. Jethro Hathaway, as well as his father and grandfather, was a prominent man in the early history of Dartmouth; and the handwriting of the former, who was one of the committee on surveys from 1758 to 1773, is remarkably hand some, and rarely equalled by the professors of penmanship at the present day. The old home stead of Stephen Hathaway, son of Jethro, is about one mile below Acushnet village, on the east side of the river. A still older home of the. Hathaways, and probably the original one, stood until within a few years on the road from New Bedford to Acushnet village, a little north of the Nash road. It is much to be regretted that these old family mansions are so fast disappearing. Every year witnesses the demolition of more or less; and for another generation hardly a vestige of- them will remain. It is quite remarkable, too, that these old houses should be so little valued ; one would sup pose that an ordinary respect for our forefathers should be sufficient to save them from destruction. But, aside from any such consideration, they were built in so substantial a manner, their massive oak frames and boarding held fast by treenails, and in most of them no other wood used than oak and cedar, which, unless where neglected and exposed to the weather, remain as fresh and sound at the expiration of a hundred years as on the day of the building. How much more picturesque and home-like, too, appear these old-fashioned farm houses, of our ancestors, so strong and so durable, 187 compared, with the modem upstart cottages, usually painted white, with green blinds, which have in a great measure taken their places! With the loss of the old houses also come the more artificial and enervating habits of the people. The representatives of the old settlers now to be seen rarely present the fresh countenances and robust health of their fathers; and the ap pearance of the women, even our farmers' wives and daughters, particularly since the introduc tion of stoves and less comfortable clothing, has perceptibly changed for the worse. Let the old- fashioned houses, then, be spared from any farther destruction, . and the cheerful wood fire substi tuted for the health-destroying stove, so we may again hope to witness somewhat of that comfort and prosperity which was the happy lot of our ancestors. One of the early settlers of this town, and a proprietor in "the eight hundred acre division," was Colonel Samuel Willis, who was born in Bridgewater, Mass., in the year 1688, and died in Dartmouth Oct. 3d, 1763, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. His wife, Mehitable Willis, died Jan. 18th, 1782, in the ninety-fourth year of her age. They lie buried in the old graveyard at Acushnet. Their children were Eliakim, Benjamin, Samuel, Ebenezer, Zerviah, Hannah, and Jireh. Major Ebenezer Willis died Nov. 7th, 1809, a^cd eighty-three years and four days. Elizabeth, his wife, died Aug. 9th, 1807, in her seventy-ninth year. Samuel, their son, died at sea March 4th, 1805. 188 Samuel Willis, the father of Colonel Willis, graduated at Harvard College in 1652. Eliakim, his grandson and son of Colonel Willis, graduated at Harvard College 1735. Benjamin, son of Col onel W., graduated at Harvard College 1740. The earliest record of Samuel Willis in the old book of surveys by Benjamin Crane bears date Oct. 3d, 1713. He was at this time about twenty- five years of age. Colonel Willis also held a Justice's commission ; and the records of his judicial proceedings are supposed to be still in existence, but I have not been able to find them. A mural monument, with the following inscrip tion upon a horizontal slab of freestone, is to be seen in the aforesaid graveyard: "In memory of Col. Samuel Willis, Esq., who departed this life Oct. 3d, 1763, in the 76th year of his age." From papers supplied me by a lady of this city, a great-granddaughter of Colonel Willis and daughter of Samuel Willis, 3d", I make the follow ing extracts: " He [Colonel S. Willis] was the first who owned a sea vessel in what is now called the port of New Bedford. One of his sons who had graduated' at Harvard College, Eliakim Willis, navigated the vessel as master. He was afterwards settled as minister in Maiden, near Boston, sixty years. Jireh Willis, Esq., commenced the practice of law in early life, but disliked the profession, and lived a retired life, except at the breaking out of the American Revolution, when he devoted a large portion of his time to animating, consoling and aiding his fellow-citizens. His son, William Willis American Consul at Barcelona, Spain, who at one 189 time lived in Europe, lately died at the age of ninety-six years at Vernon, Virginia. His mother was a descendant of Lord Blaney, in Ireland, who had wealth as well as title, but both are now extinct." Manuscript of Charles Willis, son of Augustus P. Willis, New Orleans. The following additional information of the Willis family is from a paper containing statements of Miss Pamela Willis, daughter of Jireh Willis, Esq., who died in the year 1847, aged eighty-eight years: "Her father, a very pious man, -was quite active in those severe times which preceded the Revolu tion. He contributed, through the press as well as otherwise, to mature the people of the country for an independent existence. He wrote those articles for 'the Royal American Magazine, over the signa ture ' Cato,' which attracted public attention and excited much interest at that time." Her brother, the Hon. William Willis, " at the age of sixteen joined the army under Washington, and adhered to the public service until the liberties of our country were established. During a part of the Revolutionary struggle he commanded a brig-of-war, and after peace -was restored re ceived an appointment under the elder Adams to represent the Republic as Consul at Spain." After his return from Europe, he was a Representative to the General Court of Massachusetts. A gentleman of this city informs me that. he was present at the old state-house while Mr. Willis was making a speech. His hair was powdered, and being otherwise dressed as a gentleman of the old 190 school, and of fine personal appearance, and some what excited upon the occasion, he attracted much attention. " I remember," adds this venerable lady in her reminiscences of New Bedford, " being told by my grandfather [Col. Samuel Willis] that a number of Indians had huts down where Purchase street runs, or nearer the water where clams were plenty, and that a mortal sickness came among them and swept them all off; but none of the white'people had it. My grandfather told me about the Indians lashing their children to boards, to make them straight; and at one time, two squaws, who had been drinking rum, placed their children, as usual, against a tree for the night, and one of them' placed hers head downwards, and the night being stormy, it perished." There is a tradition in the Willis family that the Russells and Kemptons purchased their land of Col. Willis; and I am inclined, after a close examination t>f the case, to -give it credence, although the Russells and Kemptons were orig inal proprietors, 'and settled in Dartmouth many years before the Willises. But their land in the original division of eight hundred acres was situated in the south-west part of Dartmouth, at and about Russell's Mills, at least that of the Russells, who in the early part of the last century found their way to the banks of the Acush net River. The following statement concerning this matter is from the same source before quoted : " The Joseph Russell farm was Willis property, 191 and sold by her grandfather [Col. Samuel Willis, Esq.] to them ; or rather her uncle Benjamin had it set off to him as his portion, and then it was sold to the Russells." She also thinks that the Kemp tons and Aliens purchased from the same source. The original Willis house stood upon the spot now occupied by the mansion of the late John Avery Parker, on County street, and was built by Samuel Willis, 1st, the father of Col. Willis, at an early period in the "history 'of -this town. This house and the succeeding one were destroyed by fire, — the former supposed to have been caught from the pipe of an old female servant while smoking. The third Willis house was built by Major Ebenezer Willis, and was removed to Pur chase street; and this also was destroyed by fire a few years ago. The house built by Jireh Willis, Esq., brother of Major Ebenezer Willis, is still standing on the west side of County street, at the corner of Robeson street, and is now owned by the heirs of the late Samuel Rodman, Sen., to whom it was conveyed by the late Hon. William Willis. The aforesaid Jireh Willis, Esq., drew the deed of the first lot of land sold by Joseph Russell from his paternal homestead, to John Lowdcn, who built upon it the first house below the County road, in 1764, and which^it will be remembered, was burnt by the British during the Revolutionary War. The Willises were people of superior abilities? and probably one the best-educated families among the old inhabitants of Dartmouth, and consequently 192 among the most prominent and valuable citizens. Their extensive landed estates have in a great degree passed into other hands, but a portion is still held by the lady before mentioned, whose mansion stands upon a part of her ancestral domains, and whose family, with herself, are the only remaining representatives of this once wealthy ahd prominent family in New Bedford. The Rev. Eliakim Willis, the minister of Maiden for so long a time, and whose* old parsonage-house is still to be seen there, was a man of superior attainments. By him the late distinguished Greek Professor of Harvard University, John Popkin, D. D., was educated. In the reminiscences before mentioned, the nar rator speaks of "a place in the woods where was formerly an Indian hut, and where we found hoar- hound and other herbs still growing. The Indian who had occupied .this spot was named Adam ; he was called 'old Adam.' We also found shells there. Once I lingered there, and my party left me — the children used to play there — and went into the Allen -woods, and it was some time before I could overtake them. Being a very timid child, I was much alarmed, and I cannot forget the joy I felt when I overtook my party. At that time there were many Indians in the neighborhood, but our parents told us not to be afraid of the Indians, — never to be afraid if we saw the Indians, for they would not hurt us ; and so we did not fear them at all. For one day myself and little brother were in the woods, and. we saw a number of 193 Indians coming, so we stepped upon a rock upon one side of the cart-path, and let them pass, and they went along two and two, and one of them had something in his arms that looked like a baby; and when we told our mother about it, she said she thought it was a funeral." The location of the above sketch of the primitive life of our old settlers is a short distance to the north-west of the spot on which the old Willis house stood. Since writing the preceding, the following addi tional genealogy of this family has been forwarded me by an estimable lady, a granddaughter of Ebenezer Willis: " Colonel Samuel Willis held his military com mission from the English crown. He married a Quaker lady of the Gilford family in Dartmouth. His son Eliakim married in 1738 Miss L. Fish, of Duxbury, who died in 1769. In 1770 he married ~ Miss M. Marchant, of Boston, who died iii 1796, leaving no children. Ebenezer married in 1751 Miss E. Hawes, of Chatham, Cape Cod. Their children were Hannah, married to J. Mayhew, who died in 1812, leaving no children; Esther and Elizabeth, died in youth; Sarah, who was adopted by her Uncle Eliakim, married lo Rev. F. Sargeant in 1786, and to Colonel John Popkin in 17Q7 — died in 1849, leaving three children. Samuel married Miss M. Tallman, a lady yet living. He died in 1795. Zerviah Willis married ; her descendants are among the Kemptons of New Bedford. Ephraim Kempton is her grandson. Hannah married; her descendants are in the Hathaway name. One of them, Mr. James Til- ton, is now living on the land once her great grandfather's. . 194 The deed of purchase of the land of the old parsonage at Maiden bears date 1757, in the ninth year of His Majesty's reign. Mr. Willis was_ or dained in 1752. In Professor Felton's memoir of Doctor Popkin, he says: 'Dr. Popkin was placed when six years old under the charge of Rev. Mr. Willis., Six years later he was transferred to the North Latin School, in Boston.' " The grandmother of the writer of this history — -a. daughter of Joseph Russell, 3d, born 4th mo. 30th, 1747, O. S. — informed him that in her youth an Indian wigwam stood in the woods near "the block," lately removed, on Bridge or Middle street. A hut occupied by an Indian woman, named Sarah Obadiah, stood a short distance north of Clark's Cove, about one mile south from the centre of the city, within the memory of a number of our citizens, and was a favdrite place of resort by the young people of both sexes. I have often heard these visits spoken of with much interest as pleasant reminiscences by those -who had participated in them. It is quite possible that the objects of interest and excitement of the present time afford less real happiness than the simpler ajnuscments of the earlier days. But youth is ever happy and hopeful, and will find new spheres of enjoyment when the older ones fail. 195 . CHAPTER XVI. EARLY INTERCOURSE WITH ENGLAND — LETTER OF INTRO DUCTION GIVEN TO A MERCHANT OF THIS PLACE BY A FIRM IN LONDON, PREVIOUS TO THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR— A STRAY LEAF FROM THE DIARY OF SALD MER CHANT—OLD HOUSES — GENEALOGICAL SKETCHES OF OLD FAMILIES— HISTORICAL REMINISCENCES. I have previously written of the early mercantile and commercial transactions of those old merchants of New Bedford, Joseph Russell & Sons, who previous to the Revolutionary War, besides their whaling business and the manufacture of sperma ceti candles, had opened a trade with London, and imported English goods by the way of Boston or . in their own vessels. It will be remembered that at this time there were few articles of domestic or agricultural use manufactured in this country; and this intercourse with the mother country -was undoubtedly one of the greatest sources whence the village of Bedford received its first impulse as a commercial place. A large proportion of the implements of industry of English manufacture were thus supplied to our ancestors ; and besides these, many articles of luxu- ". ry and comfort. Even at this day, in the older fam ilies may be seen specimens of fine old China ware, silver, and the homelier articles of domestic use, which were brought over at this early period. By the time of the commencement of the Rev olutionary War, the yeomanry of old Dartmouth, 196 as well as the citizens of the village of Bedford, were noted for their prosperity and general thrift- ness. The wild and extensive forest lands had yielded to the persevering exertions of our hardy forefathers, and smiling farms, with their broad acres of cornfields and meadows, had taken their place. The little village of Bedford had sprung up on the banks of the Acushnet, and the founda tion of her great commercial enterprise was already laid. On their outward voyages these vessels took oil and candles; and by the commencement of the war the port of Bedford, Dartmouth, had become well known among commercial people. But the war ruined the business, which, with the subse quent burning of the place by the British in 1778, would have completely discouraged any people , but such as are of the most industrious and cour ageous character. The loss of their vessels and the depreciation of the continental paper money left them at the close of the war stripped of nearly everything except their real estate. The business of Joseph Russell & Son having become quite important, in the year 1770 Rarnabas Russell, the eldest son and copartner of Joseph Russell,' went out to London for the purpose of enlarging their business relationship with merchants there, and making purchases for their home trade. The following copy of a letter of introduction, and notes from the diary of this gentleman, have been placed in my hands by a lady, one of his daughters, now a resident of this city : 197 * "London, yc llth August, 1770.^ Mr. Thos. Ghiffitiis — Sir: This will be deliv ered you by Mr. Barnabas Russell, who wc recom mend to you as a very prudent, careful young gentleman. He has opened an account with us in company with his father, under the firm of Joseph Russell & Son, of Bedford, in New England. We supply them with the articles they want from thence, and if you supply them with what they want from your port, you will be very safe in your advance. Any civilities you shew Mr. Russell will be a favor done to, Sr, Your most humble servants, LANE, SON & FRASER." The following is a stray. leaf of all that remains from the aforesaid diary, kept by Mr. Russell while in London, which we trust will prove interesting as a reminiscence of olden times: "First-Day, y° 26th, 1770. At eleven o'clock took a walk into Saint George's Fields. In the afternoon went to meeting. [Here the manuscript is torn and obliterated.} Fifth-Day. Went with Ward into the Tower. Saw them make guns, and saw the brass cannon, small arms, and the horse armour; the King's crown, and the lions, leopards, and panthers. Dined at Latham's; then went with Polford, got the knee straps, and returned home. Sixth-Day. Picked out some hardwares. Dined with Lane and Fraser; then went with Capt. Jar vis to the rope-walk, there bought me some tow- lines; returned home, then went into the borough, spent the evening with Doctor Gray and Doctor Jones, and returned home at ten o'clock. Seventh-Day. Bought parrot pattern for a "own. Dined at home with a gentleman; then took coach with Polsford and Latham and three 198 . ladies. Went to Vauxhall; saw the gardens, cascade, and heard the music. Returned home at twelve o'clock. Fourth-Day. In y° afternoon took a walk with Ward into the Pantheon. Second-Day. Dined with Thomas Wagstaff, a Friend, in Grace Church street. Third-Day — morning. Went to Smithfield, then to the coffee-house and the borough, dined with Doctor Gray, and returned into the city. Went to the insurance office, and spent the evening with John Harrison, a very agreeable man. Re turned home at eleven o'clock. Fourth-Day — morning. Had a boy, Thomas Baxter, bound to me for six years. Dined with Friend Masterman. Went with Gray and four more doctors in two coaches to Ranelagh; there saw the grand fireworks and a great deal of com pany. At twelve o'clock returned home." Do the young gentlemen of New Bedford who go to London in these days do things better than this? Here we see business and pleasure hand in hand. Barnabas Russell, the gentleman to whom we arc indebted for this pleasant little piece of his early experience, was a brother of the late Abraham; Gilbert, and Humphrey RusselL He was born in Dartmouth 3d mo. 26th, 1745, O. S., and was therefore in his twenty-sixth year at the time of this visit. He subsequently removed to Easton, Washington County, New York, and there died May 14th, 1812. The following 'is a list of houses standing in New Bedford in 1846, erected previous to the Revolutionary War: 199 ON SOUTH WATER STREET. No. 1, Patty Hussey house. No. 4, County house, much enlarged. No. 37, Shepard house. No. 40, William RusseU house. No. 45, Jonathan Howland house. No. 55, Fitch house. No. 57, Pardon Howland house. No. 65, brick house. No. 67, Jarncs Allen's house. ON NORTH WATER STREET. No. 13, Seth Russell house. ON FIRST STREET (BETHEL COURT.) Nos. 2 and 4, Isaac Howland house. . Nos. 3 and 5, Joseph Roteh house. No. 7, Walter Chapman house. No. 13, Bethel house. ON SOUTH SECOND STREET. No. 6, James Davis house; this was removed from the site of " Wash ington Hall," formerly the market. ON NORTH SECOND STREET. No. 45, Manasseh Kempton house (Silas.) No. 85, Benjamin Kempton house. No. 97, Drew house. No. 104, Thurgton Potter house. No. 116, Claghorn (George) house. ON FOURTH STREET. No. 4, Akin house, moved south from the corner of Main street. ON PURCHASE STREET. No. 18, Barnabas Russell house, moved north from the corner of Main street, now owned by Edward Stetson. No. 194, Simeon Price house (the small house south of his present one.) No. 252, Willis house, removed from the present site of J. A. Parker's *1iouse. ON MAIN OR UNION STREET (ORIGINALLY "KING STREET.") No. 66, Widow Ross house, west part. No. 120, Daniel Ricketson house. No. 137, William Tobey house. No. 140, Eagle tavern. No. 143, Mayhew house. No. 146, Widow West house. No. 152, Grinnell (Moses) house. No. 159, Humphrey Howland house. No. 164, Gideon Howland house. No. 166, Mason house. No. 167, Caleb Green house. 200 ON NORTH STREET. No. 1, Patrick Maxfield house. No. 2, Jonathan Russell house. No. 16, Jabez Hammond house. ON MAXFIELD STREET. No. 2, Zadock Maxfield house. No. 13, John Lawrence house. ON RAT STREET. George East house. Oliver Price house. Philip Cannon house. ON COUNTT"STREET. Cove house (originally Allen.) No. 27, Caleb Russell house. No. 59, Allen Kemplon house, near the corner of Allen street. No. 175, Ephraim Kempton house. • Jireh Willis house, corner of County and Robeson streets. ON ELM STREET. No. 129, Joseph Russell house, north of the academy, removed from County street ON THOMAS STREET. No. 60, Thomas Kempton house. OUT OF TOWN. Samnel West house (B. Rodman's farm-house.) Jesse Reynolds house. William Tallman 's' farm-house (Willard Nye's.) " " .Charles Russell's farm-house (Mrs. Coffin's.) Dr. Perry house (Thaddeus M. Perry.) Paul Swift house, "1 Jireh Swift house, , j Elisha Tobey house, \ Acushnet. Sommerton house (Thomas Hathaway's,) | Samuel Hunt's house, (Augustus Harrington's,) J John R. Davis (Sen.) house, North Fairhaven. Thomas Wood's, North Fairhaven, one of the oldest in New England. Old Taber house, Oxford village. ' . ~ Old Akin house, on an old cross road near Padanaram. Old Ricketson house, near RusseU's Mills. The four last have stone chimneys. Eleven houses were burned by the British during the Revolutionary War, Sept. 6, 1778". 1. William Claghorn's, on South Water street, west side. 2. John Lowden's, on South Water street The latter, which was farther south, was on the site now occupied by the Benjamin Hill house. 201 3 and 4. Benjamin Taber's, north side of Union, cast of Water street. 0. Barzillai Merrick's, south side of Union street, and opposite Taber's. 6. Joseph Russell's, of Boston, east side of South Water street, — now entrance to Commercial wharf. 7. Joseph Rotch's, occupied by Joseph Austen, on the site of William Rotch's, Jr., Water street 8. Joseph Rotch, 2d, south of the latter. The number of old houses is lessening very fast ; but there are a few more within the limits of the old township of Dartmouth than I have mentioned. I have been agreeably surprised to find in my investigations so large a number of the original settlers of the old township of Dartmouth repre sented here by their descendants at the present time, and generally occupying the localities of their ancestors. On looking over the map of the present towns which comprise the original township, viz., Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, and Fair haven,. a large proportion of the names which appear are those borne by the original settlers. Of course there has been a considerable emigration, and a few families have become extinct, but enough re main to prove the correctness of my statement. The stock from which this people came was re markable for their industry and sobriety, containing a large infusion of the Quakers; and consequently a general thrift and prosperity was the consequence, which to a good degree remains to the present day. May it so continue! ' Even in New Bedford, now containing some twenty thousand inhabitants, a fair proportion of the active energy, enterprise and wealth are to bo found with those whose names are to be seen among those of the early villagers of Bedford. By referring- to the list of names in the last chapter, 202 and comparing the same with those to be found in the New Bedford Directory or the tax-list, this will be at once observed. Let us therefore thank God, and take courage, that in this age of hurry and change we have some evidence of stability and endurance left. We should remember also how much we owe to those who have preceded us and prepared the way, and that nothing less than a proper regard and emula tion of their virtues can entitle us to a continuation of their prosperity and success. With this episode, I will again return to the subject matter of our history. From the Proprietors' Records, book 1, p^ge 205, I make the following extract, preserving the origi nal orthography : "An account of the several parcels of land laid out to Manasseth Kimton in the Eight Hundred acre devision and where they are laid as followeth 1st The first peace is forty acres Lying on the East side of Clarks neck 21y Five acres more laid out adjoyning to sd Kimtons meadow that Lyes nere to Clarks neck on the west side of Cushnet River .-_ Sly One hundred and twenty nine acres more Lying in Sconticut neck at and southwardly end of sd neck 41y Seventy two acres more Lying to the north ward of Stephen Wests homsteed 51y Two hundred and eighty one acres and sev enty eight Rods Lying on the west side of Acush net River to the north of Joseph Russels Junr hom steed 61y Two hundred and ten acres more Lying to the northward of parronoput and on the west side of the way that goes from poneganset to assonct 203 71y twenty acres more Lying on the back side of accushnet great ceader swamp all the several peaces aded into one sum makes 760 acres and the s4 Kimton sold forty acres part of the Eight hundred acre devision which makes up his Eight hundred acre devision as aforesd what is above written is to be recorded by the desire of Mr Manasseth Morton next after the re turns of the Eight hundred acre devision Recorded June ye 28th 1728 " The Kempton family is one of the oldest in New England, although no one by that name came in the Mayflower. But in a list of the inhabitants of Plymouth taken 22d May, 1627, are the names of Manasscs Kempton, and Julian Kempton, his wife. From a note in " Davis Morton's Memorial," page 226, their names are mentioned as among those who arrived in some one of the first four ships, the Mayflower, Fortune, Ann, or James. They came in the Ann. JFrom the same source I find that Julian Kempton died in 1664, at the age of 81 years. Her husband, Manasscs Kemp ton, died 14th January, 1663. Farmer's Register, New England-Settlers. The earliest mention of the name in the afore said surveys, is that of Manasseth Kempton — spelt as before Kimton — March ye 24th, 1710-11. He was probably a grandson of Ephraim and n-randnephew of Manasses. The children ' of Julian were by a former husband, whose name was Morton, probably George Morton, who'Avas also an original shareholder in Dartmouth. The name of Manasseth Kempton, it should be remembered, 204 is also to be found in the list of thirty-six propri etors, as recorded at Plymouth March y° 7th, 1652, given in a previous chapter. By this it appears that the said Manasseth owned at the above period one thirty-fourth part of the whole township of old Dartmouth. The names of others mentioned in the list of thirty-six, who came to Dartmouth, or whose immediate posterity settled here, were John How land, John Downam (Downham or Dunham,) Francis Cook, John Cook (Cooke,) George Soule, John Jenne, Henry Sampson, Philip De la Noye (Delano,) Samuel Hicks, George Morton. In the old burying-ground at Acushnet, formerly connected with the society of Doctor West and his predecessors, I find the following inscriptions: " In memory of Patience, widow of Mr. Ephraim Kempton. She died May ye 2d, 1779, aged 105 years 6 months and 6 days." She was the daughter of Elder John Faunce, who died in Plymouth in 1745, aged 99 years. " Mr. Thomas Kempton, died Dec. yD 29, 1768, in y° 65 year of his age." "Ruth, wife of Mr. Thomas Kempton, deceased Dec. y° 6th, 1771, in the 25th year of her age." . " Col. Manasseh Kempton died Dec. 14, 1804, in his 66th year." '' Mrs. Lois, widow of Col. Manasseh Kempton, died Oct. 11, 1813, aged 77 years." A number of the 9th generation from Ephraim Kempton, 1st, (inclusive,) are now living in New Bedford. Valuable landed estates descended froirj 205 the original proprietors are still owned by members of the Kempton families. The results of the above records go conclusively to prove that the Kemptons were not purchasers of the Willises, but that they derived their estate from the original purchase. It may, however, be the case, that at some early period they purchased land of the Willis family, but subsequent to their occu pation of the original allotment. A large portion of the Russell property in this part of the old town ship was also prior to the Willis purchase. But land was quite early purchased by the Russells frbn. the Willises, which had previously been conveyed to Col. Willis by Joseph Russell, 2d. And these facts were probably the ground upon which the statement made by an aged member of the Willis family, given in the last chapter, was founded. The names of the other settlers in this part of Dartmouth, at Acushnet and upon the east side of the Acushnet River, besides those already men tioned, were Pope, Jenne, Delano, Spooner, Taber, Tobey, Davis, Wrightington, and others. The fol lowing inscriptions are taken from the old grave yard at Acushnet: " Here lyes buried y° body of Seth Pope, of Dartmouth, who died March y° 17th, 1727, in the 79th year of his age." By which it appears he was born in 1648. He was one of the original proprietors of the town ship, and the ancestor of all who bear the name of Pope in this place. 206 " Mrs. Deborah Pope, wife to Capt. Seth Pope, departed this life February 19, 1710-11, aged 56 years." « Capt. Lemuel Pope died May yc 23, 1771, in y° 75th year of his age." " Mrs. Elizabeth Pope, wife of Capt. Lemuel Pope, died July yc 2th, 1782, in the 85th year of her age." " Col; Seth Pope died June 9, 1802, in his 83d year." " Mrs. Abigail Pope, wife of Col. Seth Pope, died died with the small-pox May ye 8th, 1778, in the 59th year of her age." " Elnathan Pope died Feb. 8th, 1735-6 in the 45th year of his age." " Mr. Lemuel Pope died Dec. ye 13, 1796, aged 64 years 6 months and 21 days." " Mrs. Mary, widow of Mr. Lemuel Pope, died Dec. 12, 1808, in her 81st year." " Rebecca, wife of Seth Pope, died January ye 23d, 1741, in the 79th year of her age." "Thankful, wife of Mr. Thomas Pope, died April ye 13th, 1756, in the 38th year of her age." ' " Mr. Thomas Pope died March ye 2, 1784, in the 75th year of his age." The two last were the parents of the late Edward Pope, Esq., formerly Collector of this port, a man of eminent virtues, and for many years one of the most prominent citizens of this place. He was also for some time a Judge of the Court of Com mon Pleas, and is usually mentioned as "Judge Pope." His residence was upon Main street, at the corner of what is now known as North j3ixth street. As remembered by the writer in his b.oy- 207 hood, this old-fashioned mansion, stable, carriage- house, front yard, and large garden in the rear, (soon after the decease of this gentleman,) some what in a state of dilapidation, was to him one of the most attractive places in the village. At this time it was occupied by the widow of Judge Pope, and her son, Thomas Pope, now of Michigan. Among the earliest visits the writer made, and which were continued for several years, were those upon this old lady and her sister, known as " Aunt Bell." Accustomed only to the plain and simple colors of the Quakers, he remembers the strong impression made upon him by the black gowns and black ribbons around the caps of those genteel old ladies. Their manners were peculiarly Bos- tonian, and of the old school; but exceedingly agreeable, intelligent, and well-educated ladies were they. Their maiden name was Greenleaf; that of Mrs. Pope Elizabeth. She was the second wife of Judge Pope, and the widow of Samuel Eliot, of Boston. The late William Eliot, of Washing ton, the father of Hon. T. D. Eliot of this city . and Rev. William G. Eliot of St. Louis, was the child of her first marriage. In the rear of this old mansion, Which extended a great length to the northward, was a lumber- room, filled with all manner of rubbish, old papers, books, furniture, &c. There appeared to the youthful mind of the writer a sort of legendary character attached to this place. He remembers the great satisfaction he felt while rummaging 208 about with a grandson of Judge Pope, a school fellow about his own age, and on one of their searches of discovering a strange piece of furniture which for a long time was a great wonder to them, but which they at last ascertained to be a musical instrument, one of the predecessors of the piano forte, a Harpsichord. This was undoubtedly the instrument upon which the Misses Greenleaf charmed their adoring " Stre- phons " prior to the days of the Revolution. Good, devout women they were, and have long since joined the bright band of those from whom they were separated. The old homestead of the Pope family was upon the east side of the Acushnet River, and a quarter of a mile below the Friends' meeting-house. The house of David Russell occupies nearly the same spot as the old Pope house, which was burnt many years ago. The original settler, Seth Pope, was a. large landed proprietor upon Sconticut Neck, and branches of the family are still land-owners there. The oldest inscription in the grave-yard before mentioned at Acushnet is as follows: " Here lieth the body of Lieut. Jonathan Delano, died Decern. ye 23d, 1720, in ye 73d year of his age." He was accordingly born in 1658, at Plymouth, and was a son or grandson of Philip Delano, who came in the Fortune, 1623. " The name was first spelled De la Noye, by which we may conclude that he was a French Protestant who had united 209 himself to the Church of Leyden." Savage MS., note. Jonathan Delano is also mentioned as one of the proprietors of Dartmouth, in the confirmatory deed from Gov. Bradford, Nov. 13, 1694. His right derived from Philip Delano, whose name is among the thirty-six share-holders who received their titles from the Indian Sachems, Wasamequin and Wamsutta. Two other inscriptions I find in the same place : one of "Jabez Delano, who died Decern. ye 23d, 1734, in y° 53d year of hij3 age ; " the other, " Mary Delano, wife to Jabez Delano, died April 29, 1716, aged 33 years." Since writing the preceding sketch of the Kemp ton family, the following memoranda, collected by the late Samuel Kempton, of this city, have been placed in my hands by a gentleman, one of the present most prominent representatives of this ancient race : " It appears that Ephraim Kempton arrived at Plymouth in the ship Ann, August, 1623; that his son Ephraim, who must have been quite young, came with him. This son settled in Scituate, and there married Joanna, the daughter of Thomas Rawlins. They had two sons, Ephraim and Ma nasseh. It further appears that Ephraim married Mary . They had a son, Ephraim, 4th, who was born Nov. 14th, 1674. On Jan. 2d, 1702, this son (Ephraim) married Patience Faunce, of Ply mouth, daughter of Elder Thomas Faunce, who was the Town Clerk of Plymouth thirty-eight years in succession. He died 1758, aged 84 years. Pa tience, the wife of Ephraim Kempton, was born November, 1673, and died May '25th, 1779, aged 210 105 years 6 months and 6 days. She lived to a greater age, perhaps, than any other person in this part of the country. She used to speak of King Philip's head, that was placed upon a pole in Plymouth, and there remained over twenty years. She said there was a wren that used to make her nest in the skull every year, and there rear her young. Their children were Ephraim, born 1703, Thom as, 1705, William, 1707, Joanna, 1710. Ephraim died in 1720. Thomas married: his first wife was Esther Throop, of Bristol ; his second wife, Mary Hathaway, daughter of Thomas Hathaway, of Dartmouth, (now Fairhaven.) Their children were Esther, born 1736, Thomas, 1740, Hepsebeth, 1743, Jonathan, 1756. Ephraim, son of Thomas and Mary Kempton, married Elizabeth, daughter of Rowland Tupper, of Sandwich, whose wife was Zerviah, daughter of Colonel Samuel Willis, of Dartmouth, (now New Bedford.) Their children were Lydia, born 1774, Mary, 1777, David, 2d, 1779, Thomas, 1783, Ephraim, 1789, Elizabeth, 1794. Ephraim Kemp ton, of New Bedford, died Jan. 25th, 1802, aged 55 years. Elizabeth, widow of Ephraim Kemp ton, died Nov. 29th, 1848, aged 95 years." These were the parents of the present Ephraim Kempton, who, with his sister, Mrs. Lydia Foster, (widow,) are the only survivors of this family. They are the great-grandchildren of Ephraim, whose wife Patience died in this place in 1779, aged 105 years. The original Kempton house stood upon the west side of County street, next north of the residence of Alfred Kempton. It Was of- two stories in front, 'sloping off to one in the rear, as 211 was the custom in many of the oldest houses in New England, and faced the south. It was taken down in the year 1809 by the late David Kempton, 2d, who built the house which now occupies nearly the same spot. Not far from this house, upon a road which led up to the County road from the shore, now North street, three men, by the names of Russell, Trafford, and Cook,* were shot by the British troops, Sept. 5th, 1778. These men were passing up this road, ¦which was then only a cart-way through the woods, in the evening of the day on which the village was burnt, the said 5th of September. It being moon light, one of the party, who was armed, saw stand- ing'against a tree a British grenadier, at whom he fired, killing him; when immediately a volley of muskets was discharged upon these three unfortu^ nate men, killing one outright and wounding the other two, who died within a few days. These soldiers were undoubtedly dispatched from the main army to watch the movements of these three men, and they would probably .have allowed them to pass in peace, had they not been first assaulted. These Were the only lives lost upon this memorable occasion. The horror which remained upon the minds of the old inhabitants of New Bedford, who witnessed the destruction of their property, and, in a great measure, of their hopes in life, is well remembered by the writer, who has often heard their accounts of this calamitous event. The story of the deatii 'Abraham Russell, Samuel D. Trafford, and Job (or John) Cook. 212 of the three men who were shot by the British was one of the nursery tales of his childhood; and it is difficult even at the present day for him not to associate the names of Russell, Trafford and Cook among the most romantic and tragie seemes- of our national history. 213 CHAPTER XVII. AN OLD PENSIONER'S STORY. Our armies swore terribly in Flanders, cried my uncle Toby. Tristram Shandt. It was my custom, many years ago, and probably before some of my readers had seen the light of day, while on my daily walks, frequently to cross over the bridge between New Bedford and Fairha ven, usually making a detour upon the beautiful little island with its cedar trees that lies about half way, and known as " Pope's Island," thence en joying the picturesque and extended view up and down the river, to stroll along, occasionally halting to exchange a word with some old fisherman who was eagerly engaged in catching his supper from the great public larder of the aforesaid places, our own handsome Acushnet On one of these occasions my attention was at tracted by a new and remarkable looking person age, quite a different character from the old stock with whom I had become familiar and had formed a certain kind of acquaintance. It was an old man, apparently about eighty, whose strongly marked countenance and genial aspect moved me to address him. Like the ancient mariner of Cole ridge, "he held me with his skinny hand" for a long time, and having completed his day's work, or amusement if you please, started for his home, J* 214 , which was in an humble tenement a short distance from the old toll-house on the Fairhaven side. Walking by his side, the old man, who by this time I had learnt to be a Revolutionary soldier and pen-? sioner, hobbled along, for he was very lame, until we came to his door, where we parted. This interview resulted in a familiarity ; and as he and his wife soon after removed into New Bed ford, I had the opportunity during the subsequent winter, that of 1835 and '36, when the following sketch was written, of often seeing him. When dressed in his Sunday clothes, an old-fashioned blue coat with bright buttons which had been kept very choicely for more than a quarter of a century, with an equally old-fashioned waistcoat with a double row of small brass buttons, and primitive trousers, his noble head with its silver locks set firmly upon his square shoulders, he presented a venerable and interesting appearance. His narra tive was taken down at his dictation, and I have in a great measure observed his own phraseology; in fact, the whole sketch is substantially in his own language. The name of our hero was Deliverance Bennett. He died in the Fall of 1836, aged 86 years. THE OLD PENSIONER'S STORY. " I was born in the old township of Dartmouth, at Long Plain, on the eleventh day of November, in the year 1750. I worked with my father, who was a farmer, until I became nineteen years of age. Like most of the boys in our neighborhood, I had but little educaticfn, sufficient however to write a 215 legible hand, and to perform the usual business transactions of a farmer's life. During my youth I Was always fond of adventures, and generally spent what leisure I had in hunting and roving. Deer and foxes, as well as many other kinds of game, were then plenty in our woods, and it was no uncommon affair to see them near our house. An anecdote illustrative of this fact I will now briefly relate. On a Thanksgiving Day, all our family, with the exception of my father, was invited out to dinner. The old man, feeling some disappointment at this, was determined to amuse himself in his favorite sport, that of hunting, and if fortunate, to have a dinner for himself and some of his friends. Before the family had gone, he took down his gun, which was always kept, when not in use, over the fireplace, and whistling out his hounds, marched for the woods.' He had been away from the house but a short time when I heard the report of his gun and the yelping of the hounds not far distant. My spirits were aroused by the music of the dogs and gun, and off I started to learn the result. I had not proceeded far, when I saw the old man standing in the road without his gun. On approaching him I asked him the cause. He pointed to the butt of a tree where his gun stood, and told me to bring it to him. I sprang to get it, and before I was aware stumbled over one of the noblest bucks I had ever seen. My amazement was truly great. The old man obtained his wish, and instead of being balked of his own dinner, was able to have thirty-two of his neighbors to dine with him, together with the whole of his family, who preferred a good fat buck to the entertainment they had expected. I was at this time about fourteen years of age. A trivial circumstance which occurred some years after this separated me from my father's family, and determined me to commence a new 210 line of life, somewhat of the history of which is here to be givefi. The cause which induced me to leave home I will briefly relate. My father, who was a very passionate man, and with whom I was no favorite, in a fit of anger threw an iron bar at me, while I was assisting him in erecting a horse-block. This I could not bear from him whom I was bound to respect, and I therefore determined to leave the roof under which I had passed my childhood. The Revolution had then commenced, and troops were being raised throughout all parts of the country. Having some predilection for a military life, I enlisted in the army for three years, and received my "bounty of three hundred dollars, old currency. It was about three weeks after I had enlisted, before I was ordered to march. During this timej I went frequently to my father's house, taking care, however, to be there only in the old mail's absence. I left one hundred dollars of my money with my mother for my father. Orders for march came on the Sabbath. I went home to get my clothing, and to bid the family farewell. My father was there, but said nothing. After waiting some time for him to speak, and finding him determined to persevere in his silence^ with injured feelings I bade him adieu, and left the house. At the outerdoor, I drew two pistols that I had at my side, and firing one into the air and the other into the ground, invoked a blessing for my father, and then set off for the meeting-house, where our company was assembled to hear a fare well discourse from our parish minister, Rev. Mr. Lewis. We then marched into Middleborough, where an entertainment was prepared for us. After having partaken of the collation, we were regularly formed into columns, and marched to Boston; 217 When we left home there was many a watery eye among us, as well as among our friends. One young woman, with whom I was intimately ac quainted, had persevered in her coolness, and was determined not to be affected by our departure. After the meeting, those who were desirous of hav ing a last look at us went some distance along the road, and waited till we came up. Among them was this young woman. I was determined to try her feelings, so, springing out of the ranks, I ran up to her, and giving her my hand, bade her 'good bye,' telling her 'the Lord only knew when we should meet again.' She could restrain herself no longer, and burst into tears. At Boston we passed review before Nathaniel Morton, Esq., and then took up our march for Stillwater. On our way, we halted at Springfield, and remained there two days, during an election of officers. Here we joined Col. Patterson's bri gade under Gen. Schuyler, who had retreated from Ticonderoga. Soon after our arrival at Stillwater,* the com mand was transferred to Gen. Gates, under whom we took up our line of march for the army at Sar atoga. During the action which ensued soon after our ar rival, October, 1777, 1 fired thirty rounds, and at one time my gun became so hot that I was unable to hold it in my hands. I threw it down, and taking up another, for they were to be picked up in any part of the field, performed my duty until sunset. The action commenced about ten o'clock in the fore noon. After the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne, our menj being weary, disposed themselves at pleasure, some Upon the green-sward and some on the meeting house steps. As I sat there resting on my gun, I was much amused at the conduct of the British soldiers, who, being no longer under the control 218 of their general, committed every kind of indecency and mad prank they could devise while marching down the hill, tripping up each other's heels, knock ing off hats, &c. This I must confess appeared truly disgraceful, and showed to me the true character of our enemies. After our affairs were settled at Saratoga, we again resumed our line of march, and proceeded to West Point under Gen. Gates. While here, a draught was made from the army, as a brigade of light infantry, and placed under Gen. Wayne, among whom it fell to my lot to be chosen. We were as nearly of a size as possible, and dressed as nearly . alike as could be expected. After we were embodied, we left the main army and marched to a place called ' Sandy Beach.' While there a party was chosen, of which I was one, to recon noitre the works at Stony Point, which was then occupied by the British. Oiy party consisted of twenty men, with Col. Putnam as leader. We marched down in the night, and halted in the woods near the point, so that we had full view of the garrison. While here, feeling some spirit for adventure, I thought one night that I would sally out and see what I could bring to pass. Near where we were encamped was a small village, called ' Cricket Town,' which supplied the British troops with provision, such as butter, poultry, &c. This was mostly carried on in the night by the women, whom we called ' butter-gals.' So on this occasion, as our captain lay by the fire, wrapped up in his blanket, I borrowed one of his pistols, telling him that I was going to try to take a ' butter-gal.' I strapped my blanket on my back, slung my canteen to my side, and started off. I pushed on through the woods, whistling and singing, when all at once I was saluted by a British sentinel with ' Who 's there?' 'A friend,' I replied. He bade me advance 219 and give the countersign. I approached him, and told him I liad none — that I was a deserter from the American army, and wanted to find the way to the picket. He ordered me to sit down, pointing to a place on the ground, and said that he would be relieved in about half an hour, and would then conduct me to the garrison. I now began to realize my situation, and keeping my wits about me, had recourse to the following stratagem. As I had never known a soldier but was fond of liquor, I proffered him my canteen, after pretending to take a draught myself. He received it, and, tipping it to his mouth, was in the act of drinking, when, watching an opportunity, I sprang upon my feet, seized his gun with one hand, and, presenting my pistol with the other, bade him not to speak a word or offer resistance, on the peril of his life. I then told him to march with me, and we proceeded to gether to our place of encampment. After we had arrived I went to our captain, who asked me where the ' butter-gal ' was. I pointed to the British sol dier in full uniform, at the sight of whom he was much surprised, and gave me hearty thanks for my exploit. We made a guide of this fellow, and the next day joined the regiment and marched for Stony Point. We left our encampment about nine o'clock in the morning, and halted at Sandy Beach, ten miles from Stony Point. Here we remained until twelve o'clock at night, when we marched for the garrison, arriving there before one. It was very dark, and we had much difficulty in proceeding, as the enemy had dug pits to hinder us. We had also to pass through a creek, which almost spoilt our ammunition. After this Ave met with some imped iment by a strong hedge, made of trees, with their branches towards us ; this we had to cut away be fore we could reach the garrison. While we lay in the woods, Gen. Wayne had given us strict or- o 220 ders not to fire a gun, as he intended to take the garrison by the point of the bayonet.'* As we ap* proachcd we could distinctly hear the enemy driving their shot. We immediately fell down ; and when they fired, tile shot passed over us without injuring any of our men. Before they had an opportunity to reload, we made a rush, and took possession of the fort without much difficulty. We lost but two men, and the enemy seventy, besides fifty wounded. The remainder, about three hundred in number, we took prisoners. The next day we executed three pf our men, whom we found in the fort, having previously deserted. We then evacuated the fort and marched for Sandy Beach, from which place we went to West Point, thence to White Plains, under the command of Gen. Patterson, and there remained until the battle, which took place some time afterwards, as follows. A detachment of our troops, of which I was one, being on the scout, fell in with a party of the British troops, by whom the engagement com menced. Soon after, a body of French horse came to our aid, and after a smart action, of about an hour's duration, the British retreated. Our loss was small, and I came off unwounded. Soon after this battle, we were ordered to Schuyl kill River, Pa., where we built a bridge, under the superintendence of Gen. Carleton.* After we had finished it, some of our officers came down from the camp, which was about three miles distant, to see the bridge, and to pass over it. ' Old Carleton,' perceiving them approach the bridge, ordered them to return, loudly vociferating that ' if the angel Gabriel were there he should not cross it before General Washington had seen it : ' such was the respect towards that great and good man by his * I am unable, after tho closest research, to find this name among the American officers of the Revolution. 221 brother officers. We remained at this station all the winter of the year 1779, as near as I can re member. During our stay on the Schuylkill, at one time we were very short of provisions, and the little we obtained was of an inferior kind. One day, my self and a companion, having a holiday, went into the country with the intention of purchasing some fowls. We came to the house of an old Dutch farmer, and told him our wishes. He replied that the officers had engaged all his poultry, and he would not sell us any of his fowls. I told him that if he would not sell me any I should take some the first chance I had. He was inexorable, and again said that he would not dispose of any. On our way back, we determined that night to go to the old man's farm-yard and carry off as many of his fowls as we could. As soon as we thought they had all retired for the night in the neighbor hood, taking advantage of the rising moon, we started off with a lantern, and each armed with a club for defence. Stealing along through the old man's orchard, we came to a small out-house where the fowls were shut up for the night, the door secured by a strong padlock, and the only place we could find to enter, a small opening on one side of the building. I agreed to go in, and told my companion, if he heard any sign of our being suspected, to whistle, and make off through the orcfiard. Accordingly I climbed up and after some difficulty got in at the hole. The turkeys were all at roost; and the moment I got into their company, they gave me a most clamorous greeting, little to my pleasure.^ However, I secured two of them, and was ready for my departure, when I heard my comrade whistle and make off. I got up and looked out of the little window, and there saw the old Dutchman, with his gun in his hand, com ing down the lane irom the house. I now perceived 222 there was no chance for me to escape through the window; so I took my usual recourse tp stratagem) which I ever had ready in case of necessity. Plac ing myself beside the door, and holding a turkey in each hand, I waited for the old wan to come. I could not exactly devise how the affair would end, but knew my only chance of escape would be in acting promptly. As soon as the door was open, I swung the fowl I held in my right hand with all my strength into his face, and made a bolt, but finding him ready to confront me, I let him have the weight of the other turkey in a similar manner as before, which effectually baffled his efforts, and succeeded in getting clear from him. After I had run a few rods, I turned about, and made myself known to him, at which he blazed away his old fowling-piece at me, lodging a good charge of shot into my right leg. Being used to these things, how ever, I hurried away as fast as I was able with the turkeys, which I still kept, determined not to 'lose my bacon' this time, for which I had paid so dearlv. The next day I was mostly employed in extracting the shot from my leg, but I could not get them all out, and some of them are probably there at this day. We had our feast, however, and I soon re covered from my wounds, and little regretted the adventure, as it proved a good story to tell, and made much laughter among our men. In the Spring of 1781, we decamped and proceeded to Danbury, where we remained*nearly two months, and then marched to the head of Elk River before we were known to the British, who were then at Yorktown. We were soon honored by the command of Gen. Washington, who quickly laid plans for commencing an attack upon the enc my. We began by heaving up batteries, working at night and secluding ourselves by day, until we nad advanced within one hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's quarters; the action was then com- 223 menced on our part. We had thirty pieces of mor tar and plenty of cannon. The heat of the engagement continued two days and one night, when we finally compelled them to capitulate. Gen. Cornwallis sent out a flag of truce and a paper, wishing for a cessation of arms, to which Gen. Washington did not agree, and sent word back that Gen. Cornwallis would have fifteen minutes to determine whether to surrender or con tinue the battle. This was followed by the surren der of the British commander. Our advantage was superior to that of the ene my; for we had advanced our rows of batteries, which were eight or nine in number, with perfect safety, until we had fair play upon the British ranks. We lost but a small number, but the ene my's loss was very great. After our affairs were arranged, we were marched, being about two thousand in number, to New York, which the British soon evacuated. Here we had a fine display of fireworks. From New York we went up the Hudson river to West Point, where we remained until after peace was declared. In the month of January, 1783, I started for home on foot, having about one hundred and fifty miles to travel, which I accomplished in about a week, without a cent in my pocket. I found my friends all well, and felt thankful that I had been preserved to see them again. But my hardships were by no means at an end — the times extremely bad, and every man who owed a dollar was liable to3e sued. At this time I felt very much interested for my suffering countrymen, for I was exempt from prosecution, owing to my service in the war. I had fought for my country, and any usurpation of her rights aroused my indignation. Hearing that there was going to be an attempt among the people to secure 224 their rights, and deeming the cause a good one, I offered my assistance. The day appointed for holding the court at Taunton had arrived, and having mustered about thirty men, we started for that place to stop the proceedings of the court. We encamped for the night at the Weir Bridge, where one David Valen tine joined us with his party and attempted to take command. But the men being dissatisfied with him, we went into a field and put it to vote, by which I was chosen leader. We waited until about ten o'clock the next day, and then marched across to Taunton Green.. Here we found a large body of armed men in front of the court-house. This looked rather formidable ; however, we kept up our courage and marched up to them, when Col. Sprout [Sproat] came forward, with his sword drawn, and demanded of me why I presumed to cross the line. I replied that if he would mark out his lines I would observe them, and then, taking a pistol from my pocket, told him that I was armed as well as himself, and if he did not sheathe his sword I would discharge it at him. He then stepped into the ranks, and 1 marched my men, with music, having a fife, two drums, and a fiddle, before them, and got about thirty of their number to join us. I called one of them to me, and asked him to give me a correct account of the state of their matters. He told me that not one to thirty had any powder in their guns, and those who had were destitute of balls. I then gave orders for my men to prime and load, and then marched through th^e ranks of our opponents with out hinderance. As I approached the court-house door, old Judge made his appearance, and immediately recognized me, although disguised in a British uniform. He asked me what was my desire. I replied all we wished was that no execu tions or taxes should be levied for the space of 225 twelve months. To this he at once agreed, and we then peaceably marched home." The death of the old man, whose narrative we had thus far penned, brought it to a hasty close. Subsequent to the time of the last-mentioned adventure, which appears to have been a bold if not rebellious undertaking, he became a sailor; and was pressed into the British service during the last war between England and America; and during an engagement received a severe wound in one of his legs from a splinter thrown off by a cannon ball. Having in vain for a long time sought an opportunity to escape from his servitude, he kept this sore open and aggravated by the applicatiou of copperas, until he was pronounced by tli3 surgeon incurable, and was consequently discharged. He was never able to heal this wound afterwards, which was the cause of his lameness. His suffering from this source during the acquaint ance of the writer were sometimes so great as to render him unable to converse. It finally, more than old age, for he had an otherwise remarkably sound body, caused his death. At the celebration of the Fourth of July, 1835, our cM friend rode in an open carriage, in company with two or three old Revolutionary soldiers, in the procession. His appearance on this occasion was a very dignified one. The foregoing narrative, although but few dates are given, will be found to be substantially correct, if compared with the authentic historical accounts of the events herein recorded. Many scenes and 226 events the old man had in store for me to record, my object being to produce a narrative which he might sell to assist him in his support, as he and his wife had nothing but the pension to depend upon for their livelihood. On one of my last visits to him, he said that he had "just begun." There was much of the true old republican in him; and though rough hewn and somewhat of the "Uncle Toby" school, yet he possessed many estimable qualities, and was a good specimen of those to whom this country owes much for her national existence. Of the other old soldiers of Dartmouth who suffered in the Revolutionary War, history has no record. It will be perceived by those conversant with the dates of the Revolution that our old friend, the pensioner, has confused the order in which the battles transpired wherein he took part, and that his statements in other respects disagree with other records. This does not, however, invalidate his testimony, particularly when his great age is taken into consideration, as the main facts and circum stances are a still further corroboration, if any ne necessary, of the historical accounts of these events. For ready reference, I subjoin a list of the battles in which our hero was engaged, in the due time and order in which they took place: battle of White Plains, Oct. 28th, 1776; Saratoga, Oct. 7th, 1777; Stony Point, July 15th, 1779; York- town, Oct. 10th, 1781. 227 CHAPTER XVIII. PRELIMINARY REMARKS UPON THE MERCANTILE PRO FESSION—VIEWS IN RELATION TO MERCANTILE CHAR ACTER—THE VALUE OF PROBITY AND INTEGRITY IN COMMERCIAL PURSUITS — SKETCHES OF TWO OLD MER CHANTS, DRAWN FROM LIFE. Eye nature's walks ; shoot folly as it flies ; And catch the manners living as they rise. Pope. * I propose in this chapter to record a few reflections and observations, which, through "the loop-holes of retreat," I have made during a somewhat length ened experience. My remarks are intended herein to be entirely of a general character, and no one will regret more than myself, should I uninten tionally appear too severe or exacting iii my views and criticisms. Placing the profession of the mer chant among the highest callings of human enter prise, my object is only to encourage that noble aspiration among my friends and fellow-citizens engaged in commercial pursuits, to excel in those expansive and higher phases of character which belong to the true merchant; tp encourage an emulation whose end shall be not who shall be the richest, but who shall be the noblest member of his fraternity, — not so much a desire for rank and precedence as for virtue and philanthropy. Illustrious instances have we of this class in our own and other lands, — men who, correlative with their enterprise and success in business, have been 228 benefactor's of their several communities and their race. All very well, says the reader perhaps, but what has this to do with the history of New Bedford? I answer, much, every way; for from her field of observation, in a great measure, has my experience been drawn. Here may be found the different traits of character which mark all commercial communities: the clear-headed, far-sighted, bold and fearless man of business; the cautious, timid, self-distrusting; the steady, persevering, honest, self-respecting; the reckless, the avaricious, the penurious, the generous, benevolent, philanthropic, intelligent, cultivated, knowing, grasping, the haughty and overbearing, the shrewd, manoeuvring, dash-devil, mingled together, and jostling each other in their daily occupations. Every community has its own standard of morality; and every large commercial body of people is particularly open to scrutiny in this respect. From the earliest history we have of commerce through the flourishing periods of viio Lombards, Venetians, and their rival successors, the Dutch, the merchant, the true high-minded man of honor, has ever held an exalted stand and exerted a mighty sway over the destinies of nations. No man commands more of our respect, no man holds a more enviable position, than the honest, noble-hearted merchant. From his honestly ac quired gains have originated a large proportion of the hospitals and other charitable institutions, as well as the foundation of churches and colleges 229 in the Old World. From old Sir Thomas Gresham down to William Roscoe and Sir Fowell Buxton, England has been indebted for much of her glory, as a nation, to her merchant philanthropists. And in our own country, daily almost do we witness with what a lavish hand her sons of trade pour out their treasures for the public good. A great and good man, now gone "from works to rewards," needs only to be mentioned to show how an unblemished moral character may be united with a successful business life. I allude to the late Amos Lawrence, a name which every good merchant and philanthropist must ever hold in veneration. Boston may well be proud of his memory. New York, too, has her noble-minded merchants, of Revolutionary and modern times; and her Grinnells already stand forth as rivals of the Livingstons and Hancocks of older and the Law rences of later times. But we cannot allow our national metropolis the whole credit of claiming these last-named gentlemen, the Grinnells. They arc not only natives of New Bedford, but here received the rudiments of that education in which they excel as skilful and honorable merchants of the old Quaker stock, from which they sprung, and among whom they passed their youth. New Bedford has ever held a prominent stand in the business public: no place has maintained a higher or more deserving character for mercantile strength and probity than herself. She has afforded many, noble-minded men, ay, and women also; K 230 and a purer or more honorable state of commercial enterprise probably as rarely existed in any com munity as for a long period obtained here. The names of William Rotch, Sen. and Jr., the former of whom I have written of at length in another chapter, and of Samuel Rodman, Sen., as well as the venerable widow of the latter, a daughter of William Rotch, Sen., lately deceased at the age of nearly one hundred years, are inseparably connected with whatever is noble and philanthropic which New Bedford may claim to possess. Nor has the spirit of our predecessors entirely left us : we still possess a body of true and noble-minded men and women, who are worthy of such an ancestry. There are, however, in every large commercial community men who, regardless of those qualities which mark the true merchant, aim only at success, as they falsely term it, and who lead a skirmishing warfare in the mercantile public. Of these men I would speak justly, but candidly. With them a failure in business seems to be no particular obstacle, even for the time; and we soon find that, mindless of their suffering creditors, they are going oil swimmingly. They have answered the requi sitions of the law, and this satisfies their easy consciences. Honest men will undoubtedly sometimes become embarrassed, or fail in their business; but it may Le doubted whether the most skilful and accom plished merchant will allow himself to be brought to this strait, At a..y rate, it is the duty of every 'loii'^t merchant not tc jeopardize in his business 231 lhat property which is not legitimately his own. Undoubtedly, by so doing many a merchant has, like some tempest-tossed vessel, passed over the shoals and quicksand by only scraping the keel. But should adversity overcome them, they do not sink beneath it; they preserve their integrity of character, and rise, like the gallant bark, upon the succeeding wave. These are the men who cause their creditors and friends no anxiety; whose first care it is to pay off their honest debts, principal and interest. The law may exonerate them ; but in foro conscientia they deem themselves bound to make good all their liabilities, and they do it. These men deserve all praise and honor; they give a high and healthy tone of character to mercantile morals ; and these are your true merchants. But there is another class to whom we cannot award this high praise. With a magician's power they throw their enchantments, in the shape of wiles and snares, around a community — they go on in apparent piosperky, — when all at once comes .the crash ! Men supposed to be doing a small busi ness on a small capital, fail to the amount of fifty, sixty, or over a hundred thousand dollars; a mystery surrounds the whole affair; a small and hardly ob tained percentage is all the astonished creditor re alizes. But is the man crushed ? does he live upon bread and water? is he homeless, and an object of pity? Ah no! There is a temporary lull, it is true: he may lo.-.e a little influence in his church, perhaps, or at the next political campaign. But how is the matter in the coiusc of two or time 232 years? He drives his horse — perhaps horses — and carriage, builds a fine house, gives his parties, and so goes on. This man seems to forget his creditors, some of them now, perhaps, poor men, wofully in need of their just dues. But the law protects him; he finds others in the same category as himself: and so he sets his brazen face against the world, and generally succeeds in holding his own position in society. Can such a man be respected? can he respect himself? In a healthy mercantile community he must ever be regarded as a dishonest man, and from this he can find no escape. If virtue has its reward, vice also must meet its doom. These remarks may be considered as a fitting prelude to the following notices of two well-known merchants, lately deceased. Joseph Ricketson, so well and favorably known in this community, was the first cashier of the Bedford Commercial Bank, which situation he occupied for about fifteen years. Previously, how ever, as well as subsequently, he was engaged in commercial pursuits. His advantages for an education in his youth were superior to most of his cotemporaries. Un der the tuition of his uncle, Caleb Greene, he acquired, besides a good English education, some knowledge of the Latin, and subsequently, from other sources, of the French language. In many of the more scientific studies, particularly in chemistry, his acquirements were very respectable. 233 Through all his reverses of fortune, he kept up his habits of reading and study; and his library, though not large, was well chosen and valuable. At the age of sixteen or seventeen, he entered the counting-room and warehouse of William Rotch, Jr., who had then just established himself in business in the village of Bedford. Here he re mained until he was twenty-one, leaving with mu tual respect, which continued through their lives. Entering into business with his father, under the firm of Daniel Ricketson & Son, with the practical experience of the former as a sea-captain and his own industrious habits, their business prospered, and they accumulated, for those times, a considerable fortune; but the embargo, the war, failures, and the loss of vessels by capture, com pletely frustrated their business, leaving them little else than their real estate in the village. He was one of the earliest promoters of education and of every object for the public good in this place. As an ardent and effective supporter of the peace, the temperance, and anti-slavery movements in this place, he will be long remembered. In all these noble enterprises for the cause of humanity, Joseph Ricketson was among the earliest. If they in some degree were the cause of reproach, his heartfelt devotion to these great Christian objects sustained him. As a man of business, in his long experience and various relationships he ever sustained the highest character for honesty and ability. But as 234 a mcu hant, as usually estimated, he did not possess that knowledge of human nature which would have secured him from many great adversities in his business. Honest to a fault, — if possible, — he rarely or never distrusted any one, and conse quently too often became the victim of others less conscientious than himself. Most men with his opportunities -would have accumulated great wealth; but his constant losses, following in unre mitted succession from time to time, left him at his death with but a small part of that wealth which might otherwise have been secured. Had it not been for the preservation of his real property, which he did tinder great difficulties, he must have become almost penniless. Joseph Ricketson, Sen., was born in this town 7th mo. 27th, 1771, and died at his residence on Main, head of Seventh street, 10th mo. 9th, 1841, aged 70 years 3 months and 18 days. George Howland, who for many years was Pres ident of the Bedford Commercial Bank, and one of the most successful merchants of New Bedford, was the architect of his own fortune ; his great success in the acquisition of his property, and his position as one of the leading men of business in a place of distinguished commercial character, having been altogether the result of a sound judgment, allied to an indomitable energy and perseverance. Start ing in life a farmer boy, his ambition for a broader and more congenial field of labor brought him at the age of sixteen years into the warehouse and 235 counting-room of William Rotch, Jr. His great ability for business and attention to his duties soon won the confidence of his master, to whom in after years he was destined to become an un- envied rival. As the President of the Bedford Commercial Bank, which situation he held for more than thirty years, he evinced great financial skill and talent; and it is probable that the affairs of this institution will never be better sustained or administered than while under the old regime, with him at the head. George Howland was born in Fairhaven, Dart mouth, 7th mo. 12th, 1781, and died at his own house, corner of Walnut and Seventh streets, 5th mo. 21st, 1852, in the seventy-first year of his age. He left a large fortune. Among his donations and bequests were $15,000 to the Friends' School at Haverford, Pa.; $5000 for a school in North Carolina; and $50,000, in trust, for the establish ment of a school for "young females," which it is to be hoped will be duly appropriated in this place, where his life was mostly spent and his wealth garnered. 236 CHAPTER XIX. THE WRITER'S VIEWS IN REGARD TO THE TITLE OF HIS PRODUCTION — REMINISCENCES OF ELISHA THORNTON AND JAMES DAVIS, TWO DISTINGUISHED MINISTERS OF THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS IN NEW BEDFORD, AND GEN ERAL REMARKS UPON THEIR CHARACTERS AND INFLU ENCE. I have dignified these sketches of mine with the title of a "History of New Bedford." Although I have endeavored to comprise the most important hi; rical information relating to my subject, still the discursive manner in which I have performed my task and the variety of material I have made use of rather entitles it to a less assuming name, and that of "Historical Sketches" is all I shall claim for them. I propose in the present chapter to introduce to the remembrance of our older inhabitants, and to the acquaintance of the younger, a few reminis cences of two characters, remarkable for their superior virtues, and among the most prominent of our citizens in their day and generation. Among those of that generation, now so nearly gone, no one probably held a more endeared and valued place among his friends and the public than Elisha Thornton, Sen., the father of the late Elisha Thornton, so well and favorably known to most of our fellow-citizens, in fact, the respect for whose memory is but little less than that felt for his more widely known parent. 237 As a minister of the Society of Friends, Elisha Thornton, Sen., was distinguished for his richly poetic style of eloquence, combined with talents of no ordinary order, and intellectual cultivation. So correct was his ear for rhythm, as I am informed by a gentleman who was one of his intimate friends and admirers, that he would often deliver a long discourse in blank verse, extempore, of course, as this is the only manner in which the ministers of this society preach. His voice was rich and musical; and the inflections and cadences of his periods were in admirable harmony with his gentle and instructive communications, resembling the chanting of the bards of old. A remarkable coincidence, and one which ap peared to be possessed almost of supernatural agency, occurred upon a certain occasion during his ministry. It was during the height of the bloody campaigns and victories of Napoleon Bona parte, and when with each return of news from Eu rope the horrid accounts of further bloodshed were sure to be learned, that the Society of Friends in this town, which then comprised a large portion of the most respectable inhabitants, were gathered together in their old meeting-house, which stood nearly upon the site occupied by the present sub stantial brick structure, upon Spring street. The respected subject of this notice, at that time some what advanced in life, a man of tall and venerable personal appearance, whose voice, as before stated, was peculiarly soft and musical, and whose coun tenance was full of the deepest kindness and 238 sympathy for human woe, was upon this occasion dilating upon the miseries of war, and portrayed in a most graphic manner the scenes of the battle field, speaking of the sufferings of those engaged in deadly strife. "Even now," he said, "can we see the blood flowing, and hear the groans of the dying." All present were deeply impressed with the discourse, the speaker appearing to be possessed of a prophetic vision, which proved to be remark ably verified, for it was afterwards satisfactorily ascertained that during the time this peaceful body of men and women were seated in their humble place of worship, and were listening to the voice of their beloved minister, one of the most cele brated and bloody battles of the great but wickedly ambitious hero of France Avas being fought. Probably no man was ever endowed with a keener sympathy for human misery or the suffer ings of the brute creation than Elisha Thornton. In this respect, as well as in his fine vein for poetry, he resembled the sensitive and beautiful Cowper. His mind was indeed finely attuned to harmony; and the beauties of nature were not only a source of constant pleasure and devotional suggestion to him, but were introduced into his conversation and public ministrations. Elisha Thornton was the son of Ebenezer and Ruth Thornton, and was born in Smithfield, R. I., 4th mo. 30th, 1747, and died in New Bedford 12th mo. 31st, 1816, in the seventieth year of his age. His parents being in humble circumstances, most of his early years were spent in manual labor as a farmer 239 boy; but owing to his great love of knowledge, as well as being possessed of talents of a high order, he acquired, by dint of hard study in the hours not allotted to labor, and by observation and meditation while engaged in his daily avocations, an education superior to most of his cotemporaries in the Society of Friends. He became a teacher of youth, and for many years kept a boarding-school at his house in Smithfield, R. I., at which a large number of the children of the families of Friends of New Bedford as well as other places received their edu cation. The school was not, however, confined to the members of the Society of Friends, and a number of scholars were from other denominations. Being a lover of youth, and deeply interested in assisting the development of the purer traits of his scholars, he was not only their teacher but their genial friend and guide. A pleasanter school, or one more free from the usual infelicities and severities of such institutions, probably never existed; in confirmation of which, I have often heard from those who were his pupils the expression of the happiness they enjoyed while under his charge, and the love and respect they entertained for his memory. The gentle and beloved teacher has long since passed from works to rewards; the number of his pupils even is sadly diminished, and but a few only of that once bright band of young people remain, and they have already reached the vale of years. The country around Smithfield is very pictu resque, and in the days of the school was remark- 240 able for its rural beauty ; and the location of the house was in the most quiet and pleasant part. The visits made to this home of his maternal grandparents are among the most delightful and cherished memories of the writer. Possessed of a tender conscience, at an early age the subject of this sketch became awakened to the importance of leading a pure and religious life, — one void of offence before God and man; and his convictions of duty leading him to an adoption of the religious principles of the Society of Friends, he became a member of that body in early man hood, and a few years afterwards appeared in the ministry. As early as the year 1779, when at the age of 28 years, he made a religious visit to the families of Friends in Dartmouth, as a companion of that devoted servant of Christianity, Job Scott; an account of which I find mentioned in the in teresting and edifying journal of the latter. In the Spring of the year 1807, Elisha Thornton moved with his family from Smithfield to New Bedford. His residence was the house still stand ing on the north-west corner of School and Seventh streets, and here he died. He was noted for his tender solicitude for human happiness, and his journal contains many records of this nature. In a portion of his life when he passed through some of his deepest experiences, I find the following record: " During these years my mind was often led to view and reflect very feelingly upon the subject of the African slave-trade, and upon the great in- 241 justice done to the natives of this land. From the prospect which I had, I should scarcely hesitate to predict that the United States, sooner or later, will feel the scourge of the divine displeasure in a very awful manner on account thereof, and the period may not be very distant." In the higher walks of mathematics, and partic ularly in astronomy, he was a proficient, and for several years published an almanac. Not only the astronomical calculations were made by himself, but he occasionally contributed the poetry for the same. In his almanac for 1789 are the following lines, which have been frequently published in past years, and obtained considerable celebrity. Aside from the poetical merits of the piece, the sentiments, ex pressed at that early period, are alike honorable to his head and his heart. ON THE SLAVE TRADE. Almighty Father, thine the righteous cause, Nor does the muse presume the task (too great For mortal man) without a deep-felt need Of holy aid : may Thou inspire the theme. Long groaned the seed beneath the heavy task, Where Nilus' flood o'erflows her fertile banks; Where Pharaoh proud, with adamantine heart, Exulted long — exulted in the woe Of Jacob's seed, till tenfold vengeance sent To plead their cause, to set the captive free. Lo! Afric's children — they in bondage too Long grieved, without a corresponding sigh To soothe their languid heart, save in a few Who echoed back their agonizing moan. Come, feeling heart, and view the tragic scene; Come view the massacre on Afric's shore, A scene of blood shed by uninjured men — By men who worship at the shrine of gain — By men who bow in Mammon's temple, where They sacrifice, where they their birthright sell For pottage poor — their hands imbrue in blood: 242 Most horrible the havoc made of men, Detested more by how much these profess The sacred name, the name of him who bled For sinful men, not causing men to bleed. But what the charms of gold, alluring wealth I What but a loss to every sense of good ? What but some demon from the lowest pit Could stimulate the noble mind of man To deeds so black, under the gospel day ? To kidnap little children as they pass, Or while the sultry hours by them are spent In pretty prattle by some golden brook Or in some cooling bower — lo, snatched away By tiger-hearted men, no more to see Nor evermore embrace parental arms, Nor parents them enjoy ; but pine away Their days with thoughts of woe they 're doomed to. Among thy many crimes, 0 Christendom, Not one more complicated, one more black Than this. Men too are taught to fight. See Afric's sons, from thirst of gain, (conferred,) With reeking blades, nor pity taught to show, Nor wont to yield, fall weltering in their blood! See captured wretches, marched now along Toward the ship; nor dare they turn an eye To bid farewell their country or their friendsj But hastened are on board the stifling bark, Where, close confined beneath the deck, they 're bound 'Midst noxious stench, where many pine and die! Parents, compelled, must quit their golden coast, Rent from their babes ; husband and wife must part And bid adieu: heart-broken sighs ascend. How wished for now the stroke of death — implored 5 That king of terrors to the human breast Is now most sought; no remedy but this To free from bonds — free from the galling yoke. See black despair: the swollen breast ascends On deck, and, resolute to end his woe, Plunges himself into the watery main ; Nor does he dread at all the grim-jawed shark, But meets of choice the monster's deadly fangs. The few poor drooping souls who reach the isles Are like the beasts of burthen , scourged on In hunger, thir6t, and toil, till death release. Why Neptune ever taught to plough the deep! Why e'er Columbia's ships were wafted o'er? Or why the western world at aU explored. To prove the seat of woe — untimely grave Of millions of that sable race? Alas! alas! for Britain, France, and Spain! Alas! for you our States, who long combined 243 To tyrannize! vain the attempt to joy. Tottering, our peace, a baseless fabric, stands, While thus exulting in unrighteous gain. In vain our States shall hail the youthful'morn Of peaceful independence in our land, Till Afric's sons to liberty restored. 0, may the late catastrophe suffice, When, like the mountain cataract, wild waste O'erspread and ravage through a flourishing land. That woful day, in which we left to dash With Britain's sons, as earthen pitchers break. Thou Spirit benign! why stay'd the furbished sword? Why not provoked to send us famine too, With pestilence, thy terror-striking rod, To scourge the world for crime of deepest dye ? But, gracious Thou, our eyes unclosed to see Grim tyranny, that monster from beneath Who sits proud regent of the lowest abyss. May Britain fraught with Clarksons multiplied, And may our States with Woolmans meek abound, With Benezets conspire to plead their cause; May ruling powers, too, unite with these, And set the captive free ; then peace shall flow. God bless our States — unite them in a band! Although these lines will hardly satisfy the cul tivated taste of the present day, yet their genuine simplicity, sincerity and deep-toned humanity will compensate in a great measure for a more pol ished harmony of numbers than they possess. Their author, it should be remembered, was a self- educated man ; and although a lover of the more serious English poets, and possessing a good nat ural ear for melody and rhythm, still the classical scholar will perceive, in his case as in others, that the want of a knowledge of the established rules of metrical composition — shears poetaz — cannot be dispensed with, except at the great loss of beauty and strength, at the same time. The respect for his character was by no means confined to the religious body to which he was united, for his philanthropic nature led him to look 244 upon all mankind as brethren, and virtue was ever attractive to him, wherever found. For the erring, too, he felt much sympathy, and ever extended to them his charity, and encouragement for a better way of life. An instance of this kind has been re lated to me by a worthy minister of the Society of Friends, now living in this city. While on a reli gious visit to Friends in Sandwich, he became in terested in an Irish youth whom he there found at work in a rope-walk, and whose habits, from the roving life he had led, were not exemplary. During a conversation with this young man, he discerned the germ of a purer nature in him ; and on his way to New Bedford, while riding along, his mind be came deeply drawn towards him, as by divine di rection. He soon afterwards addressed him in a tender and encouraging manner, in a poetical com munication, which so touched the heart of the poor youth that he awakened to a new life, and new hopes, and eventually became a worthy member of the Society of Friends. He resided for a number of years in this place, and married a daughter of James Davis, continuing a worthy member of the society until his decease. Michael Graham, the person here referred to, will be well remembered by my older readers. In a copy of the " Columbian Courier" of 12 mo. 29, 1798, published in New Bedford, and edited by Abraham Shearman, Jr., I find the following head of a long advertisement of dry goods, English watches, hardware, &c. : "Mi chael Graham respectfully informs the public that he has lately removed to the store formerly occu- 245 pied by William Ross, at the Four Corners, where he has just received and has for sale" — He after- Wards moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he died. In personal appearance, Elisha Thornton was tall, erect, and well proportioned. His head was remarkably noble, and his countenance mild and intellectual. His dress was of the primitive school of Quakers. On the removal of the graves from the old Friends' burial-ground to the new one, a few years since, the writer was present when the remains of the subject of this sketch (his maternal grandfather) were disinterred, and an opportunity was thus af forded for examining the skull, which had for nearly forty years remained undisturbed. With-reveren- tial emotions I held the relic in my hands. It was of great size, and in perfect preservation, even some of the gray hair remaining upon it. The organ of benevolence, as well as the whole coronal region, and the forehead, were particularly full. The size was one of the largest of human heads, and one that would have much interested the phrenologist. Had he been born in a different sphere of life, and had his early education been more perfect, he would probably have been distinguished as a scholar and poet. His attachment to dumb creatures, particularly to his own domestic animals, was very strong, and at times painfully so, from the sympathy he felt for their sufferings and abuse. His domestic animals also became much attached to him; and those who have had much to do with these intel- 246 ligent and interesting creatures will readily under stand my meaning. Upon the occasion of a fire in the daytime, at the house of the late Gilbert Russell, on County street, now owned by William R. Rotch, " Friend Thornton," as he was familiarly called, was standing in the road near the scene of the fire, where there was a large collection of people, and the consequent excitement of such an event, when an old horse that he had owned for several years, which had been grazing by the roadside some little distance from the scene of commotion, became frightened, and seeing his old master among the crowd, came trotting down the road, and on reaching him put his head over his shoulder, as if for protection. His love for nature continued to the last, and during his whole life he was in the habit of walk ing in the fields and woods. The songs of the birds and the sight of the wild flowers were sources of much happiness to him, constantly awakening in his mind a sense of gratitude to the Creator of the universe. His knowledge of astronomy as sisted his devotional feelings ; and the contempla tion of the heavenly spheres at night filled his mind with the most sublime emotions. The day before his death, as I am informed by a gentleman who had been watching with him through the night, he requested the shutters of the windows in his room looking toward the east to be opened, that he could once more behold the ris ing of the sun. Raised up in his bed by the assist ance of his friend, he looked with much interest 247 and composure upon the scene, and on being placed back upon his pillow calmly said that it was the last time he should ever witness that glorious sight. Within a few hours from this time his tender spirit passed away from its mortal tenement. The prose and poetical writings of Elisha Thornton are considerable, but they have never been published, except in a scattered way. I will close this sketch by the following extract from a beautiful tribute to his memory, written by one who knew him well, both as a pupil and a friend: " The days of that remarkable man have passed away, and with them have sunk below the horizon the cotemporaneous stars which coursed the heavens and brightly marked the first quarter of the nineteenth century." Coeval with the subject of the foregoing sketch, but who survived his friend and fellow-laborer in the Christian ministry many years, was the late venerable James Davis, a man of apostolic char acter, and long known as one of the most devoted and sincere ministers of the Society of Friends. It requires purer hands than mine justly to portray the life and character of such men as these faithful servants of the Divine Master. But as the task has devolved upon me, I would endeavor, in all due respect for their memories and the cause they so ably advocated, to bring their noble examples before my readers, in some humble measure at least. 248 James Davis was born in Rochester, Mass., on the 22d of the 5th month, 1744, and died at his house, on Second near Union street, 2d mo. 25th, 1825, in the eighty-first year of his age. His parents were Nicholas and Ruth Davis ; the former was a minister of the Society of Friends, and died in Oblong, N. Y, 10th mo., 1755. In his personal appearance, as remembered by the writer, and when he had become an aged man, he was rather tall and strongly made, and was of a most venerable and kindly aspect. As he arose to address the congregation assembled in the old meeting-house before mentioned, his grave though calm and gentle manner at once interested all present ; and the wise counsel, the result of a long and deep experience, he deliberately delivered, was listened to with great silence and respect. Prob ably no minister of the society in this town or vicinity was more beloved and respected, or re garded with more faith in his sincerity,' on the part of his hearers. Less glowing in his language and less ardent in his appeals than his beloved coadjutor before noticed, the depth and beauty of his religious spirit was excelled by none, and rendered his ministry one of the most valuable with which our community has ever been blessed. In those days, prior to the lamentable schisms which have since taken place and so stripped this once powerful body of Christians of much of their influence, the gatherings on the first day of the week, as well as on other occasions, were lar': vicinity, also died of apoplexy, 322 March 18th, 1822, in his sixty-seventh year. His residence was on old Main street, now owned by Messrs. Watson & Manchester, bakers, No. 175 Union street. Doctor William C. Whitridge, one of the most skilful and distinguished physicians of the present time, died at his residence, 117 Elm street, corner of County street, Dec. 28th, 1857, in the seVenty- fourth year of his age.* The Dialectic Society, formed in 1812, was the earliest literary society in New Bedford of which I have obtained any account. William Sawyer Wall was the first President, who was succeeded in his office by Abraham Shearman, and John Howland. At the first anniversary John Mason Williams delivered an address, and Thomas A. Greene a poem. Their meetings were held at the Friends' schoolhouse then standing on Prospect Hill, near the spot now occupied by the " Bethel." The "Fragment Society" was a charitable asso ciation under the direction of ladies, in connection • The following petition from the old Dartmouth Records is with out date, but a subsequent call for a meeting of the town to act there on bears date September 6th, 1772. " To the Selectmen of the Town of Dartmouth, the Humble Peti tion of Doctors Gelston and Randall Praying that a Warrant may be Granted to Summons this Town, to meet to Geather to Declare their Approbation in regard of said Doctors, Erecting a Hospital for In- oqulation on anjalaca Island, if Obtainable or Else where as they Shall think meet, and we as in Duty Bound shall ever pray. SAMUEL GILSTON ANNANIAS RANDALL" A warrant for a meeting was subsequently issued, hut that portion of the record containing the proceedings is wanting. A small Hos pital, however, was erected at this period, on a lot a short distance north of the Oak Grove Cemetery. Tbe place was long known as the ** Pock-House pasture." 323 with which was a school for poor children, who were also supplied with clothing. These institu tions were supplanted, the former by the Lyceum, and the latter by other charities and the public schools. That great institution of the North, the Lyceum) has become second in importance to no other as a source of interest and instruction to the mass of the people. It is decidedly popular; rich and poor, the old and the. young, attend the lectures, not only with unabated but increasing interest. It has opened a new field of emolument for our scholars and literary men, and we hope in due time to add also our literary women, to exercise their talents, and bring forth from the treasures of thought and study the intellectual pabulum the public appetite so much craves. The increased desire for knowledge in our people is truly very hopeful and encouraging to the lovers of light, of liberty, and of free institutions. From ignorance alone can oppression come; enlighten the masses, and tyranny must meet its doom. Every encouragement should therefore be given to men of thought and learning to enter this new field of literary labor, particularly in the way of liberal compensation. It is an old truism that no labor is so poorly paid for as that of the brains. We are forgetfu1, when some talented and eloquent lecturer has received his fifty or one hundred dollars for his performance, how much time and study — how many years of preparation and expense he may have given, to qualify himself for the same. 324 No men are more busy during the season than our popular lecturers; thousands of miles do they travel, subject to all the inconveniences and expo sures during the most inclement part of the year. The fine scholar, — the man. of taste and refine ment, — is undoubtedly thrown into many scenes of painful experience. Some revelations of per sonal history in this - line would afford a good subject for a lecture, which we shall probably in due time hear. Let us then not be niggard in our remuneration for the services of these devoted teachers of the people, but in a liberal manner hold out inducements for the best talent and culture to continue in the field. Let us rejoice that there is one place at least where free thought can find expression ; and may the spirit of bigotry or sectarianism be ever kept aloof therefrom. Although the Lyceum of our time resembles but little that of the grove of Attica, yet with such teachers as Emerson, Parker, Beecher and others, it seems destined to rival even that of Aristotle. The New Bedford Lyceum is one of the oldest institutions of the kind in this country. The first meeting was held on the evening of November 19, 1828: Stephen Merrihew, Chairman, and Joseph Congdon, Secretary. The Lyceum was organ ized on the 8th of December following. The first board of officers were Stephen Merrihew, President; Abner Bourne and Benjamin Robinson, Vice Pres idents; William C. Taber, Treasurer; William T. Hawes, Recording Secretary; Thomas Rotch, Cor- 325 responding Secretary; Charles W. Morgan, Joseph Congdon,and Thomas A. Greene, Curators; Orville Dewey, John H. W. Page, and Samuel Rodman, Committee of Arrangements. An occasional lec ture on chemistry, or some other scientific subject, or a debate, was then the order of the day, little dreaming that we were aiding in the establishment of an institution destined to become so flourishing and important. The Friends' Academy, for many years the only classical institution in New Bedford, was founded by a number of the Society of Friends in the year 1810. The old building, which is now in a fair way to be entirely eclipsed by the massive structure being erected by the Elm-street society of Metho dists, and other buildings with which it is sur rounded, stood originally upon the then outskirts of the village, and was one of its most prominent objects. With its plain but spacious dimensions, its symmetrical tower, surmounted by a spire and vane, and extensive grounds, it really presented an agreeable and even tasteful appearance. But this old temple of Minerva, the "classic hill" of our youth, is now in a state of dilapidation; and the spire which once stood so stately gives signs of decay; the old vane that had boldly faced the brunt of so many storms now hangs drooping from its ancient support; and even the old bell seems to toll out in mournful numbers a requiem to the departed spirit of former days. That an interest was warmly felt in the cause of education by the founders of this institution, their o 326 liberal donations sufficiently declare. William Rotch, Sen., contributed the lot of land, and $2000 William Rotch, Jr., $5000 ; Samuel Rodman, Sen. $2000 ; Samuel Elam, $1000, and at his decease in 1812, his rare and valuable library ; Thomas Ar nold, $500; his son, James Arnold, $1000; and Oba diah M. Brown, $536; Samuel Rodman, Jr., (1817,) $1000; Benjamin Rodman, (1820,) $450, and a share in the Khode Island Bridge, $100: amounting to $13,586. Subsequent subscriptions for the pur chase of a lot of land to enlarge the play-grounds in the rear enclosing the same, and for the erection of fixtures for a gymnasium : Charles W. Morgan, George Howland, Sen., Thomas Rotch, and Joseph Rotch, $100 each; Joseph Ricketson and John Howland, Jr., $50 each ; Nathaniel Hathaway, William Swain and Thomas S. Swain, each $25 : in all, $575, — making the whole amount of sub scriptions $14,161. These sums comprise all the do nations to the Academy. The act of incorporation was granted February 29th, 1812. The original Board of Trustees were William Rotch, Sen., President; Elisha Thornton, 1st, Thomas Arnold, Samuel Elam, Samuel Rodman, Sen., William Rotch, Jr., William Dean, Abraham Shearman, Jr., and James Arnold. The Trustees at this time were required to be members of the Society of Friends. James Arnold is the only survivor of this board, who was for several years the President of the same. He was succeeded in 1836 by his father-in-law, William Rotch, Jr., who was also the Treasurer, holding both offices until the time of his 327 decease, 4th mo., 1850, at the age of 90 years. His successor as President was Samuel Rodman, Jr., who still holds this office. The first Principal was John Brewer, a gentle man of high attainments and culture, whose mem ory is much cherished by his old pupils, (many of whom are or have been among our most active citizens,) as well as by the public generally. Mr. Brewer held his post for about six years, from 1811 to 1817. From 12th mo., 1813, Thomas A. Greene was an assistant until the close of Mr. Brewer's term ; and 9th mo., 1817, the school was re-opened under the charge of Moses S. Moody and Mr. Greene. Mr. Moody, however, remained but one year, when Mr. Greene became the sole Principal, and was assisted by the late Joseph Congdon. In 1820, 3d mo., Mr. Greene resigned. On the death of Thomas Ar nold, in 1826, Mr. Greene was chosen to fill the va cancy in the Board of Trustees. To the unremit ted personal attention of this gentleman, through a period of nearly forty years, this institution is much indebted. Although not a graduate of any col lege, our respected fellow-citizen is a good classical scholar, and at the request of the late Principal, A. J. Phipps, Esq., Mr. Greene received from Dart mouth College, N. H., the honorary degree of Master of Arts. From the time of Mr. Greene's resignation in the spring of 1820, the Academy was closed until the spring of 1824. During this interval the win dows were boarded and the library removed to the 328 " stone store" of Samuel Rodman, Sen. Standing as it did at that time in an isolated place, the Acad emy obtained the reputation of being haunted. Early in the spring of 1824, the boards were removed from the windows, letting in once more the light of day, the accumulated dust and cobwebs re moved from the rooms, and in the month of March the school was again commenced, George Newell, a graduate of Harvard University, the teacher, who continued his charge for two years. Mr. Newell was an eccentric bachelor, but a good classical scholar, and a kind-hearted man. He afterwards became a physician, married, and died many years since. It affords me much pleasure, as one of his pupils during the whole of his term here as teacher, to bear my testimony to his worth. The period passed at the old Academy when under his charge was the pleasantest of all my school-days. Gen tlest of teachers! a space of more than thirty-four years has not obliterated thee from my memory. Thy patience and kindness towards me are among the most cherished memories of my early days. Requiescat in pace. During the Summer term of 1826, Charles Bab- bage, now a Unitarian clergyman, then an under graduate of Harvard University, was the instructor. He was succeeded at the Fall term of the same year by John H. W. Page, a graduate of that year of Harvard, who continued as Principal until the Spring of 1829. The school during his charge was in a flourishing state, comprising both sexes, which had not previously been the case. Our highly 329 respected fellow-citizen, John F. Emerson, Principal of the High School, a graduate of Dartmouth Col lege, N. H, was the first assistant, succeeded by Alanson Brigham, Charles Devens, Samuel Saw yer, Oliver Prescott and William H. Sanford. William H. Sanford was the successor of Mr. Page as Principal, and held that station for two years, assisted during the latter part of the time by George W. Warren, of Charlestown. In 1831 William M. Holland became the Principal, but resigned in a few months, having received an appointment as a Professor in Washington College, Hartford, Connecticut. David Mack was his successor in the Winter of 1831-32, who resigned from ill health in 1835. The school was very flourishing during his superintendence. Mrs. Elizabeth Dorr was at this time the teacher of the young ladies' department, a lady of superior qualifications for the situation, and who gave much satisfaction. Henry W. Lee, now Bishop of Iowa, was also an assistant in the English branches dur ing a part of the time of Mr. Mack's charge of the school. Isaac N. Stoddard succeeded Mr. Mack in 1835, resigning in the Spring of 1837. In 1837, June, John V. Beane became Principal, which of fice he held for eight years. During the whole of this period Miss Abby Osgood was the teacher of the young ladies' department — a lady highly qual ified for the office, and much esteemed by her pu-' pils as well as by the patroms of the school. Dur ing a short period at the close of Mr. Beane's charge, the school was confined to the tuition of 330 young ladies alone. In October, 1845, Mr. Beane resigned his trust, and was succeeded by Simon Barrows, who resigned in June, 1846. The Acad emy was then taken for one year by Misses Caro line and Deborah Weston, accomplished and suc cessful teachers. William P. Atkinson, a graduate of Harvard University, was their assistant in the classical department. In the Summer of 1847, the Trustees invited Abner J. Phipps, at the time and for several years previously a teacher in Phillips Academy, Andover, to become Principal, who con tinued at the head of both departments until their separation in 1855, when the male department was continued to him, and the female to Edward A. H. Allen. During the eight years the number of pupils was at times very large for this school ; at one term there were one hundred and four pupils, and the average number for the thirty-two quarters was sixty-eight. Mr. Phipps is a gentleman highly qualified for a teacher of youth, possessing that rare quality, the power of maintaining good disci pline with mildness, and of inspiring in his pupils a love for their studies. He is a graduate of Dart mouth College, N. H, and is one of the Board of Overseers of Harvard University. The male department of the Academy is now under the charge of Thomas Prentiss Allen, a grad uate of Harvard University, and a gentleman of the most enlightened views in the education of youth. The female department has been removed to the commodious and substantial building of brick, erected by the Trustees of the Friends' Academy 331 in 1856, upon Morgan street, of which Edward Augustus Holyoke Allen is the Principal, and Misses Sophia Shepherd and Elvira Johnson, as sistants, all teachers of excellent attainments, and the school is in a flourishing state. The price of tuition to these schools, as well as the private clas sical school, now under the charge of Mr. Phipps, is one hundred dollars per annum, and the number of scholars limited. For a large portion of the statistics contained herein, I am under obligations to the last-named gentleman. Doctor Alexander Read, a physician of high standing, and much respected for his moral excel lence, was born at Milford July 10th, 1786, and died at his house, corner of County and Union streets, Nov. 20th, 1849, aged 63 years. Doctor Silas Tompkins, a graduate of Brown University, was born in Little Compton, R. I., and died in New Bedford Dec. 21st, 185.3, aged fifty-four years. " Col. Samuel Willis, Esq.," a man of consider able note in the early history of Dartmouth, was born in Bridgewater in the year 1688, and died in Dartmouth Oct. 3d, 1763, in the 76th year of his age. His house stood upon the spot now occupied by the mansion of the late John Avery Parker, County street. " Hon. Walter Spooner, Esq.," an active and in fluential man of his day, during the period of the Revolution, who was also at one time Chief Jus tice pf the Court of Common Pleas for the County 332 of Bristol, died Oct, 26, 1803, in his 81st year. His residence was at " tbe old Spooner place," Long Plain. He was twice an Elector of President : in 1789 for Bristol and Dukes, and in 1800 for the " first southern district." Edward Pope, Esq., also a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Bristol, and subsequently a Collector for this district, a man of much ability and worth, died at his house on Main street June 10th, 1818, aged 78 years. I shall be able only to give a list of the names of the later members of this profession, merely ob serving that among them are several men of dis tinction and legal acumen : * Thomas Hammond ; * Rhodolpbus H. Williams ; John Mason Williams, late chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, now a resident of New Bedford ; *John Nye ; t Lemuel Williams ; * Timothy G. Coffin ; f Charles H. Warren, late Judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; | Nathaniel S. Spooner, first Judge of the Police Court. ACT OF THE TOAVN OF DARTMOUTH IN RELATION TO BRITISH TAXATION, 1774. "At a town meeting legally warned and held at the town house in Dartmouth the 18th day of July A. D. 1774, The Honhle Walter Spooner, Esq., chosen Mod erator for sa meeting. Voted to act on the warrant for calling this meeting. * Deceased. t Living, but not residents of New Bedford at the present time. 333 Voted that the Honble Walter Spooner, Esqr, Benjamin Akin, Esqr, Will™ Davis, William Tall man, Major Ebenezer Willis, Jirah Willis, Seth Pope, Seth Hathaway andHannaniah Cornish be. a committee to prepare and draw up what they shall think most proper relating to sd warrant, and make report to this meeting for the town's consideration as soon as they conveniently can. Voted to adjourn to three of the clock this afternoon. The town meet according to adjournment, the above committee agreeable to order made the fol lowing Report, which was voted by the Town. Voted, that we are grieved at being necessitated to act a part which at first view appears unfriendly with respect our manufacturing Brethren and friends in Great Britian & Ireland. But we trust we shall readily be excused by them when they consider that this part of our conduct is wholly de signed & in our judgment will have the greatest tendency of any thing in our power to save both them and us from Bondage and Slavery, for upon Mature consideration we Judge the several late unconstitutional acts of the British Parliament have a direct tendency to destroy the harmony which has subsisted among all the British subjects and to entirely abolish the English Constitution and form of Government, and therefore as the most probable means to prevent those Destructive Pur poses we unite with our American Brethren And Resolve, that we will not purchase any goods man ufactured in Great Britain and Ireland which shall be imported from thence after this day, that we will not purchase any goods of any hawker orped- ler, that we will not purchase any foreign teas whatever, that we will not export any flax seed to any foreign market, that we do acquiesce in the Nature and necessity of of Raising our proportion of Money to pay the Congress and to raise the sum by subscription, and that these resolves do remain 0,^ 334 in force so long as the present grievous acts of the British Parliament remain unrepealed or until this town shall see fit to alter or revoke the said resolves, and that the town Clerk transcribe a fair copy of these proceedings for the Committee of Correspond ence this Day chosen in order for a publication. Also voted that Benjamin Akin, Esqr, Messrs. Jireh Willis, William Davis, William Tallman, Seth Pope, Hannaniah Cornish and Jireh Swift, JQn" The rest is wanting. These records are in a very mutilated condition. Owing to the vicinity of the sea, the climate of New Bedford is less subject to the extremes of heat and cold, compared with places in the same latitude in the interior, and for healthfulness is probably unsurpassed by any section of New England. So far as my own observation has been made, I know of no particular disease as being peculiar to our vicinity; and of late years, the number of cases of pulmonary consumption appears to be very small. Epidemics are rare; and we have never suffered from any of the more contagious or malignant disorders. Seated upon ground that gently descends to the river, great natural advan tages are afforded for drainage, and this, with a good attention to neatness on the part of our municipal authorities, renders New Bedford prob ably one of the healthiest and most agreeable cities for a residence in the land. Cases of extreme longevity are not infrequent, and mortality among the youth of either sex by no means great. The thermometer rarely falls below zero during the Winter, or rises above eighty degrees in Summer. s 335 I have said that New Bedford is sometimes called by strangers the "city of palaces," and truly the many elegant mansions in the city, particularly on County street, as well as in the environs, fairly entitle it to such a distinction. It would be an invidious task to particularize those which the writer might prefer, and I shall therefore dispense with any further remarks than those contained in the tenth chapter. Among the public buildings we have several valuable edifices more or less open to criticism in their architectural character. The Unitarian Church, built of native granite, is probably the finest specimen of architecture in New Bedford, its defect being the want of length for its other proportions — its beauties many. It was built in the years 1837-38, at the cost of $40,000, inclusive of the land on which it is situate. The City Hall, also of native granite, and the Custom-House and Post-Office building, also of the same material, are handsome and substantial edifices. The former was built in the years 1838-39, at the cost, inclusive of land, of $60,000, and the latter in the year 1836, at the cost of $31,740, inclusive of land. The house of the North Congregational society is a plain but agreeable edifice, also of native granite, built in the year 1836, at the cost, inclusive of the land, of $33,150. The other houses for relig ious worship are of wood, with the exception of that of the Society of Friends, on Spring street, which is of brick, a notice of which I have before given. 336 A substantial edifice of brick, on the Academy lot, County street, is now being erected by the Elm-street Methodist society, which bids fair to be an ornament in the way of church architecture to the city. The corner-stone was laid May 29th, 1858. The new City Library building is a plain but elegant structure of brick, the corner-stone of which was laid Aug. 28th, 1856; and the library was opened to the public Nov. 9th, 1857. The cost of this building, with the lot upon which it is situate, was $45,000. Although a liberal appropriation is annually made by our city for the repairs of our roads and streets, still the great object, viz., well graded and hard surfaces, secure from dust during the summer and dry weather generally, as well as freedom from mud and water after rains and the coming out of the frost in the Spring, does not -appear to be effected ; btit, on the contrary, by the accumulation of loam and other material, many of our public streets and high-roads are really in a worse condition than they were formerly. Now it seems highly important for the public that this whole matter of roads should be investigated, and the cause of our failure ascertained. The usual reply to any query upon this subject is, " the want of gravel." This, however, is not the real difficulty. Gravel is un doubtedly scarce in this vicinity, but this article is by no means the best material for the surface of our streets and roads, as has been satisfactorily proved by the most accurate observers and writers 337 upon this subject. We have plodded long enough through the combination of dirt and gravel, so heavy in summer and miry in winter, to satisfy any common observer that something more is necessary. A thorough system of drainage is of primary importance, aud all unnecessary accumu lation of dirt and gravel removed; a grade to the road in the most exact and thorough manner, and as a surface, the use of a material with which a bountiful nature has so plentifully supplied us, the best material ever yet discovered for making a smooth and appropriate surface for roads at all seasons and all weather, whether wet or dry, — the granite rocks and boulders which now so encumber the whole face of the county, to the great discom fort of the agriculturist. These, broken up into pieces from six to eight ounces each, and strewn upon the properly prepared and graded surface of our roads and streets, and thoroughly rolled in, would give us such roads as we need. This system of road-making has been thoroughly tried and proved for many years in England and other parts of Great Britain, as well as in the vicinity of some of our own principal cities. The subject of road-making has received the attention of many scientific men, particularly in England. To this subject the talented and scientific scholar, Richard Lovell Edgeworth, the father of Maria Edgeworth, contributed many valuable ideas in the latter part of the last century; and during the present, the treatises of McAdam, Stephenson, Telford, Patterson, and others, have brought the 338 matter to such practical results, that England and other parts of the United Kingdom, formerly noted for muddy and wretched roads, rendering travelling in carriages almost impossible, are now celebrated for their beautiful and durable public thoroughfares and county roads. Let us not be discouraged on account of our severe frost ; this was one of the difficulties to be contended with in Great Britain, particularly in Scotland and the north of England, but it has all been surmounted ; and truly we are not a people to surrender to any ordinary obstacle; a little more exercise of skill and science combined will conquer. Let us not be understood as fault-finding ; this is not our object. We believe that those engaged in the care and labor upon our roads have honestly endeavored to do their best for the public ; but it can hardly be exp'ected that a superintendent of highways or a mayor, however respectable and generally well-informed, without knowledge . and experience, should be able to cope with an operation which has required years of patient and laborious study and experiment to produce a system that may be relied upon. We may at some future time enter more into the detail of this subject; but our present object is principally to call the attention of our fellow- citizens to the importance of a thorough reform in our plan of operations upon our streets and roads. And to this end we would suggest that, both as a matter of economy and comfort as well as of taste, instead of leaving the annual expenditures to an 339 inexperienced person, a well-educated and scientific man be chosen for the especial superintendence of this matter, whose salary would be more than saved — ay, many times over — by well-digested and systematic operations. A correspondence upon this subject with the authorities of Boston, Cambridge, and other places which have succeeded in producing excellent roads upon the most unfa vorable bases, would undoubtedly result in good. 340 CHAPTER XXV. SEPARATE NOTICES OF WESTPORT, DARTMOUTH, AND FAIRHAVEN — FREEMEN OF DARTMOUTH, 1686 — WAR RANTS OF COLONEL SAMUEL WILLIS FOR THE IMPRESS MENT OF SOLDIERS— EXTRACTS FROM THE PLYMOUTH RECORDS RELATIVE TO THE EARLY AFFAIRS OF DART MOUTH—FURTHER REMINISCENCES OF NAUSHON — NOTE RELATING TO THE NORTHMEN'S VISIT TO THIS COAST — PRIZE BROUGHT INTO NEW BEDFORD BY LIEU TENANT THOMAS TRUXTON, 1776. Although a considerable portion of the following historical sketches is but a recapitulation of what I have given in the foregoing pages, the earlier history of New Bedford being necessarily so iden tified with that of the other parts of the old town ship of Dartmouth, I have thought that succinct notices of each of these towns would be valuable as affording an opportunity for ready reference. westport. Westport is the westernmost portion of the old township of Dartmouth, and was separately incor porated at the time of the. division in 1787. It is about thirteen miles in length, and about four miles average breadth. Its Indian name was Acoaxet, and it was early settled by a hardy and industrious body of yeomen. Agriculture is still the chief employment of the inhabitants, and there are a number of valuable farms in the township. 341 The Westport River is a stream of considerable importance, and is divided into two branches, the east and the west. The east river, or Noquochoke, is supplied by two small streams, which take their rise in the township of Fall River. From the " head of the river," so called, to its mouth, where it unites with the west branch and empties into Buzzard's Bay, is about eight miles. The west branch is much shorter, being about three miles and a half from its head to its entrance. The widest part of each branch is about one mile, but where they unite a little more than two miles. The west branch is more properly called the Acoaxet. There are two flourishing and considerable vil lages in this township, the one at the head of the Noquochoke or east branch of the river, and the other at Westport Point. The scenery at the Head of the River, as well as along the banks and at the " Point," is picturesque and agreeable. Westport has furnished a large number of the best seamen and ship-masters in the whaling service. At Westport Point there are eighteen ships and barks, one brig, and one schooner, amounting to 4233 tons. In 1837 there were but eight whaling vessels at this place, showing a considerable in crease during the past twenty years. In the town ship there are five meeting-houses: two for Friends, two for Baptists, and one for Methodists; also a society of Congregationalists. There is a cotton- mill in this town having 3072 spindles, which in 1837 consumed 300,000 pounds of cotton ; 270,000 342 pounds of cotton yarn were manufactured, the value of which was $67,500, Westport is bounded on the north by Fall River, on the east by Dartmouth, on the south by Buz zard's Bay, and on the west by Little Compton and Tiverton, R. I. The village at the head of the east river is eight miles from New Bedford. The amount of oil imported into Westport for the year ending Jan. 1st, 1858, was 4765 barrels of sperm and 396 barrels of whale. DARTMOUTH. With the ancient name, Dartmouth retained the largest proportion in the division of the old town ship in 1787, its length being about fourteen miles, with an average breadth of about five miles — its widest parts being its northern line, a little more than six miles, and from Mosher's Point, near Clark's Cove, in a line due west six miles. The original township of Dartmouth, as it stpod at the time of the division, was about thirteen miles square. The earliest record relative to Dartmouth bears date 2d March, 1640-41, when Governor Bradford surrendered to the freemen the patent of the Colony, which had been taken in his pame, re serving those tracts described in the instrument of assignment for the purchasers or old-corners. "Vide Hazard's Collections, volume 1, page 468. One of these tracts, the second named, was af terwards known as the old township of Dartmouth, and is thus described in "Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation," lately published by the 343 Massachusetts Historical Society from the long- lost manuscript of the author : " A place called Accoughcouss,* which lyeth in y" botome of yc bay adjoining to ye west side of Point Perill,| and two miles to ye westerne side of y° said river, to an other place called Acushente river, which entereth at yc westerne end of Nacata, J and two miles to ye eastward thereof, and to ex tend 8 myles up into to y" countrie." Page 373. For corroborative evidence, see Davis's Morton's Memorial, appendix, page 405. " During Philip's War a great part of Dartmouth was laid desolate and many of the inhabitants killed. The most of the Plymouth forces were ordered hither. In coming to Russell's garrison at Ponaganset or Aponaganset in this town, they met with a number of the enemy that had surrendered themselves prisoners on terms promised by Captain Eels of the garrison, and Ralph Earl, who persuaded them to come in by a friendly Indian whom he employed. It is to be regretted, however, that not withstanding the promises made by the above per sons to the Indians, they were by the superior au thorities carried away to Plymouth, 'then sold and transported out of the country, being about eight score persons.' That part of Dartmouth which was destroyed is about 5 miles south-west of New Bedford. The cellar of Russell's garrison is still to * Accoughcouss, also written Acukus, afterwards Acoaxet, the Indian name of the west part of Westport. t Now called Gooseberry Neck, the southernmost point of Westport. X West's Island, near the east side of Sconticut Neck, Fairhaven. Wassaroequin (Massasoit) in the year "1669, for £10 and another valuable and sufficient gratuity," sells to John Cook, of Akusenag, in Dartmouth, "one' whole island near the towne, called Nokatay." Drake' i History, fyc.page 200. 344 be seen. It is on the east bank of the Apponegan set inlet, near its head. It is stated that Indians had a fort on the opposite side of the river or inlet, and used to show themselves, and act all manner of mockery to aggravate the English, they being at more than a common gunshot off. It is related, however, that an Indian came out at one time, as usual, and exposing himself in a contemptuous manner, some one having an uncommonly long gun fired and put an end to bis mockery." Bar ker's Historical Collections, page 116. The agricultural interests of Dartmouth are con siderable. There are many valuable farms within its limits, and a general prosperity and thrift is characteristic of the people. The three principal settlements are the villages of Smith's Mills, Pada- naram, and Russell's Mills. At each place there is i post-office. In the township there are four meet- ng-houses for Friends, three for Baptists, one Con- ;p-egationalist, and 1 for Methodists. The popula tion of the town is about 4000. In 1837, there were 5 vessels, amounting to 1490 :onnage, and the amount of sperm oil imported was 74,000 gallons, and of whale oil 73,978 gallons, employing 129 hands. Ship-building is also car- ied on to a considerable extent. The manufacture )f salt is also considerable, and at this period, 1837, ;here were thirteen establishments for this business. 3n Jan. 1, 1858, Dartmouth had 10 ships and barks, imounting to 2807 tonnage. The amount of oil mported for the year preceding was 344 barrels sperm, 49 barrels whale, and 2110 pounds whale- 345 bone. Several of the citizens of Dartmouth, as well as Westport, are interested in the whale-fish ery and other business in New Bedford. The Pascamanset River, which rises at the north part of the township of New Bedford, flows through the centre of Dartmouth, and empties into Buz zard's Bay, between Slocum's and Smith's Necks, a distance of some fourteen miles. Dartmouth is bounded on the north by Fall River and Freetown, east by New Bedford, south and south-east by Buzzard's Bay. FAIRHAVEN. At the division of the old township of Dart mouth in 1787, New Bedford and Fairhaven formed the township of New Bedford, bearing the name of the latter. They were divided into sep arate townships in 1812. The settlement of the village of Fairhaven was coeval with that of New Bedford, 1764. It is said to have received its name from its pleasant situation, which more properly belongs to the north part of the village, known as Oxford, the ground being much higher, and the prospect from the houses consequently much more commanding. Fairhaven proper is really a pleas ant place ; but Oxford, upon the more elevated portion, is rarely surpassed for natural advantages. Fairhaven is thirteen miles in length, and about three and a half miles in breadth, lt is the eas ternmost part of the old township of Dartmouth. It is bounded on the north by Freetown and Rochester, east by Rochester and Mattapoisett, 346 south by Buzzard's Bay, and west by New Bed ford. Fairhaven is a place of considerable importance in the whale-fishery, and, with New London, ranks next to New Bedford in point of tonnage in this department of commerce. Her interests in the whale-fishery exceed considerably our ancient and much-respected neighbor, Nantucket, the pioneer of this great enterprise. " In 1837 Fairhaven had thirty-seven vessels employed in the whale-fishery, the tonnage of which was 11,564 tons. Sperm oil imported, 168,524 gallons; whale oil imported, 350,944 gal lons. Value of sperm oil, $144,178.56 ; value of whale oil, $152,780. Hands employed, 945. Cap ital invested in the same, $957,000. Whalebone, 101,554 pounds ; value of same, $25,312.86." For the year ending Jan. 1st, 1858, Fairhaven had forty-seven ships and barks and one schooner, amounting to 16,840 tonnage. Amount of oil imported during this year, 5500 barrels sperm, 17,417 barrels whale, and 103,200 pounds whale bone. " The names of the townsmen of Dartmouth who had taken the oath of fidelity or freemen's oath," March 24th, 1686: JOHN COOKE, JONATHAN RUSSELL. JOHN RUSSELL, Sen., JONATHAN DELINO, JOHN SMITH, THOMAS TABOR, SAMUEL JENE, Sen., SAMDEL CORNWELL, ARTHUR HATHAWAY, • JAMES SISSON, WILLIAM WOODE, JOHN SPOONER, JAMES SAMSON, NATHANIEL SOULL, JOHN SHERMAN, GEORGE SOULL, SETH POPE, JOHN JENE, JOSEPH TRIPP, ELIAZER SMITH* 347 RETURN BADCOCK, HOWLAND, WILLIAM SPOONER, JOHN EARLE, LETT1CE JENEY, RALPH EARLE, Jr., GEORGE CADMAN, STEPHEN PECKUM, JAMES TRIP, RALPH EARL, (son of William,) SAMUEL JENEY, Jr., WILLIAM MACOMBER, JOHN HATHAWAY, SAMUEL WILLCOCKS, JOSEPH SMITH, JAMES FRANKLIN, JOSEPH RUSSELL, SAMUEL SPOONER, HEZIKIAH SMITH, WILLIAM WOOD, DELIVERANCE SMITH, ANTHONY SAVORY. ¦ SHERMAN. "SSrtutoI sc Pursuant to his Excellency ye Governours War rant to me Directed' — you are hereby ordered forthwith to Impress for his majesty's service in the Frontier, Two able bodied effective men out of your Company of Militia; to be well armed — and see that you have them at the dwelling house of Stephen Shearmam in Dartmouth on Sunday the 27,h day of June instant at ten of ye clock in the forenoon — for which this shall be your Warrant and make due return with your Doings herein Given under my Hand & Seal at Dartmouth the 17th day of June A. D. 1746 SAML WILLIS Col0 To major Wm Richmond in his absence to Lieu* James Pierce in little Compton" "33ristol sc. Pursuant to his Excellency the Governours War rant to me Directed — You are hereby Required forthwith to Impress for His Majesty's service in the Eastern Frontier three able bodied effective men out of your company of Militia; and see that you have them at yc dwelling House of Lieu* Lot Strange in Freetown on Wednesday ye 30th of July Instant at ten of the clock in the forenoon — For which this shall be your sufficient Warrant — make due Return with your doings herein unto myself or Order — Given under my Hand & Seal at Dartmouth the 17lh day of July A. D. 1746. SAML WILLIS Col° 348 P. S. the Souldiers to be raised, and that were to meet at Mr Salsbury's, you are to bring with you at time and place above mentioned — there with them must be had. To Majr Richmond or in his absence to his Lieu*." The superscription is as follows: " On his Majesty's Service Majr Wm Richmond In Little Compton if absent to his Lieutenant" ADDITIONAL EXTRACTS FROM THE PLYMOUTH COLONY RECORDS. In the bill of rates of the several towns, October 5, 1652, Dartmouth is assessed £2. Vide Court Orders, vol. 3, page 19. " Town officers of Acushnet: 1662, Samuel Jen ney; 1663, William Spooner; 1664, James Shaw; 1665, Daniel Wilcockes; 1666, William Palmer." ,,1667. Celect Men, Dartmouth: John RusseU, Samuel Hickes, Arthur Hatheway." Court Orders, vol. 4, page 150. "1667, October 30. In reference to a contro- uersy between the English and the Indians about running the line of the bounds of Dartmouth, the Court have ordered that in case Robert Hazard, of Rhode Island, may be procured, that he run the line with the inspection of such as shall be approved both by the English of the said town and the In dians; but in case he cannot be procured, that John Cobb, of Taunton, shall run the said line, and that this shall be the final end of this controversy, and that the charge of the business shall be borne by the said town." Court Orders, vol. A-,page 168. "1668, June 3. The Court haveing taken into consideration the controversy att Dartmouth, aris- 349 ing from a diversity of expressing the eastermost bounds of Dartmouth, and finding upon serch of the first ancient record that the bounds was to take place from the river and two miles eastward; but this Court alowes of three miles eastward, and doth mind the river and not the bay, to take the three miles from ; and the tree that hath bine their bound soe long, and hath bin proved, the Court sees no reason but you ought to rest satisfied in." Court Orders, vol. 4, page 185. "OWNERSHIP OF NAUSHON ISLAND. - In 1641, the agent of Lord Stirling granted the island to Thomas Mayhew of Martha's Vineyard. This grant was ratified under a commission from the Duke of York, by Francis Lovelace, Governor- General of New York, in 1671. Mayhew also bought out the Indian titles, and held it till 1682, when it was bought by Wait Winthrop, grandson of the first Governor of Massachusetts. It con tinued in the Winthrop family until 1730, when it was conveyed by John Winthrop, son of Wait, to James Bowdoin, who sold one third part of the property to some of the Lechmere family. Of the other two thirds, one half was set off after his death to his son William, and the other half to his son James, afterwards Lieutenant Governor Bow doin. In 1761, the Lechmeres conveyed by deed one half of their third to James Bowdoin, aforesaid; and his brother William became proprietor of the other half by foreclosure of a mortgage. James Bowdoin, the Governor's son, inherited one half of the island from his father, and came into pos session of the other half by marriage with his cousin Sarah, the daughter and only child of his uncle William. By him the property was left to his nephew James, the son of Sir John and Lady Temple, upon condition of his taking the name of Bowdoki. Lady Temple was Governor James 350 daughter. This was the late James Temple Bowdoin. After his death, October 31st, 1842, the Trustees of Bowdoin College instituted a suit at law, claiming the property, as residuary devisee under the will of the uncle James Bow doin, to the exclusion of James Temple Bowdoin's only son, James, to whom the property was to de scend by the terms of that will. The ground of the claim by Bowdoin College involved the question of citizenship of the son, the intentions of the uncle, and sundry nice points of law. An attempt on the part of the College to take forcible possession of a valuable property on Beacon street, Boston, similarly situated with that pf the island, was defeated by the agent of Mr. Bowdoin sending a body of men at daylight, who tore down the shed erected on the ground by the College, carted off the materials, and erected a carpenter's shop, and put a tenant therein on behalf of Mr. Bowdoin. Eminent counsel were employed on both sides : Daniel Webster, Franklin Dexter, Mr. Paine, Aylwin, and Clifford, of New Bedford, pn the part of Mr. Bowdoin ; and Jeremiah Mason, Rufus Choafe, Charles G. Loring, Benjamin F. Hallett, P. W. Chandler, and B. R. Curtis, for the College. The case was expected to come on at the November court in Boston, but on the 28th of September, 1843, a compromise was agreed upon by the parties, whereby James Bowdoin was tp receive seven tenths (7 lOths) and the College three tenths (3 lOths) of both properties. Both parties assented to the sale of Naushon Island, with all the stock and other personal property thereon, to William Sturgis, Esq., for the sum of twenty thou sand dollars. The purchase was made for William W. Swain, of New Bedford, and John M. Forbes, of Boston, who thereby became joint proprietors of the island property. It was through the agency of Mr. Sturgis that the compromise between the par- 351 ties was effected, and the object he had in view in attempting it was to get possession of the island for the present proprietors, which he happily ac complished." " Sir John Temple, alluded to in the foregoing record, was English Consul-General for the United States, and died in New York in 1798. The old est son, Sir Grenville Temple, resided in England. James Temple Bowdoin was his brother. The late Mrs. Winthrop, wife of Lieutenant-Governor Win throp, and mother of Robert C. Winthrop, and Mrs. Palmer, of New York, were his sisters, and daughters of Sir John and Lady Temple. The father of Governor James Bowdoin was the first owner of Naushon after the Winthrop family. Naushon was owned by the Mayhew family from 1641 to 1682, 41 years ; by the Winthrop family, from 1682 to 1730, 48 years ; by the Bowdoin fam ily, from 1730 to 1843, 113 years." Naushon Rec ords, by William W. Swain. . Although the first part of the following mem oranda do not particularly belong to the subject, yet as they were a portion of the record as I received it, and interesting as a reminiscence, I have made use of them. MEMORANDUMS OF WAIT WINTHROp's SON JOHN, RELATING TO NAUSHON. "Since I came to years of understanding, I have taken a little notice of ye affairs of ye world, and have found it to be in a most distracted posture, full of confusion. Not a man or any thing constant or true. I am now this present year 1702, twenty one years old, and in all my life hitherto have never yet found a true friend, one y' I could trust. Even my very relations have proved false and betrayed me. When I reflect upon my mispent 352 time and think how long I have lived, and what little I have done for yc servis of X* I mourn and lye low in the dust before the Lord my creator. Lord if thy majty wilt vouchsafe to grant me Grace and enable me, I will promise to serve ye my Re deemer all y" remaining days of my Pilgrimage. Deus Secundat." " Boston August 21. 1702. Reacht Mr Cushins that night. Next day being Saturday we went as far as Plymouth, where we kept ye Sabbath. Mr Little ye minister of ye town preacht. Monday morning we got out from Plymouth, went to Dartmouth, lodged at Capt. Pope's,* next day we rid round to moniment bay came to a little farm house where we lay at night. Supt upon venison &c. Wednesday morning it rained hard with thunder. Afternoon it cleared up. We went on our journey and got to succonessetf where we lodged y* night. Next morning went over to ye Island in a caiioe. Sept ye 12. 1702. The house on the east end of Elizabeth's Island was raised. Ye Indians say before ye English came to America, y" was a white whale kept in ye great pond at ye west end of Kataimuk island. Mr Stanton's powow at Stonington before y° English inhabited Coneticottye Indians could raise upon Fisher's Island 600 fighting men out of y" dwellers at y" Island. Tarpolin Cove on Elizabeth's Island September 1702. Here arrived an English ship from Nevis ye master whereof sent my Father a dozen and half of oranges. Y° Indians relate a story y* a Powow wh. livd at Moniment long before ye English came over to * Captain Seth Pope, died March 17th, 1727, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. t Falmouth. 353 ye nothun America meting with some affront from y° Indians y* inhabited Naushauna island1 — Out of revenge got ye Devell to throw over a Rattle snake wh. increased much and soon after a squaw was bit by one. Ye natives of ye Elizabeth Island say y* ye Devell was making a stone bridge over from y° main to Nanamesst Island and while he was rowling ye stones and placing of ym under water, a crab cathed him by ye fingers with wh. he snathed up his hand and flung it towards Nantucket and y° crabs breed there ever since. Ye iner bark of ye root of ye taullest baberry bush steeped in water. Ye Indians on ye Elizabeths Island cures ye bloody flux with. Quere Whether if steeped in wine it would not be better. Ye Dutch ship that came into y° harbour of New London before New England was inhabited A ship to saile under water, also through the air." Naushon Island Records. The following interesting reminiscence is also taken from the same source : "Mrs. Elizabeth Bowdoin, her husband being in a very weak state, addresses a letter from Dorches ter, June 4th, 1775, to the Committee of Safety, enclosing a deposition signed by Elisha Nye, inn- holder at Tarpaulin Cove, on Naushon Islaud, com plaining of depredations committed on the stock by Capt. Lindsay, of the English sloop-of-war Falkland, and suggesting ' that if about one hun dred men posted on that island, it would be a sufficient force to protect the inhabitants and also the stock of cattle and sheep, which are very considerable, and which have hitherto furnished divers parts of this colony with fat sheep and cattle for provisions, and particularly with large quantities of wool for our home manufacturers. 354 Elisha Nye makes out the following estimate of the value of the articles taken by Capt. Lindsay from Tarpaulin Cove : £ s. d. 216 0 8 60 2 8 8 00 8 00 4 8 calves (4 months old,) 4 quarters veal sold, 1 gun, taken out of my house by the Dr., of great value, Riding my horse, and use of my well, 1410 0 May 31, 1775. Sworn to before me. THOMAS SMITH, Jun., Juse Peace, Barnstable. I beg leave to make this representation, that you may take such measures as your wisdom shall dictate ; and am, most respectfully in Mr. Bow- doin's behalf, who is part owner of one of said islands, Gent™, yr mo. ob* Hurnb" Serv*. ELIZABETH BOWDOIN. To the Hon. Committee of Safety.' " Nashawena was also formerly owned by the Winthrops, and is mentioned in the first series of the Historical Society's Collections, volume 1, page 202, as " Winthrop's Island." Pasque was also called " Tucker's Island," — owned in 1843 by Joseph and Benjamin Tucker. RECOLLECTIONS OF NAUSHON, BY SAMUEL ROBINSON. " You ask me to tell you what I know of the Island of Naushon and its dependencies. I am afraid you have called too late : I am an old worn- out man ; the 16th day of July next, should I live till that time, I shall be 83 years of age ; my mem ory is gone; my comforts have been but few; by the sweat of my brow have I earned my bread all my days; and in looking back, so far as dates are con cerned, I find but little which would tend to fix or impress them on my mind. 355 You ask me on what part of the island the first house was built, and the year when. It is my im pression that the farm-house is the oldest house now on the island. It must have been built about ninety years ago. Zephaniah Robinson was the first ten ant; he Avas my uncle. He was succeeded by his son Isaac Robinson, who occupied it for a short time, when his father again resumed it and occu pied it until he removed from the island to Kenne bec, where he died. This must have been in the year 1800. I succeeded him in the occupancy, and continued in it for five years. • Soon after leaving the farm-house I removed from the island, which was on the 15th of January, 1806. The Nonamesset house was first built about the year 1769. It was built for my father, Paul Rob inson. He moved from Waquoit when I was about one year old, and took possession of it. How long my father lived there I cannot now tell; all that I can say is, that he lived and died there, and we carried his body across to Woods Hole, where he was buried. Oliver Grinnell succeeded my father in the occupancy of Nonamesset. Tarpau lin Cove house was built on the site of an old house, which was torn down to make way for it the year after peace, say in 1784. I was then about twenty-five years old. I assisted in the building, helped make and burn the bricks and burned the lime, also cut and carted the timber, and enough of it there is in the frame. I candidly believe there is as much as in three houses which they build at the present day. John Nye first lived in it; after him came Shadrach Robinson, and then I believe some tenants from the Vineyard, whose names I cannot now recollect. West-end house (Robinson's Hole) is a very old building. I cannot recall to my mind anything which will fix the date of its building. It was occupied by one William Robinson. On- katonka house was built about the year 1800; it was first occupied by Seth Robinson. 356 I lived with my father on Nonamesset when the mansion-house was built; it must have been over thirty years ago. It was not occupied by any body during my day except Governor Bowdoin and his family during their visits to the island. The Governor died in that house. I remember it well. Everything was left in the house precisely as they were when the old man died, his wife and family immediately leaving it, and not stopping to take care of a single thing; the knives and forks resting on the shelves, the beds and bedding dirty, and in great confusipn, family stores and provis ions left without care. The house remained in this situation for seven or eight years unmolested, when Joseph Parker, of Woods Hole, was author ized to go and take out part of the furniture, such as beds and bedding, &c. I remember very well going with him to New Bedford, and carrying them in the vessel which was called the old Maria packet. To the westward of Tarpaulin Cove, about two miles, there used to stand an old house. It was occupied by my grandfather, William Robinson, when I was a boy;- it was a very old house then. It was afterwards occupied by William Butler. The cottage was built, I believe, by Solomon Towne, for the convenience of the wood-choppers. My wife's father, Nathan Weeks, lived at the head of Tarpaulin Cove harbor, in a little small house built in the true log-cabin style. It was torn down many years ago, but I shall never forget the old house. It was there that I felt 'love's young dreams.' I did all my courting in that rude but com fortable old house, and was there married fifty-five years ago. My father-in-law afterwards moved to Chilmark, where he went the way of all living. There was a house standing to the westward of the French watering-place, and occupied formerly by Elnathan Rowley ; after he left, it was torn down. On the east side of Tarpaulin Cove, there for merly stood an old house which was occupied by 357 Zacheus Lambert; he left it, and it was afterwards burnt down by the British in sport during the Rev olutionary War. During that war, there were about two hundred British soldiers stationed at Naushon, say at Tarpaulin Cove; they were there twelve or fourteen months. They built a fort on the east side of the harbor, the remains of which are still to be seen. They used to barrack in the old house which stood where the present Tarpau lin Cove house now stands. There are a great many stories connected with that war which history will never tell, and which will die with the few survivors who witnessed that terrible but glorious struggle. It was during that war the British came down the bay, with eighteen sail of transports and other vessels, and anchored near the Weepeckets. They then landed about five hundred men and demanded all the stock there was on the island. Remon strance and resistance were useless. They marched to the eastern part of the island, and separating, they commenced driving the stock to the westward as far as Robinson's Hole, where they took it in their boats and carried it on board. As near as I re member, they topk pff at this time fourteen hun dred sheep, thirty-five head of cattle, and twenty- five horses. This was stripping the island with a vengeance, but this was not all. Some time after a privateer sloop with two tenders came and an chored in Hadley's harbor. I then resided, I remem ber, with my father, at Nonamesset. There were remaining of the former stock about sixteen cows, seventy or eighty sheep, and one yoke of oxen. The captain of the privateer sent his boat on shore, and the officer, after looking round awhile at the stock, spied some calves which we had at Nona messet. He gave us orders to dress him four and send them on board in the morning; this we did and carried them on board as he directed, which he paid us for. My father went with me on board of 358 the privateer; and after paying for the calves he said to my father, 'I shall take what sheep yon have got on the island. I see,' he says, 'that these are all yarded ; and now, my friend, as the wool is of no use to me, you may go on shore and com mence shearing them, [for it was in the Spring of the year,] and I shall attend to getting them on board; and further,' says he, 'if you are faithful in send ing all the sheep on board, I will leave the cows and oxen with you.' I very well remember how my old father worked to save the wool, and I carted them down to the boats the next day, with a sol dier marching each side of me. I am very sorry I cannot remember the agents' names, and the time each had charge of the prop erty. John Reed, of Boston, was agent as long ago as I can remember. He, I believe, was suc ceeded by a man by the name of Bullard. After Bullard came William Putnam; this must have been about the year 1794. Putnam remained as agent until 1806 or 1807. I cannot tell who suc ceeded. One Callant was agent for a time since then ; also a man by the name of Solomon Towne. But I find the more I attempt tp fix my mind upon any one point the more confused my ideas grow. Old age must be my excuse, however. SAMUEL ROBINSON. Nantucket, Jan. 28, 1841." The following account of New Bedford more than sixty years since, is taken from Morse's Gazetteer, published in 1797 : " New Bedford, a post-town and port of entry in Bristol County, Massachusetts, situated on a small bay which sets up north from Buzzard's Bay, fifty-eight miles south of Boston. The township was incorporated in 1787, and is thirteen miles in length and four in breadth; bounded east 359 by Rochester, west by Dartmouth, of which it was originally a part, and south by Buzzard's Bay. Acushnutt was the Indian name of New Bedford; and the small river of that name, discovered by Gosnold in 1602, runs from north to south through the township, and divides the villages of Oxford and Fairhaven from Bedford village. A company was incorporated in 1796 for building a bridge across the river. From the head tb the mouth of the river is seven or eight miles. Fairhaven and Bedford villages are a mile apart, and a ferry con stantly attended is established between them. Since my eleventh chapter went to press, I have discovered an editorial statement in .the American Antiquities, published at Copenhagen; by which it would appear that the Northmen erected dwelling- houses on this coast, at Mount Hope, R. I. ; but as the history of the visit of the Northmen is involved in much obscurity, and this statement simply edi torial, it can hardly invalidate the usual conclusion, that the little fort and store house built by Gosnold and his companions were the first buildings erected by the Europeans upon this continent, ADDENDA TO THE REVOLUTIONARY REMINISCENCES. " Early in 1776, Thomas Truxton sailed as lieu tenant in the private armed ship the Congress. Captures were made off Havana ; and of one of the prizes he took the command, and brought her to New Bedford." Thomas Truxton died in Philadelphia May 5th, 1822, aged 67 years. He was therefore at this time (1776) but 21 years bf age. 360 CHAPTER XXVI. INCORPORATION ACT OF NEW BEDFORD AND FAIRHAVEN AS A TOWNSHIP, 1787— ACT OF SEPARATION OF NEW BEDFORD AND FAIRHAVEN, 1812— ORTHOGRAPHY OF ACUSHNET— LIST OF THE LIGHT-HOUSES IN BUZZARD'S BAY — OLD ADVERTISEMENT RELATING TO THE NEW BEDFORD BRIDGE, FROM THE COLUMBIAN COURIER, 1798 —FLRST WHALING VOYAGE TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN FROM NANTUCKET— NOTICE OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM CLAGHORN— CAPTAIN EDMUND GARDNER'S ACCOUNT OF A PORTION OF HIS SEA FARING LIFE— THE PROGRESS OF NEW BEDFORD— STATISTICS OF THE WHALE-FISHERY. The ancient domains of the pld township of Dart mouth were first disturbed in 1787, by its division into three separate parts, viz., Westport, Dartmouth, and New Bedford, the latter including the present township of Fairhaven, a division between which, as will be seen by the second act, took place in 1812. THE INCORPORATION OF NEW BEDFORD AND FAIR HAVEN AS A TOWNSHIP, 1787. " Commontotaltl) of i8assacfitisttt». In the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hnndred and Eighty-Seven. An Act for incorporating the easterly part of the Town of Dartmouth, in the County of Bristol, into a seperate Town by the name of New Bed ford. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep resentatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the lands hereaf ter described, to wit, beginning at a bridge lying 361 across a stream that runs through the beach by a place called Clark's Cove; thence running northerly as the main branch of the stream runs, till it comes to a little bridge lying across the County road, at the foot of a hill about twenty rods to the east ward of the dwelling-house where James Peck ham, deceased, last dwelt; thence northerly, on a straight line, to Nathaniel Spooner's Sawmill; from thence northerly, on the west side of Bolton's Cedar swamp, till it comes to the dividing line between Dartmouth and Freetown, near the place called Aaron's causeway; thence east twenty-two degrees and one half north, in the dividing line between said towns, to a rock, known by the name of peaked rock ; thence southerly, by the Country road that leads from Dartmouth to Boston, one hundred and eight rods, to the south-west corner of Ebenezer Lewis' homestead farm; thence east about three hundred rods, in the dividing line between Roch ester and Dartmouth, to a large white pine tree, marked on three sides; thence south six degrees and one half east, in the dividing line between Dartmouth and Rochester, to a heap of stones by the Sea; thence westerly, to the first mentioned bounds; with all the islands heretofore known to be a part of Acquishnet village, with the inhabi tants dwelling on the lands above described, be, and they are hereby incorporated into a town by the name of New Bedford: and the said town is hereby invested with all the powers, priviliges and immunities to which towns within this Common wealth are or may be entitled, agreeable to the Constitution and laws of the said Commonwealth. Provided, nevertheless, and be it further enacted, That any of the inhabitants now dwelling on the above-described lands, who are or may be still desirous of belonging to the town of Dartmouth, shall, at any time within two years from the passing of this act, by returning their names into the 362 Secretary's office, and signifying their desire of belonging to said Dartmouth, have that priviledge; and shall, with their polls and estates, belong to, and be a part of the said town of Dartmouth ; they paying their proportion of all taxes which shall have been laid on the said village of Acquishnet, or town of New Bedford, previously to their thus returning their names, as they would by law have been holden to pay, had they continued and been a part of the town of New Bedford. Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That ,the inhabitants of the said town of New Bedford shall pay all the arrears of taxes which have been assessed upon them, and their proportionable part of what remains unpaid of the beef tax, so called, together with their proportion of all debts that are now due from the said town of Dartmouth; and shall support their own poor. Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the public lands, and the buildings standing thereon, also the town's stock of powder, and other town's property, shall be estimated and divided in the same proportion that each Village paid in the last State-Tax by Committees to be appointed for that purpose, at their annual town-meeting in March or April next. And whatever sum shall be found due to, the town of Dartmouth, in conse quence of the work-house standing within the line of New Bedford, as shall be reported by said Committees, the inhabitants of said New Bedford shall pay to said town of Dartmouth. And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Elisha May, Esqv., be, and he is hereby em powered, to issue his warrant directed to some principal inhabitant, requiring him to warn and give notice to the inhabitants of the said town of New Bedford to assemble and meet at some suitable place in said town, to chopse all such town-officers as towns are required to choose at •363 their annual town-meetings, in the month of March or April, annually. In the House of Representatives, 1 February 22d, 1787. j This bill, having had three several Readings, passed to be Enacted. ARTEMAS WARD, Speaker. In Senate, February 23d, 1787. This bill having had two several readings passed to be enacted. SAMUEL PHILLIPS, Prs*. By the Governour. Approved. JAMES BOWDOIN. A true Copy. Attest, JOHN AVERY, Jun r., Secretary." SEPARATION OF NEW BEDFORD AND FAIRHAVEN, 1812. " ffiomtnontoealt!) of iaassacjusetts. An Act to establish the Town of Fair Haven. Sect. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the easterly part of New Bedford, in the County of Bristol, as de scribed within the following bounds, with the inhab itants thereon, be, and they are hereby incorporated into a seperate town by the name of Fairhaven, viz.: beginning at the mouth of Accu sh net river ; thence northerly, by sd river, untill it comes to the north side of a bridge at the head of sd river; thence westerly, by the north side of the highway, to Swift's Corner, (so called ;) thence northerly, by the easterly side of the highway which leads to Rounsevill's furnace, until it comes to Freetown line; thence easterly, by the line of sa Freetown, till it comes to peaked rock, (so called,) in the north east corner of the town of New Bedford ; thence southerly, by Rochester line, till it comes to Buz zard's Bay ; thence, by said sd Bay, to the first men- 364. tioned bpund. And the sd Town of Fairhaven is hereby vested with all the powers, priviledges, rights and immunities, and subject to all the duties and requisitions to which other towns are entitled and subjected by the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth. Sect. 2. Be it further enacted, That of all State and County Taxes which shall be levied and required of sd Towns previous to a new valuation, the sd town of Fairhaven shall pay three tenth parts thereof. Sect. 3. Be it further enacted, That all the ex penses arising for the support of the poor of said Town of New Bedford, with whom it is now chargeable, together with such poor as have removed out of sd Town prior to this Act of Incprppratipn, but whp may hereafter Lawfully return to said Town for support, shall be divided between the two Towns in proportion to the taxes which they are liable to pay, respectively, according to this act. Sect. 4. Be it further enacted, That John Hawes, Esq., be, and he is hereby authorized to Issue his warrant, directed to some suitable Inhab itant of Fairhaven, requiring him to notify and warn the Inhabitants thereof qualified to vote for Town pfficers, to meet at such convenient time and place as shall be expressed in his sd warrant, to choose such officers as Towns are by law author ized to choose in the months pf March cr April, annually. And that the sd Jphn Hawes, Esq., be, and he is hereby autherized and emppwered to preside at said meeting during the election of a Moderated, and tp exercise all the pcwers and do all the duties which Town- Clerks by Law have, and do perform in the elections of Moderators of Town meetings. EB. W. RIPLEY, Speaker. SAMUEL DANA, P* of the Senate. Council Chamber, 22d April, 1812. Approved. E. GERRY" 365 Note by John Pickens, Town Clerk of New Bedford : " No doubt the above date ought to be ' 22d February.' " acushnet. The orthography of the name of this river is very various as found in the old records : Acoos- net, Cushnet, Acushena, Accushnutt, Acushnett, Acushnet. The latter is now the usual mode of writing the word, and being the. most easily written, I have adopted it. The Indians, like the Greeks, used the aspirate, and it is probable that they called it Ha cushnet. The following are the names of the light-houses in Buzzard's Bay: Cuttyhunk, Dumpling Reck, Clark's Pcint, Palmer's Island, Ned's Point, fixed lights; and Bird Island, revolving. ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE COLUMBIAN COURIER. To Caleb Greene, Clerk of the Proprietors of New Bedford Bridge : WE, the subscribers, Proprietors of New Bedford Bridge, request thou wilt call a special meeting of said Proprietors, as soon as may be, to see if they will authorise the Committee or appoint another Committee with authority to proceed in building tbe Bridge and com- pleating the same. Also to hear what report their Committee may make relative to the business committed to them. Also to see what order they will give relative to those persons who are or may be delinquent in paying the sums assessed upon their re spective shares; and such other business as they may think proper to act upon when met. WILLIAM ROTCH, Jun., THOMAS ROTCH, THOMAS HAZARD, Jun., PRESERVED FISH, JOSEPH MAXFELD, PELEG HOWLAND, BENJAMIN HILL, ISAAC SHEARMAN, New Bedford, 12 mo. 24, 1798. EBENEZER PERRY. In pursuance of the above request, the Proprietors of New Bedford Bridge are hereby notified, that a special meeting of said Proprietors 366 will be held at the Friends' School house in this village the Eeventh day of next week, 1st mo. 5th, at 2 o'clock P. M., for the purpose mentioned in said request. CALEB GREENE, Proprietors' Clerk. New Bedford. 12 mo. 24, 1798. " Captain Paul Worth, in a new ship of 280 tons burthen, called the Beaver, sailed from Nantucket, on a whaling voyage in the Pacific Ocean, in the year 1791." " The ship was out 17 months, and was the first belonging to the island that returned from the Pa cific Ocean." Maty's History of Nantucket, p. 142. It is probable that the voyages of the Rebecca and the Beaver were nearly contemporary; but as the time of the sailing and returning of the Beaver is net given in the abeve-mentioned history, I have published the statement of the Rebecca's voyage as I received it, taken from the account-books of Joseph Russell & Sons.* Captain William Claghorn, a native of Martha's Vineyard, one of our earliest and most intelligent ship-masters, was probably the master of the sloop Betsey on her whaling vpyage, an accpunt pf which is given in the sixth chapter. The fcllowing elegy, written by the late Thaddeus Mayhew, of this city, is taken from a printed copy now in the possession of Mrs. Maxfeld, widow of the late Captain Patrick Maxfeld, now living in this city at an advanced age : An Elegy to the mempry pf Capt. William Clag- hprn, pf New Bedfprd ; whp died suddenly, in a * Since this was written, I have been informed that the ship Beaver, of Nantucket, sailed for the Pacific Ocean in the month of August 1791 , and returned February 3d, 1793. 367 fit of the Apoplexy, while on a visit to Boston, February 24, 1793. No lingering messenger of cruel fate, With slow advances, bade our sorrows wait; The Almighty Fiat, quick as tho't was heard, And sorrow's aspect o'er the world appear'd, No haughty despot's expiating blood, Who grac'd his triumphs with a purple flood; Nor heroes left upon the ensanguin'd plain, In death advent'rous, wakes the plaintive strain: Grief o'er the sound and on the music floats, The muse to Friendship pours her tearful notes, Suffus'd, o'erwhelmed in tears, with sad complaint. Commix'd with dust the active frame now lies. Nor unlamented social virtue dies ; Time's sable curtain's drawn — the hour is past — Nor Claghorn could withstand the conq'ring blast: To sooth his soul in agonizing death, No kindred friends beheld his yielding breath, So Heaven ordain'd at distance doom'd to die, And strangers honor'd with the parting sigh: By them in earth thy rev 'rend limbs were laid, Alas! by strangers thy sad rites were paid. But now the fatal tidings reach thine home. All join the Widow's and the Orphan's moan. A weeping hermit o'er the sudden bier Lo! Bedford drops the sympathetic tear, And joins thy anguish'd Partner to deplore Her londcst hope, and consolation o'er — A Son, unconscious of his father's fate, In distant seas thy death shall mourn too late, Too late return to a fond mother's arms, To sooth her anguish'd soul in grief's alarms, To act the filial and the friendly part, And pour the balm of comfort to her heart. Thy genius known to many a foreign clime; Wisdom and wealth departed shade were thine. Oft on the deep, amid the tempest's roar, By raging ocean wafted from the shore, Thy soaring mind far distant countries sought. And wealth from waves and gaping dangers bo't; The wide Atlantic oft hath been thy path, The Baltic oft from thee withheld his wrath: Thy gen'rous manly soul no danger fear'd, By truth supported and by Justice steer d — Tho' thou art number'd with the silent dead, Yet not in dust are all thy virtues laid: In thy address sweet condescension shone, And true politeness mark'd thee for her own ; 368 So long as Justice hath the pow'r to give, Thy shining merits in the world shall live. Almighty Father! gild the stormy day, From thy rich fount emit one cheering ray ! 0 calm her breast whose guardian consort 's gone, A breast to pain and long to sickness known, Their sorrows soften, and dispel the gloom, And wrest the weeping mourners from the tomb ; With liberal hand Religion's comforts strew, And cause their minds immortal joys to view; 'Till past the gulph, their tow'ring Souls shall fly, And greet their friend above the starry sky; Where ghastly Death shall lose his mortal sting, And they with joy shall rising wonder sing. New Bedford. 4th March, 1793. Philandek. At my request, the fcllpwing interesting sketches of a portion of the nautical experience of Captain Edmund Gardner, a native of Nantucket, one of our most respected fellow-citizens, were furnished me. It will afford the public a fair representation pf the life and vicissitudes of that class of our cit izens, to whom New Bedford owes so much of her prosperity. "After losing the ship Unipn, of Nantucket, in latitude 38, longitude 44, twelve days out,* pro ceeded en tp the Western Islands, seven hundred miles distant, in twp bpats, sixteen being the ship's company; arrived after a passage of seven' .days. We then took a cargo of fruit from Terceira tp New Yprk. On pur arrival in the States, fpund that the Ipng embargo had taken effect, and navi gation was suspended. Many ships were laid up in New York and in this place. There were one hundred and four square-rigged vessels lying at the wharves in this place, quite a difference from my first visit here in the year 1794, when there were one small brig and some sloops at the wharves. * See page 101, note. 369 After remaining at home four months, engaged to go first officer of ship Maria, David Coffin, master. The embargo act did not prevent whaling ships from clearing under restrictions to enter no port or place inhabited. We sailed under heavy bonds, and entered no port from 1808 to 1810, when the embargo act was rescinded ; then went to the port of Lima for recruits and water, preparatory for the passage home. On our arrival home the ship Winslow was fitted for me, and sailed in 1810 for the Pacific Ocean ; was absent on the voyage eighteen months, and returned in 1812 with a full cargo of sperm oil — 1400 barrels. Soon after our return, the political atmosphere began to lower and the clouds thicken. In the 6th mo., 1812, war was declared against England. I remained at home during the war, three and a half years ; and then sailed in the ship Winslow, all my former officers going in her again. After a boisterous passage around Cape Horn, we at last arrived in the far-famed Pacific, and commenced taking oil. We had taken three hundred barrels, and were in pursuit pf a large sperm whale. On harpepning him, the whale turned towards the boat, and rolling, brought his teeth directly on my head ; one of the teeth pierced my hat and head, leav ing the skull-bone bare for three inches; one too'th pierced my left hand; two others entered my right arm and shoulder; my jaw, on the right side, and a part of five teeth, were broken. Leaving the whale mortally wounded, I was taken on board the ship. I directed .the mate to steer for Paita, where we arrived in six days. On arriving at that port, found no surgeon ; sent express to Puno, fifty miles, for one, who came in thirty-six hours. The surgeon was an old man, sixty-nine years of age. He remained at Paita six days, when I was carried in a cot to the ccuntry to be near the dpctor. I 370 remained there between two and three months, under the care of this skilful man. I joined the ship at Paita in a weak state, but pursued the voyage to the completion of a full cargo, and arrived in 1817, having been absent twenty-three months. From the great loss of blood, I was very weak; and I remained at home one year and a half, when a ship was built fer me, called the Balaena. She sailed for the Pacific in 1818. On arriving in the Pacific, we found many ships and little success, and left for the coast of California. After being there some time, the scurvy making its appearance in the ship's company, came to the conclusion to go to the Sandwich Islands, in company with the ship Equator, of Nantucket; arrived at Owyhee in sixteen days, the first whaling ship ever at those islands, a place of general resort at the present time for ships in the North Pacific. During the stay at Owyhee, we caught a large sperm whale, and took him to the ship. So great was the ex citement with the natives that all boats or canoes were called into requisition, and many came swim ming to see the leviathan of the deep. This whale made one hundred and two barrels of sperm oil. It is not unlikely there were as many natives around the ship as were around Captain Cook's ship at the same place many years before. The natives deplore the untimely death of Captain Cook, and are ready to point out the place where Terreeoboo was secreted for many days after the death of Captain Cook, he being the prominent chief who caused Captain Cook to be killed. The Balaena was just one year in the Nprth Pacific, during which time we tppk 1200 barrels pf sperm oil. We finished the vpyage and returned in thirty menths, having procured 2000 barrels. During this vpyage my health was much improved. I sailed pn a secend voyage within two months in the same ship, performing this voyage in twenty 371 months, obtaining 2000 barrels of sperm oil. On our arrival, sperm oil was selling at thirty-seven cents per gallon, which was not a remunerating price. After a few months, I took the ship South America and performed a voyage to the Coast pf Patagonia, being absent eight months, obtaining 1600 barrels whale oil, which was worth eighteen cents per gallon on my arrival. I then quitted pursuing the whaling business, and the following winter, 1824, sailed for Brazil in ship Phebe Ann ; visited Pernambuco, Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro. I returned the following summer, and sailed for the north of Europe; landed the cargo in Hamburg, went to Sweden and loaded with iron for this place, had a hard passage home, and arrived on the day of New Year, 1826, since which I have quitted the seas. The following summer I came to reside in this place, where I have remained for the last thirty years, having been interested in the general business of the place, — whaling, and various manufactures. I have now arrived at the age of threescore and twelve years, [1857,] a monument of God's mercy for the many favors conferred on me through a hong life. Thus much for a veteran of the sea, having commenced a sea-faring life in 1801, and continued in it until 1826, a period of a quarter of a century." Since the year 1820, New Bedfcrd has been steadily progressing, and now, (1858,) notwith standing the great embarrassment in the financial affairs not only of this country but of Europe, which is particularly severe in all large commercial places, there arc evident marks of increasing thrift and prosperity, witnessed in the large number of new buildings rising in every part of our city and the environs. Although New Bedford has felt to a 372 considerable degree the shock of the late great com mercial earthquake, she still remains firm, and her merchants and mechanics are undismayed. As one pf the oldest seaports in the United States, ppssessing many advantages as such in the way of experience, there is no fear but that her wealth and enterprise will find new fields of emplpyment as the plder pnes fail, and we may cpnfidently hppe that pur city, still in her ycuth, will continue to grow and flourish. Few places in New England have experienced so rapid an increase in wealth and population as New Bedford. In the year 1790, the population of the village was but about 700 ; and in 1796, the whole population of the township, which then included Fairhaven, was but 3313. As I have before stated in a previous chapter, New Bedford and Fairhaven were set off from Dark mouth in the year 1787, and incorpprated into a separate township. The township at this time was about thirteen miles in length and three in breadth. In 1812, as previously stated, New Bedford and Fairhaven were divided. The present township ef New Bedfprd is in its extreme length, that is, from its nprthernmost bound to the end of Clark's Point, eleven miles, and abeut twp miles in average width, the widest part being from the east bpund at Acush net village due west te Wilspn's saw-mill, three miles. By the census cf 1820, the population was 3947; in 1830 it was 7592; and in 1836 it was 11,113; " making an increase of forty-seven per cent in six years." 373 " In 1838 the number of vessels belonging to New Bedford engaged in the whale-fishery was one hundred and seventy, employing four thousand hands. At this time there were seventeen candle- houses and oil manufactories. In 1837 there was imported into the United States 181,724 barrels of sperm oil, and 219,138 barrels of whale oil ; of this quantity 75,675 barrels pf sperm eil and 85,668 barrels of whale oil was imported into the New Bedford district." The amount pf impprtations into New Bedford fpr the year ending Jan. 1st, 1858, was 48,108 barrels sperm oil, 127,362 barrels whale oil, and 1,359,850 pounds whalebpne ; ships and barks empleyed, three hundred and twenty-feur, amount- ing to 110,267 tonnage. New Bedferd was made a city in 1847. The population, by the census of 1855, was 20,389. 374 CHAPTER XXVII. VISIT TO CUTTYHUNK AND GOSNOLD'S ISLET, AUGUST 9TH, 1858 — MUSTER-ROLL OF THE COMPANY OF CAPTAIN THOMAS KEMPTON, 1775— ADDITIONAL LIST OF REVO LUTIONARY SOLDIERS OF DARTMOUTH — LINES BY DR. DANIEL HATHAWAY ON THE DEATH OF DANIEL RUS SELL, 1772 — RECORDS FROM OLD BURIAL-PLACES — LETTER OF JABEZ DELANO, 1727 — SYNOPSIS OF THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THIS VICINITY — CONCLUSION. CUTTYHUNK AND GOSNOLD'S ISLET. By the politeness ef the Cellectcr cf pur district, Cpl, Charles B, H. Fessenden, I visited Cuttyhunk and Gesnpld's Islet en the 9th ef August, 1858, in the gpvernment schooner Ranger, Capt. Roland Gardner, my object being, if pcssible, to ascertain by a personal examination and search tfie cellar of Gos? nold's store-house and the location of the fprt built by this early navigator and his companions in 1602. This island, it will be remembered, was visited, by Dr. Belknap, the historian, in 1797, an account of which I have given in the eleventh chapter pf this History.* Leaving New Bedford at a quarter past nine, a. m., with a strong and fair wind from the north-east, we passed swiftly across cur beau tiful bay, and at a quarter befcrc eleven (cne hour and a half) arrived at Cuttyhunk, distant eighteen * Capt. William Allen, of this place, who took Dr. Belknap in his sloop to Cuttyhunk in 1797, found the rusty blade of a table knife among the rubbish near Gosnold's fort. Edward Pope, Esq., at that time Collector of this district, and John Spooner, editor of the Medley, also accompanied Dr. Belknap on this visit. 375 miles. Gosnold's Islet is situate in a small fresh water pond at the west end of this island, separated from the waters of the bay only by a narrow rocky beach, sc that the sea semetimes flows into it. This we reached in a small sail-boat under the guid ance ef the keeper ef the light, Mr. Chandler, who alse materially assisted me in the research fpr the old f&rtand cellar. The islet contains a little more than half an acre. On the west end is a slight eleva tion, where we found several stones, apparently taken from the neighboring beach, in a line with a small rock ; which we concluded was a portion of the embankment of the little fort. At a short dis tance from this sppt, pn the seuth-west part pf the islet, we feund a hollow place, and a few stones similar to the ethers mentioned, which we conjec tured might have been the location of the cellar ; but the soil being quite fertile, the islet has been ' ploughed and tilled in years past, so that the ves tiges of these interesting werks are nearly ebliter- ated. The space, hcwever, is sp small, and the spet sp accurately described by the eld jpurnalists and early visitors befpre the surface had been disturbed, that but little dcubt remains ef the indentical loca- tipn pf the fert and cellar. At any rate, upcn this half acre were erected the fert and storeheuse of Gesnold in the mcrith of May, 1602. At this pe riod the little island was wooded with beech and cedar trees. These have long since disappeared ; but nature, ever ready to repair the destructicn of man, still retains a few cf the marks ef her priginal producticns, and has introduced a few others. 376 Growing around the border pf the islet were the sumach, the bayberry, the wild cherry, primrose, eglantine, skull-cap, and the Virginia creeper; the rest cf the islet was ccvered with grass. A splitary bay-winged finch was flying from bush to bush, — a kind of mourner over this sylvan waste. In the pond white perch are numerous. The surface of Cuttyhunk is very undulating, *- a complete successicn pf hills and dales — barren, — net even a solitary tree, and scarcely a shrub, upcn the whele island ; net a vestige, even a decayed stump, of the noble old woods that so charmed the old navigator and his companions, was seen in a walk of several miles. A more complete work of devastation of the productions of nature has prob ably never been effected than may be witnessed upon this and the neighboring islands. Of the whole, group of the Elizabeth Islands, Naushon alone retains its primeval beauty ; and what these' now desolate spots once were, the visitor who makes the comparispn may readily imagine. It is to, be hepe'd that at ne distant day an effort may be made to re-wood these otherwise beautiful islands. By sowing the seeds of the forest trees that were nat ural to them, in the low and more sheltered places, and removing the sheep, a few years' growth would much improve their appearance. Cuttyhunk is about two miles in length, varying in width, and three quarters of a mile wide in the broadest part. In a little pond near by that of the islet the water- lily wa£ growing in great luxuriance, none of wbich I saw in the islet pcnd, the bettom pf which was 377 thickly matted with grass. The present pcpulation of this island is forty-three persons, a considerable number of them children. There are seven families : besides that of the keeper of the light-house, Corbit Chandler, those of Benjamin Church, George Slo cum, Philip Slocum, Holder Allen, William Eliot, and William Veeder. The latter is the agent for the owner, Otis Slocum, of Dartmouth. Upon the top of the highest spot on the island, called " Look- put Hill," is a little ancient schoolhouse, with a fireplace for wood — the building not more than twelve feet square, of the most primitive style. Copicut, or Pppicut, is the name of another hill at the nerth-east end ef this island. Canapitset is the name given by the Indians to the passage be tween Nashawena and Cuttyhunk. Five hundred sheep are now pastured on this island. The light house at the south-west end of the island is sup plied with the Fresnel light of the fifth order of lens ; and the whole establishment evinced by its order and neatness the faithful .attention of the keeper and his family. Near the light-house are kept two life-boats from the Massachusetts Humane Society, and a large sail-boat of the Vineyard medel. In December, 1856, Mr. Chandler, with his sen and spn-in-law, saved the lives of the crew of the schooner Horace Nichols, consisting of eight persens, wrecked upon the ledge of rocks off the west end cf Cuttyhunk, called the " Sew and Pigs." ' Penequese lies a shert distance ncrth of Cuttyhunk, sometimes called " Pune," is the little island Gos nold visited, and named " Hill's Hap," .and took 378 therefrom an Indian canoe. This island is also en tirely divested of trees, and has one family upon it, that of Capt. John Flanders, pilot, the owner. The following manner of rhyming the names of the Elizabeth Islands has been handed down for several generations : Naushon, Nonamesset, Onka tonka and Wepecket; Nashawena, Pesquinese, Cuttyhunk and Penequese". "A muster roll of the Company under the ccmmand pf Captain Thpmas Kempton, in Colonel Daniel- sen's regiment, to the first ef August, 1775 :" Thpmas Kempton, Captain ; Amasa Soper, First Lieutenant; John Chadwick, Second Lieutenant; John Swift, George Brownell, Thomas West, John Sullings, Sergeants; James Spooner, Robert Cros- man, Elijah Allen, Paul Weston, Corporals; Obed Cushman, fifer; Simeon Fuller, drummer; Benja min Adams, Eleazer Allen, Joshua Austin, David- Badcock, Noah Ball, Jabez Bennet, Thomas Ben net, Jonathan Bradshaw, Prince Brownell, Ga maliel Bryant, Jessey Burt, John Coggeshall, William Counts, Robert Crosman^Jry Louis De Moranville, Thomas Eskridge, John Gammons, Phineas Hammond, Roger Hammond, George Haskins, David Hathaway, John Hathaway, Lemuel Hathaway, David Kentch, Silas Kirby, Robert Knowlton, David Lewis, Humphry Macom- ber, Preserved Merrihew, Jonathan Mosher, Jacob Mott, Isaac Noble, John Ormsby, Silas Perry, Peter Phillips, Peter Sands, Daniel Sherman, John 379 -'*. Sherman, Lemuel Sherman, John Solomon (In dian,) John Spooner, Giles Tallman, Joseph Traf ford, Lettice Washburn, Nathan Waste, privates: amounting to fifty-eight, all from Dartmouth, with the exception of three, — Louis De Mo ranville, Freetown; Phineas Hammond, Roch ester; and David Lewis, Rhode Island. The time of enlistment was in the month of May, 1775. The time of service, with a few exceptions, was three months ; the shortest, one month and twelve days. Their head-quarters was Roxbury ; the al lowance, one penny per mile for travel ; greatest distance of travel, sixty-nine miles; least, fifty-seven. The amount the Captain received for this cam paign was <£18 10s. 1| d.; .the First Lieutenant, £12 16 s. 4 d.; the Second Lieutenant, £10 18 s. 9 d.; the four Sergeants, £5 15 s. 7 d., £5 9 s., £5 15 s. 7 d., £5 2 s. 1\ d. ; the four Corporals, £4 12 s. 2 d., £2 18 s. 8 d., £5 3 s., £3 1 s; the fifer, £4 10 s. 10 d. ; the drummer, £5 3 s. These were the amounts paid after deducting what had been charged for supplies. The difference in the amcunts paid to the officers, as well as the privates, was mainly owing to the greater or less supplied them. This old muster-roll contains twenty-three columns, under the following heads, viz.: "Men's names;" "Towns whence they came;" "Rank;" "Time of enlistment;" "Travell;" "Amount at 1 d. a mile ; " " Time pf service ; " " Whcle ampunt ; '* "Guns;" "By whom supplyed;" "Price;" "Bay onets;" "Of whem received;" "Price;" "Cart ridge Boxes ; " " Of whom received ; " " Price ; '* .» 380 "Cleathing;" "Of whpm received;" "Amount;" " Advance Wages ; " " Blankets received more than entitled to by enlistment;" "Amount of deduc tion;" "Balance." The amount paid for travel, £14 5 s. 10 d. The whole amount allowed each private before discount ranged from a little more than £4 to £6 10 s. The number of guns sup plied was twenty-six, — amount fpr same £41 10 s. ; feur baypnets, with sheaths and belts, supplied by Jireh Swift, ameunting tp 8 s. 2 d. ; thirty car- tridge-bcxes, supplied by Jireh Swift, amounting tc^ £6 7 s. 6 d. ; twenty-seven pairs of shoes and one cap, supplied by Jireh Swift and Commissary Blaney, the shoes at 6 s. and the cap 2 s., amount ing to £8 4 s. ; the . amount paid for advance wages £2 each, excepting the captain and two lieutenants, — £108: the whole expense amount ing to £389 11 s. 9] d.; the balance £227 2 s. 1] d. Capt. Kempton was a descendant from Manas seh Kempton, one of the early proprietors of Dart mouth, and the father of our respected fellow-citi zen, Thomas Kempton. Previously to this period (1775) Capt. Kempton had been master of a whal ing-vessel from this port, and a large portion pf thpse whe enlisted in his ccmpany had been his sailers. Capt. Kempton had previpusly received a cemmissipn as ensign cf the militia from Gpv. Hutchinscn, bearing date May 13th, 1773. Subse quent to his cemmand of the Dartmouth company at Roxbury, he received the commissipn pf Lieuten- ant-Cplpnel, but pwing to a failure of health he left service at the evacuation of Boston by the 381 British tropps. He was bern April 20th, 1740, and died January 27th, 1806, in his 66th year. Of the two other companies from Dartmouth that joined the Revolutionary army, one was commanded by Captain Egery, of Fairhaven, and the other by Captain Benjamin Dillingham, ef Acushnet, whose muster-rolls I have not obtained ; but suffi cient has been given to show that pld Dartmouth was not wanting in Revolutionary spirit. For the following additional interesting list of a portipn of those who served In the Revolutionary army from Dartmouth, as well as for the preceding, I am indebted to the before-mentioned Thomas Kempton, of this city. Benjamin Abel, (Indian,) 1776. Benjamin Adams, 1775, m. m.* Eleazar Allen, 1775, m. m. Elijah Allen, 1775, m. m. Noah Allen, 1781. Prince Almey, (African,) 1781. Amesbrey, 1778. John Amey, 1779. John Austin, 1779. Joshua Austin, 1776, m. m. Benjamin Babcock, Jr., 1775, '78, '80. David Badcock, 1775, m. m. Benjamin Baker, 1778, m. m. , '79. Noah Ball, 1775, m. m. Worth Bates, 1778-81. Weston Bedon, 1778, '80. Jabez Bennet, 1775, m. m. Joseph Bennet, 1775, m. m., '79, '80. Thomas Bennet, 1775, m. m. Thomas Berry, 1775, m. m. Stoughton Booth, 1778. Thomas Booth, 1778. Jonathan Bradshaw, 1775, m. m. George Brownell, 1775, m. m. * Minute-man. Prince Brownell, 1775, m. m. Robert Brownell, 1779, '80. Gamaliel Bryant, ensign, 1776, m. m. Jesse Bush, 1775, m. m. John Chadwick, ensign, '75, m.m. James Chandler, 1778, '80. Ebenezer Chase, 1780, *81. Charles Church, lieutenant, 1778, '80, '81. George Claghorn, captain, 1778, '80, '81. John Coggeshall, 1775, m. m., '78, '80. Joseph Cook, 1780. Richard Cook, 1778, '80. Thomas Cook, 1780. Thomas Crandon, capt., 1778, '79. Robert Crossman, 1775, m. m. Edward Crowell, 1778. David Cushman, 1781. Jaben Daniel, '75, m. m., '78, '80. John Dayton, 1778. Calvin Delano, captain, 1778-82. Henry Delano, 1780. Thomas Delano, 1780, Q* 382 John Deverson, 1778. David Devol, 1780. Joseph Devol, 1779, '82. Solomon Dick, (African,) 1782. Benjamin Dillingham, captain, 1776, m. m. John Dophson, 1775, m. m. Benajah Dunham, 1775, m. m., '75, '80, '81. Benjamin Ellis, 1775, m. m. Thomas Eskredge, 1775, m. m. Jeremiah Exceen, 1778, '79. Joseph Francis, 1780, '81. Simeon Fuller, 1775, m. m, John Gelat, 1778, '80. George Gifford, 1776. Levi Gifford, 1779. Lewis Gifford, 1779, '81. Jeremiah Greene, 1779. Thomas Greenway, 1780, '81. Cornelius Grinnell, 1780. David Hammond, 1780. Jabez Hammond, 1780. Phinehas Hammond, 1775, m. m. Roger Hammond, 1775, m. m. David Handy, 1780. George Haskins, 1775, m. m. Shuraeh Haskins, 1778. Arthur Hathaway, 1780. David Hathaway, 1775, m. m. Eleazer Hathaway, 1777. Gideon Hathaway, 1778. Isaac "Hathaway, 1778, '80, '81. Jabez Hathaway, 1778. Jacob Hathaway, 1780. John Hathaway, 1775, m. m. Lemuel Hathaway, 1775, m. m. Sylvanus Hathaway, 1779. George Hitch, 1780. Samuel Howland, 1775, m. m. John Humphrey, 1776. Nathaniel Ingraham, 1780. Paul Ingraham, 1778, '80. Thomas Ingraham, 1775, m. m. William Japes, 1778. Elnathan Jenne, 1775, m. m. John Jenne. Prince Jenne, 1779, '80. Seth Jenne, 1780. Timothy Jenne, 1778, '79. Manasseh Kempton, colonel, 1778. Obed Kempton, 1778, '80. Thomas Kempton, captain, 1776, lieutenant-colonel, '76. William Kempton, 1782. David Kenleth, 1775, m. m. Robert Knowlton, 1775, m. m. Jonathan Lawton, 1778, '79. David Lewes, 1775, m. in. Jabez Lumbar, 1778. Taber Lumbar, 1778. Humphrey Macomber, 1 775, m. m. Preserved Merrihew, 1775. Elkannah Mitchell, 1779. Louis De Moranville, 1775, m. m. Michael Mosher, 1779. Samuel Nash, 1780. Isaac Noble, 1775, m. m. Robert Nolten, des., 1775, m. m. Gideon Nye, 1781. Benjamin Obadiah, (Ind.,) 1779. John Omey, 1778, '79. Daniel Ormsby, 1778. John Ormsby, 1775, m. m, Avery Parker, captain, 1778. John Parkes, 1778, '79. William Pease, 1780. Pompey Peckham, (African,) 1780, '81. Henry Perkins, 1780. Paul Perry, 1778, '79. Silas Perry, 1775, m. m. Peter Phillips, 1776, m. m., '78, '80. Peter Pon, (Indian,) 1780, '81. David Pope, 1776, '78. Stephen Potter, 1778, '80. Thurston Potter, 1780, '81. James Pratt, 1778. Ebenezir Primas, (African,) 1781. Elias Primas, 1781. William Robinson, 1780. Gideon Rodgers, 1780. William Rodgers, 1780. William Ross, 1780. James Rouse, 1778. Elkannah Ryder, 1778. Ezekiel Ryder, 1779. Baines Sammons, 1779. Peter Sands, 1775, m. m. Martin Seekins, 1778. Daniel Shearman, 1775, m, m. John Shearman, 1775, m. m. Lemuel Shearman, 1775, m. m. 383 Joseph Shockly, 1780, '81. Amos Simmons, lieutenant, 1779. John Skiff, fifer, 1775, m. m., '79, '81. Elisha Smith, 1776, '80, m. m. Jonathan Smith, 1776, m. m., '80, '81. Josiah Smith, 1781. Thomas Smith, 1778, '80. John Solomon, (Indian,) 1775, m. m. Amasa Soper, lieut., 1775, m. m. Benjamin Spooner, drummer, 1775, m. m. Cornelius Spooner, 1779. David Spooner, 1778, '80. James Spooner, 1775, m. m. Jeduthan Spooner, 1775, m. m. John Spooner, 1775, m. m. Simpson Spooner, 1775, m. m. Charles Stetson, 1780. Jacob Strange, 1780. John Sullings, 1775, m. m. John Swift, 1775, m. m. Jeduthan Taber, 1781. Jethro Taber, 1778, '81. John Taber, 1780. Philip Taber, 1779. Thomas Taber, 1780. Ezekiel Tallman, 1781. Giles Tallman, 1775, m. m., des. Thomas Thompson, 1776-78. Job Tobey, 1780, '81. Prince Tobey, 1778. Thomas Tobey, 1780, '81. Zoeth Tobey, 1780, '81. Isaac Tompkins,* 1780. Joseph Trafford.t 1775, m. m; Ishmael Tripp, 1776, (Dillingi ham's company.) Job Tripp, 1780. Samuel Tripp, 1775, m. m. Thomas Tripp, 1776, (Dilling ham's company.) Samuel Tupper, 1779. Burnell Upham, 1778. Lettice Washburn, 1775, m. m. Thomas Washburn, 1776, m. m. Nathan Waste, 1776, '80. Thomas West, 1775, m. m. Thomas Westcot, 1775, m. m., '78-80. Benjamin Weston, 1776, m. m.; '78, '79. Eliphas Weston, 1780, '81: John Weston. Paul Weston, 1775, m. m. Stephen Weston, 1782. Thomas Weston, 1779. George Whippey, 1778. Joseph Whitfield, 1778. Preserved Wilcox, 1778. Benjamin Willis, 1778. Samuel Willis, 1782. WilUam Willis, 1776. Gideon Woodmanse, 1779, '80. Gideon Worden, 1778. Henry Writhington, 1778. Robert Writhington, 1776, m, m. ADDENDA TO THE REVOLUTIPNART REMINISCENCES. On the march cf the British to Acushnet, they entered the house of Doctor Samuel Perry, which they intended to have burnt, having set a fire in one of the chambers and placed beds and bedding upcn it; but these smothered the fire, and thus the house was saved, and is still standing,— the same I have before referred to as Occupied by a * Rev. I. Tompkins, Haverhill. t Killed by the British Sept 8d, 1778. 384 grandson of Doctcr Perry, — en the Acushnet read, a short distance south of the village. The following are the lines by Doctor Daniel Hathaway referred to on page 321, but they are of a later date than there given. They were written upon the death of Daniel Russell, a son of Jphn Russell, who died in 1772. Beneath this mouldering turf and willow shade, ' An honest man, one Daniel Russell, 's laid; Of soul sincere, and good without pretence, Blest with plain reason and with sober sense. What bosom heaves not sighs, and groans repeat, When Russell 's dumb and Hathaway forced to speak ? „v To all in want assistance he did lend, And used each ready person as his friend; Thousands have eat and thrived upon his bread, For all the poor beneath his roof were fed. Did neighbors' quarrels enter but his door, They were agreed, and contests were no more. Such use of understanding God had given. He saw, well pleased, and called him up to Heaven. From " The Medley or New Bedford Marine Journal for Friday, May 19th, 1797." NEW BEDFORD AND BOSTON MAIL, STAGE "TTTILL run from New Bedford to Boston thro' Taunton, the ensu- VV iDg summer season, three times a week, on the following days, viz. : Leave Bedford on the Second, Fourth and Sixth days of each week at 4 o'clock A. M. and arrive at Boston on the evening of the same day. Returning, leave Boston at 4 o'clock A. M. on the Third, Fifth and Seventh days of each week, and arrive at Bedford on the evening of these days. To commence running thus the next week. The fare of each passage will be as follows : From New Bedford to Boston, three dollars and fifty cents; From Taunton to Boston, two dollars and fifty cents ; And for any distance short of the above' places, six cents per mile. — One hundred pounds wt. of baggage equal to a passenger. ABRAHAM RUSSELL. New Bedford, 4 mo. 27, 1797. RECORDS FROM OLD BURIAL-PLACES. From the old graveyard at Acushnet BLOSSOM. "Mehetable, widow of Joseph Blossom, died March 16, 1771, aged 80 years 6 mos. and 10 days." 385 "Levi, son of Benjamin and Rebekah Blossom, died May 8, 1785, aged 8 months and 16 days." " Benjamin Blossom died Oct. 25, 1797, in his 76 year." BURG. "Mercy, wife of Dr. Benjamin Burg, died July 4, 1746, in the 36th year of her age." "Dr. Benjamin Burg died Sept. 18, 1748, in the 40th year of Ms age." CHAFFEE. "Ruth, wife ef Dea. Jehn Chaffee, died Feb. 26, 1806, in her 69 year. " Dea. Jehn Chaffee died June 21, 1811, aged 74 years." CHEEVER, " Daniel Cheever, sen pf y° Revd Mr. Israel Cheever and Mrs. Esther Cheever, bem July 6 and died Npv. 8, 1757." " Esther Cheever, consort of the Rev. Mr. Israel Cheever, died April 28, 1761, in the 29th year of her age." CHURCH. "Capt. Nathaniel Church died June y° 22d, 1748, in y° 57th year of his age." " Innocent, widow of Capt. Nathaniel Church, died April ye 17, 1776, in y° 84th year of her age." " Charles Church, drowned in New Bedford harbor May 19, 1793, aged 53 years." craNdon. " Jean Crandon, wife of John Crandon, born in Jedburgh, Scotland, in the year 1694, died Nov. 18, 1767, in the 73d year cf her age." " Jehn Crandon, born in Topsuin, upon the island ef Greate Brittain, in the year 1697, died April 1st, 1773, in the 76th year of his age." 386 DELANO. " Mary Delano, wife of Jabez Delano, died April 29, 1716, aged 33 years." " Lieut. Jonathan Delano died Decem ye 23d, 1720, in y° 73 year of his age." " Jabez Delano died Decern7 y* 23d, 1734, in y° 53 year of his age." DILLINGHAM. " Ruth, daughter of Capt. Benjamin Dillingham and Ann his wife, died Dec. 7, 1808, in her 34 year." " Anne, wife of Capt. Benj. Dillingham* died May 13, 1809, in her 68th year." " Hannah, wife of Edward Dillingham, died Feb. 21, 1850, aged 80 years." " Edward Dillingham died Oct. 22, 1852, in Ms 81st year." GORDON. "Nancy, wife of Capt. William Gordon, died Feb. ye 2, 1790, in the 29th year of her age." " "Capt. William Gordon, an officer of the Rev olution, born in Boston Oct. 5, 1754, died in New Bedford June 26, 1835, aged 80 years. No farther seek his merits to disclose, Or draw his frailties from their dread abode; (There they alike in trembling hope repose,) The bosom of his father and his God.!! * The family of the late Allerton Delano, of New Bedford, and Captain Warren Delano, of Fairhaven, are lineal descendants of Philip De La Noye and Isaac and Fear Brewster Allerton. Isaao Allerton came in the Mayflower in 1620, and Philip De La Noye in the Fortune in 1621. The latter married, first, Hester Dewsberry, of Duxbury, 1634; second, Mary, widow of James Glass, of Duxbury, and daugh ter of James Churchill, 1657. Mary, first wife of Isaac Allerton, died Feb. 25, 1621, O. S. His second wife was Fear, daughter of Elder Brewster. Isaac Allerton was one of the chief men of the Colony of Plymouth. He was Assist ant-Governor with Bradford, on the death of Governor Carver.' 387 HATHAWAY. " Hannah, wife of Lieut. Seth Hathaway, and daughter of Col. Samuel Willis, Esq., and Mehet abel his wife, died Jan. ye 18, 1761, in the 45th year of her age." " Phillip Hathaway died March 2d, 1769, in the 27 year ef his age." " Abigail, whose first husband was Capt. Eben ezer Akin, her last husband Mr. Thomas Hathaway, died April 17, 1781." , " Lieut. Seth Hathaway died May ye llth, 1783, in y° 72d year of his age." " Jonathan Hathaway died Feb. 3d, 1793, in the 64 year of his age." " Deborah, widow of Jonathan Hathaway, died Dec. 27, 1808, in her 77th year." "Anne, wife of Royal Hathaway, died May 16th, 1851, M. 86 years and 7 months." "Royal Hathaway died Nov. 12, 1854, in his 86th year." HAWES. " Mercy, wife of Capt. John Hawes, died March 11, 1803, in her 37 year." " Capt. Benj. Hawes died July 18, 1805." "John Hawes died Dec. 29, 1824, in the 57th year of his age." HUTTLESTONE. " Tabitha, wife of Peleg Huttlestone, died Aug. 24, 1790, in her 47 year." " Peleg Huttlestone died May 22, 1801, in his 60th year." JENNEY. " Elizabeth, wife of Lieut. Cornelius Jenne, died March 18, 1743, in her 40th year." 388 " Caleb Jenne died Aug. 25, 1761, in his 63d year." " Lieut. Cornelius Jenne died Oct. 12, 1774, in his 77th year." " Eleancr, widpw pf Mr. Cornelius Jenne, died Feb. 14, 1780, in her 74th year." " Capt. Benj. Jenny died at Hispaniola Decr ye 25th, 1787, in his 38th year." "Nathaniel Jenne died Jan. 13, 1802, in his 82d year." " Sarah, wife pf Weston Jenne, died Feb. 21st, 1804, in her 31st year." " Weston Jenne died Jan. 5, 1816, in his 48th year." " Maria, wife ef Jehaziel Jenney, died Aug. 29, 1837, aged 66 years." "Jehaziel Jenney died Nov. 13, 1843, aged 73 years." KEMPTON. " Thomas Kempton died Dec. 29, 1768, in the 65 year of his age." "Ruth, wife of Thpmas Kempton, died Dec. 6, 1771, in the 25 year ef her age." "Patience Kempton, widew pf Mr. Ephraim Kempton, died May the 2d, 1779, aged 105 years 6 menths and 6 days." " Ephraim Kempton, 2d, died Jan. 2, 1802, aged' 55 years 11 menths and 18 days." " CpI. Manassah Kempten died Dec. 14th, 1806, in his 66th year." " Lcis, widpw pf CpI. Manassah Kempton, died Oct. 11, 1813, aged 77 years." "Elizabeth, widow of Ephraim Kempton, 2d, died Nov. 29, 1848, aged 95 years 2 months and 7 days." 389 LOUDEN. "Mary, wife of John Louden, died Oct. ye 3, 1775, in the 29th year of her age." " Urane, wife of John Louden, died March 25th, 1797, in her 28th year." MANDELL. " Moses Mandell died May ye 18th, 1746, in ye 53 year of his age." " Capt. Thpmas Mandell died June 18, 1808, in the 48th year ef his age." " Sarah, widow of Capt. Thomas Mandell, died June 3, 1823, aged 66 years." . • NASH. "Joanna, wife of Simeon Nash, died Sept. 25, 1813, in her 65th year." " Simeen Nash died Jan. 3d, 1824, in his 84th year." NYE. " Rebecca, wife of Alfred Nye, died July 19, 1812, in the 29th year of her age." "Barnabas Nye died July 24, 1813, in his 79 year." "Deborah, widow of Barnabas Nye, died Dec. 25, 1820, in her 82d year." PERRY. " Jireh Perry diedAug. ye 3d, 1781, in the 23d year of his age." "" "Abigail, wife of Dr. Ebenezer Perry, died June 12, 1793, in her 33d year." " Dr. Samuel Perry died April 15, 1805, aged 75 years 9 months and 18 days." "Susanna, widow of Dr. Samuel Perry, died June 8, 1806, aged 72." 390 " Sylvia, wife ef Dr. Samuel Perry, died April 15, 1815, in her 45th year." " Dr. Samuel Perry died Oct. 26, 1820, aged 57 years." " Susan, wife cf Dr. Samuel Perry, died Sept. 28, 1842, aged 61 years." • PICKENS. " Mary Spooner, wife of John Pickens, died Nov. 26, 1809, aged 63 years." " Capt. Thaddeus Pickens, who was lpst at sea July, 1811, in his 58th year." "Peace Bennet, wife of Capt. Thaddeus Pick ens, died March 7, 1812, in her 38th year." " John Pickens, an officer of the Revolutipn, died July 31, 1825, aged 82 years." PPPE. "Deborah Pope, wife to Seth Pope, died Feb ruary 10th, 1710-11, aged 56 years." '" Seth Pope died March y" 17th, 1727, in the 79th year of his age." " Elnathan Pope died Feb5, 8th, 1735-6, in the 45th year of his age." " Rebecca, wife of Seth Pope, died Jan. ye 23d, 1741, iii the 79th year of her age." " Thankful, wife of Mr. Thomas Pope, died April ye 13th, 1756, in y" 38th year ef her age." "Mrs. Rebekah, wife ef Mr. Elnathan Pppe, died. Nov. the 30th, 1764, in the 59 year ef her age." " Capt. Lemuel Pepe diecf%ay ye 23, 1771, in ye 75 year of his age." "Abigail, wife ef Col. Seth Pope,, died of the small pox May y° 8th, 1778, in the 59th year of her age." " Elizabeth, wife of Edward Pppe, Esq., died Nov. 1,4781, in the 34th year of her age." 391 "Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Capt. Lemuel Pope, died July ye 12th, 1782, in the 85th year ef her age." " Mr. Themas Pope died March 2d, 1784, in the- 75th year of his age." "Mr. Elnathan' Pope died May 5, 1794, in the 90th year of his age." " Mr. Lemuel Pope died Dec. ye 13th, 1796, aged 64 years 8 months and twenty-one days." "Col. Seth Pope died June 9, 1802, in his 83d year." " Hannah, wife of Ebenezer Pope, died May 12, 1803, aged 26 years." "Alice, relict of Thomas Pope, died Oct. 21, 1805, IE,. 87. In grateful remembrance of her transcendant maternal tenderness and assidueus parental cares, this humble stone is erected by her bereaved daughter and cnly child, Nabby Gordon." " Mary, widow of Mr. Lemuel Pope, died Dec. 12, 1808, in her 81st year." " Rebecca, wife of Ebenezer Pope, died May 2d, 1813, aged 38 years." "Rebecca, daughter of Ebenezer and Rebecca Pope, died Aug. 30, 1819, aged 13 years." " Ebenezer Pope died March 26, 1828, aged 38." SPOONER. " John Spooner died Feb. 21st, 1773, in his 28th year." " Lydia, wife of John Spooner, died June y" 19, 1775, in her 27th year." " Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Rounsevel Spooner and daughter of Edward Pope, Esq., died Dec. 6, 1800, in her 21st year." , " Micah Spooner died Sept. 22, 1848, in his 60th yea," 392 SWIFT. "Jonathan Swift died Jan. ye 31, 1763, in the 33d year of his age. Afflictions sore long time I bore. Till God was pleased to give me ease And free me from my pain." " Dea. Jireh Swift died March ye 16, 1782, in the 74th year of his age." " Deborah, widow of Dea. Jireh Swift, died Jan. ye 7, 1794, in her 82 year." " Elizabeth, wife of Dea. Jireh Swift, died Aug. 20, 1794, in her 54th year." ' " Love, wife of Capt. Jonathan Swift, died June 19, 1809." " Paul Swift died Nov. 16, 1810, aged 57 years." " Dea. Jireh Swift died July 26, 1817, in his 77 year." "Jemima, widow of Paul Swift, died Jan. 20, 1821, in her 73 year." " Susanna, wife of Capt. Jonathan Swift, died Jan. 26, 1823, in her 54th year." " Capt. Jonathan Swift died Sept. 19th, 1834, in the 71st year of his age." • TOBEY. " Keziah, wife of Lot Tobey, died July 31, 1775, in the 34th year of her -age." " Desire, wife of Dr. Elisha Tobey, Esq., died Jan. ye 5, 1778, in the 53d year of her age." "Dr. Elisha Tobey, Esq., died May y" 10th, 1781, in the 58th year of his age." " Seth Tobey died May 21, 1793, in the 45 year of his age." "Lemuel Tobey died Nov. 7, 1820, aged 72 years 8 inonths." 393 r " Elizabeth, widow of Lemuel Tobey, died Dec. 20, 1835, in the 80th year ef her age." WASHBURN^ "Jehn S. Washburn died March 12, 1842, aged 58 years." "Bezaleel Washburn died Oct. 2d, 1843, aged 43 years and 3 mcs." " Desire, wife of John S. Washburn, died Nov. 29, 1849, aged 64 years and 6 months." WEST. " Capt. Elisha West died Jan. 27, 1794, in his 45 year." "Louisa, consort of Rev. Samuel West, D. D., and widow of Capt. Benjamin Jenny, died March ye 18, 1797, in her 41st year." WILLIS.' " Col. Samuel Willis, Esq., died Oct. 3d, 1763, in the 76th year of his age." "Mehitable, wife of Col. Samuel Willis, died Jan. 18, 1782, in the 94th year of her age." "Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Willis, died Sept. 28, 1784, in the 28th year of her age ; also Esther, in the 20th year of her age." " Samuel, son of Major Ebenezer and Elizabeth Willis, died at sea March 6, 1805." " Elizabeth, wife of Major Ebenezer Willis, died Aug. 9, 1807, in her 79th year." " Major Ebenezer Willis died Nov. 7, 1809, aged 83 years and 4 days." WINSLOW. "John, son of Hezekiah and Betty Winslow, died Nov. 17, 1754, aged 17 years and 10 days." " Richard Winslow died June 17, 1816, aged 28 years." 394 " Capt. Ebenezer Akin died Nov. 16, 1770, in ye 54th year of his age." "Bethany, wife of John Blackwell, died Oct. 6, 1787, in the 61st year of her age." "Elizabeth Chapman, wife to John Chapman, Esq., died Jan. 29, 1725-6, in the 45 year of her age." "Benjamin Claghorn, son of CpI. Geprge and- Mrs. Deborah Claghorn, died Feb. 23, 1789, aged 17 years and 15 days." "James Clarke died March 15, 1775, in the 48th year of his age." "Deborah Egery, wife of Daniel Egery, died May ye 17, 1770, aged 30 years 11 months and 25 days." "John S. Haskell died Dec., 1847, aged 71 years." " Abigail, wife of Dr. Elijah Horr, died March 22, 1841, in 55 year." "Dorothy, wife of Ephraim Hunt, died Jan. ye 17, 1743, in ye 30th year of her age." "John Loring died Jan. ye 24, 1786, in the 45th year of his age." " Judah Paddack, Jun., died May ye 29, 1748, in yB 39th year of his age." " Capt. Elisha Parker died Jan. 22, 1788, in the 44th year of his. age." "Benjamin Pierce died July 29th, 1756, in the 44th year of his* age." "Capt. William Ritchie died April 28, 1844, aged 46 years." "Capt. Loum Snow died Jan. 10,1823, aged 43 years." 395 " Reliance, widew pf Daniel Summerton, died Sept. ye 15, 1788, in ye 65th year of her age." " Parnel Whitfield died Sept. 1, 1840, aged 85 years." " Hon. Lemuel Williams, born in Taunton June 18, 1747, died in New Bedford Npv. 9th, 1828." " Sylvia, wife of Mr. Samuel Wing, died Sept. 5, 1804, in her 33d year." "Capt. Thomas Worth died Dec. ye 13, 1769, aged 27 years." " Aron, son of Henery and Mary Wrightington, died March ye 23d, 1792, in his 21st year." From the old graveyard at Long Plain, North Fairhaven. BENNET. " Edward Bennet died Oct. 4th, 1812, aged 73 years." " Elizabeth, wife of Edward Bennet, died Dec. 24, 1826, in her 84th year." " Jacob Bennet died May 27, 1832, M. 60> MASON. " Thankful, wife of Reuben Mason, died Aug. 19th, 1802, aged 46 years." " Capt. Reuben Mason died Nov. 2, 1806,' in his 50th year." • MENDELL. " Hannah, wife of Ellis Mendell, died Sep. 1st, 1810, in her 41 year." " Ellis Mendell, born March 20, 1763, died June 12, 1849, aged 86 years." ;' PERRY. " Lydia, wife of Lemuel Perry, died March. 10, 1827, aged 84 years." 396 "Lemuel Perry died April 27, 1846, aged 90 years." SAMPSON. " Mary, wife of Edward Sampson, died Feb. y" 20, 1790, in her 42d year." " Rualwy, daughter of Edward and Mary Sam son, died May 28, 1791, aged 3 years." " Joseph Sampson died June 27, 1808, in his 82 year." "Edward Sampson died Feb. 25, 1816, in his 70th year." SPOONER. "Allathea, wife of Walter Spooner, Esq., died May 12th, 1789, in her 64th year." " Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Spooner, Esq., and Allathea his wife, died Sept. 12th, 1793, in her 36th year." '-' Mary,' second wife of HonMe Walter Spooner, Esq., died Jany 30th, 1796, in her. 56th year." "Honble Walter Spooner, Esq*, died Oct. 26, 1803, in his 81 year." m " Nancy, wife" of Mr. Walter Spooner, died Sept. 21, 1806, in her 26th year." " Mr. Walter Spooner died July 26, 1808, aged 36 years." " Elizabeth, wife of Hon. Alden SpOoner, died Dec. 14, 1813, in her 64th year." " Dr. Rounsevel Spooner died March 17, 1844, aged 66 years." - "Hon. Alden Spooner died Sept. 28th, 1844, aged 94 years 6 mos. and 15 days." " Susan, wife of Dr. Rounsevel Spooner, died April 25, 1846, in her 67th year.'-' SPRAGUE. "Keturah, wife pf Samuel Sprague, Esq., and daughter ef Rev. Themas West and Drusilla his wife, died Oct. 29, 1706, in her 74th year." " Samuel Sprague, Esq., died Feb. 5, 1825, in his 94th year. The following lines were penned by the deceased, and ordered to be placed on his gravestone : In virtue's school, religion's cheerful voico . • Serves as a guide to the most noble choice; And when God's glory is our chiefest end, He makes grim death to visit as a friend: Then welcome, death; I cannot be afraid, But walk rejoicing through thy peaceful shade." " Mary Sprague, widew pf the late Samuel Sprague, Esq., bprn 29 Oct., 1758, died July 4, 1835." WHELDEN. -.-. ,;" " Ruth, wife pf Jpseph Whelden, died March 10, 1821, in her 42 year." " Capt. Joseph Whelden died Dee. 22, 1854, in his 86th year." " Ann Gibbens died Sept. 23d, 1849, .33.70 years. The deceased was a native of Ireland, and came to America in the 20th year cf her age. She lived in the family ef Capt. Jpseph Whelden many years, and alse in pther families,' sustaining in each a character remarkable fer industry, kindness, and in tegrity. She made a professipn pf religipn in early life, and died in the full enjeyment ef the Christian Faith.'? " Mary, widow of Leonard Hinds, died Sept. 3d, 1833, M. 72 years." " Capt Ephraim Simmons died Feb. 21, 1836, in his 97th year. The warfare is o'er, the soldier 's free, The pensioner 'g at rest, . ' - '¦ To enjoy a glorious liberty • • Among the happy blest.". E 398 \ From the old burial-place, Coggeshall's Farnt.* COGGESHALL. - " Mary, wife of James Coggeshall, died May 26, 1805, aged 19 years 7 mos. and 11 days." " Capt. James Coggeshall died in the Havanna 24 March, 1809, aged 29 ys." " Josias Cpggeshall, Esqr, born Aug. 15, A. D. 1786, died Oct.. 24th, A. D. 1817." * " Major John Coggeshall, a spldier ef the Revo lution, died July 19; 1830, aged 72 years. A lineal descendant of John Coggeshall, Esq., first President of the Colony of Rhode Island." EAST- " George East died June 3, 1818, aged 37 years*" " Hannah, widow of George East, died Dec. 12, 1829, in the 72d year of her age." " George Haydon, son of Theophilus R. and Julia A. C. Marvin, died in Beston May 15, 1842, aged 7 months." " Eunice Madderson died March 8, 1837, aged 88 years." . r- • m "Benjamin Myrick died July 27, 1779, in the 36th year of his age." " Caleh Peckum died March 20, 1819, aged 73 years." ".-%¦. ~^~^-^ :/¦-'-' . I have not, except in a few instances, given every inscription of any family, my object being only to make a general record of some of the "older names, those least familiar to the public. In some cases the stones are wanting, and in others members of families have died and been buried in distant places, * Formerly owned by the Peckhams. 399 so that anything like a. full genealogy of any family could not be made. Yet I trust the record will prove interesting and valuable to some of my readers. Letter from Jabez Delano, of Dartmputh, to his brother, Jonathan Delano,* of Tplland, Ccnnec- ticut, from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1853v_<— - " Louing brother : We haue recd two letters lately from you, fpr which we thank you, wherin you haue giuen us an accnt cf ypur Condition, & we are Comforted to hear it is better with ycu then we ceuld expect, considering that diuers reports of sickness in y° Country, & in ypur persen, & by ypur letter in your fammely, had caused us to fear. Brother, I was Moued to write to you before now, both with in my self & from mother, but I put her off becaus of the sickness (that was in my famely of which through Mercy we haue had a small share to what many of our Neighbours haue had) but especially becaus of yc dangerous condition y* brother Nat11 lay in for some time. I being greatly desierous that my letters might be yc messengers of Joy & not of sorrow tp ypu. And now brother, as we haue Recd Comfort from your letter, we hope these lines may be so to you, & all pur friends, & may find yeu in health & peace; and that cor hearts may be drawn ferth tp thankfullness unto Gpd for all his Mercies. And now I shall briefly touch on what is omitted in Brother Nat11 Letter ; and first, of y6 sickness ; Cencerning Brother Nat" & his yoa haue an accnt in his Letter. Our eldest has had a * " Jonathan Delano and his wife Amy came from Dartmouth, in the county of Bristol, in his majestie's province of the Massachusetts Bay, and settled in Tolland, on ye 8th day of May, 1722. He died March 25, 1752, aged 72 years. He was Town Clerk from 1724 to 17S6." 400 , long lingering Illness, but is pretty well recruted. I am but poprly on 't, my self hauing bin Consid erably ill, this 4 weeks, which makes me write with a trembling hand, the sickness has bin uery geuous in'our town, of which there are four grown persons dead in our uillage ; uiz. Jonathan Hathaway, Rose Spooner, Jemima Badcock, & Amos Taber's wife ; but people are generally pon recouery, & it looks like a time of health. 2a. Of the season (we haue Indeferent good Crops.) We haue had a great drought which lasted from Inglish mowing till about ye Middle of Sept. since which we haue had extrordinary groing weather, till within this 4 or 5 weeks. 3d. Of an earthquake, which was a week yester day, about ten att night, which shook both ye Land & water, the Islands & seas, at that degree7 that seueral doors were shook of ye Latch in cur nillage, & 't is said that at Nantuket ye harth stenes grated one against another, and, that Car, ye boat builder, Run out of his house, got in to a boat for fear j® Island should sink. Mother desiered me to acquaint you that she Greatly desires- to se you, and so we doe all. My Loue to all our friend [s] farwell your Brother Dar* Nouem1 6th 1727 JABEZ DELANO." , It was- my intention to have added a chapter upon the natural history of this vicinity, but as my work has already exceeded in quantity the bounds intended, I have only given a partial synopsis of a portion of this extensive subject. QUADRUPEDS. .' Foxes and raccoons, though occasionally found in this vicinity, are very scarce of late years, and will probably be entirely exterminated by sportsmen. 401 The fallow-deer were formerly abundant, but, ex cepting an occasional stray one from the Plymouth woods, none are now seen hereabouts. In very early times there were wolves and wild-cats, for which twopence per head was offered by the Old Colony government Otters, though scarce, are oc casionally found; one has been killed in the neigh boring town of Rochester during the present Sum mer (1858.) The mink, musquash, skunk, wood- chuck and weazel are still numerous; also the hare, rabbit, and squirrels. Ameng the smaller animals are the meadow-mole, field mouse, and wood mouse. The native black rat has been exterminated by the Norway pr ccmmon house and wharf rat, introduced here from Europe. . BIRDS. The crow, blue-jay, quail, partridge, chickadee, meadow-lark, robin,, pwl and woodpecker (one or more species) remain here throughout ihe year. This is nearly the extreme northern limit on the seaboard of the quail, but the severe winter of 1856-57 almost exterminated them. With the earliest opening of Spring come the blue-bird and song sparrow. I have seen blue birds here as early as the middle of February, de ceived as it would appear by a few warm days, so generally succeeded by severe storms and cold weather, when they necessarily suffer. It is a piti ful sight to see them flying about as though be wildered, still uttering their sweet warble, which has a singular pathos, heard amid the howling of the storm. As the Spring advances come the snipe 402 and red-winged black -bird; wild geese pass over; soon after, arrive the brown thrush, cat-bird, purple finch or' American linnet, ground robin, swamp thrush, wood thrush, white-bellied swallow, barn swallow, chimney swallow, bank swallow, cliff swallow, purple marten, yellow-bird or American goldfinch, golden robin, bobolink, cuckoo (yellow- billed and black-billedj) whippoorwill, wood pe- wee, golden-crowned thrush or over-bird, yellow- throated vireo, red-eyed vireo, warbling vireo, cow black-bird, bay-winged finch, tree sparrow, (this sparrow and the snow bunting are often seen together in the Winter,) field sparrow, swamp spar row, chipping sparrow, pine warbler, the dove, night-hawk, king-bird, great crested fly-catcher, kingfisher, redstart, chickadee, parti-colored warbler or finch-creeper, blue yellow-backed warbler, hum ming-birds, butcher-bird, shore lark, golden-winged, pileated, downy and hairy woodpeckers. The yel- low-rumped warbler is often seen in numbers dur ing the Winter and early Spring. The birds of prey are the eagle (bald-head,) fish- hawk or osprey, hen-hawk, pigeon-hawk, sparrow- hawk, screech-owl, hooting or cat-owl,* and white or barn owl. . .- Water-fowl: the loon (green-head, gray-back, and red-throat,) black duck, sheldrake, water-witchi, red-head or pochard, canvas-back, (occasionally,) brant, teal, eider or Isle of Shoals duck, (wamps,) *A*large specimen of this owl was shot by Capt. Edward Howland from an elm tree near the corner of Spring and Sixth Streets, in this city, in theFalJ of 1856. -.-¦'. —- ¦- 403 cormorant, coot (white-winged, .yellow-billed, and gray,) widgeon, noddy, whistler, haglet, blue-bill, herring gull, white and gray gull, wild gepse, wpod duck. ',. Waders : great heron, night-heron, green heron, curlew, gray-back, yellow-legs, plover (green-head, black-breast, and ring-neck,) sandpiper, yellow- shanks, peet-weet, woodcock, snipe". FISH. Salt-water: smelt, tom-cod, herring, shad, men haden, flat-fish, lump-sucker, whiting, chogset, bass, tautog or blaekfish, scup, (scuppaug, pogies,) cod, mackerel, haddock, pollock, blue-fish, rock bass, sheep's-head, flounder, perch, eel, sculpin, scate, stingray, bellows-fish, rudder-fish, squetteagne, squid, swell-fish, toad-grunter, shark, dog-fish, frost- fish, skipjack. Shell-fish : oysters, quahaugs, clams, lobsters, crabs, scallops, winkles, razors, muscles, star-fish or five-fingers, barnacles. .-. - - Fresh-water : trout, perch (white, red, yellow,) pickerel, chub, carp, silver-fish, minnow, hornpout, eel, clam. FLORA. In this department I have only given a few of the more common plants, such as generally come under the notice of the amateur. The earliest blooming plant we have is the epigsea, (the may- flower er trailing arbutus,) pussy willow, blue, white and yellow violet, the anemone or wind- flower, arethusa, (meadow pink,) uvularia, ginseng, 404 saxifrage, cclumbine, marsh marigpld or cowslip, convallaria, (Solomon's seal,) cinquefoil, chick- weed, painted-cup, speedwell, houstonia, lupine, gold-thread, blue-eyed grass, yellow Bethlehem star, chokeberry, shad-bush, witch-hazel, viburnum, azalea, (swamp honeysuckle, white and pink,) bugle-weed, butterfly-weed, water-lily, pickerel- weed, side-saddle flower, evening primrose, St. John's wort, indigp-weed, yarrow, prchis, cardinal flower, white and pink spiraga, (hard-hack,) marsh rosemary, samphire, petentilla, rhexia or meadow beauty, willow herb, Indian tobacco, Indian pipe, angelica, mallows, loosestrife, American centaury, pigeon-berry, crow-corn, Indian hemp, hawk-weed, agrimony, pyrola, aster, everlasting, mullein, gold en-rod (several varieties,) fringed gentian. FOREST TREES. Ash, beech, birch, buttonwood, cedar, cherry, dogwood (flowering,) elm, hemlock, hickory, holly, hornbeam, locust, maple (several varieties,) oak (black, chestnut, red, white, swamp white, yellow- barked,) pine (pitch-, white,) poplar (balm of gilead,) thorn, tupelo, walnut, willow (a number of varieties.) shrubs,-&c. 7^~- — - Alder, azalea (several varieties,) barberry, bay- berry, beach plum, blackberry, blueberry, bog wil low, buckthorn, chokeberry, clamoun, cornel, dan- gleberry, dogwood, elder, fern, gooseberry, grape (several varieties,) hazel, holly, honeysuckle (sev eral varieties,) juniper, kalmia, privet, raspberry (black, red,) rhododendron (several varieties,) rho- 405 dpra, smilax, spice-wcpd, stag's-horn, sumach, sweet-brier, sweet-gale, viburnum, Virginia creeper, whortleberry, wild blaelc cherry, willow (several varieties,) witch-hazel. Seme ef these are also included in my list of the flowering plants. ;.-• I have intentionally omitted a scientific nomen clature, aud have in every instance where it has been pessible adppted the pppular name. I have< also given the name alone of many genera of which there are many species, my object being to adapt the subject tc the general reader. It will be per ceived that I have net even mentioned several im portant and highly interesting branches of natural history, AGRICULTURE. I have said but little about the agricultural in terest cf the township, which, thcugh compared with seme parts of Massachusetts wculd not ap pear to any great advantage, is nevertheless of no small importance to the inhabitants. For more than one hundred years from the first settlement of this quarter by our ancestors, agricul ture was almcst the sole employment and means of livelihepd, and the people were marked by a general thrift and comfort. Though naturally in many parts very stony, yet the seil, when once cleared and properly prepared, is strong, and well adapted to grass, Indian corn, pptatoes, and other staple crops. Our ancestors unquestionably had to labor vigorously against the stones, rocks and for- 406 est, but for several generations this soil sustained a substantial and independent body of yeomen. Although commerce, the mechanic trades, and manufactures, have abscrbed a large pertion of the enterprise of our inhabitants, still the farming in terest is of considerable importance. The interest in agriculture and the rearing cf stock has greatly increased of late years, and in these particulars, we may compare favorably with other parts of the ter ritory that was formerly under the Old Colony jurisdiction. In former days nearly every farm had its flock of sheep and field of flax, and the loom and spinning-wheel were among the most impor tant articles of household furniture. Very few sheep are now to be seen in the township, neither fer many years prebably has there been seen a field ef flax. 'The eld looms and spinning-wheels have been either broken up and destroyed, or lie stowed away among the rubbish of Old garrets. Agriculture and its attendant occupations are undoubtedly the chief reliance of mankind for a livelihood. Every occupation of human industry has its value ; but the groundwork of all is and ever has been agriculture, and so it^must remain. Although New Bedford has taken her wealth legitimately from the ocean, still it may be worthy of consideration, whether, if a larger portion of the industry, enterprise and intelligence devoted to trade and commerce had been given to the cultiva tion of the soil and to the agricultural interests gen erally than has been the case, a much more general and substantial thrift among our inhabitants would 407 not have been the consequence. Where the largest amount pf any ccmmunity are the censumers of the -necessaries cf life, there must always be sea- sens ef great vicissitude, and a pcrtipn will suffer. Witheut intending any unjust disparity in the cemparispn between the occupation of the mer chant and that of the farmer, it may be added, in conclusicn, that there is much truth in the remark of the late Henry Ccleman, — " The best bank is a bank ef earth, and the best share a plough-share." Agriculture becomes an elegant occupatien in the hands ef the intelligent and cultivated ; and it certainly effers the greatest inducements and at- tractiens to those who have become weary of the . perplexities of commercial pursuits, and whose tastes lead them to a simpler and purer mode of life. Of course, a large portion of the fashienable customs must be dispensed with, and bepks and in tellectual cenverse take the place ef mere exciting amusements. Tc the man er woman of taste, herticulture offers a censtant spurce of pleasurable emplcyment; and this department may also be made ef impprtance in a pecuniary pcint pf view, towards the suppert pf a family. Let ne young enthusiast or wprn-put man of business, however, be deceived by any remarks herein contained. The occupation of the farmer and horticulturist has its cares and perplexities; it also has its valuable compensations, among which are health, and ex emption from many of the temptations to evil connected with the more complicated pursuits of commerce. To those who would try the experi- 408 ment I would%recommend to begin in a small way, deing thoroughly whatever is done. A neat and tasteful rural home, theugh humble in its preten- sipns, is far mpre desirable to the man of taste than the more ostentatieus residence, with its multiplied care and expense. It is by no means necessary to leave our native soil for this end : moderation in expense, and industry, will render it quite within the reach of a family of small means to live com fortably here. In drawing my labors to a close, I am aware how imperfectly my task has been performed ; yet, in a good degree, I feel the assurance of having done. the best I could under the circumstances. The labor of collecting together from so many sources the material for this history has been by no means small, and has required an active attention to the subject for many years. Therefore, if the reader shall find a want of completeness and order of arrangement in some instances, I trust he will re member that such must in a great measure be the case in all efforts of a like nature in an original work. If I have succeeded in saving from oblivion a considerable portion of our history, which I have in many instances received from the lips of those now passed away and from old and scattered rec ords, I shall feel that my time has not been mis spent, or my labors in vain. INDEX, Acoaxet River, 270, 340 Acushnet Heights, view from, 93 Acushnet, orthography of, 90,365 Acushnet River,. 90, 94 Acushnet road, 273 Acushnet village, 272, 275 fine view from, 276 Agriculture, 405 Akin, Lemuel S., reminiscences of, 292,294 Alden, John : his team taken, 297 Allerton, Isaac, 386 Andre; Captain, (Major,) 279, 288 Angelica, 132 Ann Alexander, ship, 106s of, 102 Anti-slavery character of the in habitants, 252 Apponeganset River, 272 Apponeganset village, 272 Architecture, criticisms, on the present 113 former, 112 Baptist church of Tiverton and Dartmouth, 315 Beaver, ship, of Nantucket,. Bedford Bank,. Bedford Bank building, Bedford Commercial Bank, 82 Bedford Marine Insurance Com pany, ,81 Bedford, village of, 70 Belville, 78 Bennett, Deliverance, 213-226 Betsey, sloop, whaling-voyage of,. .62 Bird island 132 Birds 401 Boston Tea-Party, 48 Bounds of old Dartmouth, 18, 28, 343, 348 Bowdoin, Elizabeth, 353 Bowdoin, James, 127, 349 Bowdoin, James -Temple, 127,349 Bownas, Samuel, 38 Brewer, John,. 327 Bridge, New Bedford and Fair. haven, 72, 79 British taxation, act of Dart mouth relative to, 332 British, three men killed by,. .2U,290 Burg, Dr. Benjamin, 821 Burroughs, Peleg, '.. .816 Buzzard's Bay, 129 discovery of, 116 Candle-house, first, 77, 158 Candles, spermaceti, manufacture of, 168 Castle, Joe, 291 Census, 107. 287. 302, 372, 378 Charter of old Dartmouth .32 Cheever^ Rev. Israel, 818 City Hall,..: 835 Claghorn, George,. 60 Claghorn, Capt. William, 866 Clark's Point light-house! 80 Climate, 834 Clinton, Sir Henry, letter of, 279 Columbian Courier 146 contents of, 147 Committee of Accounts, adver tisement of, 140 Congregationalist church, first in Dartmouth, .816 ministers, neglect of Tiver ton and Dartmouth to provide for, -....815 Continental currency, deprecia tion of, 169 Cooke, John, 45, 814 appointment of as Justice of . the Peace, 82 death of, 314 Cotton, John, at Acushnet, 814 Court-House, '. 116 Crane, Benjamin, Dartmouth sur veyed by, 34 Crow Island 92 Cuffee, John and Paul, obtain the rights of citizenship from the Legislature, 256 Cuffee, Paul, 253-262 home of, 255,270 Cummings, John, farm of, 271 advertisement concerning,. .365Custom-House buildin British invasion, 73, 78, 278-299 Cuttyhunk, -II .UT unuu, |U, IU,.II7 invasion, account of from the New Bedford Mercury, 288 property destroyed bv, 74, 200, 282 .16 "fe .836 117,122,876 Dartmouth, 342,844 freemen in, 1670 32 freemen in, 1686, 846 old township of, 18, 152 , 410 Davis, James, 247,Grey, Gen. Charles, . . .278 testimony to the character letters of, 278, 280-282 of, 250|Grinnell, Cornelius, 61, 141, 142 De la Noye. Philip, 386 Grist-mill, Joseph Russell's, 163 Deed of old Dartmouth, from Woosamequin and Wamsutta to William Bradford and others, 16 Delano family 208 epitaphs of, 208, 209, 386 Delano. Jabez, letter of, 399 Devil's Bridge, 353 Dialectic Society, 322 Discovery of Dartmouth by Gos nold 13 Doty, Ei iti u , 6tanzas by 144 Duties collected at this port 107 Dwight's account of the British invasion, 284 Ecclesiastical reminiscences,. .236, 314 Egg Islands, 132 Elizabeth Islands, 130, 132 discovery of, 14 Indian names of, 134 Indian testimony respecting, 333 rhymed list of, ' Elm-street Methodist society, new meeting-house of, England, early intercourse with,. .195 Epitaphs at the old Acushnet graveyard, 85, 188,204, 205, 206, 208, 209, 317, 320, 384 Coggeshall's farm, Long Plain graveyard,. of?. . Essex, ship, loss of 101 Explanation of Indian names, 334 Extent of New Bedford, 372 Fairhaven 345 general character of, Falkland Islands, prosecution of the whale-fishery from Fanshawe, Robert, letter' of, 283 Fearing, Maj. Israel, defence of Fairhaven by, 74, 99, 285, 289 Figure-head, funeral of a, 60 Fish Island, 92 Fishes, 408 Flora, 403 Fragment Society, 322 Friends' Academy, 325 teachers in, 327 Friends, burial custom of, 266 divisions among, 40 dress of, 249 early, 37 Friends' meeting-house, Russell's Mills, 87,39,266 meetings, list of, .' . 41 quarterly' meetings, 41 Friends, strictness of, 38, 60 Gambier, Admiral, 283 Gardner, Edmund, 101 sketches by, "'"'' Garrisons in old Dartmouth, 15, 35, 270 Gosnold, Bartholomew, death of,. .15 his voyage, 117, 122-125 Gosnold's Islet, 119-122, 374, 375 Graham JUichael, 244 Greene, Thomas A., 327 Harmony, ship, narrow escape of,.. Haskins, William, narrow escape of, 813 Hathaway, Arthur, ¦ 45 allowed to administer oaths,. 33 Hathaway, Dr. Daniel 321 lines by, .' 384 Hathaway family,.. 185 epitaphs of, 887 Hawes. Mary, < 176 Health, 334 Houses, old, 34, 160, 162. 198 disappearance of, .186 Howland, George 86, 234 Hunt, Rev. Samuel, 316 Impressment of soldiers, 347 Incorporation of Fairhaven, 863 New Bedford 360 Indian chiefs, .' ¦. 20 communicants, 1698, .316 relics,. 36 Indians in Dartmouth, 20, 95 New Bedford, 190-192 Intrepidity of a woman, 76 Iron-works at Russell's Mills, 22 Taunton, (Raynham.). 43 Joking Quakers, i 171 Journey of the representative from Dartmouth to Plymouth,. . .45 Journeys on horseback, 166-175 Kempton family, 203, 209 epitaphs of. 204, 388 Kempton, Jonathan j treatment of by the British, 295 • Kempton, Manasseh, lands of, 202 Kempton, Patience, longevity of,. .47 Kempton, Thomas, 880 King 6treet, 23 Lauding of Gosnold, Wall's paint ing of, 17 Last of the Wampanoags, the, 96 Legal reminiscences, '....331, 332 Library building, .'. ..336 Light-houses in Buzzard's Bay... .365 Lindsey, Benjamin, Sen 150, 151 Little Eyes a prisoner at Palmer's Island,. . . „ 92 Livery stables^. . . -.-. .306 Long Plain,. 276 Longevity, cases of, 164 Loss of the Royal George. Cow- per's poem on the, .' 177 Loudon, John, purchase of house- lot by, 47 Lyceum,' New Bedford 324 Lyceums, remarks on, 323- Macadamizing recommended, 837 Main street 28 Mansion of Governor Swain on Naushon, : .127,128, 356 Maria, old ship,.., .147,804 Marsh, Isle of, 92 Mary, brig, advertisement of, i40 Mash n o, 182 Massasoit, 15 411 Mayflower, sloop, advertisement of, 144 Medical reminiscences, 321, 331 Medley, the, 137, 143 contents of the first number of...... 139,145 the editor's salutatory, . 138 Meeting-house, first, in. Dart mouth, 37, 39,266 Friends', on Spring street,. .249 Mercantile morals, 227 Merchants, noble-minded, 229 Mercury, New Bedford, 149, 150 Metcalf. Lieutenant, ' mortally wounded, 290, 295 Mitchel], Jacob, appointment of as ensign-bearer, 33 Muster-roll of Thomas Kempton's companv, 1775, 378 Name of Dartmouth, origin of, 22, 125 New Bedford, origin of, 23 Narrow escapes, 308, 313 Natural history, 400 Naushon, Gosnold's visit to, 125 natural characteristics of, 127, 128 old houses on, 355 ownership of, 349 recollections of, by Samuel Robinson, 354 visit to by the author, 126 Newell, George, 328 Newspapers at the present time,. .151 early, 137-150 Nomquid, (Smith's Neck,) 185 Noquochoke Biver, 270, 341 North Congregational church,. North street, Northmen in Buzzard's Bay,. 116, 359 Oath of fidelity, names of those who took the, 1684, 45 1686 346 Obadiah, Sarah, 194 Order of court for more compact settlements at Dartmouth, .31 re ative to the support of the ministry 21, 24, 815 Origin of the whale-fishery, Wall's painting of, 6 Otis, James, residence of at Acushnet, 27 Ouset 132 Oxford village 79 Pacific Ocean, first whalers in, 59, 366 l'ada naram , 272 Palmer's Island, 91 Pascamanset River, 44, 97, 345 Pensioner, an old, story of, 214 Perry, Dr. Ebenezer,. 321 his horse killed, 291 Perry, Dr. Samuel, 321 attempt of the British to burn his house, 383 Perry, Dr. Samuel, Jr., 321 Philip, King, survey of Dart mouth by order of, 18 Philip's War, incidents in, 343 warning of, 298 Phipps, Abner J., 330 Pickens, John, 85 Pierce, Rev. Richard, ,•', 317 Plants, 403 Plymouth records, extracts from, 16, 18, 21, 24, 26, 28, 31-33, 348 Pope, Judge Edward, 206, 832 Pope family, 205 epitaphs of, 205, 206, 390 homestead of, 208 Pope, Nathaniel, naval expedi tion of. 291,293 Pope's Island, 92 Potter, Benjamin, farm of, 271 Prices current, New York, 1799,. . .146 Progress of New Bedford 871 Proprietors, early, 46 names of, - 180 of Dartmouth, 1694, 38 original, of New Bedford,. .160 Proprietors' Records 46, 180 Providence, sloop, capture by, 802 Public buildings, 835 Purchasers ofDartmouth, 26,28 who settled in Dartmouth,. .204 Quadrupeds : .400 Read, Dr. Alexander 831 Read, Frederick, 305 Rebecca, ship, 69-61 Records of Dartmouth, from old surveys, -. 179 Representatives to Old Colony Court, 46 Revolution, reminiscences of, 48, 73. 78, 99, 133, 159. 211, 216-223, 226, 278- 298, 353; 357, 359, 378, 381, 383 soldiers ofDartmouth in,. . .881 Ricketson, Joseph 86, 232 advertisement of, .'.148 Rotch family, 108 Rotch, Joseph, 22, 108, 109 purchase of land by, 98 ¦ Rotch, William, 108, 109, 148. 254 Rotch, William, Jr., .'.108 advertisement of, 140 Royal George, loss of, 177 Russell, Abraham, 163, 884 Russell, Barnabas, 155, 196, 198 diary of, ; 197: letter of introduction given • to, 197 Russel], Caleb 165 Russell, Daniel, lines on the death of, 384 Russel], Gilbert, 166, 169, 176 journeys of, 166-176 Russel], John 163, 154, 269 first representative to the Old Colony Court 44, 153 Russell, Joseph, 164, 270 Russel], Joseph, 2d, 154, 155 RusseU, Joseph, Sd, 42, 155, 166 . family of. 165 journeys of, 166; 167, 173 pioneer of the whale-fishery,. 58 presence of mind of, 167 whaling-vessels of, 59 Russel], Joseph is. Sons,. .159, 196, 196 Russell, Ralph, 22, 162 Russel], Seth. 2d, 141 Russell's Mills, 44, 265, 268 412 Sandwich Islands, first whalers at, 370 Sassamon, John, 18 Sassaquin's or Myles's Pond,. . .44, 97 Scenery around New Bedford,. . 88, 97 Sconticut, 131 Scoresby, William, Jr 67 Separation of New Bedford and Fairhaven, September gale, 308-313 loss of lives in, 312 Settlement of Dartmouth, 152 Settlements, first in Dartmouth,. .185 Settlers at Acushnet and Fair haven, 205 DartmouthFairhaven,Smith's and SI ocum's Necks, 185 Shearman, Abraham, Jr., .70, 146, 148 Shell-fish 403 Ship, first, 48 Shrubs, 404 Simons, Martha, 95 Slave-trade, lines on the, 241 Slocum, Copt. William 308 Small-pox hospital, petition for,. .322 Smith, John, appointment of as Lieutenant, 33 Smith's Mills, .271 Smith's Neck, (Nomquid,) 185 Spooner. Rebecca, 165 Spooner, Hon. Walter, Esq., 331 Squin's brook, 91 Stage-coaches, first line of from New Bedford to Boston, . . 163 advertisement concerning.. .384 Stall, Samuel, 306 Standish, Miles, purchase of land from, 153 Statistics of New Bedford, n, 358, 373 Stone wall on King street, tax for, 162 Story, Thomas, 38 Streets and roads, construction of, 336 Streets, change of name of, 23 in New Bedford, 1795, 304 Suburbs of New Bedford, 273 Swain, Robert, death of, 128 Taber, Bartholomew, 295, 297 Taber, William, a survivor of the loss of the Royal George,. . .176 Tallman, Lydia, 159, 166-168, 175 Thornton, Elisha 236-247 tribute to his memory, 247 Tobey, Dr. Elisha, 821 his house pillaged, 294 Tobey, William; his goods taken, 294 Tompkins, Dr. Silas, 831 Town officers of old Dartmouth,.. 348 Trees, 404 Truxton, Thomas, 359 Union, snip, loss of, 101 Union street, 23 Unitarian church, 336 Vessels registered 1818 and 1819,. .301 Villages in this vicinity, 265 Votaries of mammon, a reminis cence of interest to, .' . . . .306 Wars with England, effect of,. 67, 300 Water-fowl, 402 West, Samuel, D. D., 276, 276, 818 Westport, 270, 340 Westport Point,. . „ 270 Westport village,; 270 West's Island,. .181, 343 Whale, a large, 67 Whale attacking a ship 101, 102 Whale-fishery, 53-69, 100-107, 302 early history of, 64, 66, 105 of New Bedford, statistics of, 378 state of in 1830, ..302 Whalemen, bounties offered to by foreign powers, 57 Whaling song, 68 Wheatley, Phillis 263 lines by,....' 262 Wheldon, Joseph, 60 Whitridge, Dr. William C, 322 Willis, Eliakim, 192 Willis family, 187-194 epitaphs of, 188, 893 houses of, 191 selling land to the Russells and Kemptons, 190, 205 Willis, Jireh, 189 Willis, Col. Samuel, Esq., 831 first ship-owner, 188 Willis, William, 189 Winthrop, John, memorandums of, t 351 Wonderful whalers, the 102 Tallman, William, anecdote by, . ,163Wren, sloop, , 62 EBB.ATA. Page 24, line 26. for " exorcised " read exercised. Page 28, line 16i for " Fritt " read Prill. Page 75, line 35, for " 20 " read 22. s Page 230, line 2, for " as " read Aim. Page 233, line 17, for " frustrated " read prostrated. Page 263, line 11, for "then " read thou. Page 263, line 17, for " His equal care " read This equal ease. Page 321, line 10, for "1727" read 1772. Dr. Burg, and not Dr. Hatha way, was probably the earliest physician of Dartmouth. Page 324, line 30, for " Robinson " read Rodman. Page 396, line 6, for " Ruahry " read Rualmy.