3vuc dj W- J- C . Vol. 3.] APRIL, 1874. [No. 28. THE AMERICAN [HI ilSli HISTORICAL RECORD, AND REPERTORY OF NOTES AND QUERIES jigi CONCERNING THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF AMERICA U AND BIOGRAPHY OF AMERICANS. Hli EDITED BY BENSON J. TOSSING, LT.D.; H! PHILADETPHIA: JOHN E. POTTER & COMPANY. No. 617 Sansom Street. HlHHHBHHHlBHHHHHHHHHIHHHlHHHHBHffli Terms — four dollars per ye.a.r. in advance. CONTENTS. \'KV,V Philip Livingston. - - - . . . i^c How Japan was opened to the Commerce of the World, - 148 The Fabricated " Virginia Resolves," - - . . , m The Military Expeditions to the North West, No. IV., - - 155 Non-Importation Agreements, - - - . - iry Theophilus Whale, - ... . . 160 .\ Chapter on Church Organs, - - - - - 161 Monument on King's Mountain Battle-Ground, - - 170 Washington's Qrderly Books, - - • - - 171 Notes and Queries, - - - . - - 177 Autograph Letters, - - - - - - 181 Societies and their Proceedings, - - - - 185 Current Notes, - - - - - 189 Obituary, - - - - - - 190 Literary Notices, - - - - - 191 ILL USTRA TIONS. Portrait of Philip Livingston, - - - - - 145 The Old Virginia Capitol, - - - - 150 Burns's CofTee-House in 1765, - - - .• - 158 Monument on King's Mountain Battle-Ground, - - 1 70 Iron-clad Gun-Boat in 1814, - - - - - 177 FAC SIMILE AUTOGRAPHS. Henry Clay, - - - - - 171 Ethan Allen, - - - - - - 180 Ira Allen, - - - - - - - 180 James Livingston, - - - - - 183 Joseph Loring, - - - - - - 183 Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Chase, Charles Carroll of CarroUton, - 18/, Robert Magaw, - - - - - ' - 185 AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. i6i THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. Vol. 3. APRIL, 1874. No. 28. jvem. n. lunner account 01 vvnaiy is con- tained in the following extract : — " Whaly was quickly wont to obey the commands of his masters, especially such in whose service he might expect to receive good wages ; forthwith drawing out his men, amongst whom was some boys, all vvnaie, wno seicieu ai i>aiiiiga,iibCL, num Virginia, in 1678 or '79; that, instead of being a refugee from the axe of Charles II., he took refuge in Narraganset to es- cape the halter of Gov. Berkley. M. D. G. Montpelicr, Vt., Feb. 1874. A CHAPTER 0J>} CHURCH ORGANS. The Record i? indebted to Professor W. J. Bruce for the following paper :• Prefacing a letter- written by Mr. AVil- liam Shrigley to Hon. James Ross Snow- den, Corresponding Secretary of the His- ' In a letter to the editor, Professor Bruce says : — "When I read Mr. Shrigley's letter in the Record, I determined to investigate the subject somewhat, feeling certain that among a mass of undigested matter packed away on my shelves, I had something relating thereto. Months slipped away, and in the pressure of other and more para- mount duties, the pleasant task was neglected. Finally I sat down to the labor and have been well rewarded for my trouble. Among the material, stowed somewhat carelessly away, I found an odd volume of the Nezv England Magazine, from which I have prepared a record of some things which would otherwise be soon forgotten, and which may, pos- VOL. III.— II torical Society of Pennsylvania, on the subject of the Church Organ at Winches- ter, New Hampshire, which appeared in the Record for March, 1872, the editor says : — " The subject is an interesting one, and it is hoped will elicit other communi- cations, not only in relation to the earliest sibly, hereafter, be deemed of more consequence than they are at present. " I take no credit to myself for originality or re- search, except to verify as far as possible, the au- thor's statements. My labor has been simply to coHate from the article its more important history^ using freely and often, the writer's own language instead of my own." ^ See Record for March, 1872, page 136. l62 AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. organ manufactured in this country, but also whether there is any authentic account of an organ having been constructed in New England anterior to the one described l)y Mr. Shrigley." In accordance with this suggestion, I have promised myself for a long time, the pleasure of looking up the subject some- what, but until the present, have had no leisure at my command. But to give unity to the subject, permit ine to present a few of the historical data connected with organ-building in- general, after which I shall gladly confine myself to the limits of the Record's suggestion. This word Organ, in the Greek opyw/w, in the Latin orgauum, means an instru- ment. Originally it was used to indicate any mechanical device of implement ; at a later period any kind of musical instru- ment; afterwards its meaning was limited to wind instruments, and finally "to that Avhich is, par excellence, the organ." So wrapped in obscurity is its early his- tory, that it is impossible to obtain any sat- isfactory account of its origin. Ctesibus' is said to have invented the hydraulicon, a hydraulic organ, about 250 B. C. A carving of an organ on an ancient monu- ment in one of the gardens at Rome, is described by Mersenne, as nearly resem- bling those of a more modern age. St. .\ugustine speaks in his writings, of an instrument inflated by means of a bellows. Pope Vitalian is said to have the honor of first introducing organs into Western Europe, about A. D. 670. The one, how- ever, upon which history first attaches with a firm hand, is that presented by the Greek Emperor, Constantine, to Pepin, King of the Franks, A. D. 755. Even before the loth century, England was well supplied with these instruments. Bishop Elfeg gratified his pride by erect- ing, in his Cathedral of Winchester, the largest organ in the country. " They were still very rude in construction, and . of limited capacity. The keys were broad and large, and it appears, were to be ' A mathematician of Alexandria, and inventor of the pump, water-clock, and other mechanical devices.— [W. J. B.J Struck with the fist. The pipes were of brass, and harsh in tone. In the .rath century the compass of many of these or- gans, perhaps of any, did not exceed 12 or 15 notes. About this time half-notes were introduced at Venice." That old chronicler of men and man- ners, William of Malmsbury, in his quaint language, tells of an organ which was played by wind forced through brass pipes by means of hot water. This evidently was a forerunner of the modern Calliope. In 1470, pedals were invented and at- tached by a German named Bernhard, and it was during this century, the 15th, that the instrument assumed mainly its present form. Among those earliest known as builders of note, was the family of Antegnati, of Brescia, in the 15th and i6th centuries; in the i8th, Lerassi of Bergamo, and Cal- lido of Venice. The organoclasts in 1641 permitted very few instruments in England to escape their ruthless hands ; and at the Restora- tion, native talent being exceedingly scant, foreign builders were invited into the field and undoubtedly reaped a rich harvest. This, in, brief, is the historical status of the instrument in the old world up to the 17th and i8th centuries. In what I have to say in respect to the history of its beginning and progress in this country, I shall deal only with New England, and confine myself only to dis- cussing the latter part of tke Record's request — to wit, " AVhether there is any au- thentic account of an organ having been constructed in New England anterior to the one described by Mr. Shrigley." The same spirit that actuated the fierce organoclasts in their devastations, un- doubtedly embarked with the Puritans in the Mayflower, and presided at their counsels after they landed at Plymouth. Being dissenters from the Established Church, of course they were hostile to its government, and mode of worship ; and upon no point was this hostility made more manifest than in the use of the organ in Divine worship. It was, in their eyes, an abomination, as being a vital element in AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. 163 the unholy rites of Popery, and many years elapsed before puritanical prejudice, melting away beneath the genial influences of a more tolerant spirit and a higher cul- ture, permitted the employment of the noble instrument to enhance the dignity, and add fervor to their worship of the Most High. The first organized body of any denomi- nation founded in Boston, was of that sect known as Congregationalists, in 1630. It was not until 1688 that the foundation of King's Chapel' was laid in that city. This was the first Episcopal Church in Boston, and probably the first in New England. Of this latter fact, however, we are not certain. Of course, with the Established Church, came its usual forms and customs. The records of King's Chapel verify this, for I learn therefrom, that Thomas Brattle'^ donated to that church an organ, which was erected in 17 14. There is no description of the instrument given, nor is anything said as to where, or by whom it was built, but without doubt it was of English manufacture, and, I presume, the first organ used in New England for church worship. In 1756 the society of King's Chapel imported a much larger one from London. Christ Church^ was founded iii 1723, and Trinity in 1734, this latter importing an organ from London in 1737. It ap- pears from the records that Christ Church, in 1735, was offered an organ at Philadel- phia with eight stops, but did not purchase it. In 1736, a Mr. Clagget, of Newport, ' It was built of wood, and called " Queen's Chapel," during Queen Anne's reign. Upon the accession of George I. it was called King's Chapel. In it was rebuilt of stone, and in common par- lance was known as " The Stone Chapel." — [W. J. B.] '■' A merchant of Boston, principal founder of the Brattle .Street Church, and brother of the Rev. William Brattle, of Cambridge, Mass. He died in I7i3.-[W. J. B.] ^ Located in .Salem street. * The name is written "Johnston" in the old family Bible. He is supposed to have been a na- tive of Boston, and was born about 1703. He re- sided for many years in his own dwelling, nearly it is said, offered to sell the society an or- gan for ^400. This proposition was favor- ably considered, and being examined and approved by a committee for that purpose, it was finally purchased for the sum of ^300, and was erected in October of that year. Under date of May 16, 1738, a vote is found recorded giving permission to a Mr. Haliburton, " to put up his or- gan in the belfry of the tower." Tiie in- ference is that it was for his own pleasure, and not for the requirements of church service ; and further, that it could not have been a chamber-organ, else it would undoubtedly have found room in his own house. From the language of the minutes the Newport organ was the first used in Christ Church, but they give no sign as to whether this, or the others mentioned, were of English or American manufacture. The records of Christ Church, however, are not altogether wanting in that certain assurance which proves the Winchester organ not to have been, by many years, the first built in New England ; for from these silent witnesses I am enabled to glean an account of the first American- built, or rather New-England-built organ, yet made known. By a vote taken in April, 1752, it was agreed to pay Thomas Johnston* ;^"io, old tenor, for three months use of an organ of his. He was also paid ^30, old tenor, for removing his organ and again erecting the old one in its stead. From this it would appear that the organ owned by the church had been taken down, probably for repairs, and Johnston's opposite the tower of Brattle Street Church, on the west side of Brattle Square. Before he became an organ builder, he was an ornamental painter, exer- cising his art upon household furniture in the em- bossed or raised work as the fashion tlien was. lie also painted escutcheons, or family coats-nf-arms, to place over the doors of the aristocracy, as was the custom on the decease of the head of the family. He engraved music on copper, and printed the old tunes to be bound with the psalm book. The re- cords of the Brattle Street Church show him to have been one of their leading singers. He died about 1768. His son was a lieutenant in the Revolution- ary army, and was wounded at the battle of Long Island. He commanded at one time the only ar- tillery company in Boston. This son afterwards became a portrait painter. — [W. J. B.] 164 AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. put up in its place for the time being; but when renovated, was once more re- stored to its honorable position. The records further recite that xi he should build a new organ for the church, this sum of ;^30 was to be deducted from the price. Following this another vote appears, dated August 11, 1752, setting forth and confirming an agreement that ^' Mr. Thos. Johnstoji juight build an organ, with an echo, equal to that of Trinity Church;" and further that "he should be paid there- for two hundred pounds, lawful money;" also that "he might make a double diapa- son in the treble." Mr. Johnston com- pleted and put up "this instrument during the winter of 1752-3, and it remained in use until the evacuation of Boston by the British,' when this^and the other Episco- pal churches were closed, the pastors and their flocks making their hegira with the English troops. Before they left, how- ever, the pipes were taken out of this or- gan and concealed in a place of safety. On the return of peace, Christ Church once more opened its portals. Public worship was renewed, and the long-hidden pipes, or such as had escaped the ravages of the time, were replaced in their proper positions, and the old organ again pealed forth its anthems of joy and praise. A description of this instrument still ex- tant, recites that "the great organ con- tained seven stops, viz., stopt diapason, open diapason, principal, twelfth, fifteenth, sesquialter of three ranks, flute and trumpet ; and that the swell, or echo, contained four stops, viz., stopt diapason, principal, flute and trumpet. The three first stops of the swell were carried through in the base, outside of the swell-box, and thus formed a choir-organ and swell com- bined. In 1805 it received a new dress, and in 1807 or 1808, Mr. William M. Goodrich,' by a vote of the society, was engaged to repair the instrument. With this patching ^ March 17th, 1776. ^ Another piiper containing some account of Mr. Goodrich will appear in a future number of the Recorb.— [W. J. B.] and mending the Church was satisfied un- til 1821, when by vote, Mr. Goodrich was employed to build a new organ except the case, receiving twelve hundred dollars therefor and the old organ. Mr. John- ston's handiwork was demolished, except some of the wooden pipes which were said to have been put in a chamber organ used ip the Congregational church at Cam- bridgeport. In addition to this organ for Christ Church, which, I think, may be regarded as the first built in New England, Mr. Johnston, on the authority of Mr. William M. Goodrich, is said to have built three other organs, one for Salem, one for Ports- mouth, and one for Marblehead, nearly like it, at about the same period. In design and execution they were constructed after the Trinity Church instrument. It is not known upon what authority Mr. Goodrich based this assertion, but it is barely possible he was misinformed as to a portion of his facts. Only as to a part, however, for thirty-five or forty years ago, the Messrs. Hook, organ builders at Bos- ton, had in their possession the remains of the organ constructed by Johnston for the Episcopal church at Salem, Massachusetts. On the front board, above the keys, was the following inscription, in German text, cut in ivory : — " Sfjomas 3ot)nston $uii, Boston ; Nob-Stn- glorum, 1754.." Mr. Hook, in describing this instrument, stated that it had but one row of keys and only six stops, viz. Stopt diapason, open diapason treble, principal, flute, 12th and 15th. In the course of time, a new in- strument was built for the Salem church, and Johnston's organ was removed to Marblehead and erected in the Episcopal church at that place. This took the place of an instrument (by whom built is un- known), removed for its unworthiness. After many years, Mr. Hook constructed a new organ for the Marblehead church, removing, and retaining in his possession, the old Salem organ. If the first instru- ment at Marblehead was not built by John- ston, it is a fair inference that Mr. Good- AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. 165 rich may have obtained his impressions that Johnston did build and erect an organ for that church, from the fact that the one at Salem was transferred to Marblehead, and remained in use for many years. There is no certain proof that Mr. Johnston ever constructed an organ for any church at Portsmouth. The Episcopal edifice in that place was destroyed by fire about the be- ginning of this century, burying in its ruins any evidence that may have existed, so far as I can learn, relating to its organ, if there was one in that church. About 1768, Mr. Johnston was engaged in the construction of another organ, but deceased before his work was completed. Doubt- less he built many other instruments than those mentioned ; and it is possible that further research may bring to light their history, but I have found no facts relative to any save those noticed in this paper. The question, however, is not. how many but 7ah/:n he built his organs ; and on this point of priority, I think the honor claimed for him is founded in justice, that he was the first to buUd church organs in New England, and to follow it as a legitimate business. In 1786, Josiah Leavitt' essayed his skill in building a chamber organ with four stops. He had accomplished but little, when he secured the services of Mr. Eli Bruce^ to assist him in its completion. Most of the pipes were of wood. Several years after this he was commissioned to re- pair the organ in the Episcopal church at Cambridge, which was done with the assis- tance of Mr. Bruce, to whom he had ap- plied, at once, as an auxiliary. This or- gan was of English origin, and has a his- tory which should ever keep its memory green. Having for years poured forth its harmony in the worship of God, wherein petitions were offered for the royalty of * Mr. Leavitt was a native of Hingham, Mass. He studied medicine, and at one time, 1786, was a practising physician in the town of Sterling, Mass. In bis youth he was a frequent visitor at Mr. John- ston's shop, and thus early acquired a fondness for, and a slight knowledge of the art of organ build- ing. Following the completion of, this instrument in 1786, Dr. Leavitt removed to the stati; of Maine, residing there about five years, and from thence came to Boston.— [W. J. B.] England, with the first echo of the Liberty bell its tones were changed to the clear, sharp ring of musket-balls made from its metal pipes melted down by the American patriots. About 1790 the church was re- paired, and with it the organ as I have stated. Soon after, Mr. Leavitt was engaged in a more extensive piece of work of the same nature — the building of an organ. An Episcopal church was about to be estab- lished at Dedham, Massachusetts, and by the records it appears to have been organ- ized in 1792. A vote of the society author- ized "Rev. W. Montague to procure an organ, the price not to exceed one hundred pounds," and to be "put up previous to Easter Sunday, 1792." The minutes of Augusts, ^795' recite "the money paid to Dr. Leavitt, for building the organ, putting it up in the church, &c." The organ thus constructed by him was a small instrument, having but one row of keys. The same gentleman was commissioned, in 1792, to put up a new organ imported for the Brattle Street Church. Of this in- strument I shall speak again. Dr. Leavitt also built the organ whicli was, for a long period, used in the First Universalist Church of Boston. The society purchased it about 1793.. It possessed but one row of keys, and the following stops : Open diapason, stopt diapason, principal, 12th, 15th, sesquialter, and trumpet. It finally found its way into Vermont, from the auction room. At a later period, the precise date of which I am not able to give, Dr. Leavitt constructed a similar in- strument for the old Congregational church at Newburyport. It afterwards gave place to one built by a Mr. Alley, of that town. Reference has been made to Mr. Eli Bruce. From drawings which he made '■^ Eli Bruce was born at Templeton, Mass., but of the date of his birth I am ignorant. He was bred to the cooperage trade with his father, but be- ' ing an ingenious mechanic, made himself master of many other practical arts. He was a good ma- son, made clocks, repaired and cleaned watches, constructed machmery.^and developed many useful inventions ; among which were two machines, one for making pins, and the other for forming and cut- ting card-teeth. — [W. J. B.] 1 66 amb:rican historical record. while with Dr. Leavitt in 1786, he endeav- ored to build an organ similar to Leavitt's, but being dissuaded by his friends he laid the work aside for some years — in fact, until after his return from Cambridge, when he determined to complete it, which he did with the aid of a Mr. Howe, of Marlborough. It is said to have contained stopt diapason and principal, both of wood, and 1 2th and 15th composed of wood and metal. About 1830, the Congregational church in Templeton divided into the Or- thodox and Unitarian societies, the former of which secured the organ built by Mr. Bruce, and erected it in their church edi- fice. I have now reached a name, doubly in- teresting from tnQj prominence given to it in Mr. Shrigley's letter — that of Mr. Henry Pratt.' Mr. Shrigley's "informant is Mr. Julius L. Pratt, son of Henry," who, he says, "was born and resided here" (inWin- chester) " until his death, in 1841." And further, that Henry Pratt, "in the year 1788, when a young man, and whilst assist- ing his father in building a church in Hud- son, N. Y., obtained drafts of an organ, then in use in another church in Hudson, and which had been brought from Eng- land." The letter also recites that "upon his return home, Henry made known his acquisition to Captain Samuel Smith, a wealthy and influential citizen of Winches- ter," who made proposals to young Pratt to build an organ. The terms being satis- factory, "thereupon Mr. Pratt commenced the work, and in the succeeding summer [1789], he completed the organ." The general tenor of my information concerning this worthy gentleman, agrees with that contained in Mr. Shrigley's let- ter, but varies decidedly in some of the details. As to his birth, the record in my possession, which appears to be founded upon direct statements made by Mr. Henry Pratt himself, asserts that he was born, not 1 Henry Pratt was a carpenter, being taught that trade wilh his father. He possessed much ingenu- ity, employing his leisure hours in making wooden clocks, fifes, violins, surgical implements, tools for his own use, &c. He was extremely fond of music. fW. J. B.l in Winchester, but in Wrentham, Mass., in 1 77 1 — nineteen years after Mr. Johnston had completed his first organ. He was not a resident of Winchester until 1792, his father and family having left Wrentham and settled in the first-named place in that year. Mr. Magoun, in a communication to the Record, under date of November, 1872 (page 510), clearly refutes the state- ment that Henry Pratt obtained his drafts of an organ from any church in Hudson. He says : "In 181 1 the first organ used in any church in this city was procured by the last-named society (Episcopalian) ; and no other church in the city used an organ until more than twenty-five years after that time." The paper before me furnishes a clue to this statement, and adds strength to Mr. Magoun's suggestion that " Mr. Shrigley's informant must have been in error, both as to date and place." Mr. Pratt is said to have " first undertook to make a small or- gan in 1792," the first year of his resi- dence at Winchester. But it was not until 1798 that Capt. Smith, acquainted, doubt- less, with Mr. Pratt's musical proclivities, proposed to him to build an organ. Mr. Pratt, at this time, " had never seen the interior of an organ, and knew nothing more of its construction than what he had learned from an old dictionary of Arts and Sciences." He soon obtained a more practical knowledge, however, from a visit he made to Claremont, New Hampshire, and an examination, while there, of the organ in use in the Episcopal church. This instrument was built by one Newton, at Norwich, Vermont. The organist as- sisted and explained many things to him, and he was thus enabled to make drafts and take minutes of the parts. Eli Bruce, Esq., before referred to, placed in his hands a scale of the length and diameter of wooden pipes. Mr. Pratt agreed to Captain Smith's proposal, and with this limited amount of knowledge and skill, but with much ingenuity, he overcame all obstacles, and turned out an instrument superior in all points to the one he had taken as a model. Mr. Shrigley's letter states that of two of the stops, "the i2tb AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. 167 has fifteen, and the 15th has twenty-nine metal pipes viade from the lead lining of tea chests.'" Was " the art of casting or run- ning out the sheets of metal for pipe" then known in New England ? My record says not ; but it does inform me that Mr. Wil- liam M. Goodrich, while a resident in the family of Captain Joshua Witherle, of Bos- ton, a pewterer and worker in brass, ob- tained a practical knowledge of it from him. Previous to this, and from ignorance of the art, tea-chest lead had been used. It was too thin and frail, however, to be used profitably in pipes exceeding six or eight inches in length. Mr. Pratt built many organs after this, remaining actively engaged in the business during the remainder of his life. Among these was another, about 1801, for his old patron. Captain Samuel Smith, who pre- sented it to a church in Northfield, Mass., and one for Christ Church, at Hudson, N. Y. This was probably the organ re- ferred to by Mr. Magoun, as being the first in use in that city, the origin of which was unknown to him. Altogether, Mr. Pratt constructed twenty-three church or- gans and nineteen chamber organs. They were all of small size, possessed but one row of keys, and from four to six stops. He did not hesitate, however, to express " full confidence in his ability to con- struct instruments of any desirable magni- tude." Mr. William M. Goodrich comes next in order, but designing to speak of him somewhat more fiiUy in a future paper, I desire to say now only so much as shall keep the chronology intelligible. About the year 1800, Mr. Goodrich commenced to learn the business of organ building in the shop of Mr. Pratt, at Winchester, but remained there only about eight months. From there he proceeded to Boston, being then about twenty-four years of age, and shortly after became a resident in Captain Witherle's family. He made such good use of the scanty knowledge gained while in Mr. Pratt's employ, aided by such in- formation as he was enabled to gather di- rectly or indirectly from Captain Witherle and other friends, he succeeded, in 1805, in building an organ for the Catholic church in Boston. From this period, the business was pursued diligently by Mr. Goodrich until the time of his death. The one organ which he regarded as his master- piece, was that erected in St. Paul's Church in Boston, about 1826-7. At that time it was the largest organ in New England. Interesting, as compared with the Christ Church organ, built by Thomas Johnston, in 1752, I give a schedule of its twenty-six stops. Great organ — first diapason, sec- ond diapason, stopt diapason, first princi- pal, second principal, 12th, 15th, tierce (or 17th), cornet of five ranks, sesquialter of three ranks, first trumpet, second trumpet. Choir organ — open diapason, stopt diapa- son, principal, 12th, 15th, dulciana, flute. Swell- — open diapason, stopt diapason, principal, cornet of three ranks, trumpet, hautboy. Pedals — open double-diapason bass ; seventeen large wooden pipes, ex- tending from B down to C, below the man- ual keys. The total number of pipes was about seventeen hundred, the largest one of metal, GG open, being nine inches in diameter, and weighing ninety-three pounds. Following William M. Goodrich, came his brother, Ebenezer Goodrich, who, leav- ing Templeton about the time he reached his majority, came to Boston and entered the shop of his brother in 1804. In 1807 he started business on his own account. He built many church organs, but confined his attention principally to the manufacture of chamber organs. ' For the purposes of his business, he occupied, at various times, premises in different localities. He com- menced operations in Cambridge street, Boston. In 1808-9 he removed to Cam- bridgeport, where Dr. Flagg fitted up a shop for him; about 181 1 he returned to Boston and started on Water street, remain- ing here eight years ; from there he went to Federal street, and shortly after into the shop on Pemberton's Hill, opposite old Concert Hall. The organs put up in the Unitarian churches at Exeter, New Bed- ford, Northampton, and Nashua; in the Orthodox Congregational churches at Ports- mouth, N. H., and Dover, N. H., and the i68 AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. one in the Green Street Church, Boston, (Dr. Jenk's), were constructed by him. From the records I have obtained, Thomas Appleton' appears to have been the next manufacturer of organs. He learned the business under Mr. William M. Goodrich, continuing with him until the close of 1811, when he formed a co- partnership with a Mr. Babcock and two gentlemen of the name of Hayt, under the firm name of Hayts, Babcock & Appleton. They commenced operations in Milk street, nearly opposite the Old South Church. Mr. William M. Goodrich was shortly afterwards employed by the firm to voice and tune their instruments. The company manufactured many organs, large and small. About 1 81 5, the firm became embarrassed and transferred their property to a new concern, styled Mackay & Co., in which Mr. Appleton remained, and Mr. Good- rich became an active partner. The new firm carried on the business about five, years longer, meeting many reverses, and finally dissolved. Following this separation at the close of 1820, Mr. Appleton engaged a building in Hawley Place, and conducted the business alone ; afterwards at a place just north of Boylston Market, where he remained many years, and from thence to the Cambridge street market house. He manufactured largely : his organs being found in some of the New England and other states of the Union. For the satisfaction of those interested, I have appended a list of many ' Thomas Appleton had served an apprentice- ship with a cabinet maker. Ill health forbade his going at once into business, and he attempted to dispose of his machineiy, a part of which Mr. Goodrich purchased, with whom Mr. Appleton thus became acquainted. About 1807 he was induced to enter Mr. Goodrich's shop, and remained nearly four years. The following is a list of many of the organs built by Mr. Appleton after he commenced business for himself in 1820: — Dr. Porter's church, Roxbury; Dr. Nichol's church, Portland, Me. ; Mr. Robbin's church, for- merly Mr. Ware's, Boston ; Mr. Parkman's church, near the Old South, Boston; Unitarian church, Leominster ; Baptist church, Cambridgeport ; Mr. Gilman's church, Charleston, S. C. ; Mr. Wilson's church, Providence, R. I. ; Mr. Colman's church, Salem ; Uniyersalist church, Gloucester ; Mr. Bar- of them in a note at the foot of the page. In addition to these pioneer builders, others appear at and about this time, among whom the names of Messrs. E. & G. G. Hook, Josiah H. AVare, Stevens & Gayetty and Mr. Alley, are conspicuous. Of these, Mr. E. Hook and Mr. Gayetty were apprentices, and Mr. Ware and Mr. Stevens journeymen, with Mr. William M. Goodrich. The first-named firm, with Messrs. Stevens & Gayetty, manufactured at Boston, Mr. Ware at Medway, and Mr. Alley at Newburyport. Mr. E. Hook, after leaving Mr. Good- rich, commenced manufacturing in a small way, with his brother, at Salem, his native place. His first effort was a chamber or- gan for W. W. Clapp, of Boston. While there they constructed fourteen chamber organs, and five church organs of small size. About 1831 the brothers removed to Boston, occupying premises near the foot of Friend street. Here, among others, they built instruments for the New South Church at Salem ; Christ's Church at Nor- wich, Conn. ; Mr. Barry's Church at Low- ell ; Mr. Thomas's Church at Concord, N. H. ; the First Baptist Church at Provi- dence, R. I. ; and Mr. Kingsley's Musical Academy at Boston. The Providence or- gan contained twenty-five stops and about seventeen hundred pipes. Among the organs completed by Mr. Ware, was one upon which Mr. William M. Goodrich was engaged almost to the ritt's church, Chamber street, Boston ; First Unita- rian (Mr. Ware's), New York ; Mr. Pierpont's church, HoUis street, Boston; Mr. Ripley's church, Purchase street, Boston ; Dr. Beecher's, Hanover street, Boston ; Mr. Parkman's church, Hanover street, Boston ; North Church, Hartford, Conn. ; Second Unitarian Church (Mr. Lunt's), New York ; Presbyterian Church, Charleston S. C. ; Mr. Far- ley's church, Westminster street. Providence, R. I.; Dr. Sharp's church, Third Baptist, Boston ; Rich- mond street Church, Providence, R. I. ; South Church, Hartford, Conn. ; Mr. Blogden's church, Salem street, Boston ; Unitarian church, Taunton ; Bowdoin Street Church, Boston ; Mr. Mott's church, South End, Boston ; Dr. Cadman's church, Dor- chester ; First Baptist Church, New Bedford ; First Baptist Church, Salem.— [W. J. B.] AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. 169 day of his death. It was put up for a time in the Medway church. He also built an organ for Rev. Mr. Twining's church at Lowell. My record gives no date or destination of the instruments manufactured by Messrs. Stevens or Gayetty, but presages for them,' being "excellent workmen," honor and profit as the successors of William M. Goodrich. Mr. Alley had manufactured organs in Maine, but removing to Newburyport, car- ried on the business there. One of the products of his skill was the large instru- ment erected by him in Mr. Fox's church, in that place. There were, doubtless, others through- out New England who sought, in a small way, to establish the art and cultivate the public taste in favor of'this grand adjunct to Divine worship, but their names and la- bors are buried in obscurity, unless the discussion of this subject shall bring them to light, and place their names upon the pages of the Record. The principal build- ers, however, in New England, if not in the country, during the early years of its history, with a brief description of the in- struments and their location, will be found, I think, recorded in this paper. There are, doubtless, in this paper, many interesting facts worthy of note and remembrance, which those delighting in things old and rare, will read with the same pleasure I experienced in collating them ; but none will be read with a keener relish than that which is the key-note of the dis- cussion — demonstrating the building of an organ in New England prior to that claimed for Mr. Pratt. If any account of an earlier exists, with a qtiantum sufficit of proof, then I shall be among the first to transfer my allegiance from the old Christ Church organ of 1752, and remove the palm from that old pioneer, Thomas John- ston, Esq. The following are copies of letters re- ceived by the author, on the subject of this paper : — Aihol Depof, Mass., Dec. \st 1873. Mr. Bruce: — Your letter of the 24th November is re- ceived, and in reply will say that the or- gan my father built for Captain Smith, was finished in 1799. As I have learned the story, my grandfather was a carpenter and joiner, and most of his work was on meeting-houses, which he built in various places about the country. My father worked with him doing the joining. They were at work on one in Hudson, New York, where there was an organ, in one of the churches, built in England. My father got acquainted with the organist, and ob- tained permission to make a draft of the instrument, which he did, and came home and made one like it. He built another for the same man (like the first one), which Captain Smith gave to the town of Northfield, Massachusetts. He gave the first one to the town of Winchester, New Hampshire, and also a bell to each town. He finally died a town-pauper in Win- chester. My father's native place is Wrentham, Massachusetts. Respectfully yours, J. L. Pratt. 82 Mf. Vernon Street, Bostoji, Dec. 15th 1873. Dear Sir : — I have received your letter of the loth, and with the clue you gave me, I have searched carefully our Vestry Records, and the old massive Account Book of former Parish Treasurer, and have compiled the following facts: — April 15, 1752. The Vestry allowed ^30 to Thomas Johnston for taking down the old organ and putting it up again, pro- viding he allow the same out of the cost of one which he was to make. August II, 1752. The Vestry voted that Thomas Johnston make an organ for ^200. The Ledger under date of 1759 gives the terms of the contract — "to make an organ of the size of that in Trinity Church, the stops equal in number, with an ad- 170 AMERICAN HISTORICAL RECORD. dition of the great open diapason in the great organ, and the treble of a metal open diapason in the echo-box, exclusive of the case, for ^200. Painting, &c., amounted to _;^i 2. 6. 8. Total, ^212. 6. 8. The second organ appears to have taken the place of that brought from Newport, and according to Dr. Easton's Centennial, it was rebuilt in the interior by Mr. Good- rich, just before 1823. I am very truly yours, Henry Borroughs, Rector of Christ Church. • Mr. W. J. Bruce. MONUMENT ON KING'S MOUNTAIN BATTLEGROUND. MONUMENT ON BATTLE-GROUND. In the Record for December, 1872, is an excellent picture of the place on the King's Mountain battle-ground, in the north-western part of South Carolina, where a monument was erected to the memory of some patriots who were killed in the battle fought there, and also to commemorate the fact that there the British leader. Colonel Ferguson, was killed. The writer of the article accom- panying that picture, says he visited the spot and made the sketch from which the engraving in the Record was copied, early in 1849, ^"'^ presents a copy of the inscription on the stone. I was on the same spot a few years afterward, where I found the monument and the tidip-tree as therein described, yet standing ; and about three years ago. I learned from a friend who was there that both yet remained. At the time of my visit, I made a rough drawing of the monument, which I now send you. It has been " chipped " on the back, by an occasional relic-seeker who has wnndered into that lonely region, far away from all routes of general travel. The battle that was fought there, was a very important one in its bearings upon the future of the old war for indepen- dence. Cornwailis was, at that time. 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