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SWAMPSCOTT :

HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF THE
TOWN.

By WALDO THOMPSON,
Member of the New England Historic Genealos^ical Society.

L YNN :
PRESS OF THOS. P. NICHOLS,
1885.

Copyrighted, iSSs, by
WALDO THOMPSON, LYNN, MASS.

_kh% ')"b^'

PREFACE

The writer of local sketches like these has two
sources of satisfaction, in knowing first that critics
will not judge his work by the strict canons which
control more dignified historical compositions, and
secondly, that his readers will be more interested in
the facts set before them than in their literary dress.
Then, aside from the common interest in their birth
place and home which any ¦wrriter may assume of his
townsmen, a Swampscott historian may fairly expect
some special interest in his efforts. The claims of
localities to recognition by the world have commonly
been either the possession of great natural beauty or
picturesqueness ; or associations' with important his
toric names or events. Now in both these resaects
Swampscott is entitled to consideration. Two hun
dred and fifty years ago her picturesque shore, from
Black Will's Cliff to Forest River, became the home
of Lieutenant-Governor John Humphrey, one of the
great men of our rising Commonwealth. He had not
come over with the large company under Governor
Winthrop, biit remained in England until 1634, to

IV PREFACE.
represent the interests of the Colony before the King.
So efficiently did he perform this service that on. his
arrival he was given, of the the finest estates in the
gift of the government. Here, with his wife, the
Lady Susan, daughter of the Earl of Lincoln, he be
gan the establishment of a manorial home, vvhich
should remind them of the noble estates with vvhich
they were familiar in their native land. If their
modest mansion could not compete vvith the stately
halls, which they had left, nature had been lavish of
her charms, so that no ducal park in England could
surpass their estate in its vistas of meadow and sea
and forest glade. That th^y appreciated this beauty is
made probable by letters afterwards written from Eng
land by their pastor, the Rev. Hugh Peters, ininister in
Salem, with whom Mr. Humphrey was very intimate.
We can picture him spending an autumn afternoon
with his parishioners, talking with the Governor of the
great events portending in England, and walking out
with the family upon the cliff, while the Lady Susan
delighted in pointing out this and that landscape of
beauty, and comparing it with some scene of cherished
memory. At all events their pastor acquired an ap
preciative familiarity with the beauty of our shores.
Having returned to England upon some diplomatic
mission for the Colony, Peters became a warm friend
of Oliver Cromwell, and was induced to stay and help
in forming the English Commonwealth. He preached
a funeral discourse over " the gray discrowned head"
of Charles I. After- the death of Archbishop Land,

PREFACE.

Parliament presented to him his library. From this
library at Whitehall, he writes of his love for New
England, and of its natural beauties, as he might have
admired them in company with his most distin
guished parishioners, when, at their home in Swamp
scott. Though the Humphreys returned to England,
their name still clung to the hamlet where they had
lived, and is now perpetuated in our principal street.
They left also some of their children, as is suggested
by the picture of their einbarkation off the cliffs ; and
from these have descended citizens of whom the coun
try is justly proud. Among others, old John Brown,
our " martyr for the rights of man," traced his
backward to the Swampscott Humphreys.
Of the successors to the Lieutenant-Governor's es
tate, the " Ladye Deborah Moodye," who had once
been dealt with by the famous Star Chamber Court,
was a person of no little consideration in the Massa
chusetts Colony ; and afterward came to have great
influence with Governor Stuyvesant in directing the
affairs of New York. Later, the Burrills, who held
the estate for a century, furnished meri who were
highly esteemed in the colonial councils, and who
were entrusted with some important diplomatic duties.
If other Swampscott families have had less distin
guished associations, they have not been wanting in
those sterling virtues of industry and courage which
are necessary to the founding of communities. In a
conspicuous place in the Representatives' Hall of
Massachusetts has hung for many years a cod, sug-

VI PREFACE.
gestive of the most important industry of the infant
commonwealth. That industry found in Swampscott
efficient promotion, and to this day Swampscott fisher
men hold such pre-eminence on the coast for high char
acter and self-respecting devotion to duty, that the
town may well be proud of its seal. The Bear of
Berne, the Lion of Lucerne, are no truer badges of
honor than is the Schooner of Swampscott with its
hardy skipper at the helm.
And our men of the sea have done more than
increase their country's vvealth. None have been
more forward than they to maintain in battle her life
and honor. In old colonial times we had our repre
sentatives at the siege of Louisburg. Swampscott fired
one of those ' ' shots heard round the world " at Lex
ington. Then, in 1812, our fleet helped man the ves
sels which disputed successfully with the mistress of
the seas, and brought home many a British trophy .
Next to our brave men, we are proud of our old can
non, bearing the royal arms, which was captured by
the ship " Grand Turk," and awarded to Swampscott.
After commanding our harbor for many years from
Winnipesikett Hill, it now rests in its appropriate
place in Monument Square, at the foot of the shaft
which commemorates the brave men who in the War
of the Rebellion, on sea and land, emulated the deeds
of yore.
To enlarge now upon the picturesqueness of our
shores, the romantic beauty of our walks and drives,
and the attractiveness of our fine estates, would seem

PREFACE. Vll
to US to be calling a circle round, the heavens blue, or
the ocean wide. We permit others, therefore, to speak
our praises, only inviting them here to rest from their
toils, and find delight in sea and shore. Let them
come in the heat of summer and lie dreamily upon the
shore, watching '* The fisherman in his boat, far out
Beyond the headland ; ''
Or let them come again in autumn, when the storms
have set in, *' And down the darkening coast run
The tumultuous surges;"
Whenever it is, we shall contentedly await their verdict
upon our shore.
Swampscott, January i, i88j.

AUTHOR'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

In issuing in this form, articles which, when first
published, I ha^ no thought of ever making into a
book, I would tender my grateful acknowledgments
to the numerous individuals, who, in various ways,
have kindly given me their aid and encouragement.
The " Humphrey Family in America," by Frederick
Humphrey, M.D., has given me much information in
regard to Sir John Humphrey and his family. For
many statements herein presented, I am indebted to
printed works and written communications from sev
eral highly esteemed authors and respected friends,
among whom I would mention Alonzo Lewis, James
R. Newhall, and David N. Johnson, Lynn histo
rians ; also to B. J. Lindsey, Town Clerk of Swamp
scott ; the Selectmen of the town ; Horace N. Hastings,
editor of Swampscott Enterprise, and Rev^. George
A. Jackson.
The Author.
May I, 1885.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
FIRST SETTLERS.
CHAPTER II.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME SWAMPSCOTT.
CHAPTER III.
THE HU.MPHREY FAMILY.
CHAPTER IV.
RALPH KING.
CHAPTER V.
OTHER OLD FAMILIES.
CHAPTER VI.
THE SEA SERPENT.
CHAPTER VII.
FISHING INTERESTS.
CHAPTER VIII.
ALONG THE SHORE.
CHAPTER IX.
POLITICAL AND OTHER NOTES.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X.
CHURCHES, REFORM AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
CHAPTER XI.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.
CHAPTER XII.
TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
SCHOOLS.
CHAPTER XIV.
WAR RECORD.
CHAPTER XV.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CHAPTER XVI.
SWAMPSCOTT AS A WATERING PLACE.
CHAPTER XVII.
SUMMER RESIDENTS.
CHAPTER XVIII.
YACHTING.
CHAPTER XIX.
BEACH BLUFF.
CHAPTER XX.
THE POINT.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE MUDGE ESTATE.

HISTORICAL
SKETCHES OF SWAMPSCOTT.

CHAPTER I.
FIRST SETTLERS.

A settlement by the Pilgrim Fathers, a band of
Puritan exiles from England, who had first sought
refuge in Holland, was made at Plymouth, on the
shore of Cape Cod Bay, on the 21st of December,
1620. The exiles came to found a colony, and en
dured their trials with a heroism, the memory of
which their descendants gratefully cherish. Before
landing in America they organized a government in
the cabin of the Mayflower, the ship which brought
them from foreign shores. In 1628, a colony of about
one hundred Puritans, under Captain Endicott, was
planted at Salem, they taking the name from Psalms
Ixxvi : 2 : — "In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his
dwelling place in Zion." The name was given to its
whole territory along the shore. Rev. Thomas Hig-
3

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

ginson and three other clergymen, together with about
two hundred others, settled in this vicinity.
FRANCIS INGALLS.
Of that little band, were Francis and Edmund In
galls, who, in 1629, started from Salem, with" leave
to go where they would." It was in the early part of
June when Francis and his brother arrived in what is
now Lynn. Francis Ingalls was a tanner, and was
born in England, in 1601. Edmund was a farmer,
and settled near what is now Goldfish Pond, Fayette
Street. He was drowned, in crossing Saugus river,
in 1648, leaving a wife named Ann, and nine chil
dren, whose descendants are numerous. Francis set
tled in that portion of the town which was incorpora
ted as Swampscott in 1S53 ; as has been quaintly
sung : — " Two hundred years are gone
And three and fifty more,
Since tjoodman Francis Ingalls
First trod the Swampscott shore."
He found the place inhabited by Indians, with their
wigwams extending from Black Will's Cliff along the
whole North Shore. He commenced at once to
erect a log cabin, and appropriated to himself such
portions of land as appeared most eligible for cultiva
tion. *' Ingalls'" house was a cabin of logs
Of logs, with mud chinked in,
Outside it had a chimney of stone.
And a stone fire-place within."

ingalls' log CABIN, 1626. FIRST TANNERY IN NEW
ENGLAND, 1632.

OF SWAMPSCOTT.

He also built the first tannery in New England, in
1633, on the easterly side of his home, and near Hum
phrey's Brook. The vats remained there until 1825 ;
when they were taken up a hide was found- in
one of them in a good state of preservation. It
has been the custom of tanners ever since to locate,
when the}' could, by the side of a running brook.
From this beginning in Swampscott has sprung an
industry of no mean proportion. In 1880 there were
330 tanneries in New England, distributed as follows :
Maine, S3 ; Massachusetts, 133 ; New Hampshire, 53 ;
Vermont, 53 ; Rhode Island, 4; Connecticut, 11.
Francis Ingalls' log cabin was built on land now
known as the corner of Burrill and New Ocean
Streets. When a house was built on the lot, by
Horace M. Norton, he found relics of the log house
and the stone chimney. Frederick O. Ellis, prin
cipal of the Norcross School, in South Boston, now
owns the estate, enjoying his residence where the first
house was built, in 1629. The Ingalls family have a
fine [imaginary] picture of the log house, tannery and
surroundings, executed by the artist, T. C. Oliver.
As appears from marks since found, the log cabin
must have been about sixteen by thirty feet, facing
due south, as was the custom in those days and for
many years afterward, to enable the occupants to
secure the greatest benefit from the sun in winter, and
also to tell the time of day by marks upon the window-
sill. The luxury of time-pieces were then unknown,
and during cloudy weather the hour-glass was used.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

The house was covered with flags and rushes that
grew near at hand in the pond, which was large in
those days, and whose outlet was by the (what is now
Stacey's) brook, to the sea at King's Beach. Toward
the west, one mile away, he could see the smoke of
his brother's fire, as it curled upward in the clearing.
In full view was the ocean and what is now Egg
Rock. Fish in abundance could be found in the bay,
while shell fish were captured by the shore, on whose
smooth surface the Indian Chief .Squanscot danced
and mingled his song with the roar of the waves.
Francis Ingalls lived in Swampscott during the greater
part of his life, and died at the age of seventy-one
years. He made his will August 12, 1672, and it
was probated in Boston, November i, 1673; his in
ventory was filed November 30, 1672. A copy ofthe
will and inventory, the writer secured at the Probate
Office in Boston, and it is given in full below.
FRANCIS INGALLS' WILL.
In the name of God, Amen.
I, ifrances Ingalls, being weak in bodye But of perfect and
sound vinderstanding, doe make this my last will and Testa
ment, revoking all other wills by me formerly made Imp'rs
first I bequeath my soule into the hands of Allmighty God,
my creatore, and unto Jesus Christ my Redeemer, and unto
the holy spirit, my comforter : and my bodye to be decently
interred, by my survivors. And my will is that all my debts
and funeral charges be discharged by my executors, hereafter
mentioned. Item, my will is that all my estate, movable and
Imovable, I doe give unto my beloved wife Mai-y Ingalls

OF SWAMPSCOTT.

(whom I doe make sole executrix of this my last will) for
the sustentation, support and comfort of her life whilst she
continue in this world. And my will is that when it shall
please God to take her out of this world that then after my
debts be discharged, and my son Joseph belknap satisfied for
his disbursements that then what there shall remaine unto
Elizabeth farman now living at Andover, my will is that she
shall have. In witness there of I have set to my hand and
seale this twelth of August one Thousand six hundred and
seventy-two. his
Witness— FFRANCES X INGOLS.
Peter Brackett. mark.
Jabez Salter.
Peter Brackett made oath in Court this 1 Nov'r, 1672, made
oath that having subscribed his named as a witness was pre
sent on the day of the date of this will and saw ffrances
ingolls signe, seale and publish this as his last will and
Testament and that when hee so did hee was of disposing
minde to mv best understanding. As attests

ISAAC ADDINGTON, Cler.

After mentioning a few minor articles, the inven
tory filed November 30, 1672, was as follows :

INVENTORY OF ESTATE.

5 acres of medow at Lyn at 5 pounds, £25. A piece of
land inye wilderness at Lyn, 2 coats, 2 pairs of breeches, i
pair draws, and a lether dublet, and a wescoat, i hat and a
pair of stockens, i pr. shoes, 3 prs. pillows, 3 napkins, 8
pieces of old pewter, i Iron KittoU, a frying pan, i Bible and
another book, a warming pan, and dripping pan 3 chairs 4

historical SKETCHES

cushons, a spining wheele 2 silver spoons. Dues to his
estate from Nicholas Rich I7£ 17s. Dues to his estate from
Thomas Taylor ii£.
Francis Ingalls was the progenitor of the Ingalls
family of Swampscott, and one of its members, Fran
cis Edmund Ingalls, of Burrill Street, was named for
the two brothers. " The good old founders of our race
Wrought out their own way with toil.
And left to us a record proud,
On old New England soil."
George Keysam, a tanner in Swampscott, and who
was admitted a freeman in December 14, 1638, was
probably connected with Mr. Ingalls' establishment.
He married Elizabeth Holyoke, and had a son, who
died in Salem, 1690.

CHAPTER II.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME SWAMPSCOTT.

The name Swampscott is of Indian origin. Of the
great Algonkin family of Indians who peopled this
country from Canada to South Carolina, and from the
Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains, those who lived in
this vicinity were known as the Massachusetts or
Natick Tribe. Into their language the Apostle Eliot
translated the Bible. Here we may look for the
elements of our name. It is coraposed of two Indian
words, a substantive, Ompsk, and an appellative,
Musqui, meaning respectively (a standing) rock, and
red: with the local affix " ut." Musqui-omfsk-ut
means Hterally " at the red rock." This by con
traction became M'squompskut, and then, the English
dropping the initial m, Squampskut, Swampscot,
Swampscott.* * For this etymology, acknowledgment should be made to the '* Collec
tion of the Connecticut Historical Society," Vol. II., page i8. The writer
has also been curious to consult Eliots* Bible in its use of the above root
words (for rock and red^, and is convinced that the etymology is correctly
traced. The change from the harsher Squam to Swam would naturally
enough be niade bythe English, though in some cases, as in Annis Squam
the rough sound was retained.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Confirmatory of process of change in the name of
Squamskut, an old Indian chief who resided near
the Merrimac River, told the whites: " My tribe has
been accustomed from time immemorial to go south
to the plains every year to pass the summer months."
About the year 1809 the late Colonel Leonard Tliomp
son, of Woburn, saw a rough sketch of the old chief
tain in Billerica,

THE INDIANS.
The Indians were numerous here before white men
trod our shores. Bones of Indians have been found
on Wm. Rowell's land, and workmen while digging
a trench for water pipes near the grammar school-
house found two skeletons, with shells and arrow
heads. They were buried with their faces towards
the south. The Indian time for planting was when
the leaves ofthe oak started forth in the spring. The
women performed all the labor of agriculture, using
clam shells for tools. Fish bon^ were used for
hooks, and wild hemp was made into fish lines.
Their money was of two kinds — one made of the
twisted part of the conkle, and called wampum-play,
or white money, the other of the thick or hinge part
of the poquahoe clam, and called suckauhoc, or black
money ; these were bored with a sharp stone, and
one black piece was equal to two white ones. The
Indians are said to have received the first settlers here

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 9
in a friendly manner, and thought their ship was a
winged island, and the sound of the cannon they mis
took for thunder.

BLACK WILL.
The Indians on the North Shore claimed the land.
Poquanum, or Duke Skin, was Sachem, and was
known as "Duke Wiilliam," and commonly as " Black
Will," in 1630. William Witter who was a farmer,
and lived near what is now the estate of Benjamin G.
Ingalls, testified that "Mr. Dexter gave a suit of
clothes, two stone pestles and a jewsharp for Nahant
and Black Will's Cliff"." The parties occupied the
entire day in making the trade, and it was not until
Mr. Dexter had gone four miles through the woods,
and played sixteen tunes on the jewsharp, before the
assembled tribes, to convince them that the tongue
was not leather, that he secured what he thought to
be a good title to the land. The town afterwards
treated the bargain as void, declaring that Black
Will's deed was " of no more value than the scratch of
a bear's paw," and the matter was finally settled ad
versely to Mr. Dexter. In 1633, several vessels
which had been sent to Pemaquid, in pursuit of
pirates, stopped at Scarborough, Me., where, finding
Black Will, they hung him, in revenge for the mur
der of William Bagnall, who was killed by the Indians
in October, 1631.
4

10 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

GENERAL NOTES.
In 1630, the first brickyard was established in
Swampscott on the northerly side of Humphrey's
brook, near Ingalls' tannery.
In November, 1632, a vessel of which John Hum
phrey was part owner, and which was laden with
fish was wrecked oft' Cape Charles, and twelve men
drowned. The summer of 1634 was very hot, and there was
no rain for six weeks preceding October 14.
In 1634, Samuel Smith, a farmer, lived near what
is now the farm of Colonel Stetson.
The tide rose to a very great height during the
heavy gale August 3, 1638.
In 1638, Edmund and Francis Ingalls were granted
one hundred and twenty acres of upland and meadow,
by order of the Court.
In 1639, the Court forbade the people to spread
bass and codfish upon their lands, for the purpose of
enriching their soil, and also passed the following re
lating to ladies' dress : — " No garment shall be made
with short sleeves, and such as have garments with
short sleeves shall not wear the same unless they cover
the arms to the wrist; and hereafter no person what
ever shall make any garment for women with sleeves
more than half an ell wide, that is, twenty-two and
one-half inches."

CHAPTER III.

THE HUMPHREY FAMILY.

Humphrey elected Deputy Governor. — Arrival in
1634. — Estate in S-watnpscott . — Departure.

Upon the formation in England of the Massachu
setts Company, which purchased from the English
Council of State a patent for lands on these«shores,
where " Non-conformists might enjoy the liberty of
their own persuasion in matters of worship and church
discipline." John Humphrey, an able and wealthy
gentleman from Dorchester, was chosen Deputy Gov;
ernor. When Governor Winthrop's company came
over in 1629, Humphrey remained behind to look
after the home interests of the Colony. He came in
1634, bringing with him various useful gifts for the
infant settlements. In recognition of his rank and
services he was granted a valuable estate at Swamp
scott. In old Massachusetts records, of the year
1635, I find under date of May 6, the following:
" Further it is ordered that the land between the
Cliff" and Forest River near Marblehead, shall for the
present be improved by John Humphrey, Esq." "

12 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

The bounds extended a mile from King's Beach to a
point near a great white oak, which stood until recent
times, and which called out from Mr. Lewis the
lines : —

'¦ O, spare the tree, whose dewy tears
Has fallen for two hundred years."

Upon this estate, the Lieutenant Governor* built
his house — now the old farm house on the estate of
the late E. R. Mudge — having brought the frame
and the bricks for the same from England. Within a
few years this house has been remodeled, and is now
much sought for by summer residents, from far and
near. The farmhouse was provided with large fire
places nearly eight feet wide, and the mammoth
ehimneys would admit a log six feet in length. The
frame was large and strong, and in the present day
its heavy oak beams are to be seen, sound as in "days
of yore." The early settlers of two centuries ago
manifested a becoming shrewdness in building with
substantial material ; were it not so, we would not
have left to us so many of those old houses which to
day stand as monuments of the history of " ye olden
time." The wife of Mr. Humphrey was of a noble family,
being the Lady Susan, second daughter of Thomas,
Earl of Lincoln.

* Though unquestionably entitled to this appellation, Mr. Humphrey
does not appear to have assumed the duties of Deputy Governor on this
side of the water.

OP SWAMPSCOTT. 13

Besides serving as one of the " assistants" to the
Governor, our distinguished townsman became a mem
ber of the Artillery Company in 1640, snd in June,
1641, was appointed to the command of all the militia
in the county, with the title of Sergeant Major General.
Among the incidents of his residence here, the re
cords show that in 1640 his barn, with all his corn
and hay was burnt, by the carelessness of his servant,
Henry Stevens, in setting fire to gunpowder. At the
Court of Assistants, on the first of November, Henry
'Stevens was tried, and on conviction was ordered to be
servant to Mr. Humphrey for twenty-one years, tow
ards recompensing him. The Court also allowed Mr.
Humphrey £250 for his loss, and his good services.
The Humphrey family remained in- Swampscott
until late in the year 1641, when at the desire of the
Lady Susan, they returned to England. The change
was too great from her high position, as the pride of
youth and beauty at the court of the first raonarch in
Europe, to this home in the cold and barren wilder
ness of Swampscott, occupied by its few lonely log
houses and wigwams, round which the Indians were
roaming by day, and the wild beasts by night. Her
sighs for her native land were too powerful for the lov
ing heart of him who had brought her hither to rest.
Bidding farewell to those of their children whom
they were to leave behind, they embarked from King's
Beach, near Black Will's ClifF, only a short distance
from their house. They were soon on board, and
with sails set and anchors weighed, they took their

14

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

last look at these wooded shores, and left for their
native country. The estate, which contained about
thirteen hundred acres, was sold. The homestead,
with the adjoining lands, was purchased in 1641 by
the Lady Deborah Moody, who paid for it i£i,ioo.
Subsequently the house and a considerable portion of
the estate came into the possession of the Honorable
Ebenezer Burrill, in whose family it was handed

DEPARTURE.

down until 1799, when it passed into the hands of
Robert Hooper, thence to his daughter, Mrs. W.
Reed, who in March 27, 1843, sold it to the Honor
able E. Redington Mudge.

DANIEL KING.

Soon after the departure of Humphrey, most ofthe
land belonging to his estate became the property of
Daniel King, who was a merchant, and, in 1642, lived

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 15
in Swampscott, where " King's Beach" still bears his
name. Whether he purchased the homestead property
from Lady Moody or not is uncertain, but he seems
to have had it in possession soon after she went to
New York. In Judge Newhall's history of Lynn
(edition of 1883), he says : "The King family were
located chiefly about Swampscott, though they owned
land in other quarters. They were an enterprising
family, and in addition to farming and fishing, car
ried on a varied sort of commercial business, their
traffic extending even to Barbadoes. * * The in
ventory of the estate of Daniel King, Senior, who
died May 28, 1672, gives an amount of i:;i,528 9s."
GENERAL NOTES.
September 4, 1640, there was a great storm and
high tides. In October money was very scarce,
which caused the value of land and cattle to fall one-
half. The winter of 1642 was exceedingly cold, and very
deep snow ; and there was great alarm among the
colonists, occasioned by the reported determination of
the Indians to exterminate them.
John Phillips settled in Swampscott in 1650, and
he died in 1694. His wife's name was Hannah, and
they were parents of two children.
In 1651, the Court ordered " that no person who is
not worth two hundred pounds shall wear any gold
or silver lace or any silk hose or scarfs."

16 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
On Sunday, July 12, of this year, three raen of the
Baptist persuasion, whose names were John Clarke,
J. Crandall and O. Holmes, came from Newport,
and went to the house of William Witter, at Swamp
scott, "now two miles out of the town of Lynn"
says their Chronicle. Mr. Clarke preached and ad
rainistered the sacrament and re-baptized Mr. Witter.
This having been reported to the authorities, two con
stables were sent to Swampscott to apprehend them
as disturbei-s of the peace. Having a warrant, they
entered the house vvhere Mr. Clarke was speaking,
arrested the three strangers, and took them to Lynn.
The next day they were taken to Boston, where they
were tried and fined thirty shillings. One ofthe men
refusing to pay the fine, he was severely punished.
Mr. Witter was brought before the Salem Court in
November for " neglecting discourses and being re-
baptized." In 1656, John Blaney, whose house was near
Blaney's Beach, was united in marriage with E.
Purchise. A road from Lynn to Marblehead, over the Swamp
scott beaches, was laid out July 5, 1659.
March 8, 1661, Richard Saltonstall bought a lot of
land, and it was recorded as being in Swampscott.
This year, also, nine acres of Swampscott land was
purchased by Robert Ingalls.
In the year 1671, Daniel King made his will and
spoke of the' property being in " Swampscott," and
not in Lynn,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 17
In 1678, Indian corn was two shillings per bushel.
When the Indians had mostly retired from this part
of the country it was thought important that their
titles should be conveyed to the settlers, and up to
16S2 many deeds were given and recorded.

CHAPTER IV.
RALPH KING.
Laud Titles. — Ralph King's Deed.

LAND TITLES.
The writer has a copy of a plan of land in Swamp
scott, surveyed by Joseph Burney at the request of
Eben Burrill. The lot contained six hundred and
fifty-four acres and eighty-eight poles. There were
only five houses on the land, situated as follows : —
That of Walter Phillips, Sen., at Phillips Point, near
Phillips Beach; Walter Phillips, Jr., on the C. P.
Curtis estate (^1883) ; Eben Burrill, on the Mudge
estate; Joseph Blaney, on Black Will's ClifF; and
Jacob Phillips, near the residence of the late Joim P.
Palmer. Only two of the above are now standing
(18S3). Captain Ralph King mortgaged the prop
erty with the others to William Brown, of Salem.
The boundaries commenced at Red Rock, following
the shore to Phillips Beach, thence across Long Pond
to Paradise Road (so named at the present day),
through Mudge's Woods, and thence westerly to the

SWAMPSCOTT. 19
Starting point. A copy of the plan raay be seen in
the Town Library room, presented to the Library by
the writer. RALPH KING.
Ralph King, one ofthe Selectraen of Lynn (Swamp
scott), in June, 1681, when he was about forty-two
years of age, with the aid of some others, ran the
Lynn line between Lynn and Boston. He married
Mary Elizabeth Walker, of Lynn, in March, 1663.
He passed away in about 1670, leaving to his son his
estate at Fisher's Point, now called Phillips Point,
Swampscott. RALPH king's deed.
The following is a copy of a deed given July 28,
1684, by Ralph King to William Brown. See Reg
istry of Deeds, vol. 29, page 281 : —
To all xtian people to whom this present deed of Sale shall
come Ralph King of Linn in new England & Elizabeth his
wife send greeting.
Know yee that wee the sd Ralph, and Elizabeth King for
and in consideration of the Sum of Three hundred pounds in
money in new Engid to us in hand before the encealing &
delivery of these presents-, well & timely paid by William
Brown, Esq., of Salem in New England, the receipt where of
wee doe here by acknowledge, and our selves there with to
bee fully satisfied and paid. Have given, granted, bargained,
sould, aliened enfeoffed assigned and confirmed, and by these
presents do freely, fully and absolutely give, grant, bargain

20 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
sell alien enfeoft", assigne and confirm unto the Sd. William
Brown, his heirs and assigns, all that my ffarme given me by
my hounrd ffather, Daniel King, deceased, being 1200 acres
of Upland and meadow, bee it more or less, being situate and
lying in the township of Linn commonly called by the name
of Swampscott, which land is butted and boundgd with the
sea, ab't the westerly end ofthe long pond lying along by the
sea syde and soe upon a straight line quite over to a little red
oak, standing on a brow of a hill, on the southerly syde of a
path goeing to my ffarme where George Darlinn, did live
which tree is markeawith (D : & A k) on the notherly syde,
and an R & A K on the westerly syde, & soe this lyne runn
betweene Lynn & my ffarme & soe to run all along betweene
Linn & my ffarme, to a running brook at the sutherly end of
John Farrs & Edward Richards Lotts, and over Swampscott
pond to a little walnut tree on the westerly syde of the pond,
marked with (R K) on the northerly side with (N F) and soe
to run westerly to another walnut tree marked with (R : K :)
on the syde and (N : F :) on the northerly, and is bounded on
ye northerly syde with the land of Ezekiel Needham, and soe
all along upon a brow of a hill westerly, and soe to the
highway that goes to Linn, to a. stake & heap of stones, &
from thence southerly down to the sea, against the high way.
Together with all fences, walds, waters, intercourses, liberties,
privileges and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belong
ing, and all o' Estate right, title and interest of in and to ye
s'd bargained premises, or any part or parcel there of with all
original deeds, wrightings & evidences touching or com
mencing the same — faire and uncancelled to have and to
hold the above bargained premises and every part and parcel
thereof unto him Ye Sd William Brown, his heir and assigns
to his & their only proper use, benefit and behoofe for ever,
and we the Sd Ralph and Elizabeth King for o'r selves o'r
heirs, Exec'rs and Adm'rs doe covenant promise and agree to
and with Ye Sd William Brown, his heirs and his assigns by

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 21
these presents that wee the Sd Ralph and Elizabeth at the
time of the encealing and delivery hereof are Ye true and
lawful owners of ye above bargained premises us, or either
of our heirs Eri'crs Adm'rd or other persons b^' our, or either
of our means consent default title or procurement, and that
wee shall and will at any time hereafter upon request for that
end, made to us or either of us give unto the Sd William
Brown, his heirs or assigns such further and complete as
surance of all the above bargained premises as in law or
equity can be devised advised or required. Provided alwa^'s
and it is agreed vipon by and between the partys above named
and any thing herein contained notwithstanding that in case
the within named Ralph and Elizabeth King and of even-
part & parcell thereof and have in ourselves full power and
good right and lawfull authority to bargaine sell and assure
ye same as a good perfect absolute and indefeasible estate of
inheritance in fee simple without any manner of condition,
reservation or limitation of use or uses what soever & freely
& clerely exonerated acquited and discharged of and from alt
former and other bargains, sales, gifts grants mortgages,
dowries titles of dowre power of thirds and of & from all
other titles, troubles charges & incumbrances of what nature
or kinds soever, And without ye least deniall let hindrance so
it trouble Eviction, ejection of us ye Sd Ralph and Elizabeth,
or either of them, their or either of their heirs, Execrs.
Admrs. do well and, truly pay or cause to bee paid unto the
above named William Brown, his heirs, execrs. admrs. or as
signs at his dwelling house in Salem above S'd the full sum
of sixty-eight pounds in current money of New .England on
or before the twenty-eighth day of July one thousand six hund
red and eighty-five, and sixty-five pounds in current money
on or before the twenty-eighth day of July, eighty-six and
sixty-two pounds in current money on or before the twenty-
eight day of Julyi eighty-seven, and fifty nine pounds in cur
rent money on or before the twenty-eight day of July, eighty

22 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
eight and fifty-six pounds in current money on or before the
twenty-eight day of July, eighty-nine, and fifty and three
pounds in current money on or before the twenty-eight day
of July, one thousand six hundred and ninety, without fraud
or delay then the above written deed to bee utterly void and
of none eft'ect other wise to abide, and remain in full force
and virtue to all interests and purposes in the law whatsoever
and the estate of the Sd William Brown to become absolute
in the premises. In witness whereof wee the Sd Rallph and
Elizabeth King have hereunto put our hands and seals, this
twenty-eighth day of July, in the thirty-sixth year of His
Magisties Reign, Anno. Dom. one thousand six hundred and
eighty-four, 1684. RALPH KING, [seal.j
ELIZABETH KING, [seal.]
The word (my) betweene the fifth and sixth line interlined
and ye first word in ye thirty-six line Blotted before signing.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
BENJA. BROWN,
WILLIAM REDFORD.
Mr. Ralph King of Lin and Elizabeth his wife came before
mee & he acknowledged the above written instrument to bee
his act & deed & she delivered up her right & dowre &c there
in, Salem, July 28, 16S4. Before mee •
JOHN HATHORNE, Assest.
Rec'd this 23d of July of Mr. Ralph King the ^
first sume of eighteen pound in money, I say V iS. £.
received J
Rec'd this 30th of July i686 in money, eigh- "j „ ,
teen pounds in money, I sav Rec'd p'rme ^ o * '
William Brown ¦ ' [ 18. 00. 00.

CHAPTER V.

OTHER OLD FAMILIES.

The Burrills. — The Ingallses: — The Phillipses.
The Blaney s. — The Fullers. — General Notes.

THE BURRILLS.

Ebenezer Burrill, who was born July 13, 1679, was
Representative from Lynn for six years, and in 1731
and 1746 was chosen Councillor. He was sent as
Commissionei^to Casco Bay to treat with the Indians
on the 17th of July, 1732, and returned August 5.
He lived at Swampscott at the place where Mr.
Humphrey formerly resided, and died September 6,
1 761, at the age of eighty-two years. He was a raan
remarkable for sound judgraent and activity in all
useful enterprises. Among his personal property
may be found enumerated "one negro slave," named
Csesar. When Casar died hewas buried on the Bur
rill farm, on the lot now owned by William Rowell,
who found and removed the remains to a more quiet
resting-place,

24 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

THE INGALLS FAMILY.
John IngaUs, a descendant of the first settlers of
Lynn and .Swampscott, buill a shoe shop in the year
1790, and manufactured wooden heels, a pair of
which is now in the possession of his grandson, Fran
cis E. Ingalls. The shoe shop is still in good re
pair, and is standing on a private way leading from
Humphrey Street, near Blaney's Beach, and is known
as the " Red Shop." John Ingalls was born Septem
ber 14, 1761, and married Martha Blaney in 1782.
He died May 2, 1842, and his wife died April 10,
1S42. Joseph Ingalls was born in Lynn, in that section
now known as " Woodend," in 1785, in the old
"Burrill" house. [The John Ingalls house, which
was moved to Swampscott, was originally a shoe
shop, and was purchased with the proceeds of a sale of
a cow, which -was sold at Woodend for forty dollars.
^Vfter its removal to Swampscott it was enlarged at
four difierent times, by the father and son, until it
reached its present size. It is now the residence of
Elbridge G. Foster. j Mr. Ingalls entertained much
Summer company, and the large dining room was well
adapted for evening meetings and social gatherings.
The house was often the headquarters of the Canter
bury and other Shakers, who came to Swampscott in
the warm weather, in their covered wagons. In the
morning they visited the beautiful cove in front of the
present " Lincoln House," to bathe in the salt water,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 25
which gave it the name of the " Shakers' Bedroom."
In the evening they would assemble in the large room,
and, sitting down, they would spread their white
handkerchiefs in their laps and keep time with their
hands while singing their evening hymns. In front
of the Ingalls house stands an old-fashioned rose-bush
which has been blooming every Summer for ninet}'
years. The pale white rose, tinted with red, with its
heart of gold, is as fragrant to-day as when its soft
petals fell in the air that blew frora over the sea long
years ago. Joseph Ingalls lived to the ripe old age of
eighty years. He was a very benevolent man ; he at
tended church at Woodend (Methodist). His sister,
Mrs. Abigail Phillips informed me, in 1863, that pre
vious to the year 1807 they walked to church in
Woodend, across King's Beach, then across the fields
near what is now King Street, Lynn, to what was
known as the " Piece of King's," where there was a
large flat rock. On reaching this rock they would sit
down and exchange their coarse shoes and stockings
for "peaked-toed" shoes and silk stockings; then
leaving the old ones beneath the rock, they went on
their way. On their return another change was
made, thus keeping their best shoes from the rough
walking near the shore. From an old newspaper is
taken the following, in relation to Joseph Ingalls: —
" The College Bell. ^Last Saturday morning the new
bell for the Manhattan College was elevated to its high posi
tion. Its great weight rendered it diflficult to raise it safely
to its commanding position, but under the masterly skill of
6

26 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
J. P. Ryan, who directed the operations, the bell was speedily
lodged in its sphere of labor. This bell, the gift of Joseph
Ingalls, Esq,, of Mass., is fine-toned, and its clear loud peals
can be distinctly heard five or six miles. On the bell is the
inscription, 'Presented to BUiemont College, Manhattan,
Kansas, by Joseph Ingalls, Esq., Swampscott, Mass., 1861.'
The donor, a venerable and noble philanthropist of 77 years,
has, by presenting this useful gift to this noble institution,
raised a lasting and eloquent memento of his benevolence
among the beautiful hills and fertile vales of this far offiand,
infinitely more suggestive and eloquent than the most costly
marble in the shades of Mount Auburn, If every man of
means would devote a part of his wealth to similar objects,
these institutions would not long languish for endowments."
Ephraim Ingalls, brother of Joseph, wasborn in the
year 1805, and died in the year 1873, aged sixty-eight
years. He married, in 1824, Elizabeth Cloon, of
Marblehead, and they lived next-door neighbors to
Joseph. She died at the age of fifty-eight. They had
ten children, seven sons and three daughters.
Ephraim A., who was borii in the year 1S26, died
September 17, 1S82. He learned the shoemakers'
trade of his father, but the bench was not active
enough for him ; consequently he packed his kit and
started on a more active life. He was a student at
the " Lynn Academy," and afterward studied law
with Abner Goodell, Esq., and was a member of the
law firm of Ingalls & Parsons. In the year 1863 he be
came a member of Pratt & Babb's Express. Mr. In
galls held many iraportant offices, both State and muni
cipal, and was City Clerk of Lynn ih 1859 and i860,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 27

Joseph A. Ingalls, brother of Ephraim A., after
receiving his education, was a clerk in a grocery-store
and post office kept by Waldo Thompson, for a num
ber of years. In 1858, he went to Boston as clerk for
the-" Mass. Steam Heating Co.," afterwards T. S.
Clogston & Co., where he was admitted as a member
ofthe firm in 1868. In 1875, the firm was changed to
Ingalls & Kendricken. It is now one of the leading
firms in the steam-heating business, they being located
on Sudbury Street, Boston. Mr. Ingalls has filled the
following militarv offices : — Enlisted as private in
Co. I, Sth Regiment, M. V., August 20, 1862. Pro
moted to Qtiartermaster Sergeant, November 7, 1862,
and again to ist Lieutenant and R. Q. M., 8th Reg
iment, M. V. After the war he served as ist Lieu
tenant and R. Q. M., 8th Regiment, M. V. M. Cap
tain and A. Q_. M., 2d Brigade, M. V. M. Captain
and A. D. C, 3d Brigade, M. V, M. Major and A.
I. General, zd Brigade, M. V.
Benjamin Ingalls was a well-known and successful
fisherraan of Swampscott in the year 1845.
In the year 1829, Miss Judith M. Ingalls, aged ten
years, ;ittended Miss Louise Grosvenor's private
school, held in what is now the Weeks house, there
being about fifteen scholars in the school. While
there she worked a sampler, which her teacher de
signed for her, witli flowers and vines, for a border, a
small house on the right, a weeping willow hanging
over a slab, at the left, the family record in the centre,
together with these lines, composed by the teacher :

28 Historical skETCkES

" Happy the man to whom God sends
Obedient children, faithful friends;
l-low sweet our daily comforts prove
When they are seasoned witli His love!
And when by death He takes a friend
All should in sweet submission bend.
Children and friends and blessings, too,
God, our Sovereign, makes them so."
Mrs. John R. Honors has this sampler in a good
state of preservation.

EVENTS IN 1786. ,
In April, 1786, Benjamin Ingalls, while throwing
an anchor from his boat, becaine entangled in the an
chor rope, and was drawn overboard and drowned.
In December the snow was seven feet deep on a
level. James Phillips and Mary Burrill were united in
marriage July 7, 1S05, by Rev. Peter Jayne. They
had seven children. Mr. Phillips successfully cured
and introduced to the market the celebrated " Phil
lips Beach dunfish," which in after years were cured
by his son, Eben B. Phillips, and since his death by
Abner Hayford, of Swampscott. They are widely
known and sought for by all lovers of salted fish.
James Phillips was one ofthe owners of the first fish
ing schooner owned in Swampscott, the " Dove," pur
chased in 1795. He is represented as standing at the
helm of the "Dove," on the Town seal, adopted in
1S81.

Of SWAMPSCOTT. 29

About 1835, Mr. John M. Ives, of Salem, received
two or three marrow squash seeds from a negress
whose husband was a cook upon one of the merchant
ships, Captain Lord from Valparaiso ; he also ob
tained the tomato seed in the same raanner as " love
apple ;" and after growing them a year or two, back
of his store, he was told by a sea captain that they
were eatable, and from that time they were used as
food. Mr. Ives planted his two or three squasli seeds
near his store, and raised many squashes, and sold the
seeds for six cents each. Captain Lord also gave Mr.
Erastus Ware, who lived on the old Hinckley farm of
Marblehead (where his son, Horace Ware, now cul
tivates the same squash), five marrow squash seeds;
he planted three seeds and gave two seeds to Mr.
James Phillips which he planted, and saved all the
seeds from the squashes raised, and the next year,
Mr. Phillips planted and raised the first marrow
squash that was sold in the Boston market.
In 1834 Farmer Phillips grew two hundred and
eight bushels of corn on one acre of ground.
" Put your hands to the plough ; put the plough in deep ;
And remember the words for the wise to keep —
* As every man sows, shall every man reap,'"
Eben B. Phillips was born at Swampscott, July 15,
1808, and died in his 72d year. In 1814, he attended
school in the first schoolhouse built in town, which
was situated near Whale's Beach. In early life he
followed the farming and fishing business, but in 1830

30 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

he engaged in dealing in and manufacturing cod liver
oil and other oils, and dunfish. He was one of the
largest land owners and tax payers in the town. He
was president ofthe Marblehead Grand Bank twenty-
one years, from 1857 to 187S, and director from 1841
to 1879, thirty-eight years. He was a peculiar man
and possessed of great cunning as well as shrewdness.
It was his custom about two or three times a week
to cany up a cart load of dunfish to Boston, supple
mented frequently by an addition of game, such as
black ducks, peeps, etc., for- which he was always
sure to find a good market and obtain good prices.
OIL JOKE.
About the year 1854, when Mr. Eben B. Phillips
was in the oil business on Fulton Street, Boston, he
had a bill against one of his customers that he consid
ered uncollectable, and, being one day in the office of
a lawyer, with whojn he was a acquainted, he left it
with him for collection. After several months had
elapsed, Mr. Phillips met tlie gentleman, and inquired
what success, if any, he had in collecting the bill ; he
replied that he had collected it with interest, but, said
he, "Mr. Phillips, to tell you the truth, my business
has been so very dull that I have used the money to
pay my family expenses, but rest assured, I will pay
you every dollar. If you could give me employment
at your store, I will work it out." Mr. Phillips said :
'' If you desire to cancel your bill in that way, come

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 31

to the store Monday morning and I will set you at
work, and pay you one dollar an hour. The follow
ing Monday morning, at nine o'clock, the lawyer
entered the store, and reported for duty. Mr. Phil
lips furnished him with a pair of overalls and a frock
which he donned, and was shown a pump used for
pumping oil to fill barrels from a large cistern in the
basement. Soon after commencing work, Mr. Phil
lips left the store to attend to other business ; return
ing about two hours afterwards, he enquired of Mr.
Phillips what became of the oil that was being
loumped up ; he replied that it ran back into the cis
tern ; then he said, " What good am I doing.?" "You
are only working out your bill as you proposed to
do." " Then I shall do no raore if such is the case."
The joke was too good to keep, and soon it became
known among the acquaintances of the lawyer who
often referred to pumping oil.
Captain William A. Phillips lived and died at what
is now Lincoln House Point. He was born in 1798,
and died in 1S70, aged 72 years. He was one of the
Minute Men at Salem fort, and captain of the Lynn
Rifle Company. He was Collector of Taxes in Lynn
for a number of years. I have a tax bill receipted by
him forty years ago. He was connected with the
Salem Custom House for several years, and his head
quarters in Swampscott were at the old Red Shop.
When Farmer Phillips was manied, many were
the surmises among the neighbors as to what his wife
would be like, how she wotild dress, et?, The fact

32 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
was, Mr. Phillips had taken a position in the village
of Swampscott as one of the shrewdest, wealthiest,
and most clever, besides being one of the most en
terprising, farmers who had settled in that part of
Swampscott village. He was looked up to by raany
upon important subjects. The farra-house was a
one-and-one-half story house with an ell, having three
rooms on the first floor, and two in the attic. In the
course of twenty years, three additions, were put on,
and it was a pretty specimen of a farm-house home
stead. A soft green lawn, with green fields, on
wliich were a few trees, sloped down from the eastern
side of the house to a clean, shallow farmer's pond,
where geese and wild ducks cackled and dabbled in
the sparkling waters. The front door faced the
southeast, and was approached by a short entrance
from the old Lynn and Marblehead cart-path.
" We sat within the farm-house old,
Whose windows, looking o'er the bay.
Gave to the sea breeze, damp and cold.
An easy entrance night and day."
Farmer Phillips kept summer boarders until 1S45,
when he rented the house to Daniel Roberts, who had
been living with him many years. The house was
burned in 1867 ; it was built in 1640.
BANKING INCIDENT.
The following story was related to the writer by
Mr. Roberts, who was living with Farmer Phillips at

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 33

the time : " Mr. Phillips was connected with a bank
of long standing in Lynn, and the bank had prospered
for many years, but at last came a singular event ;
from some cause Micajah C. Pratt, the President,
wanted Mr. Phillips to bring up all the bags of specie
he had, for he anticipated a run on the bank. Mr.
Phillips at once carried up the money, and informed
Mr. Pratt that if need be he would mortgage his farm
at Phillips Point to obtain a further amount for the
same use. Mr. Phillips was then regarded as one of
the wealthiest men in the East.
The late General Sutton also referred to the same
incident, relating the story to Rufus Kimball, of
Lynn, substantially as follows : Micajah Pratt called
at his house in Danvers, informed him that a run was
expected on the bank the next day, and asked him if
he could afford any assistance. General Sutton an
swered that he would see what could be done, and
promised to " drive over" to Lynn in the raorning.
He then related his adventure to Lynn, in his old
chaise, saying that he pulled up in front of the bank,
where a large number of people had collected, and
inquired if Micajah Pratt was in the bank. Mr. Pratt
soon made his appearance, and General Sutton handed
out a large number of bags of coin, which Pratt, with
the assistance of the bank officers, carried to the vault.
The display of money was so formidable General
.Sutton said that the "run" ceased, and the crowd
dispersed, satisfied that the bank was all right. Gen
eral Sutton said that he did not see Micajah for some
7

.34 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

weeks afterward, but, meeting him one day, he said,
" Sutton, I wish you would come and take away those
bags of gold; we have never opened them." "I
then told him," said General Sutton, " that the bags
were filled with coppers, but I knew they would stop
the run on the bank !"
In this connection, the following is given in regard
to savings banks: Joshua C. Oliver used to enjoy
telling a story of a litde Frenchman, in Philadelphia,
who loaned his money to Oliver, because he thought
him safer than the savings banks. A rumor got
abroad that Mr. Oliver had failed, aud the French
man went to his counting room one morning, under
great excitement, and demanded his money. Mr.
Oliver immediately filled a check for the amount due
and handed it to his creditor. The Frenchman was
surprised, and said : " Mr. Olivere, if you can pay me
I do n't want the money, but if you can't, I want it
quick!" OLD FARM HOUSE.
In 1689, Captain Shubael Walker lived in a farm
house, near what is now Humphrey's Square. A few
years since the old cellar and bricks were to be seen,
and others were to be found in the soil, just below
the surface. The late Jona. F. Phillips told me the
following, which he said was told him by old settlers :
" In the rear of the farm-house was a pig pen, and as
the farmer's wife was looking from one of the farm-

OF SWAMPSCOTT.

house windows, she saw a bear come from the woods,
jump into the pen, capture a pig and escape with it to
the thick woods on the hill (Clambake)."
SAD OCCURRENCE.
On the i2th of July, 1830, Joseph Blaney, Thomas
Stone, John Proctor and Captain N. Blanchard, left
Swampscott in the schooner " Finback," forty-two tons
burden, for a fishing trip. When about twelve miles
southeast of Minot's Ledge they anchored, and each
taking a dory left the vessel, and when sorae distance
apart began to fish. In a short time their attention
was attracted toward Mr. Blaney, who was standing
up in his dory waving his hat. At the same time
they discovered that a huge shark was in the dory
and was making vigorous efforts to get back into the
water. Captain Blanchard started at once for the
scene, but suddenly the boat was overturned, and Mr.
Blaney, boat and shark, disappeared from his view.
The dory soon came to the surface, bottom up, but
Mr. Blaney was never seen afterwards, and it is sup
posed he was devoured by the " man eater." When
searching for the body a few days afterwards, a large
shark was captured, which some supposed to be the
one which caused Mr. Blaney's death. The shark was
placed on exhibition in Boston. The dory was much
damaged during the encounter. The following lines
on the sudden death of Mr. Blaney, were written by a
contemporary poet :

36 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

May this event a warning- prove
To all the crew, and every friend ;
May they adore the God of love,
Whc still from dangers will defend.
Dark and mysterious are his ways,
He gives, and takes but what he gives ;
At his command nature decays,
And at his word revives and lives.
Though hard to part with one so dear,
To know he sleeps in ocean's bed;
Yet, mourning friends, dry up the tear,
His spirit for a while has fled.
Vet, a few passing years at most,
The earth and sea their dead give up,
Then, at the rising of the just,
Shall he appear with faith and hope.

OLD BLANEY HOUSE.
The old Blane}'' house, situated on Humphrey
Street, and near Black WilTs Cliff, was built by
Captain Ralph King, in 1641, and was occupied by
J. Blaney, in 1656. The house is still in good repair,
and is occupied by three tenants. The front chamber,
up stairs, is now used as a studio, and numerous
sketches of Swampscott and vicinity decorate its
walls. In the southeast room may be seen the solid
oak timbers overhead, about six inches below the plas
tering. There may be seen the outlines of a once
large fire-place, in which an eight-foot log would look
lonesome without others to keep it company, as they
blaze and crackle in the fire,
" Where glowing embers through the room —
Teach light to counterfeit a gloom."

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 37
Here also may be found an old-fashioned pitcher,
the property of Mrs. Mary Bufton Archer Pierce,
bearing the following inscriptions and decorations :
Washington securing liberty to America ; Wisdom
and Justice directing to Dr. Franklin — an oval-
shaped scroll, in the centre of which are these lines :
" O, Liberty, thou Goddess, heavenly bright,
Profuse of bliss, and fragrant with delight,
Eternal pleasures in thy presence reign.
And smiling plenty leads thy -wanton train."
Outside the scroll are the names of the fifteen
States of the Union — New Hampshire, Massachu
setts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Verraont
and Kentucky. This picture was brought home from
England by Mrs. Pierce's grandfather.
THE BLANEY CHAISE.
In the year 1814, " Daddy " and " Marm " Blaney,
rode to church, from the old Blaney house, which yet*
stands near Blaney's Beach, in an old, high, square-
top, two-wheeled chaise, with large windows in the
sides, made to open with iron hooks, or braces,
which gave it the appearance of having wings. It
was a very stylish vehicle in those days, and no doubt
the turn-out was deemed as gay in appearance and
form as those belonging to the summer residents of
the present day.

;iS HISTORICAL SKETCHES

THE FULLERS.
In 1 75 1, Mark Graves built a house on the beach
side of Joseph Fuller's house, for Daniel Fuller, and
Mark Phillips lived in it ; it now stands near the post
oifice. [William Fuller's house was built in 1841,
near his father's (Joseph Fuller), at Blaney's Beach.
He afterwards went to Magnolia, Massachusetts, and
sold the house to his son, Daniel W. Fuller. In
1S67, Daniel W. Fuller, removed to Magnolia, and
purchasing a large tract of land at the point, he built
several cottages, and in 1877 erected the hotel near
the shore, now so favorably known as the " Hes
perus," which will accommodate about one hundred
guests. He was an energetic, liberal-minded busi
ness man, a warm friend and a good citizen. He
was suddenly killed by falling down the shaft of a
mine at Leadville, Colorado, February 19, 1880.
The bod}' was brought to Magnolia, and interred in
the family tomb.J ECHO LAKE.
In former 3'ears, there was a large pond known as
"Echo Lake," whicb has since been drained and im
proved, and now is known as " Thompson Meadow,"
on George Newhall's Beuna Vista farm, near Salera
line. The late Oliver Questrom once told me it was
great feeding ground for wild birds, and he often went

OF SWAMPSCOTT. .39

there gunning. He said the first time he fired his
gun on the shore of this pond, there came across the
water a sound so real, that he thought some one was
on the opposite shore, firing towards him, so he
shouted to them to be careful, while he went further
along the shore. It "was, as he soon found out,
caused by the echo. After the pond was drained,
there were found many bones of both rare and com
mon .species of fish.
RUFUS parrott's shoe shop.
In 1814, Rufus Parrott had a shoe shop in the
upper part of his store, which was located near his
house on Cherry Street, Upper Swampscott, then
known as " Sodom." Here he eraployed all the shoe-
raakers in the neighborhood, which contained only
seven dwellings. There were but twenty-five houses
in the whole village at that time. Every Saturday
Mr. Parrott went to the Bostoii market and sold his
goods. BIG GALE.
A severe gale in September, 1815, did great
damage to trees and fences, and the spray of the
ocean was carried a long distance by the wind. A
house which was built in 1690, by Walter Phillips,
Jr., on what is now Lincoln House Point, was
blown down in this gale. A new house -was built on

40 historical sketches
the spot, and occupied by W. A. Phillips; at his
death, it was sold and removed to a spot nearly half
a mile towards the east.
first woolen carpets.
There was not a woolen carpet in the town or vil
lage in the year 1815, and sanded and white polished
fioors were to be found in every house. In 1818,
however, three woolen carpets appeared in Swamp
scott. They were earned by Mrs. Maiy Seger, Mrs.
Joanna Blaney and Mrs. Mary Weeks, who bound
shoes at home to pay for these luxuries, while their
husbands were away fishing. It is safe to say that
not all the carpets of the present day are obtained in
this manner. SLAVES IN swampscott.
Jacob Phillips had a slave, and at his death he was
buried in a lot at the east of the Phillips estate, at
" Beach Bluff'," so called, in 1884.
ANTICyjE AND CURIOUS.
Rev. W. H. Rogers has in his possession interest
ing historical relics. A cane made from wood taken
from a house built in Plymouth, in 1698, on the estate
originally owned by Governor Bradford. Apple
seeds plucked from apple trees, which were planted

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 41

in what was known as the " Old Black Orchard," in
Plymouth, in the year 1670. These trees were plant
ed by Henry Cobb, who lived while Peregrine White,
who was born in the Mayflower, in 1620, was still
living. The, trees were of the variety known as the
high top sweeting, and were still bearing fruit in
1882, after having stood for two hundred and twelve
years. A human jaw dug up from Burial Hill, in
Plymouth, in 1881, and supposed to be the jaw of an
Indian, so pronounced by corapetent anatomists.
Wood from the Washington elm, in Cambridge,
under which Washington took command of the
American Army, in 1775-
Rev. G. A. Jackson has a piece of a mulberry tree,
which he brought frora Scrooby, England, the home
of the Pilgrim Fathers before they went to Leyden.
The tree grew in the garden of the old manor house,
occupied by Elder Brewster, and is said to have been
planted by Cardinal Wolsey, who once owned the
estate. S. T. Beers has a double sugar bowl, an heirloom in
the family since 1697; also a finely embroidered bag
made by a miss of ten years, one hundred and six
years ago.
W. P. Martin has an ancient pair of gold balances.
The family of Ebenezer Thorndike have two china
plates, known to be more than one hundred and eighty
years old.
A chair formerly owned by .General Glover, of Mar
blehead, who crossed the Delaware with the army of
8

42 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Washington, during the Revolution, was presented
by him to Mrs. Hannah Phillips, and now is owned
by her son, Mark G. Phillips.
Captain Joshua P. Small has a plate which was on
the " Corona," when she was wrecked at Cape Cod,
in 1760.
The Stetson family have an arithmetic bearing the
date of 1724, and said to have been used by General
Washington ; a pin containing a lock of Washing
ton's hair ; a shawl one hundred and fifty years old ;
a tumbler two hundred years old ; two spoons which
were once the property of the celebrated MoU Pitcher.
The faraily of S. C. Pitman have a painting repre
senting Salome, the daughter of Herodias, bearing
the head of John the Baptist, on a charger. It was
brought frora England, by Judge Lynd, of Salem, and
is a fine work of art.
In 1884, " Red Gables," the summer horae of the
authoress, Grace A. Oliver, at Phillips Beach, is
perhaps one of the rnost unique along the north
shore. The large front door is of ancient work.
The lock is about 8x12 inches, and the key rerainds
the observer of the famous " key of the Bastile,"
which now hangs in a glass case, on the south wall,
in the old mansion at Mount Vernon. The house is
filled with many articles of rare furniture collected
from far and near.
The writer has " The New England Chronology,"
by Thomas Prince, M. A., printed by B. Edes and
F. Gill, in King's Street, Boston, in 1754. The fol-

of SWAMPSCOTT. 43

lowing is quoted from it: "Salera, June 12, 1630.
The Governor, with these assistants onboard the "Ad
rairal,'' and some other gentlemen and gentle women
go ashore to their friends at Salem. Many of the
other people also landing on the eastern side of the
harbour, and regale themselves with the wild straw
berries, wherewith the woods are everywhere in these
times replenished."
Daniel P. Stimpson has in his possession a Testa
ment handed down by his ancestors. Testament with
annotations, etc., by Rev. S. Smith, D. D., published
in London, England, i737-
James E. Alger has a large number of almanacs,
bearing dates from 1763 to 1796, by Nathaniel Greene,
printed and sold by William McAlpine, in Marl
borough Street, Boston. The almanac of 1794 has
on its calendar page these lines :

' The husbandman contented smokes,
Drinlcs cyder, reads the ne-ws;
And cracks his nuts, and cracks his jokes.
Himself and friends to amuse."

GENERAL NOTES.

The first paper money was issued in 1690.
In 1727, on the 29th of October, a shock of an
earthquake occurred. There was a sound as of a
chimney on fire, the sea was violently agitated, and
stone walls and chimneys were overthrown.

44 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
The winter of 1740-41, was the coldest ever known
in New England, and many cattle and sheep were
killed. April 4, there were four feet of snow on the
ground, and the ice was not wholly melted until
July- In 1745^ a house was built by N. Lewis, near
Rowe's farm, now Beach Bluff'; a brook then ran
through the farm to the ocean.
December 9, 1755, a whale, seventy-five feet long,
was landed at King's Beach. Dr. Henry Burchsted
rode into his mouth in a " chaise," drawn by a horse ;
he afterward had two of the bones set for gate-posts,
at his house on Essex Street, where they stood for
more than fifty years.
Many raccoons were shot at Swampscott during
the year 1814.
In the first week in January, 1850, James Phillips,
had five cats killed and skinned at one time, and the
warm flesh bound to the body of his sick child, who
was ill with the shingles, thereby efl'ecting a cure.
In 1879, 'w° tomahawks were unearthed on the
E. B. Phillips farm, Swampscott, and proved to be
interesting relics of the days of the red man.

CHAPTER Vi.

THE SEA SERPENT.

Seen in 1638 at Cape Ann; in ijgj at Mount
Desert; in 18 ig^ 1820 and i84g at Siva7npscott.

"I am the Ichthyosaurian old;
I lived iri the world before the flood;
I 've caught many a fisherman bold ;
Our tribe, though few, are of ancient blood.
We roam the sea, as we roamed it, when
Job and the Prophets roamed the earth ;
Some of those wise and godly men
Mention me. Since creation's birth
I 've been king of the heaving sea.
None dare dispute it; far and near
The fishes all look up to me;
I shall reign forever here." John Bartlett.
That singular marine monster, the sea serpent, is
said to have first made its appearance near Swamp
scott, in 1S19. We have accounts of its appearance
as early as the year 1638, when, according to Lewis'
History of Lynn, Dr. John Joslyn speaks of '•'• a sea
serpent or snake, that lay quoiled up, like a cable,
upon a rock at Cape Ann. A boat passing by, with
English aboard and two Indians, they would have

46 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
shot the serpent, but the Indians disswaded them,
saying that if he were not killed outright, they would
be in danger of their lives."
In a letter to the Salem Gazette., dated Portland,
Maine, August 3, 1793, Captain Crabtree, who had
lately arrived at Frenchman's Bay, and then at Port
land, says: "On the 20th of June last, being on my
passage from the West Indies, in the morning, having
just made Mount Desert Island, distant nearly ten
leagues, I suddenly got sight of a serpent of an
enormous size, swimming on the surface ofthe ocean,
its head elevated about six or eight feet out of water,
rather prone forward. That part of the body which
was out of water I judged to be about the size of a
barrel in circumference, but the head larger, having
some resemblence of a horse's. According to the
most accurate computation, which I made in my mind
of his length, I think it could not be less than frora
fifty-five to sixty feet, and perhaps longer. That part
of the body which was not elevated, but of which I
had a distinct view several tiraes, was longer than the
part out of water ; the body of a dark brown."
The same paper stated that " a party, well pre
pared, was to have sailed from Marblehead, on Satur
day morning, for the purpose of attacking this animal,
which, by the last accounts, was near Kettle Island,
a short distance this side of Gloucester harbor."
In a letter to Honorable Judge Davis, James Prince,
Marshall of this District, dating from Nahant, August
16, 1 81 9, gives an account of the serpent, as seen

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 47
from Long Beach, one view being so near that his
coachman, who was with him, exclaimed, " O, see
his glistening eye !"
Andrew Reynolds, Jona. B. Lewis, Benj. King and
Joseph Ingalls, of Lynn, August 20, 1820, testified
under oath as to what they saw of this serpent, the
stateraent of Reynolds being as follows, and those of
the others being corroborative :
I, Andrew Reynolds, of Lynn, of lawful age, depose and
say: That on Saturday, the fffth day of August inst., about
I o'clock p. M., I discovered in the water, near Phillips
Beach, at Swampscut, an animal different from any that I had
ever seen before : he was lying on the surface of the water,
which was at that time very smooth," and appeared to be
about 50 or 60 feet long. Jona. B. Lewis and Benj. King,
who work in the same shop with me, also saw him, and we
took a boat and rowed towards him ; we approached within
about 30 yards of hira, and had a very distinct view of him.
He had a head about two feet long, and shaped somewhat
like an egg, which he carried out of the water when he was
moving. There were several protuberances on his back, the
highest points of which appeared to be seven or eight inches
above the level of the water. He was perfectly black. When
we first drew towards him, he was moving westerly from
Phillips Point, and as we drew near to him, he turned and
moved to the eastward, and when we got within about thirty
yards of him he sank under water and disappeared."
Francis Johnson, Jr., of Nahant, testified, July 12,
1823, that in going into the harbor from Nahant, he
saw " standing in to Lynn harbor something re
sembling a row of porpoises," and two hours after'

48 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
wards, saw " about four rods distant, something re
sembling the head of a fish or serpent. It then stood
eastwardly, at the rate of five miles an hour, with an
undulating motion, like that of a caterpillar ; its coior
was dark, like that of a porpoise. I firmly believe
what I saw to be the animal hitherto described as
the ' sea serpent.' " PI. A. S. Dearborn, Nathaniel
Amory, Sidney Bartlett, Thomas Whitmore, Richard
D. Harris and Russell Jiirvis certify to the veracity of
Mr. Johnson, who was a fisherman then, twenty
years of age.
Later, various persons testify to having seen this
monster, among them being the late B. F. Newhall,
of S:iugus. In 1S49, John Marston, a fisherman of
Swampscott, appeared before me and testified thnt he
"saw the whole body of the serpent, not the wake,
but the fish itself."
So endeth this chapter on the sea serpent. Proba
bly the stufl'ed skin of this monster is never destined to
adorn the walls of any museum, or his remains to
repose in any pickle other than his native brine.

CHAPTER VII.
FISHING INTERESTS.

Old Ti-me Fishing. — The Dove. — The Pinkeys.
— The Jane. — Fishing Notes. — The Pinkey
Schooner Hornet. — TJie Sivampscott Fleet. —
Lobster Fishing.

OLD TIME FISHING.
"The Indians," says an old writer, "thought the
first ship was a walking island, and the masts were
trees ; the sails, white clouds ; the discharge of ord
nance, thunder and lightning, which did rauch trouble
them." After the ship carae to anchor, they went in
their canoes to explore the new island.
Previous to the year i795 no schooners were en
gaged in the fishing business at Swampscott. The
fish were very numerous near the shore, and the fisher
men went out from the beaches only in dories.
In the winter of i795) a few fishermen — James
Phillips, Jonathan Blaney, E. Burrill, Beniah Phillips,
Joseph Fuller and others — wishing to follow the fish
to their feeding grounds, purchased a schooner called
" Dove," of about twenty tons burden.
9

50 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

*' The ' Dove ' lies tossing; in the bay.
How glorious seems the stranger;
With tapering mast and streamers gay,
She dreams not now of danger."
This schooner was engaged in the fishing business
until the year i797i when she was driven ashore near
"New Cove" in a storm, and became a total wreck.
Another schooner named " Lark," sixteen tons bur
den, was then bought, but during an October gale, in
1799, she sunk near her moorings. A third schooner
was secured and named for the first, " Dove." From
that time to the present, the number of dories has
greatly increased, and the lone "Dove" has given
place to a fleet of first-cli^ss sea-going schooners and
lapstreak whale-boats. Two or three hand lines, with
one hook each to a man, were generally used until the
year 1857, when trawling was commenced, with six
hundred hooks to each trawl ; now the number
reaches in some cases as high as ten thousand hooks
to a trawl.
As far back as 1826, the Swampscott fleet num
bered six vessels, from twenty-seven to forty tons
each, old measurement. These were all ofthe "pink
stern " class, without bowsprit or jib, but instead
stood a red stern-post, for luck, as a sentinel to guide
the boat on her watery way. The boats were called
"jiggers" at Swampscott, but at all other seaport
towns in Massachusetts, they were known as " Che
bacco boats," named for the plate where they were
built, now Essex. A few years later, the jib was

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 51

added to the two larger boats, the "Laurel" and
" Leader,'' and they bore the high-sounding name of
pink-stern schooners.
From 1818 to 1842 very little improvement was
made in constructing and modeling the fishing boats,
as regards speed. Although every new vessel was
thought to be perfect by her owners, skill and man
agement did more to bring out her sailing qualities
than did any superiority of model. These boats
were not built from any particular design, but by the
eye, and from patterns of other vessels.
In 1837, Thomas Southard, of Charlestown, Massa
chusetts, formed the idea of constructing a boat from
a raodel of his own. Mr. Southard had worked on
vessels for many years, but until then had never built
one. He made what was called a "block model,"
about two and one-half feet long, from which he took
his draughts and molds, laid a keel, and timbered up
what was called a " skeleton model." Mr. Southard
was very sanguine that his model was one for great
speed ; the Boston pilots thought otherwise, when it
was shown them. He vainly tried to interest them,
and get them to assist him in building a pilot boat,
but they ridiculed the whole thing, saying " there
was no speed in such a model," etc. Nothing daunt
ed, he applied to Sears Brothers, of Duxbury (Ly
man, George and William), who were delighted with
the model, and readily consented to build the vessel.
These men were fishermen, and their business took
them daily to the Boston markets in the summer

52 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
season. Speed was highly necessary for the work.
In the year 1837, the keel of this vessel, destined to
be celebrated, was laid at the foot of Captain's hill, at
Duxbury. This hill derives its name from being
once the property of the renowned Captain Miles
Standish, who came over in the " Mayflower.'' Mr.
Southard worked with the Sears Brothers until the
vessel was planked, and then left them to finish the
remainder. The brothers were real fishermen in
every respect, but no mechanics, as might be known
by the finish of the upper works of this boat. After
being launched into her native element, she was a
queer looking craft, straight as a plank on deck, her
stern neither pink, square nor ellipse, but much re
sembling the heel of a last. In due time she com
menced her summer trips to Boston, where she was a
source of amusement to all who saw her. She was
named for the wife of her designer and master builder
— "Jane." Many were the nicknames attached to
this boat, the most prominent being " Hogs' Trough,"
but her good qualities were hidden and unseen, as
she was soon to prove to the world, that she could
" walk the wears like a thing of life." The fame of
the "Jane" soon spread through all Massachusetts
bay, and especially in Boston harbor, where every
one was astonished at the sailing qualities of the
vessel. The pilot boats were obliged to succumb to
the queer-looking craft, their crews acknowledging
their mistake regarding the model, and generously
giving the "Jane" credit-for all that was justly her

OP SWAMPSCOTT. 53

due. No fishing vessel in the bay was ever more
celebrated than the "Jane." The nicknames applied
to her gradually wore oft', and she was looked upon
with admiration wherever she went.
In 1842, the "Jane" was bought by Swampscott
fishermen. E. B. Phillips, who always had an eye to
great speed in vessels, being the master spirit in the
purchase. Another well-known Swampscott fisher
man was also eager to become her buyer, and when
it was known that the "Jane" was for sale there
was sharp work between these two as to which should
first close a bargain in the purchase. Mr. Phillips
was the fortunate man, having just paid over the sura
asked for her as the other party arrived on the spot
to buy. One of the owners with Mr. Phillips took
along his "pile" bound with a fathom of cod line,
and he as well as the other owners, never regretted
the investment then made in the "Jane." She was
then run as a market boat the year round, and was a
success, owing in part to her fast sailing. This suc
cess gave a new impetus to the enterprising fisher
men, and in a few years the entire fleet was revo
lutionized. The model of the "Jane" was a starting
point, but soon several ofthe townsmen made models
of their own, and to-day Swampscott fishing boats
are noted for their stanch build and fine sea-going
qualities. Report says that the tide ebbs and flows in
the once renowned "Jane," at Kittery, Maine, and
that mementoes are still sought for in the hull of this
noted schooner.

54 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Much credit is due to Messrs. James A. Knowlton,
Walter B. Lowell and Warren T. Small, for improv
ing the raodels of former days. Many dories, lap-
streaks and seine boats are now built at Swampscott
in the shops of Messrs. Small and Ivory Emmons.

LOBSTER FISHING.
Previous to the year 1808, men and boys would
wade in the water, amongst the rocks, and capture
lobsters, which were very plenty in these days. About
the year 180S Ebenezer Thorndike invented and used
a lobster pot or trap, the first used in the State, and
began catching lobsters for the market. He then
lived in the old "Story" house, recenti}' removed
from the lot now owned by Dr. Chase, on the corner
of Story's Court and Humphrey Street. The house
in its dimensions resembled a good-sized shoe shop,
with a small chamber overhead, called the " quarter
deck," which was reached by a ladder from the floor
below. Here he sowed the seeds of industry, from
which he reaped an abundant harvest. He was en
gaged in shoemaking, fishing and lobstering. For
several years, commencing in 181 7, Captain J. F.
Story, W. Phillips (nicknamed "Red Head"), and
Cyrus Washburn run a lobster smack to and from"
Charlestown, for Mr. Thorndike, who had a lobster
market there.
When Colonel Charles A. Stetson was proprietor

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 00
of the Astor House, in New York, I forwarded to
him a live lobster, which weighed raore than twenty-
two pounds, it being one of the largest ever caught
at Swampscott. It was placed on exhibition at the
hotel, and attracted much attention, both while of its
original dark green color, and when itwas changed to
a bright red after boiling.
A lobster, who had by years of patient toil and
careful economy accumulated a snug sum of money,
cast about him to see how he could use it to deserve
the gratitude of the public.
The codfish was found posting up his account
books, and when informed of the lobster's mission he
laid down his pen, and replied, " You have come to
the right adviser, my friend. It is needless to inform

COD FISH.

you that for the last hundred years the cod has had to
stay under the water most of the time on account of
having no fit clothes to appear on shore. With that
money we can rag out with the best, hold our heads
with the highest, and we will no longer be quoted in
market at a low figure."

56 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

FISHING NOTES.
Fishing has been in former years the principal
business of the inhabitants of the town, for they
found, as their forefathers did, fish in abundance.
Myriads of codfish sported in Massachusetts bay at
the time of the settlement of the town. They were
easily caught, and it soon came to be a lucrative busi
ness. A haixly and industrious race of men are those
" who go down to the sea in ships."
Cod, haddock, pollock, hake, a few halibut, mack
erel and other fish are caught by vessels sailing from
Swampscott. The codfish was rauch sought for by
the first settlers at Plymouth, and was one of their
chief articles of food. It was an ancient symbol of
the colony, and was used on the early stamps. Our
free schools were founded and nursed npon the pro
ceeds of cod fishing. Our early statesmen suspended
a model of a codfish, fronting the Speaker's chair, in
the State House. It was first placed there on motion
of John Rowe, a member of the House, and who for
many years supplied the fishermen with salt and fish
ing tackle.
Deep-sea seining was commenced about the year
1855 ; it is an interesting sight to see the fishermen
cast their seine around a large school of mackerel..
It has been remarked that the fishermen are always
loyal and daring. It is said that it was a Marblehead
fisherman who removed a British flag and hoisted the
first American flag. Swampscott has had many of

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 57

her sons in the several wars of the United States, and
they did brave and noble service.
GENERAL NOTES.
John Thoraas came to Swampscott in 1826, from
Duxbury, Massachusetts. He was a ship-builder by
trade, but here he followed the vocation of a fisher
man. He died at the age of seventy-eight, leaving a
large family.
December 16, 1826, six schooners went out from
Swampscott in the raorning, and returned at night
with fifty thousand pounds of fish, chiefly cod.
Ebenezer Tarbox, of Swarapscott, died August 11,
1827, on board the schooner " Debenture," en route
from Hallowell to Boston.
About the year 1S28, oil clothing began to take the
place of leather, and in a few years, the old, heavy,
bungling and expensive equipment, was known no
more. One of these suits should have been pre
served, but there are none in existence to my knowl
edge. In the year 1832 there were ten small vessels,
manned by eighty men, engaged in winter fishing,
and about sixty dorymen in summer.
In 1833, square-stern boats began to make their
appearance in Swampscott, and the jib became a per
manent fixture with the whole fleet.
In order that a fisherman might get his bounty
money, it was necessary for him to have a sworn eer
ie

58 HISTORICAL SKETCPIES
tificate from the man who cured his cod fish, as fol
lows : " This is to certify that I have dried and cured,
for Captain  , two hundred and four quintals of
fish, fit for exportation, caught and landed from the
schooner  , in the fishing season of  ."
One morning, while Captain Joshua. F. Story, who
has followed the fishing business for raore than half
a century, was fishing in his dory, near " Pig Rocks,"
he was suddenly raade aware of the fact that a huge
shark had thrust his nose up through the bottom of
his boat. The shark quickly withdrawing from the
position, left a large hole, through which the water
poured. Captain Story, at once seizing his Russia
Gauge frock, stopped the hole with it, and made it
nearly tight ; his boat being nearly half filled, he bailed
out the water, and then made his way home.
In 1845, fish were very plenty, and their spawns
were put in barrels and shipped to the foreign mar
kets, where they were used in the sardine fishery.
In the year 1848, John R. Honors went fishing in
the schooner " Woodside." One very rough day,
while fishing in his boat, off" Tinker's Island, a heavy
sea capsized the dory, throwing him into the water.
Being clothed in his heavy fishing suit he could not
battle successfully with the waves and sank twice.
Just as he was going down for the third time Captain
Douglass, of the schooner " Bell," reached the scene,
and succeeded in saving him. Captain Douglass was
keeper of the "lower light" in Boston harbor for
many years,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 59

Previous to the year 1855, mackerel were caught by
use of hand lines, each man using from one to three
jig or fly lines ; but during this year seines for catch
ing mackerel were made for and used by the crews of
the schooners "Flight'' and "Romp," with good
success. In the year 1S55, there were thirty-nine vessels en
gaged in the mackerel and cod fishing, aggregating
one thousand tons. There were captured five thou
sand barrels of mackerel, valued at $50,000, also
fifty-six thousand one hundred and sixty quintals of
cod fish ; $6300 worth of cod liver oil was sold for
medical purposes.
A horse mackerel was caught August 20, 1855,
which weighed one thousand pounds ; it was ten
feet long, and six feet round in the thickest part.
A sunfish was also caught ofT Swampscott, which
weighed two hundred and fifty pounds.
In the year 1856, the schooner "Flight" caught
sixty-two thousand and seven hundred pounds of cod
fish in thirteen hours ; the schooner "Jane" caught a
large trip, and twelve of her fish weighed on an
average fifty-six pounds ; Captain Nathaniel Blanchard
caught one cod, which weighed ninety-four pounds.
Some of the fishermen began to use trawls in 1857.
A trawl has from six hundred to ten thousand hooks ;
the lines are made of cotton.
March 13, 1857, there were one thousand and six
hundred pounds of haddock and cod caught by about
one hundred men, in twelve boats, in six hours.

60 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Blue fish were very numerous in the summer of
1858, and many menhaden were driven on shore by
them. In August, i860. Chandler Lewis caught in his net
a swing-tail shark, ten feet in length.
In November, i860, as the schooner "Moonlight,"
Captain Blanchard, was about two miles from her
moorings, the topmast and part of the masthead were
carried away, and a falling block striking William
Phillips, 3d, on the head, caused his death.
February 25, 1863, the Swampscott fishing fleet
landed one hundred and fifty thousand pounds of fish
on Blaney's Beach.
February 25, 1S63, the " Flying Dart,'' with a crew
of twelve men, brought in a fare of fourteen thousand
pounds, and sold them for two cents per pound.
In 1864, the " Minnehaha " caught oft' Boon Island,
three hundred and fifty barrels, and " Flying Dart"
one hundred and thirty barrels, of mackerel, in about
four hours.
Many a fisherman has experienced in a singular
manner the vicissitudes of fisherman's luck, catching
some days merely nothing, while on others they re
turn heavily laden. Truly, 'tis said the banks are in
sound condition and free from the dangers of sus
pension and failure.
September 26, 1865, Augustus Story caught a
halibut which weighed one hundred and ninety-four
pounds ; he received $54.32 for his prize.
February 28, 1867, the schooner "Cosmos," Cap-

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 61
tain Holbrook, caught thirteen thousand pounds of cod
fish which sold at the rate of $1.90 per hundred, the
largest cod weighing just one hundred pounds.
In 1870, John Stanley caught, near Egg Rock, a
halibut weighing one hundred and fifteen pounds, for
which he received $15.00.
F'ebruary 16, 1872, the schooner "Champion,"
with a crew of twelve men, caught thirty thousand
pounds of fish, which sold at four cents per pound ;
the next day's catch yielded $72.00 per man.
In the fall of 187S, the Swampscott fleet of seven
teen vessels and one hundred and fifteen men brought
in one hundred and fifty-seven thousand pounds of
cod fish, most of which went to the splitters, and the
remainder tp the Boston market at seventy-five cents
per hundred weight.
While J. G. Twisden was fishing in the ba}' in
1878, he lost his two pound lead and line, and, a few
days afterward, fishing near the same place, he cap
tured the fish which deprived him of his tackle a few
days before.
In 1879, the schooner, "Alice M. Hawkes" brought
in forty-nine thousand pounds of cod fish in one day.
In 1880, Captain Henry Y. Hatch, while fishing
in the bay oft' Swampscott, caught a halibut weighing
three hundred and sixty pounds.
During the .Spring of 1880, many icebergs were
seen in the distance by Swampscott fishermen. One
man who has followed the sea for fifty years, said it
was the coldest spring he ever knew.

62 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
In i8So, J. Porter Thomas, made seventeen trips
after tautog in two months, averaging one hundred
pounds per trip, many of the fish weighing from ten
to twelve and a half pounds each.
In iS8o, the scarcity of bait induced the fishermen
to use the gill net in cod fishing. In April, 1632,
weirs were placed in .Charles River, three miles above
Watertown, and a large number of shad were taken.
In 187S, James Kehoe was found in his dory,
ashore on Tinker's Island ; his body was found lying
partly in the boat and partly on a rock. He expired
soon after he was discovered. He was about fifty-
two years old.
In 1879, Captain L. A. Story, of the schooner " E
Pluribus Unura," while on a cruise in the bay noticed
a small fish swimming near the stern. A liook was
temptingly baited, but although the fish would smell
of the bait, he would not take the tempting morsel.
It proved to be a pilot fish, which are very scarce in
these waters.
The Fall school of large cod fish was unusually
great in November, 1S79, and was sold for ninety and
ninety-two cents per hundred weight for splitting;
thirty years ago they were sold at the rate of seventy-
five cents per hundred.
The schooner "Cosmos" took a fare of sixty-five
thousand mackerel into Boston, during the mackerel
season, stocking over $100 per man.
A 3'ellow cod fish was caught in 1S81, weighing
thirty-five pounds. Nothing has been seen like it

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 63

since the year 1829, when a vessel laden with cofl'ee
was wrecked on Shag Rocks.
In September, 1882, Isaac Newcomb, one of the
crew of the " Zeppie," Captain Casey, caught an
electric fish, and when taking it from the hook, re
ceived a severe shock which knocked him down.
Warren Jaquith grasped the tail of the fish and also
received a heavy shock. The fish weighed three
hundred pounds. This fish is known as the cramp
fish, torpedo or electric ray, the touch at which
causes a numbness, tremor, and often sickness at the
stomach. The "Zeppie" was built at James A.
Knowlton's boat yard, Blaney's Beaph, about thirty
years, ago by Captain L. D. Story.

CHAPTER VIII.
ALONG THE SHORE.
The Water from the Cliffs. — Egg Rock LigJit. —
jSlinot's Ledge Light. — TJie Beaches. — Big
Whale. — Wrecks of tJie " Tedesco ^' " Fred
Bliss" and'-^ Vernon." — Escape of tJie '''• Zotof."
— Loss of '¦'¦ Ediuard HeatJi." — Notes.

The chief delights of the visitor in Swampscott is
found along the shore, walking or bathing on the
beaches, or standing upon the clifl's, and looking out
over the ever-changing waters. How the light flashes
over the waves, chased by dark shadows ! W^hat hues
are sometimes seen !
The sea represents all the difTerent colors of the
rainbow. In shallow water the color is usually a
dirty green, and as you proceed farther toward the
middle of the sea it grows to a beautiful dark indigo,
rich, and as one writer expresses it, a " color not only
a form of beauty, conveying pleasure to the mind, but
also having a use, like everything in nature," its color
being such that one may look out on it without hurt
ing the eyes. Preceding a storm it is a dark purple

EGG ROCK.

SWAMPSCOTT. 65

or gray. At sunrise or sunset the sea may be of two
colors, one side a verdant green, the other a deep
blue. A white, sandy bottom gives the water a most
brilliant emerald green. The sea about Magnolia is
said to be like molten turquoise, lovely beyond des
cription. EGG ROCK LIGHT.
" Egg Rock, lilce a sentinel, vigil is keeping,
The fisherman gaily is casting his line.
And many a sail, onward bound you descry,
In sunlight and shade moving gallantly by."
Egg Rock is nearly three miles south of Swarap
scott. It had been thought by the fishermen, for a
number of years, that a light on Egg Rock would be
of much service to them when entering and leaving
the harbor by night, and to the mariner on his way to
or from Boston harbor. At their request the writer
drew up a petition to Congress to make an appropria
tion for the same. I was informed that the twenty
schooners would be assessed to pay all expenses, and
gave my time for the good of all concerned. John
D. Bates, of Boston, then having a summer residence
at Swampscott, very kindly went with me to Robert
G. Shaw, who was much pleased to head the peti
tion ; we visited about thirty Boston merch;mts and
presidents of insurance companies, all of whom gladly
signed it. Then I received the names of the fisher
men. I often visited the Lighthouse Board at Boston,
for information, and found it necessary to have a map
II

66 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
of the site and Boston harbor to accompany the peti
tion to Congress. Alonzo Lewis drew the required
map, noting the location of the Boston lights and
Egg Rock, charging me five dollars for the same,
which I paid. The petition and map was forwarded
by express to Congress in the care of Hon. Daniel
P. King. Our representative was much pleased
with the raoveraent, and at once secured the neces
sary appropriation. Egg Rock was ceded to the
United States ; the lighthouse was built in 1856, and
the first light was shown on the night of September
15, 1856. A white light was used until June of the
following year, when it was changed to a red one,
which has since been of great service to the fisher
men of Swampscott, as well as our merchant ma
rine. The masonry of the house was by Plumer
Chesley, and the carpenter work by Ira P. Brown,
both of Lynn.
The name " Egg Rock" was given in consequence
of the vast number of gulls' eggs found there ; these
birds congregating on its three acres in such numbers
that immense quantities of guano are still to be found
in all the depressed portions. It rises eighty-six feet
above high water, so precipitously on all sides but at
the west, that no landing is possible, save at one nar
row point. Compact fellspar constitutes nearly the
entire petrified mass, and of this very handy material,
with the exception ofthe door-sills aud window-caps,
the keeper's house is constructed. The house pre
sents a, very neat appearance, having four rooms on

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 67

the first floor, the second being devoted to the fixtures
and supplies for the light. The apparatus is the cen-
tricular or Fresnel light, with one burner, two lamps
being regularly used, one of them as a relay at mid
night. The peculiarity of this arrangement of light
ing mechanism is, by means of a single wick, only an
inch across, and with a flame of just the sarae height,
to illuminate an area of twenty miles radius in every
direction. The view from the dome of the light, which is one
hundred and seven feet above the sea, is very fine on
a clear day, and the scene one of grandeur in a
heavy northeast storm. The ponderous waves often
jar the entire mass of rock, to such a degree, that the
stove covers in the structure will rattle when the
storm is at its height. Great improvements have been
made in lighthouses since the first one was erected
hereabouts on " Little Brewster," Boston harbor, in
1715-16, by order and at the expense of the General
Court of the Province of Massachusetts. The cost
was £2,385 17s. 8^d., and was supported by taxing all
vessels, excepting coasters, that passed in and out of
the harbor, at the rate of id. per ton. In 1789, the
United States assumed control of all lighthouses and
paid the expenses without taxing the vessels.
April 15, 1851, a violent easterly storm commenced
and continued to rage for two days. The wind blew
a gale and the rain fell in torrents. A very high tide
was occasioned, the waves sweeping over King's
Beach, carrying a small building nearly across the

68 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
road, and flooding the land back to what is now New
Ocean Street. The most serious disaster was the de
struction of Minot's Ledge Light, which was swept
away, together with two assistant keepers. The
lighthouse was seventy-five feet high, and -was thought
to be of sufficient strength to withstand the fury of
wind and wave.
October i6, iS^i, the British schooner " Brothers''
was wrecked b}' striking on the Outer Ledge, oft'
Swampscott ; the crew, seven in number, were landed
in safety.
King's Beach, previous to i77'' '^'*^ much larger
than at this time. Travelers left the cart path at the
easterly end of the beach, and went down the gentle
slope to the beach, which was covered for a number
of rods from where the street now is with beach
plum and other bushes. The people crossed the
brook on two large logs, with the knots left on to pre
vent them from slipping. Ebenezer Burrill and others
petitioned His Majesty's Court of General Sessions of
the Peace, held at Newburyport, Essex Count}', that a
road might be laid out from King's Beach, near a
brook (Stacy's) to a cart path, and through Fuller's,
Lewis' and Bassett's land, two rods wide ; it was
laid out in I'J'Ji.
A road was laid out from Marblehead to Lynn in
the year 1807, now Huraphrey and Orient Streets,
crossing the brook to the old road laid out in 1 771
from King's Beach, which was made one-half a rod
wider at that time. The road laid out in 1771 was

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 69
widened at three separate times — in 1807, 1822 and
1841 . Thousands of salt-water eels ascend the waters
of Stacy's Brook for winter quarters, and return to
the waters ofthe bay during the early Spring. Ben
jamin Andrews erected the first boat-house there, on
land of Mr. .Wardwell, between Red Cottage and
Stacy's Brook, about the year 1840.
Many now living can remember the lively state of
the Swampscott market, when teams from all the
upper country would come here for their supply of fish.
It was nothing unusual to see from fifty to one hund
red vehicles at the beach at a time, some of them
from Canada, and drawn by four horses, which came
to town from Boston, after their proprietors had
purchased raerchandise and loaded in that city. Such
teams would be put up here and in the early morning
would be started on the home trip.
Blaney's Beach, one hundred and six rods in length,
is oneof the best in town. The fisherman lands his
fish in dories, and they are carted up from the boats
to the fish-houses in the winter, but often times in the
summer the fish venders buy their fish directly from
dories as they come-in from the deep. Each boat-
house has the name ofits schooner. on it. A stranger
would be much amused and interested in the former
appearance of the fishermen. The outside garments
were of leather, the jacket being of sheep or goat skin,
and the trousers of calf skin, with the dimensions of
meal bags. The boots, called churn boots, weighing
from ten to thirteen pounds, were of thick yellow

70 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
cowhide ; the hat, or sou'-wester, was made of canvas,
covered with a generous coating of tar, to make the
hat water-proof ; it had a very narrow rim in front,
but one quite the opposite in the back — say six or
eight inches — and additional to all this, ear lappets
of red baize, tied under the chin, covering almost the
whole face. The fishermen looked about alike in
their winter garb, and one could hardly be told from
the other. THE fisherman's SONG.
( Written by a school teacher in Sivampscott, about 182S.J
The fisherman shall be my theme,
Whose life, though filled with toil and care,
Is far more happy than a king's,
Nor feels like him such slavish fear.
They rise before the dawn of day,
Early to reach the fishing ground;
Through the wide sea they speed their way,
Where fish do plenteously abound.
Their littie barks are often tossed,
Upon the high and foaming wave.
Sometimes, indeed, are almost lost.
As through the briny deep they lave.
These fishing- boats do surely seem
Almost as ifthey 'd g^o alone;
Propelled by " Perkins's boots,'*
Perhaps their valor might be shown.
With well-filled bucket on their arm,
Prepared by wife or mother dear,
They sally forth and fear no harm,
While health and streng-th their spirits cheer.
Then from their weU-known sandy beach
Emcrg-e their barks, on ocean wide;
What transport fills the heart of each,
As through the trackless sea they glide.
Then if the sea be calm and smooth,
How pleasure beams from every eye;
With songs the passing- hours they soothe,
As through the deep their lines they ply.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 7.1

Then late at night they sometimes stay,
Nor stop to take the wished repose ;
Just look at home and off they stray,
While friendship in their bosoin glows.
But there are those who on the land
For them some anxious moments fear;
"T IS the endearing-, faithful band
Of mothers fond, or sisters dear.
The youthful maid oft looks abroad,
And casts her eye upon the deep;
The heartfelt wish is raised to God,
That He will safe her lover keep.
If storms should rise and winds should blow.
How anxious then all hearts must feel;
The rising sigh they oft bestow,
And tears upon their cheeks do steat.
But, hark ! their well-known voice is heard.
And thej approach, from danger free;
A frugal feast is soon prepared,
All hearts beat high in ecstasy.

The names ofthe Swampscott fishing schooners for
the last fifty years are as follows : —
Hope, Fox, Dove, Leader, Laurel, Lillie, Reindeer, Lucy
Ann, Little Essex, Big Essex, Finback, Little Mary, Three
Friends, Ocean Traveller, Can 't Come It. I Am Here, Stfi'ped
Pig, Vixen, Harrison, Magnet, Harp, Haze, Hake, Convoy,
St. Clair, Banner, Bonny Boat, Fancy, Spartan, Ariel, Ram
bler, Martha Jane, Ocean Bride, Wave Crest, Woodside,
Lydia, Lucy, Susan, Romp, Yankee Maid, Factory Girl, Jen
nie, Angie Nora, James and Isaac, Coquette, Osceola, Lone
Star, Moonlight, Eliza May, Fawn, Oval, Defiance, Cyrene,
Neptune, Bird, Challenge, Sea Flovi^er, Swampscott, Leo,
Vanguard, Sea Serpent, Lark, Gazelle, Friend, Vapor, Me
teor, China, Iris, Glide, Village Bell, Lion, Jenny Lind, Lily
Dale, E. B. Phillips, Charles A. Stetson, Jane, Flight, Eu
gene, Little Bonnie Boat, Flying Dart, Champion, Dart,
Little Dart', Minnehaha, Alfaretta, Fairy Queen, E Pluribus
Unum, Moll Pitcher, Emily C. Holder, Veni-Vidi-Vici, Na-

72 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
poleon, Daniel C. Baker, Florence Nightingale, Gypsy Girl,
Rover, Etta, Stars and Stripes, Carrie F. Roberts, Jehu, M.
C. Hooper, Laughing Waters, Cosmos, Mary E. Story, Al
berta Story, Carrie Forrester, Lucy Devlin, Lillian Estelle,
Golden Rule, A. C. Newhall, Clytie, Schooner D, James
Bradley, George A. Upton, Alice S. Hawkes, Zeppie, Lizzie
Ruby, Jeannie P. Phillips, Paul and Essie: sloop Pollie;
Acacia, Carrie E., Ettie, Flounce, J. W. Bradley, Nettie
Adams, Norma, Nellie L. Pearce, Mary E. Hamilton, Jeannie
B. Thomas, Zippa.

THE BIG WHALE.

In the year 1828, the schooner " Hope," of Swamp
scott, having on board a Cape Cod crew, William
Cole and a boy, towed into Swampscott a large whale,
and landed him at the easterly end of Whale's Beach,
whence it derives its name. Mr. Cole informed me
that the whale measured seventy-four feet in length,
but the blubber was so " candied" that only thirty-
three barrels of oil were secured. The kettles were
set under the willow trees near the " Little Anawan"
premises. The jaws were opened wide, so that a
person could walk in and stand erect, but they had to

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 73
return over the same road. Tents were erected near
the spot, and crowds came from far and near to view
the whale. The bones were carried away, one after
another, as relics, by the visitors.
January i8, 1857, occurred one of the severest
storms ever known on this coast. The mercury was
twelve below zero, and so much snow fell that travel
was suspended for two days. In the midst of this
terrible storm, the barque " Tedesco," Captain Peter
son, of Portland, Maine, loaded with salt and wine,
from Cadiz, Spain, struck on Long Rock, near Gal-
loupe's Point. There were twelve men on board, all
of whom perished. Six bodies were recovered, and
buried at one time. The tierces of wine were scattered
to the four winds, some of them washing ashore, and
being appropriated; the "tasting committee" soon
felt quite merry.
In 1869, on a dark night, and during a heavy storm,
the ." Fred Bliss " was swept by the force ofthe wind
and wave into a natural grove in the rocky cliff at
Galloupe's Point, clearing the ledge by a few feet,
which had it struck, all would doubtless have been lost,
but as it was, they were enabled by a long plank to
walk to the main land ; thus all on board were saved,
and without a scratch. It was said that the wife of
the captain was the coolest person on board at the
time of the disaster. Captain Miles Blanchard has
the piece of the vessel which bore the name "Fred
Bliss." In the year 1859, the barque "Vernon," of two
J2 .

74 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
hundred and sixty-five tons burden, struck on Long
Beach, Nahant ; she was bound for Boston from
Messina, with a cargo of oranges. The Swamp
scott life-boat, manned by the hardy fishermen, was
launched, and all on board the vessel were saved.
Some of the cargo was strewn along the beach, and
many a person for once had all the oranges he wanted.
Most of the cargo was saved ; the vessel was taken to
Boston, for repairs.
In the year 1859, February 3, the " Zotoft",'' from
England, of and for Salem, came to anchor in a heavy
storm within a cable's length of where the crew of
the "Tedesco" met their sad fate. The crew was
taken off by the fishing schooner "Minnehaha," of
Swampscott, and the vessel was rescued from its
perilous position by a steamer from Boston, and
taken to Salem.
During a great storm, March 25, 1876, the schooner
"Flight" broke from her moorings, and drifting on.the
rocks near the Lincoln House, became a total wreck.
The " Alberta Story" went ashore on King's Beach,
and was damaged about $1000. The "Minnehaha"
also broke from her moorings, and struck the shore
only a few hundred feet from the " Alberta Story,"
near Stacy's Brook, and was damaged about $2000.
The "Clara Forrester" went on the rocks at the east
ern end of Black Will's Cliff, and was a total loss.
The " Champion" lost a fore boom, and the " Lizzie
Roby," two dories, during the storm.
On February 22, 1853, John Russell, Edward

OF SWAMPSCOTT.

Heath, and Jacob M. Lewis, went out fishing from
Swampscott, in the schooner " Romp." While fish
ing, the wind changed and blew furiously from the
south-east. They weighed anchor and started for
home, and after securing their moorings hoisted out
a dory, putting into it about six hundred weight of
fish. They then got into, it and tried to reach Blaney's
Beach, their usual landing place. While rounding
Lincoln House Point, a heavy sea broke over them
and swamped the boat, but it immediately rose to the
surface, bottom up. The three men clung to it as best
they could. Several times Mr. Heath was washed
off, but the last time he threw up his arms and sank
to rise no more. Help came from the beach, and
the other two men were saved, though Mr. Russell
was in an exhausted condition. The next morning
Mr. Heath's remains were found at the eastern end
of King's Beach.
During a heavy storm, March 28, 1849, Captain
Zebedee Small and four others manned the life-boat
and rescued the crew of the "James Harvey,"
wrecked near Nahant, and landed them on shore in
safety. This brave deed was noticed by the Massa
chusetts Humane Society, which caused a silver
medal to be presented to each of the crew of the life
boat. Captain Small was born in South Orleans,
Pleasant Bay, in the year 1815.
In the summer of 1869, a writer to one of the Bos
ton papers wrote as follows: "Swampscott bay is
before me. Immediately in front is the rock from

76 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
which Lady Deborah Moody took her departure on
account of her religious dissensions in 1643. To the
right beyond ' Sculpin's Roost' is a row of fishermen's
huts ; a short distance beyond .that may be seen the
British ffag waving over the residence of the English
Consul, but, even in its lofty height overshadowed by
our own stars and stripes, as they float in the breeze
from a flagstaff some twenty feet higher, on the estate
of Waldo Thompson ; farther on, backed by the
beautiful Ocean Street driveway, are beautiful res
idences owned by Boston's favored sons."
In the winter of 1S38 occurred one of the most
violent gales from the southeast ever known at Swamp
scott, and five of the eleven boats lying at their moor
ings were driven on shore with more or less damage
to each. The gale commenced late in the afternoon
and continued through the night. The boats that
rode out the gale sustained some damage, and their
small boats were smashed.
In March, 1S29, a schooner loaded with coffee
struck on Shag Rocks. It is said that the haddock
devoured so much of the raw coflee that it caused
their flesh to turn a greenish yellow.
GENERAL NOTES.
In the summer of 1839, while the writer was fish
ing from a dory, oft' Phillips Point, he saw, a few
feet from the boat, a large shark as long as the dory.
The memory of the fate of Mr. Blaney flashing over

OF SWAMPSCOTT.

his mind, made him give a sigh of relief when the
huge fish, after surveying the situation, suddenly dis
appeared from view.
At the annual town meeting, held in Lynn, in 1842,
it was voted to stop all persons from taking sea
manure from the beaches on Sundays.
In April, 1828, Paul Newhall was upset in his boat,
while entering the harbor, near the inner ledge, and
drowned. In Februarv, 1S29, a great storm occurred, and
several vessels belonging in Swampscott were driven
to sea before the gale ; one of them went ashore at
Chatham, where the crew suffered from the extreme
cold. The first lifeboat was delivered at Swampscott, in
•the year 1846, by Captain R. B. Forbes.
The schooner "Hornet" went ashore in a heavy
storm on Long Beach, in the year 1849.
In September, 1849, J. C. Lamphier, of Swamp
scott, discovered a turtle floating near the shore. It
was towed in and a bullet hole was found in the body.
Its length from the end of the head to tip of tail was
eight feet six inches ; the shell was six feet and six
inches long, and three feet and six inches wide ; the
turtle weighed six hundred pounds.
Small pearls were found in large numbers in mus
sels, on " Dread Ledge," in the year 1850.
Henry Thomas shot a white-faced seal off Swamp
scott, August 3, 1854 ; it measured four feet in length.
In June, 1852, Mr. Small, of Swampscott, and Mr.

HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Danforth, of East Boston, were capsized in their boat
in a severe squall near Pig Rocks, and were drowned.
Another man in the boat saved himself by swimming
with the help of an oar, and was picked up by
another boat nearly an hour afterwards.
A Mr. Fenno went out fishing on the 19th of July,
1859, and soon after his boat was found drifting with
his hat in it ; his body was found floating near
Whale's Beach.
In a dark, stormy night in February, 1S60, two
schooners were vainly tiying to reach their moorings
in Swampscott Bay. To aid them a fire was built
with two barrels of tar, and with this for a guide they
safely reached anchorage.
In 1861, the schooner " I Tell Ye " broke from her
moorings and went ashore on Whale's Beach ; she,
was valued at $1100, and was sold at auction for
$300. The schooner "Electric Spark" also went
ashore on Blaney's Beach, and was got oft" with little
damage. As the life boat was returning from the
" Electric Spark" it was upset, and its occupants were
thrown into the sea, but they all escaped.
January 17, 1S63, the tide was the lowest known
for many years ; one could comfortably walk around
Black Will's Clift'.
February 13, 1863, the sea appeared to be boiling
hot, the vapor rising in clouds, presenting an interest
ing sight.
In March, 1864, the beacon on Dread Ledge, an
obelisk of granite twenty-four feet high, and three

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 79

feet square at the base, was broken off near the cen
tre, in a gale which lasted four days, and the sea was
very high.
While a number of parties were out in the bay
August II, 1865, a sudden fog shut the shore from
their view, and they did not return till the next day.
One party landed at Egg Rock and were well cared
for by the keeper.
In tlie summer of 1S70, a great regatta took place
oft' Swampscott, participated in by New York, East
ern, and other club yachts.
Thousands of people come to stroll along the
shores and beaches of Swampscott, and many re
marks are doubtless made by admirers of the scenes
stretched before their vision, but what can be more
truthful than that of a little girl of five years, watch
ing the v/aves as they beat the shore — " See the waves
play catch."
The beaches of Swampscott were thickly strewn
with sun or jelly fish, one summer morning in 1871.
A gentleman spending a few weeks at Swampscott
caught three bass, weighing about sixty pounds, while
fishing for nippers oft" Galloupe's Rocks.
In 1S72, while a Mr. Cleveland was fishing from
G. W. Harris' pleasure yacht, near Dread Ledge, he
caught a tautog weighing eleven pounds and ten
ounces. A. F. Nesbitt caught a switchtail shark, whose
total 'length was thirteen feet, August 24, 1874.

80 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
" Sharks generally turn on their sides to eat,
Though Ihey never go back on their meals."
The schooner "Alberta Story " was wrecked De
cember 2, 1878, at the foot of Wave Street, Lynn,
and was a total loss.
During the evenings of September, 1877, the phos
phorescent light was to be seen along the beaches, as
the waves broke and dashed on the shore. Many per
sons visited the shore to witness the beautiful sight.
August 7, 1882, Charles Merritt and Michael Ryan,
while bathing near Black Will's Clift', rescued a boy
named Stephen Morris from drowning, he being at
tacked with cramp. They were eacb presented with
a silver medal by the Massachusetts Humane Society.
Two large whales were seen oft" Swampscott, No
vember 30, 1873.

CHAPTER IX.
POLITICAL AND OTHER NOTES.
Great Democratic Clam Bake. — Encampment of
the Second Brigade. — Big Boot.

The sixth of September, 1S44, is a day of much in
terest in the annals of Swampscott. An assembly of
at least twenty-five thousand people came together in
the interests of the presidential campaign. The Dem
ocrats present exceeded by thousands the most san
guine hopes of the promoters of the enterprise.
Large numbers of ladies were present, besides a gen
erous sprinkling of boys and girls. About three
thousand people came from the City of Boston. The
Lynn station of the Eastern Railroad was the place of
rendezvous. It was found, on organization, that
more than twenty towns were represented. The
buildings, public and private, were profusely decora
ted with flags and banners. The procession was
formed under the direction of Caleb M. Long, Esq., of
Lynn, who acted as chief marshal on the occasion ; it
was about a mile in length, and banners bearing the
inscriptions, "Polk and Dallas," "Equal Laws and
Equal Rights," etc., were proudly borne at its head.
13

82 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
The head of the procession reached the objective
point. Clambake Hill, Swampscott, at 12.30 o'clock.
This hill was admirably adapted for the purpose in
every respect. It commanded delightful views of the
sea and surrounding country, and on the broad bosom
of Massachusetts Bay could be seen vessels of aW de
scriptions. The escort of the procession was corhposed of some
of the finest military organizations of the day : the
" Hingham Riflemen," Captain A. B. Ingalls, lead
ing, and followed by the " Salem Artillery," Captain
Rhodes, "Marblehead Infantry'' and the "Lynn
Artillery,'' Captain Gale, accompanied by bands.
Next came the hardy and indomitable Swampscott
fishermen, wearing red shirts and tarpaulin hats, and
carrying two banners ; this feature of the procession
was the most unique and interesting of the whole line.
The Lynn banner was of large size, and those from
other places were of much interest. After the arrival
of the procession, it was found that fires had been
lighted in seven large ovens, each thirty feet in cir
cumference, for roasting clams, of which there were
one hundred and seventy barrels provided, together
with one thousand lobsters, and many other things
necessary to supply the wants of the multitude. The
stage erected for the orators was a beautiful afl'air, a
sort of rural temple, dedicated to the genius of De
mocracy. It was covered with evergreens, and be
decked with garlands, wreaths and flowers, which
aft'orded an agreeable shade for the^speakers,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 83

At one o'clock the assembly was called to order,
and J. C. Stickney, Esq., of Lynn, was unanimously
chosen president of the day. On taking the chair, he
gave an eloquent address, and then introduced Hon.
Robert Rantoul as the orator of the day, who deliv
ered a characteristic speech to an attentive and ap
preciative audience ; he was followed by other speak
ers. One of the toasts given on the Occasion was as
follows: "The Democrats of Swampscott — Men of
sterling worth, and true friends to the people, ever
ready, when duty requires, to march shoulder to
shoulder to the polls and vote for honest men and lib
eral measures ; but the dread of all those who vote
for corporations, log cabins, hard cider, and last but
not least, the ' Mill Boy ofthe Slashes.'"
The clam bake was a great success, and the memory
of September 6, 1844, will long live among the sur
vivors who attended it as one of the glorious as
semblages of the old Bay State.
In August, 1871, the Second Brigade, M. V. M.,
encamped in the fields adjoining what is now Atlantic
Avenue, Swampscott, and greatly enjoyed the cool
sea breezes. During the encampment an amusing
presentation took place at headquarters. One morn
ing a large box arrived in camp addressed to Adjutant
General James A. Cunningham, in camp at Swamp
scott, and was accordingly placed in his tent. The
presence of this box and its unknown contents caused
much wonder in camp, and many were the surmises
concerning it. In the evening of that day. General

84 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Cunningham presented to Major Sutton, Assistant
Inspector General on General Pierson's staff', an
elaborately decorated wheelbarrow, bearing on each
of the sideboards the monogram of Major Sutton.
The speeches of the donor and recipient were most
laughable, and were hugely enjoyed by the party pre
sent, which was not a small one. It appears that
General Cunningham, Major Sutton and Colonel
Hobart Moore, were a commission to test breech-
loading muskets, and to try them they went to Major
Sutton's residence at North Andover. Here a wheel
barrow was used to convey the ammunition and
target to the place of firing, and then the wheel
barrow was used to support the target, and whether
the target was not large enough, or the wheelbarrow
was too large, it turned out, on examination, that the
bullets had damaged the wheelbarrow so much as to
render it unserviceable, and as General Cunningham
had done the most execution in that direction, he
thought he must make the loss good, hence the pres
ent. Wheelbarrows aft'ord a means of cheap transporta
tion. Silas Pierce used one to deliver goods when he
first went into the grocery business in Boston.
A lady once purchased a lemon at a store on Broad
Street, Lynn, and requested that it should be "sent
home." The enterprising storeman at once follgwed
her out, locked the door, and taking his wheelbarrow,
delivered the lemon at her house, as soon as she
reached home.

OF SWAMPSCOTT.

One morning in August, 1879, Frank Blaney, a
grandson of Mr. Blaney, who was killed by a shark,
July 12, 1830, was fishing with his mate in a dory oft"
Swampscott, when they captured something resem
bling a fish, the name of which none knew, and the
oldest fisherman could not remember ever before see
ing anything like it. It was decidedly unlike any
other specimen ever caught in the bay. It weighed
three hundred and sixty pounds, was rather ftat, the
greatest thickness of the body being about eight
inches ; it was a dark brown color, its length was three
feet one inch, and width four feet, and near the nose
three feet two inches across ; the tail resembled that
of a shark ; the eyes were very small and about four
inches apart ; the mouth was eight or ten inches in
width ; the belly was a greyish-white, the fins rather
small. Altogether, it formed one of the most curious
specimens of the piscatorial tribe ever seen in the
waters of the bay. Perhaps it was —
*' A creature not too bright or good
For human nature's daily food."
In 1878, D. Holman Millett, of Swampscott, man
ufactured, at the wood-turning establishment of J.
Otis Marshall, Broad Street, Lynn, a boot of mam
moth proportions, furnished upon an order of John
Mahon & Sons, for parties in South Carolina. It was
used as a sign, and was placed upon wheels for a po
sition on the sidewalk. This boot measured four
feet two inches from the sole to top of leg, and seven-

86 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
teen inches across the leg ; length of sole, three feet
eight inches, and width fourteen inches. One hund
red and thirty-three feet of three-inch plank were used
in manufacturing the large-sized boot.

GENERAL NOTES.
In 1826, the population of the village of Swamp
scott, then known as Ward One, L3'nn, was: males,
123; Females, 120; total, 243.
The first "Swampscott Lyceum " was formed in
the year 1832, by a number of gentlemen who associ
ated themselves together, and secured a course of lec
tures on popular subjects. These lectures were given
once a week in the school house, and were well at
tended. In the year 1832, Thomas Bartlett, Jr., kept a
grocery store at Blaney's Beach, opposite the tavern
kept by Ebenezer Weeks.
Mr. Durant made a balloon ascension from Boston
Common, August 10, 1834, at 6, p. m., and one hour
later, he was picked up "oy a vessel, fourteen miles
east of Swampscott.
George Thompson, a prominent English abolition
ist, lectured in Lynn to a large crowd late in the
Summer of 1835, on the subject of " Slavery." After
the lecture, to avoid them, he passed out through a
window, on a slide to the ground, and went to his
temporary boarding place in Swampscott.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 87

In the year 1S40, Burrill Street was laid out from
Essex Street to Humphrey Street. Previous to that
time there was a cart path extending through that
locality, and travellers with a team found it necessary
to open and shut six gates and bars while going from
one street to the other.
" Red Cottage," on Humphrey Street, since re
placed by the stable ofthe Lynn and Boston Railroad
Co., was devoted to the raising of ducks and chickens,
about the year 1840, under the care of Joseph Hill
and brothers, there being at one time as many as three
thousand ducks and two hundred chickens kept there.
Additions were afterward made, and the whole fin
ished into tenements, and it still kept the name of
the "Duck House."
Captain William Galeucia's house was moved to
its present location soon after Burrill Street was laid
out in 1840, from, the opposite side, near Mudge's
gate. The year 1840 was made famous by the " Hard
Cider Campaign." It was one of thc most exciting
campaigns of the country. A mammoth tent was
erected near the old " Ingalls" house by the Demo
crats of Swampscott, and an enthusiastic assembly
was addressed by Hon. Robert Rantoul and others.
Hon. Cyrus Washburn, Ebenezer Weeks and Thomas
Stone were the prime movers ofthe occasion.
When the town school committee, in 1844, visited
the school on Humphrey Street, one afternoon, all
went well until the class in arithmetic was called,

88 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
when the question, " How much is three and two.^"
was asked of a bright boy at the head of the class.
The astonishment of all may be imagined when the
confused boy replied that he " had not ciphered so
far as that." This illustrates how little it takes to
confuse the young mind during the dreaded examina
tions. In 1844, a travelling photographer's wagon re
mained for several weeks in the vicinity of " Black
Will's Clift'," and met with quite a lucrative trade.
One maiden lady came and had her picture taken,
but she was not satisfied, as she thought it looked too
old, etc. She sat seven times without success, as she
thought ; the eighth time the artist brought out a
picture of a much younger and prettier lady, which
sire, tiiinking it was her own likeness, and correct at
last, took away with her, much to the artist's amuse
ment. In 1849, '^ large number of men left Swampscott
and vicinity to seek their fortunes in California.
Among the number were Jonathan Blaney and
Ephraim A. Ingalls. They started in February, and
after a five-months' tramp across the plains via
Mexico, arrived in the land of gold. Captain Miles
Blanchard and Hugh Douglass took passage in the
" Argonaut," six hundred and forty tons, from Boston
to San Francisco, which place they reached in safety.
They remained but a short time, and then returned.
The late Captain Thomas Hadley spent many ye^rs
pf his life in California.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 89

The organization of the first city government of
Lynn, of which Swampscott was then a village, took
place May 14, 1850, and Swampscott was under a
city form of government from that time until May 21,
1852, when it was incorporated as a town.
David C. Proctor, of Swampscott, killed forty grey
squirrels and tliree foxes, in three days' hunting in
Lynn woods, in the year 1856.
In August, 1854, John Blaney's house was struck
by lightning, though but little damage was clone.
July 7, 1S56, an eight-year old son of W. A. Ward-
well, of Swampscott, was drowned near the easterly
end of King's Beach ; the body was recovered by
J. A. Knowlton.
One day in i8';6. Captain Nathaniel Blanchard lost
his small tin dipper overboard ; a few days after,
when fishing near the same place, he caught a large
cod fish, and recovered his dipper, which the fish had
swallowed, doubtless taken for a dainty morsel.
In 1853, Amos Gould, Wenham, made a pair of
fishermen's churn boots which when finished weighed
thirteen pounds. They were for sale by the writer in
his store. A pair were exhibited at the Mechanics'
Fair, held in Boston, over Qiiincy Hall Market, and
were awarded a medal.
June 13, 1857, Captain Fuller's barn was burned ;
the fire was caused by two little boys, who were play
ing with matches in the hay. One of them, a son of
James A. Knowlton, aged four years and a half, was
burned to death. 14

90 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

July 4, 1S57, Henry Scales and John Draper were
fatally injured while engaged in firing salutes with an
old cannon ; they died a few days after.
Joseph L. Hill, aged twenty, was accidentally
killed while gunning at Swampscott, by the prema
ture discharge of a fowling piece, March 3, 1858.
x\ugust 6, 1858, a barn belonging to Jonathan F.
Phillips was struck by lightning and burned, together
with fifty tons of hay. The well-known trotting
mare, " Lady Lawrence," valued at $1000, was killed
by the lightning. Mr. Phillips informed me that in
those days there was no necessity for locking the
doors of the barns and houses, and the salted fish
could be left to dry on the flakes all night without
fear of their being molested, — a thing which could
not be done in these days of thieves and tramps.
A beautiful comet made its appearance in the
heavens during the autumn of 1858, and it was esti
mated that the tail was fifty-one millions of miles in
length. October 13, 1858, the first electric telegraph line
was completed to Swampscott. An'office was opened
in the store of Waldo Thompson, and Miss Small was
installed as operator. On Monday, March 17, [884,
another telegraph line was completed, connecting the
houses of Warren Atkins and Waldo Thompson in
Lynn, with Jeft'ers' drug store in Swampscott, there
being seven instruments on the line.
There was a total eclipse of the moon early on the
morning of February 17, 1859. A large humpback

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 9J

whale was seen near the shore on the same morn
ing- In December, 1859, Charles Rowell killed his hog
which weighed, after being dressed, six hundred and
two pounds.
There was a great strike among the shoemakers of
Lynn and Swampscott, in February, 1S60, and a
large procession of strikers passed through town.
In April, 1861, Dr. Jacob Porter enlarged his
apothecary store in Widger's Block.
New Ocean Street was laid out by the County
Commissioners, from Ocean Street, Lynn, to Burrill
Street, Swampscott, in the year 1865.
In 1865, when the news of the assassination of Pres
ident Lincoln was received in the town, one person
was so indiscreet as tc? manifest his approval in such
terms as to kindle the wrath of his townspeople, who
seizing him, covered him liberally with a coat of tar
and feathers and carried him through the town. He
afterwards brought a civil suit before Judge Gray, of
the Supreme Judicial Court, and was awarded $800
damages. July 4, 1867, a balloon ascension was made from
Lynn Common ; after floating for a while in the air,
the balloon suddenly descended into the waters of
Swampscott Bay, when it was rescued by a boat near
at hand.
The "Watermelon Club" was organized July 5,
1867, and numbered about thirty persons; they have
an excursion every year on the fifth of July, going in

92 HISTORICAL SKETCl-IES
Captain Douglass' yacht, and generally making for
the-fishing grounds for a few hours, then visiting some
point of interest on the coast. A good dinner and the
election of officers are two ofthe features ofthe trip.
In 1S69, a blue heron was shot in what was known
as the "forty-acre woods," Swampscott. This bird
is very rarely seen in the woodland of Massachusetts.
Its height, when standing erect, was about four feet,
while it measured fi\e feet from tip to tip of its
wings. In 1870, one warm summer afternoon, a gentleman
being desirous to know how many people passed the
store of Holden & Lee, on the corner of Redington
and Humphrey Streets, counted them for two hours,
beginning at 5.30, p. m., and obtained the following
result: Number of persons, one thousand six hundred
and eighty-six, of vvhich nine hundred and seventy
passed during the last hour, or an average of sixteen
per minute ; number of carriages, five hundred and
twenty-six. This was not an unusual occurrence dur
ing the warm, summer months.
While a son of Richard Horton, of Swampscott,
was crossing the meadow between new Ocean Street
and Humphrey Street, May 25, 1878, he was struck
and wounded in the head by a large shot, fired by
some unknown party, but fortunately it proved a
slight wound and he soon recovered.
In 1884, Mark G. Phillips had a cow that took the
lead of any we have yet heard of. In three liund
red successive days the cow yielded four thousand six

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 93
hundred and sixty-six quarts, an average of fifteen
quarts, one pint, and a fraction per day.
In January, 1879, N. A. Cahoon shot a bald-
headed eagle, on Blaney's Beach. The bird weighed
eighteen pounds, and measured six feet nine inches
from tip to tip, and was sold for the sum of $8.
The first death in 1876 was that of William D.
Rowe, which occurred in January ; he was ninety-
four years of age. The last death in the year was
that of Ebenezer Thorndike, in December ; his age
was nearly ninety-four years. Most of the deceased
were adults of fifty years of age or upwards.
In 1S77, there was a peculiar litter of kittens in
Swampscott, one kitten having no tail, one a mere
stub, and the other a tail long enough for the three.
January 8, 1876, the first nuinber of the Swamp
scott Enterprise was published.
The Town Hall was illuminated with gas for the
first time in 1878.
A very successful " Highland " party was given in
the Town Hall, by ladies of the Congregational
Society, on Monday, evening, January 20, 1878.
In May, 1880, a thunder storm of great severity
visited this section, and the lightning struck in nine
places in the town. A house on Burrill Street, occu
pied by A. W. Larkin and family, was considerably
damaged, but although there were people in the
house at the time, none were injured. The Baptist
Church was struck, but only slightly damaged. The
lightning striking the house of Colonel Farwell, went

94 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
into the cellar, and made a hole in the cistern, caus
ing the water to run to waste. A large hole was
made in the bank of a brook which runs through
Paradise Road, and the old farm-house on the Mudge'
estate was also struck. '
During the year 1881 many people were inquiring,
" Have you seen the land tortoise on Clambake Hill ?"
The size of this tortoise, as told by a resident of the
hill, was enormous, being three feet in height, five
feet across, and ten feet from tlie tip of the nose to
the tip of the tail.
On Saturday afternoon. May 14, 1881, the horse
cars commenced their trips to Mudge's Square, in
Swampscott. In the summer of 1S81, Captain Thomas Stanley
raised in his garden six stalks of sunflowers whicii
were eleven feet and six inches high, the six stalks
bearing two hundred blossoms.
The Watermelon Club took their annual sail on
July 5, 1881, the party numbering about twenty-five
persons. On Monday, September 16, 1882, union memorial
services were held in the Methodist Church, Swamp
scott, in memory of the President, James A. Gar
field ; the principal address was made by the Rev.
J. B. Clark. Hon. E. R. Mudge presided.
On the evening of September 6, 1882, a large
house, known as "Hillside," the property of Jonatlian
Blaney, was totally destroyed by fire. It was insured
for $6000. Hardly had the fire been extinguished

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 95

when a second alarm was given, caused by fire break
ing out in the Ocean House, situated on Orient Street,
near Whale's Beach. It was a fraine building, and
well known among the visitors to the seashore ; the
loss amounted to about $60,000. The Lynn Fire
Department rendered efficient aid at both fires, and
thousands of people came from far and near to wit
ness the sight.
In August, 1882, a three-story building, occupied
by Levi Nickerson as a dwelling-house and oil-cloth
ing factory was set on fire by a kettle of tar boiling
over on the stove. A girl about sixteen years old,
named Emma Stone, employed in the family, at
tempted to extinguish the flames, and was severely
burned, from the effects of which she died. A boy
nained Harry McCabe entered the burning building
and rescued a baby of Mr. Nickerson that was asleep
on a bed. The building, being of wood, and so much
oil being in it, was quickly consumed, although the
Lynn Fire Department quickly responded to an appeal
for help.
In 1882, the Swampscott Tubular Well Company
sunk twenty tubular wells to a depth of thirty feet;
eighteen of these were connected to a main pipe, and
the discharge during twelve hours averaged four
hundred gallons per minute. The promoters of the
enterprise proposed to supply the water to the
town. There were three hundred and sixty-five houses in
Swampscott in 1871.

96 HISTORICAL SKETCHES

REPRESENTATIVE MEN.
Hon. Ebenezer Burrill was a member of the
Crown Governor's Council during the years 1731-
1740. Hon. Ebenezer Burrill was a representa
tive from the district of Lynn and Swampscott, from
1728 to 1731. Hon. E. Redington Mudge was
Senator one year ; Jonathan F. Phillips was Repre
sentative one year ; Eben. N. Wardwell, two ; Saniuel
C. Pitman, one ; Janes K. Snow, one ; John C.
Stimpson, two ; Francis E. Andrews, one ; John
Stone, one; Cyrus Washburn, 1865-66; Samuel
Otis Ingalls, 1885.

CHAPTER X.
CHURCHES, REFORM AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
First Congregational . — Methodist. — Disciples of
Christ. — Baptist. — Unitarian. — Episcopal. —
Universalist Sunday School. — Good Templars.
— Reform Club. — Women's Cliristian Temper
ance Union. — Sivampscott Watchers' Society.

Previous to 1845, there was no established church
in the village of Swampscott, then a part of Lynn.
The people of dift'erent denominations enjoyed only
occasional gatherings, for religious worship, in the
school-house on Humphrey Street. Many of the in
habitants attended church in Lynn, while more ab
sented themselves frojn the house of worship, pre
ferring rather to commune with the works of nature
in the neighborhood of their homes. Of the latter
class a writer once said, in speaking of a certain
fisherman — " He visits his chair each Sabbath, and
spends several hours in gazing upon the sea and land,
from Black Will's Cliff. He called the place ^ his
church, where he worships all creation. A little girl
remarked to this worshipper — ' If that is your
church, what do you do for singing i" 'Oh,' said he,
I?

98 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
' I have the sparrows and crickets.' ' Well,' said she,
' I suppose the waves are your organ ?' "
In the fall of 1844, Rev. Parsons Cooke, of Lynn,
was invited by the writer to preach the first Congrega
tional sermon in Swampscott, at the Humphrey Street
School-house. The nieeting was announced from
Dr. Cooke's church, and further notice of it was
given by means of three notices, posted in the village.
The school-house was lighted on this occasion by
twelve' tallow candles, made at Mr. Hildreth's factory
in Lynn, which were placed in tin candlesticks, with
the old-fashioned reflectors on the back. Two high,
glass lamps, which burned oil, were also kindly
loaned for the desk, by Mrs. Lucy Blaney, who long
since went to her rest, leaving her light to shine for
the benefit of future generations. Dr. Cooke preached
to a full house, from Proverbs viii : 4. — " Unto you,
O men, I call ; and my voice is to the sons of man."
The singing was by four of Dr. Cooke's choir, and
the exercises of this meeting were much enjoyed by
all present. Dr. Cooke was so much impressed with
the success of the gathering that he remarked that
" it would not be long before regular preaching
would be enjoyed by the people of the village." In
the summer season of the year 1845, Rev. J. B.
Clark visited Swampscott, with his family, and as
there was no public religious service, he preached a
number of tiines.
August 24, 1845, in response to a call, by notices
posted during the previous week, for all who were in

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 99

favor of forming a Union Sabbath School to meet in
the school-house on Redington Street, on the Sabbath ;
at 5-30 o'clock p. m., there assembled about seventy-
five children and eighteen adults, and a Union Sab
bath School was then and there organized by the fol
lowing persons : Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Mudge, John
B. Richardson, Waldo Thompson, W. D. Brackett,
Mrs. M. G. Phillips, Mrs. Olive Ropes, Ira Sanborn,
William Cole, Rufus Delano, A. D. Baker, Mrs. J.
Honors, Miss Sarah Babb, Miss S. Wilkins, Miss M.
S. Hill, Miss M. A. Hill, Miss Newhall and George
Thomas. Mrs. William H. Collins and Mrs. Mary J.
Weeks were much interested in the formation of the
school, and did active work.
On the next Sabbath there were one hundred and
sixteen present — teachers and scholars. They used
Banvard's Series of Question Books. A library was
soon gathered, eighty-three volumes having been con
tributed by two members, and one hundred and forty-
three volumes were bought — total, two hundred and
twenty-six volumes. A subscription paper in aid of
the school was circulated, and sums varying from
five to twenty-five cents were contributed, some pay
ing the latter sum who would now contribute more
dollars. The school was often addressed by W. B.
Reynolds, Rev. Asa Bullard and others. Mr. Bul
lard was the first clergyman to address the school.
Of the original eighteen signers, Mr. and Mrs.
Mudge, Mrs. Olive Ropes, Rufus Delano, Mrs. M.
G. Phillips and William Cole have since died. For

l60 HISTORICAL SKETOltES
the first three months the school averaged eighty, and
there was about six hundred inhabitants at that time
in the village ; in the town there are now about two
thousand five hundred.
In December, 1845, Rev. J. B. Clark returned to
Swampscott, giving up all other engagements, and
establishing himself and family at the house of the
late Eben Weeks. He commenced holding meetings
in the school-house, in connection with the Sabbath
School, December S, 1845. The school was taken in
charge by him and called the First Church School,
the organization of which has been kept up to the
present time, although three Sabbath Schools have
sprung from it. August 9, 1846, Rev. Dr. Black
burn was present, and the first Sabbath School
monthly concert was established, these also having
been continued to the present time. Teachers' meet
ings have also been held at ¦private houses since the
organization of the school.
It will be seen by the following extract from the
doings of the Essex South Association, held in
Saugus, September 23, 1845, that Parsons Cooke's
prediction concerning a church soon proved true :
Resolved, That as the providence of God seems to have
opened the way for the establishment of a Congregational
Church in the village of Swampscott, in Lynn, the members
of this association will cordially co-operate in all proper
measures for the accomplishment of so desirable and im
portant an object.
Attest: GEORGE T. DOLE, Secretary.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 101
At a subsequent meeting of the Conference of
Churches, at Beverly, was submitted the following re
port :
Reverend and Beloved ; — The Essex South Conference
of Churches, at its last meeting, after hearing statement re
specting our enterprise for the building of a meeting-house
in Swampscott, voted a decided approval of it, and appointed
a committee to act byway of council and advice, in concur
rence with Mr. Clark, who is laboring in that place. The
committee consists of Rev. Messrs. Worcester and Sessions.
They have thought that it was due that they, in recommend
ing aid to this enterprise from the association, should address
this letter to the churches, briefly stating the facts ofthe case.
Swampscott is a rapidly-growing village, in the east part of
Lynn, about three miles from the only Orthodox Congrega
tional meeting-house in the town, and near two miles from
any meeting-house in the village. There is a population of
about seven hundred, and few out bf the whole have been
habitual attendants at any place of worship. It has but a
very few people who have been attached to our denomina
tion, and those few are of limited means. The prospeet of
having, a meeting-house and regular worship in the place has
caused a generous contribution to the enterprise, in raising
the sum of about five hundred dollars in the village. Mr.
Clark will build the church, with the distinct understanding
that the house is to be for the exclusive use of an Orthodox
Congregational Church ; and the land for building the house
has been purchased and the contract made, on such terms as
secured it against the possibility of perversion. The contract
was made under such conditions that the building might not
proceed faster than funds were in hand to pay for it, so that
the enterprise might be sure against being crushed with debt.
It is to cost $3000. The place is becoming a resort for
people in the city of Boston and elsewhere, who seek the sea

102 HISTORICAL StCETCHES
air in the summer, and has a promise of much increase from
that source ; and now is the time for us to give a character to
the place. A Congregational Church established there at
this time may be expected to exert a leading and beneficial
influence. Indeed, providential arrangement now remark
ably favors the undertaking; and so favorable an opportunity
mnst not be lost. We hope all the churches in this Con
ference will promptly and cheerfully, according to their
ability, take part in this good work.
Signed : By order of the Committee,
PARSONS COOKE, Chairman.
At a nieeting of the Committee of the Essex South
Conference of Churches, at L3'nn, the following
resolutions were passed :
Resolved, That Rev. J. B. Clark be requested to take the
supervision of the enterprise, and' make reports as to collec
tions and doings to the committee.
Resolved, That before the building is commenced, a deed or
instrument be executed which shall secure the house to the
perpetual use of the Orthodox Congregational Church.
PARSONS COOKE,
Chairman of Committee.
Attest: Alkx. S. Sisson.
Rev. J. B. Clark solicited subscriptions, December,
1S45, so that the chapel was contracted for, for the
sum of three thousand dollars, and the land secured.
July 15, 1846, the first church in Swampscott was
organized, commencing with a membership of thir
teen persons, members of seven Congregational
ChuVches. By the advice and counsel of an ecclesi-

OF SWAMPSCOTT.

103

astical body, convened for the purpose, July 15, 1S46,
Rev. Jonas B. Clark was called as pastor, and he con
tinued as such until May 27, 1866, when he resigned
his pastoral charge to assume the rectorship of Oak
land Hall School, at Dedham, Massachusetts. Messrs.
Henry J. Thing and John Chapman built the chapel,
from the plans of H. & J. & E. Billings, architects,
of Boston, in the winter of 1845-6.

:< :-JkM'

A
vr

¦/¦I 1 »'£' '¦«* -^ ..-

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The expenses ofthe church from 1846 to 1872 were
borne by bidding for choice of pews, over and above
the assessed tax. It was then voted that all seats in
the house should be free, and the expenses be paid by
voluntary contributions. In the " Annals of New
England " is the following extract, dated October 25,

104 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
1633, on the subject of contributions to pay expenses
in the Boston Church : " After the pastor, Mr. Smith
speaks briefly ; then the Elder [agreeably to Acts 13,
14, 15, etc.] desires Governor Winthrop and Mr.
Wilson to speak to it, which they do. When this is
ended the Deacon, Mr. Fuller, puts the congregation
in mind of their duty of contribution, whereupon the
Governor and all the rest go down to the Deacon's
seat and put it in the bag, and then return."
A communion service was presented to the church
by the church in South Danvers, September, 1846;
this was an old service, having been imported, and
was the first used by the South Danvers Church.
The hearty thanks ofthe church were returned by the
acting pastor. In 1854, a large and beautiful service
vi'as presented the church by one of the past officers, —
Henry Clark, Esq., of Linden Church, Boston, hold
ing the plate. After the above was received, the
church voted to give their first service, of nine pieces,
to the First Church in Lynnfield Centre, and it was
forwarded under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Shute.
A vote of thanks was rendered to the Swampscott
Church September 8, 18^6. Mr. Clark died in Bos
ton, at the advanced age of 93 years, from the natural
decay of his powers. He was the son of the Rev.
Jonas Clark, of Lexington, and father of Rev. J. B.
Clark.

' Till an old age, serene and bright,
And lovely as a Lapland night,
ShaU send thee to thy grave."

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 105
A parsonage has been purchased on Rockland
Street, and is now occupied by the present pastor.
Rev. George A. Jackson. In the purchase of the
parsonage, a generous sum donated by the late Eben
Weeks was applied. Rev. Mr. Clark's residence,
purchased some time after his removal to Swamp
scott, was at Beach Bluff, the estate now owned by
Mrs. Manton.
The pastors of the church have been Rev. J. B.
Clark, Dr. Worcester, Rev, Elias Nason, Rev. F.
Jones, Rev. John Thomson, Rev. S. H. Alger, Rev. J.
M. Whiton, Rev. S. E. Eastman. Superintendents of
the Sunday School — Waldo Thompson, W. D.
Brackett, Rev. J. B. Clark, Joseph Ropes, Charles
A. Torrey, Dr. P. S. Porter, C. A. Haskell, B. W.
Redfern. The first parish meeting in that part of Lynn now
known as Swampscott, was held July n, 1846, and
the following officers were elected : Parish Clerk,
Williain D. Brackett; Moderator, E. Redington
Mudge; Parish Committee, E. R. Mudge, Waldo
Thompson and A. D. Baker.
At the above meeting it was voted that John L.
Seger and Harris Wiggins be a committee to solicit
aid to purchase an organ for the church, and soon
after an organ was bought of the Congregational
Church, Marblehead. In 1854, the present organ in
the church was bought of W. D. Simmons & Co., of
Boston, and Miss Jennie Story, daughter of Captain
L. D. Story, was placed in charge, and Miss Louis?
16

106 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Martin, W. S. King, Mrs. E. E. Barberie, Miss Mary
E. Story and Miss Abbie M. Mott have since acted as
organists. Previous to the introduction of the organ,
the violin, bass-viol, and other instruments were used,
and the choir was located in the gallery under the bell.
The bass-viol was played by Mr. Ira Sanborn.
The church bell was purchased by contributions
from the society members and many of the citizens of
the town. "Let great and small the church bell cull
Up to the houae of prayer;
And at its cry the passer-by
Go6s in and worships there.*'
The Ladies' Sewing Circle connected with the
church and society was organized soon after the
church was instituted, in 1846, and has done much
from time to time in aid of the society. It is to be
regretted that the books ofthe secretaries, previous to
1850, are missing, and it is hoped they may yet be
found. The officers for 1883 are as follows: Presi
dent, Mrs. H. R. Thompson ; Vice President, Mrs.
George A. Jackson ; Secretary, Mrs. Mary E. Bun
ting; Treasurer, Mrs. William Seger.
Early in the year 1847, the pastor of the church.
Rev. J. B. Clark, invited Father Taylor, well-known
as connected for many years with the Seamen's Bethel,
in Boston, to preach. Hi's serraon was characteristic,
and showed great power of thought. He remarked
that the " church looked like a ship bottom up." [It
is finished to the ridge-pole. J

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 107

In the year i775' Rev. Mr. Clark, grandfather of
Rev. J. B. Clark, presided over the Congregational
Church, at Lexington, Massachusetts. Several years
after the formation of the church at Swampscott, its
pastor. Rev. J. B. Clark, was invited to preach in the
church of his grandfather at Lexington ; he did so,
and in the forenoon preached a sermon written by his
grandfather, and in the afternoon one of his own.
On the Sunday following the death of Rev. Pai'sons
Cooke, D. D., of Lynn, Rev. J. B. Clark preached a
memorial sermon to the church at Swampscott, tak
ing as a text Hebrews xii : 13 ¦ — • " These all died in
faith." The first vestry was a donation from William
Ropes, of Boston, soon after the church was built.
His portrait, executed by Miss C. Colcord, now adorns
the vestry walls. He passed several summers at this
seaside resort, and took much interest in the Sabbath
School. In 1880, a building was erected connecting
the vestry and church, twenty by twenty-four feet on
the floor, but of the same height as the vestry walls
and covered by a flat roof. The interior is divided
into two rooms, connected by sliding doors.
The church has been served by nine settled or act
ing pastors, and is now ably ministered to by Rev.
George A. Jackson. Duringthe summer and fall of
1883, and up to March, 1884, while Rev. Mr. Jackson
was in Europe on leave of absence, the pulpit was
filled by Rev. S. D. Gammell, of Lynn, to the satis
faction of his large audiences.

108 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
The church has a membership of 85. The Sunday
School membership is 130, B. W. Redfern, superin
tendent ; volumes in library, 390.
The present church officers (1884) are as follows:
Rev. George A. Jackson, pastor ; B. W. Redfern,
Aaron R. Bunting, James M. Pope, parish committee ;
Fredd O. Thompson, parish clerk ; John P. Richard
son and Charles P. Jeffers, deacons, the first named
having held that position since the fonnation of the
church ; Charles O. Galeucia, janitor.
The Sunday School connected with the Methodist
Church, of Swampscott, was organized in the spring
of 1854, during the pastorate of Rev. E. J. Best.
W. P. Martin, was the first superintendent, and tlie
school consisted of nine meinbers. It was held, as
well as the religious services of the society, in the
school-house on the beach. The following is a list of
superintendents to date : W. P. Martin, 1854-6 ; John
Smith, 1856-8; W. D. Brackett, 1858-1864; J. H.
Abbott, 1867 to 1869 ; Z. Small, 1869 to 1873 ; S. H.
Andrews, 1873. The church was organized in 1854,
Rev. E. J. Best being the first pastor, stationed by the
New England Conference in April of that year.
The author of the above statistics writes: "I en
close such meagre statistics as I have been able to
glean from the stray records and verbal communica
tions accessible. I should be glad to have a better
outline of the growth and progress of our Sunday
School, but the neglect to keep accurate records from
the commencement renders this duty very difficult."

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 109
David Atlfins was superintendent from 1876 until
1883, when he resigned; Mrs. Martha Hunt took his
place. The school has seventy-five members and a
library of five hundred and fifty volumes. The fol
lowing have filled the desk since 1876 : Rev. Mr.
Dight, in 1876 and 1877 ; Rev. W. H. Hatch, in
1878; Rev. E. N. Kirby, in 1879 and 1880; Rev. N.
H. Martin, in 1881 and 18S2 ; Rev. G. W. Coon, in.
1883. The last nained is the present pastor. The
church is free from debt, and now " pays as it goes."
The church is situated on Redington Street.
In 1864, Jacob P. Porter, his wife and two daugii-
ters, David Knox and Sylvester Butler, met as a com
pany of disciples, at the residence of Jacob P. Porter,
for the study of the Scriptures and for the weekly
observance of the Lord's Supper.
In the spring of 1865, the Christian Chapel, having
been built by the liberality of a few brethren in Wor
cester, was dedicated March 1 1 . The chapel stands
on Burrill Street, opposite Boynton Street. After the
dedication. Elder W. L. Hayden held a meeting,
which resulted in the gathering of a church of forty
members. Orrin Wood, W. A. Smythe, of Worces
ter, and Jacob P. Porter, were chosen trustees. Jacob
P. Porter and Sylvester Butler were the first elders,
and since that time David Knox, Frank O. Ellis and
Gilbert Kniveton have served in that capacity, the
last two mentioned occupying the position up to date.
The present trustees are Orrin Wood, W. A. Smythe
and Nathaniel Blanchard.

110 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
W. W. Hayden was the first regular preacher,
serving one year, since wdiiob time the church has
been served by H. U. Dale, Samuel W. Fowler,
Alexauder Marquis, J. W. Lowe, George T. Smith,
Howard Murray, George A. Lord, and W. H. Rogers,
who cominenced his labors in 1880, and continues in
service to the present date.
A Lord's Day School was started soon after the
church was organized. Sylvester Butler was the
first superintendent and held the position for seven
years, after which Theron Porter, Frank O. Ellis,
George A. Lord and Edwin Keay filled the position,
the latter being the present superintendent. A suc
ces.sful Sunday School Institute has been held annually.
The church has borne an honorable and active part
in temperance work and in the promotion of educa
tional interests.
The Disciples of Christ accept the Bible as their
authoritative oracle of faith and practise, and plead
for the letter and spirit of Apostolic order in all the
essentials of doctrine, worship and organization,
preferring Bible names for those which men have
given. There is at present a Band of Hope in con
nection with the church, under the charge of Gilbert
Kniveton. The church is supported by weekly
voluntary contributions.
The Baptist Church was first known as a Baptist
Mission. It originated with a very few persons, resi
dents of Swampscott, but connected with churches of
this faith in other places, who desired to establish a

OF SWAMPSCOTT. Ill

Christian home according to their own views, and
draw in some who were not connected with either of
the other religious societies. The first prayer meet
ing was held in November, 1867, and continued
weekly at the dwelling-houses, until a church edifice
was erected for worship. During the winter seyeral
persons were converted, and in the spring united with
the High Street Church, Lynn.
May 10, 1868, a Sabbath School was formed, with
forty-five members. The increase was such that at
its first anniversary the total membership was one
hundred and twenty-five, and the whole amount of
collections $855.31, with a well-furnished room, and a
library of three hundred volumes. At the organiza
tion of the Sabbath School it was adopted as a Mis
sion of High Street, and remained such until the
formation of the church, in March, 1872, with a
membership of twenty-one persons.
Up to this time the place of worship had been the
lower room in the Town Hall building. Preaching
had been sustained for almost the entire time by the
ministers in the association and students from Newton
Theological Institution, one each Sabbath, usually in
the evening. A lot was secured on. which to erect a
building for the use of the society, and the greater
part paid for before the church organized. Soon
after the church was formed steps were taken to raise
money for building purposes, and in August, 1873,
the present edifice was dedicated. It is a wooden
structure, Gothic in style, with a tower surmounted

112 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
by a spire, and painted drab, with darker shade for
trimmings. The main audience room has a seating
capacity for nearly five hundred persons, and one
thing we fail not to notice, that in one respect it
differs not from its sister predecessors — it is seldom
crowded. The interior is finished in black walnut
and ash, and the walls are adorned with neat but
simple frescoing. In the rear part of the building is
the library room and vestry, with vestibule for en
trance, and staircase leading from the ladies' parlor
and pastor's study. The cost of the land and struct
ure was $15,000. Soon after a permanent ch-urch
organization was effected. Rev. Lucian Drury was
unanimously called to the pastorate, and labored with
untiring perseverance for the prosperity of this branch
of Zion, financially and spiritually, for nearly four
years, a portion of the time with no remuneration,
save the consciousness of faithfully trying to do his
duty, through evil as well as good report. Since his
labors closed, the desk was filled for a few Sabbaths
by other clergymen, and later there was preaching by
Rev. Mr. Burroughs, pastor of the Wyoma Church,
once each Sabbath.
Rev. John E. Dame was the next regular preacher,
commencing his labors in August, 1880, and settling
in Swampscott. He was a member of the School
Board when he resigned his pastorate for another
field of duty, at Great Falls, N. H.
Rev. T. C. Russell succeeded Mr. Dame, coming
to Swampscott from Springvale, Me., in October,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 113
1883, and served one year. His labors, like those of
Mr. Dame, were divided between the Baptist societies
in Swampscott, and Wyoma, in Lynn.
In the year 1867, Rev. J. F. W. Ware, of Balti
more, Md., finding himself a suinmer resident in
Swampscott, offered to hold a Sunday religious ser
vice, provided some place could be procured. It was
thought nothing could be done about it at that time,
but renewing his proposal the next year, on the 28th
of June, 1868, a church was formed, bearing the name
ofthe " First Unitarian Church in Swampscott." In
assuming the chair, George M. Barnard, said: "For
more than a quarter of a century many Unitarian
families had resided in Swampscott during the sum
mer season, and had been obliged to seek in other
places the spiritual instruction which accorded with
their views." J. H. Gookin added: "This move
ment is not started in a sectarian or proselyting
spirit, but has for its aim the organization of a
society which shall embrace all who desire to culti
vate a large and generous spirit of Christian brother
hood." The first service of communion was held August
30 — the communion service having been kindly
loaned by the First Congregational Society of Swamp
scott. Subsequently a "service" was presented, by
some of the ladies, to the church. For some time re
ligious services were held at the Town Hall during
the summer months — sometimes a little longer. In
addition to the morning preaching, Mr. Ware, for
'7

114 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
several years, gave afternoon lectures, more especially
adapted to the young, filling the hall with the inhabit
ants of the neighborhood, and holding a sunset ser
vice on " Cannon Hill," until a severe disease of the
throat compelled him to relinquish it. The fact that
Unitarian services were held in Swampscott influenced
many in their selection of a summer abode.
In 1859, through the influence of Hon. E. R.
Mudge and summer residents of Swampscott, and
Ocean Street, an edifice known as St. Andrew's
Episcopal Chapel was erected just across the Lynn line,
on Michigan Avenue. Episcopal services were held
here during the summer season, until 1876, when the
worshippers scattered to the other churches of Lynn
and Swampscott — many going with the Rev. Dr.
Ware to the Town Hall. The chapel has since stood
unoccupied, awaiting an act of the Legislature for its
disposal. During the winter of 18771 it was proposed by Rev.
C. W. Biddle, then pastor of the First Universalist
Church, Lynn, B. F. Spinney, superintendent of the
Sunday School, B. W. Currier, and other interested
parties, that a branch Universalist Sunday School be
established in Swampscott. It was suggested that a
series of meetings be holden in the Town Hall, in
order to confer with the Swampscott people, and to
hear their views on the matter. Accordingly meet
ings were held and largely attended, and quite an in
terest was taken from the commencement. The sub
ject was freely discussed, some favoring, others think-

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 115

ing that the time had not arrived to start a school. It
was finally concluded that a school be organized at
once, all interested agreeing to use every endeavor to
make it a success. A meeting for organization was
held February 4, 1877, at the house of Mrs. William
Collins, Rock Avenue. The attendance was quite
large, and all seemed to be in earnest. David N.
Johnson was chosen Chairman, and Frank E. Ingalls,
Secretary, fhe enterprise was freely discussed, and
viewed in every light, and on motion of James M.
Sargent, it was voted to organize the school.
A committee of five was appointed by the chair
to present a list of officers for the school. The
following persons were appointed: B. F. Spinney,
Curtis V. Merritt, Frank E. Ingalls, Mrs. George
Hobby, Miss Anna Stimpson, who presented the fol
lowing names for officers of the school : Superin
tendent, Frank E. Ingalls ; Vice Superintendent, Cur
tis V. Merritt ; Treasurer, Gilbert Delano ; Librarian,
Henry Collins ; Assistant Librarian, Crowell Rodman.
A canvassing committee, consisting of the follow
ing persons, were selected to ascertain what aid and
material could be procured, and report at an adjourned
meeting : Mrs. Samuel Parker, Mrs. George Hobby,
Miss Anna Stimpson, Mrs. Gilbert Delano, Miss Eva
Chapman, Miss Mary Palmer.
At the call of the committee a meeting was holden
at the house of John Chaptrian, to hear the report of
the canvassing committee. B. F. Spinney was chosen
Chairman, and Frank E. Ingalls, Secretary. The

116 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
committee met with fine success, and presented the
names of fifty who wished to become members of the
school ; also contributions amounting to seventy dol
lars. The evening was spent in classifying the
scholars presented. It was decided to commence the
work as soon as possible.
The first session of the school was holden at the
Town Hall, Swampscott, Sunday, February ii, 1877,
at 3, p. M. The hall was filled to overflowing, and
the success of the school was assured. Present-^
teachers and officers, 13 ; scholars, 68 ; visitors, 75.
Total, 156. Rev. C. W. Biddle, pastor of the First
Universalist Church, Lynn, and B. F. Spinney, super
intendent of the Lynn School, spoke words of en
couragement, and all entered heartily' in the work. .
Classes were formed and teachers assigned their
places, and all seemed to enjoy this the first session
of the Swampscott Universalist Sunday School.
Shortly after the organization of the school they
were presented with a fine library of two hundred
and eighty-three volumes of carefully selected read
ing from the Lynn School. The gift was greatly
appreciated. A short time after, a fine organ was
procured by contributions from Swampscott and Lynn
friends. The library numbers three hundred and
fifty-three volumes.
The school contributed toward the Lynn Church
debt $148.68, and has at present upwards of $100 in
the bank. The school is nearly seven j-ears old, dur
ing which time a deep interest has been manifested.

oif SWAMPSCOTT. 117

and has steadily increased in numbers. At present
the membership of the school is one hundred and
thirty-four. January 3, 1866, Seaside Lodge of Good Templars
was organized in Swampscott. At a regular meeting
of the lodge, held February 14, 1866, in the vestry of
the Congregational Church, the officers were in
stalled for the ensuing term, as follows: W. C. T.,
Frederick O. Ellis ; W. V. T., Amelia Foster ; W. S.,
Celia I. Holden; W. R. S., C. J. Millett; W. L. S.,
H. R. Thompson. The lodge when first formed met
in the above-named place, but soon after removed to
the Town Hall; they had a membership at one time
of two hundred. At one of their meetings, J. Warren
Newhall, of Lynn, visited the lodge, and when in the
Town Hall, at the close of the evening session, he
lost his cane through a hole in the floor, much to his
surprise ; the janitor soon restored it, the cane having
landed in the cellar. After a few years the charter was
surrendered. Only two of the charter members are
now connected with the order — Mrs. C. J. Millett
and Miss Celia I. Holden.
February 6, 1876, Dr. Reynolds lectured in the
Town Hall. Those interested in the cause of tem
perance, thus started, soon formed the Swampscott
Reform Club, which was organized with a member
ship of fifty, and rapidly increased until it numbered
two hundred and eighty-six. The first oflScers were :
President, John Washburn ; Vice Presidents, Thoinas
Gannon, B. M. Green and Robert Wiley. The club

118 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
has done good work in the cause of temperance, and
is still in existence.
The Women's Christian Temperance Union was or
ganized by Mrs. Ward, of Salem, on the evening of
February i6, 1876, with the following board of offi
cers : President, Mrs. Bertha F. Eastman ; Vice
President, Mrs. Bartlett ; Treasurer, Miss Knowles ;
Secretary, Miss Colcord. There were one hundred
and thirty-six members. The influence of this organ
ization has been, and'is being, felt in many ways.
Owing to the efforts of Captain William A. Phil
lips, John Chapman, John L. Seger and others, a
Watchers' Society was organized June 9, 1849. This
society has been a success, and still does much to
comfort and care for the sick. The following is a
list of the officers of the organization from the year
1849 to the present time, with their time of service : —
Presidents : John Story, three years ; John Chapman,
twenty-one years ; Charles W^. Haskell, elected in
1884. Secretaries: John L. Seger, seven years; A.
L. Harris, three years; W. D. Brackett, Jr., four
years ; Frank E. Ingalls, six years ; Curtis V. Mer
ritt, tvvo years; H. Byron Martin, eight years, and
is the present secretary.

CHAPTER XI.
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWN.
Incorporation of Town of Sivampscott. — First
Town Meeting. — First BirtJi and Marriage. —
Rate of Taxation. — Statistics in 1865. — Town
Report', February, 1885. — Annexation of part
of Salem.

Agreeably to a petition of the inhabitants, an act
was passed by the Legislature incorporating Swamp
scott as a separate town, the bill receiving the signa
ture of Governor George S. Boutwell, May 21, 1852.
The Act of Incorporation is as follows :
Section i. That portion of the city of Lynn, lying east
erly of a line commencing at a point upon the centre of the
bridge which crosses Stacy's Brook, so called at King's Beach,
thence running from said point south, twelve degrees east by
compass to the ocean, and running north from said point
twelve degrees west by compass to the line which separates
the city of Lynn from the city of Salem, is hereby incorporated
into a town by the narae of Swampscott; and the inhabitants
of said town of Swampscott are hereby invested with all the
powers and privileges, and shall be subjected to the duties
and requisitions of other incorporated towns, according to
the constitution and laws of the Commonwealth.

120 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Sect. 2. The inhabitants of said town of Swampscott
shall be holden to pay all arrears of taxes which have been
assessed upon them by the city of Lynn, before the passing
of this act, and also their proportion of all county and State
taxes that may be assessed upon said property previously to
the taking of the next State valuation, said proportion to be
ascertained and determined by the last city valuation ; and said
town of Swampscott shall be holden to pay their proportion
of the debts due and owing, at the time ofthe passage of this
act, from the city of Lynn, and be entitled to receive of the
city of Lynn their proportion of all corporate property now
owned by said city of Lynn, such proportion to be deter
mined by the last valuation of said city of Lynn; provided,
tiotuever, that the city of Lynn shall be authorized to collect
the tAs. which may have been assessed by virtue of law on the
first of May, this current year, upon the inhabitants and
owners of propert}' in said Swampscott; and the said city of
Lynn, after deducting the reasonable expenses of assessing
and collecting the same, shall account with and pay over the
same to the Town Treasurer of said Swampscott; and said
city of Lynn shall incur no liability for said town of Swamp
scott after the passage of this act.
Sect. 3. Said city of Lynn and town of Swampscott shall
be respectively liable for the support of all persons who now
do, or hereafter shall, stand in need of relief as paupers,
whose settlement was gained or derived from the settlement
gained, or derived within their respective limits.
Sect. 4. In case said city of Lynn and town of Swamp
scott shall disagree in respect to the division of paupers, city
property, city debts or State and county taxes^ the €ourt of
Common Pleas for the county of Essex is hereby authorized
to, and shall, on application of said city of Lynn, or of said
town of Swampscott, appoint three disinterested persons to
hear the parties and award thereon ; which award when
{iccepted by said court shall be final.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 121
Sect. 5. The town of Swampscott shall, for the purpose
of electing the representatives to the General Court, to which
the territory comprised in the city of Lynn is now entitled
until the next decennial census, or until another apportion
ment of representatives be made, remain a part of said
city of Lynn. And the inhabitants of said Swampscott shall
vote for the number of representatives which tbe city authori
ties of Lynn may decide shall be elected annually in town
meeting. And it shall be the duty of the Selectmen of said
Swampscott to preside at said town meeting, and receive the
votes ; and the certificate thereof shall be made by the Se
lectmen and certified by the Town Clerk of said Swampscott,
whose duty it shall be to make return thereof to the Mayor
and Alderraen of the said city of Lynn, within forty-eight
hours ofthe day of voting; and the votes shall be counted by
the said Mayor and Aldermen as a part ofthe vote ofthe said
city of Lynn.
Sect. 6. Any Justice of the Peace in the county of Essex
is hereby authorized to issue his warrant to any principal in
habitant of the town of Swampscott, requiring him to warn
the inhabitants of said town to meet at the time and place
therein appointed, for the purpose of choosing all such town
officers as towns are by law authorized and required to choose
at their annual meetings.
Sect. 7. This act shall take eftect from and after its
passage. The news of the signing of the act by Governor
Boutwell was soon spread, and was the cause of great
rejoicing. Flags were displayed, bells rung, and a
heavy roar of artillery proclaimed that the citizens of
Swampscott were aware of their importance as a
town of the good- old Comraonwealth of Massachu
setts. In honor of the event a procession was formecl
|8

122 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
under the marshalship of Colonel Thonias Alker, and
accompanied by a band of music it marched through
the principal streets of the town. Ainong the ban
ners displayed in the ranks was a venerable ensign
which floated in the breeze at the masthead of the re
nowned frigate " Constitution," when she fought with
and captured the " Guerriere." In front of the shoe
shop of John Story, 2d, was suspended a banner
bearing this incription : " Swarapscott, settled, A. D.
1629, by Francis Ingalls; Swarapscott incorporated

seal of SWAMPSCOTT.

as a town. May 21, A.D. 1852." The procession
halted in front of the writer's store and post dtfice,
where they listened to an eloquent address by Rev.
Jonas B. Clark. In the evening the sky was raade
brilliant by the discharge of fireworks, and Dr. J. B.
Holder caused a fire balloon to be sent up. Ainong
the persons assembled to witness the celebration was
a man belonging in Lynn, whose name the writer
never knew, and after the oration he delivered the fol
lowing, written for the occasion : —

OF SWAMtSCOTT. 123

" Come, all you honest fishermen, and Usten to my story,
And I will tell you of a town that now is in its glory.
Swampscott is a town so neat, set off by legislators,
Who have good fish and also meat, and plenty good potatoes.
The Swampscott men are wide awake, now they have left the city,
And they their own laws now can make, if not it is a pity.
Our flag last week was Union down, and then it was half-mast, sir,
But now we have the Union up, we hope 'twill always last, sir.
Lawyer Brown, of Woodfield town, and onr brave Senator Alley,
And George Hood — they thought it good against our act to rally;
But after all that they have done to have our act defeated,
We are set oft", and soon shall have all our work completed.
Parson Clark, if you will hark, delivered our oration,
And he is as good as any man we have in our free nation.
Our Squire Waldo, he can do the business here completely;
Although our numbers here are few, we'll have it done up neatly.
We have a man in our town, they call him Uncle Story,
He and his children and his wife, are all now in their glory.

The following was the petition of prominent citi
zens to a justice of the peace to draw up a warrant for
a town meeting: —
To Waldo Thompson, Esquire, Justice ofthe Peace, with and
for the County of Essex.
The undersigned, inhabitants ofthe Town of Swampscott,
and legal voters, pray that jou will, as soon as may be, issue
n warrant to some principal inhabitant of said Swampscott,
directing him to notify the legal voters of said Swampscott
to meet at some place and time specified in said warrant, for
the organization of said town, and for the choice of all such
officers as towns may and are required by law to choose.
Signed — Henry J. Thing, John L. Seger, Moses Nesbitt,
Jr., John B. Richard.son, W. W. Marshall, F. A. Pickering,
N. C. Wiley, Edmund Knowles, William D. Rowe, Thomas
Widger.

124 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
This petition resulted in the issuing of the follow
ing :
Commonwealth OF Massachusetts. Essex ss. To Henry
J. Thing, of the Town of Swampscott, in said County.
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you
are hereby required to warn the freeholders and other inhabit
ants of the town of Swampscott, qualified to vote in town
affairs, to assemble at the Atlantic Engine Hall, in said town,
on Saturday, the fifth day of June next, at ten o'clock in the
forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, to
wit —
Article i. To choose a Moderator of said meeting.
Art. 2. To choose all necessary town officers for the
organization of the town of Swampscott, and for conducting
the same for the current year.
Art. 3. To raise such sums of money as maj' be neces
sary to defray the expenses incident to the incorporation and
organization of the town, and to meet the town charges the
current year, and make appropriations of the same.
Art. 4. To determine the manner of repairing the high
ways and bridges the current year.
Art. 5. To know if the town will authorize their Select
men to establish the boundary line between this town and the
city of Lynn, by erecting suitable monuments, and to settle
all matters with said city pertaining to the division of the
public property of said city, and to adjust all matters neces
sary to be settled with said city, by reason of-the act of in
corporation of the town of Swampscott, and in conformity
thereto, and to pay all bills necessarily incurred in obtaining
said act of incorporation, and in effecting the organization of
the town, and such as may become necessary in establishing
said line and in effecting said settlement.
Art. 6. To see what the town will do in reference to pro
curing a public burial ground.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 125
Art. 7. To transact all business that may legally come
before the meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant and
of your doings thereon, unto me, on or before the fifth day of
June, 1852.
Dated at Sivampscott, the twenty-eighth day of Mav, A. D.
1852.
WALDO THOMPSON,
Justice ofthe Peace.
Essex ss. Swampscott, June 5, A. D. 1852. Bj' virtue of
this warrant I have warned the freeholders and other inhabit
ants of the town of Swampscott, qualified to vote in town
affairs, to assemble at the time and place and for the purpose
therein mentioned, bv posting a true copy of said warrant in
six of the most public places in said Swampscott.
Signed : HENRY J. THING.
Essex ss. Swampscott, June 5, 1852. Then personally
appeared the above-named Henry J. Thing, and made oath
that the foregoing return is true. Before me,
WALDO THOMPSON,
Justice of the Peace.
The citizens of the town having met in accordance
with the warrant, the meeting was called to order by
Waldo Thompson. A ballot for Moderator resulted
in the choice of Samuel C. Pitman. Ah elegant
black walnut ballot-box was then presented to the
town by Leonard Thompson, Jr., of Woburn, Mass.
On one end was " Swampscott, 1S52," in gilt letters ;
on the opposite end a shield of Liberty. The follow
ing letter was read :

12(; HISTORICAL SKfiTCHES
To tke -Voters of Swampscott — Gentlemen : — Please
accept the gift accompanying this note as a slight testimonial
of respect for your unwearying kindness, in friendly inter
course with the many visitors to your pleasant town, and
what should be as widely known, that steady regard for
popular government, mutual iraprovement and equal rights,
whieh ever has and ever shall characterize the results of de
positing the intelligent strong will of the people even in a
frail ballot-box. With many wishes for your continued pros
perity, I am. Yours Respectfully, LEONARD THOMPSON, Jr.
Woburn, June i, 1852.
A vote of thanks was given to Leonard Thompson,
Jr., for the gift of thc ballot-box.
The following is a list of the officers chosen at this
meeting, those marked witli a star having since de
ceased : Selectmen, Samuel C. Pitman,* Eben B.
Piiillips,* Henry J. Thing ;* Town Clerk, Joint L.
Seger; Treasurer, John Chapman, Jr. ; Assessors,
J. F. Phillips,* Thomas Stone, Jr.,* Allen Wash
burn ;* School Committee, Jonas' B. Clark, Henry
PL Plall, Edward Woodford; Overseers of the Poor,
Williain D. Rowe,* Mark G. Phillips,* John B.
Richardson ; Surveyors of Highways, Allen Wash
burn,* Jonathan F. Phillips;* Constables, B. PL
Davis,* Nathaniel Galeucia, Charles Leavitt ;* Tyth
ingmen, William Widger,* J. P. Blaney,* John Wil
kins;* Mea.surer of Wood and Bark, Philander Hol
den ; Surveyor of Lumber, Moses Gilbert; Field
Drivers, A. C. Newhall, James Nesbitt,* S. R.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 127

Bartlett,* Williani Galeucia ; Pound Keeper, Jacob
Wilford ; Board of Health, James Nesbitt,* J. B.
Holder, A. C. Newhall ; Fence Viewers, Allen
Washburn,* Ebenezer Weeks,* Fitzwilliam Grilfin ;*
Sealer of Weights and Measures, John B. Richardson.
At the adjourned town meeting, held on June 26,
1S52, it was voted "That the by-laws, now read as
presented by a committee chosen at a previous meet
ing, be approved and accepted, and that the fore
going by-laws be presented to the Court of Common
Pleas, for this county, at the ensuing term, that the
same may be approved and passed into laws."
January i, 1S53, the by-laws were examined and
approved,. The balance due the city of Lynn, October 9, 1S52,
was $5450. New by-laws were adopted by the town
March 19, iSSo, and approved by the court, January
5, iSSi. The whole number of voters at the first
town meeting was one hundred and fifty-five. Each
voter's name was recorded before casting his ballot.
Henry J. Thing, J. B. Phillips and Ebenezer Weeks
were the first Auditors of the town. According to
their report, dated March i, 1S53, '^e town debt was
$4500. Whole number of polls in town in the year
1S59, f'^"'' hundred and four; rate of taxation, $4.60
per $1000.
The first town meeting held in the Town Hall was
March 9, 1S61 . Rev. J. B. Clark opened the meeting
with prayer. Eben N. Wardwell presided as Moder
ator. The land for the struQture was purchased of

12S historical skktches.

John Proctor ; the carpenter work by John Chapman :
masonry, by Horace M. Norton ; painting, liy Charles
A.Morris. Total cost of building, $4614.01. A
llagstalT was erectecl on tiie grounds surrounding the
hall May 15, 1S61. In 1882, a large addition was
built to the rear of the hall at a cost of $2588.14 ; the
whole was newly painted and the ceiling frescoed,
and now the building is sufficiently large to meet the
requirements of the town.
The cemetery is pleasantly located in the northern
part ofthe town, being situate on Essex Street, about
three-quarters of a mile from the Eastern Railroad
depot. The land was purchased of Colonel C. A.
Stetson, October 11, 1852, at a cost of $1500. The
grounds were graded and laid out in lots, and on the
sixteenth of September, 1S54, '^he cemetery was con
secrated, with appropriate services, the address being
given by Rev. Jonas B. Clark. Additional land was
given to the town by Ebenezer Weeks.
" AU nations rose from earth at first,
And turn to earth again."
First death registered in town. May 27, 1852, Lucy
E. Thomas, one month and six days.
John Seger, aged sixty-four, was the first person
buried in the cemetery. Pie had been buried at Lynn
Eastern Burial Ground, July 31, 1852, and was moved
to Swampscott Cemetery, November 4, 1854.
Whole number of interments in the cemetery up to
January i, 18S5, seven hundred and fifty-eight. The
town has a new receiving tomb finished in 1884.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 129

The first birth in town. May 30,1852, John Frederick
Ingalls, son of Ephraim and Elizabeth C. Ingalls.
First record of marriage was between E. T. Heath
and Hannah M. Newland, of Marblehead.
In 1865, there were 16 marriages, 49 births and 24
deaths in Swampscott.
In the year 1865, there were three master builders,
one boat builder, one blacksmith shop, one tin-ware
shop. Vessels employed in the mackerel and cod fish
ing business, 50, and dories, 31 ; tonnage, 1309. Bar
rels of mackerel taken, 3875, value $42,325 ; quintals
of cod fish, 7127, valued at $42,233 ; value of cod liver
oil sold, $5265 ; value of salt consumed, $3720 ; hands
employed, 199. Farmers, 29. Acres, 1329. Value,
including buildings, $209,760. Acres of land im
proved, 500. Persons employed, 69. Value of onion
crop, $12,390; cabbages, $499; winter squashes,
$560 ; hay, $9345. Horses, 98 ; value $11,255. Lob
sters trapped, 37,000. Value offish, spawns and livers,
$200,150. Large amounts of spawn are gathered in
the spring, barreled up and shipped to the Mediter
ranean Sea, to be used as bait in the sardine fisheries.
In the year 1S73, there were 59 births in Swamp
scott, 31 females and 28 males; 12 of these were
born in the month of December, 6 of thera being
males and 6 females. There were 38 deaths, 20
females and 18 males, 7 of these being in August and
7 in November. Tax rate, $12 on $1000.
There were 39 deaths in Swampscott in 1876, and
23 marriages. 19

130 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
There were 37 deaths in Swampscott in 1878, two
of which were those of non-residents. Mrs. Sally
Gilbert was the oldest, and Mrs. Sally Seger, aged 81,
the next oldest. There were 18 marriages and 56
births in town. There were 632 names on the voting
list in 1878.
In the year 1877, there were 39 deaths in Swamp
scott. In i86i, the rate of taxation was $5.70 on $1000.
Number of voters, 319.
February, 1884. Public property in town, $51,861.
Births : males, 23 ; females, 20 ; total, 43. Mar
riages recorded, 26. Deaths: males, 18; females,
17 ; total, 35. Number of dogs licensed, 114 ; males,
104; females, 10. Total number of acres of land
assessed in town, 1563 ; dwelling houses, 535 ; polls,
633. Tax $10.00 on $1000.
April 3, 1867, a narrow strip of land, formerly a
part of Salem, was annexed to Swampscott : it ex
tended to the seashore between Marblehead and
Swampscott.

TOWN HALL-

CHAPTER XII.
TOWN IMPROVEMENTS.

Town Library. — Post Office. — Fire Engines. —
Eastern Railroad. — Swampscott Branch Rail
road. — Horse Railroad. — Cheap Transporta
tion. — Water Pipes. — Street Lamps.

During 1884, a tower was built on the Town Hall,
containing a bell connected with a fire alarm system,
having eight boxes; also a fine " Howard" clock.
Cost $660. During the day alarms can be given from
the central ofiice, located in Jeffers' drug store, and at
night a man is on duty at the engine house. This
clock was furnished by voluntary contributions, and
the names may be found in the Town Records.
About the year 1S52, Dr. William R. Lawrence, of
Boston, a summer resident in Swampscott, conceived
the idea of founding a town library, and to start the
plan he contributed upwards of one hundred and
fifty volumes and $100 in money. At the town
meeting held October 9, 1852, it was voted to accept
the proposition made by Dr. Lawrence, and the Se
lectmen appointed a board of officers. Rev. Jonas B.
Clark serving as President. The library opened with

132 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
two hundred and forty volumes, and the plan adopted
by the board of officers was that individuals become
voluntary members and pay a small sum annually, so
long as they remained members, the money thus col
lected to be used to secure new books, etc. The li
brary to be a Town Library, and the plan adopted
did not convey an}' ownership of books to the mem
bers. Whether the library suffered from lack of
patronage or need of good books, it had an inglorious
death, and the mutilated books that were left' after a
few years' struggle to make a good impression on the
minds of Swampscotters, were stowed away in two
boxes, where they remained in quiet seclusion for
several years. In 1868, the town appropriated a sum
of money to fit up a room in the Town Hall, to be
used as a library. This work was done, and Curtis
V. Merritt was appointed Librarian, with power
from the Selectmen to solicit subscriptions. Mr.
Merritt succeeded in raising a neat little sum, with
whicii new and popular books were purchased and
added to the old ones, and the library again started
with about four hundred volumes on the shelves.
The enterprise proved very popular, soon demanding
more commodious quarters, and a large addition was
made to the library room. Mr. Merritt was aided in
his duties, at different times, by Masters George Cros
man, Edward Crosman and George T. Till. Messrs.
Fred O. Ellis, Benjamin Potter and Charles A. Has
kell, 2d, served the town as Trustees of the Libraiy
without pay. During the year ending February 28,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 133

1883, another addition was made to the library room,
the ceilings being decorated, new gas fixtures added,
and a new carpet laid. Six fine oil paintings, the gift
of Mrs. E. R. Mudge, now adorn the walls. Miss
Kittie Honors is Librai-ian, assisted by Masters Bertie
Stone and John Earp ; Curtis V. Merritt, George
H. Holden and F. F. Stanley, serving as trustees.
Volumes in library, four thousand seven hundred and
thirty-five. In the year 1846, the writer, at the request of a
number of citizens in the village of Swampscott,
drew up and circulated a petition to the Postmaster
General for the purpose of securing an established
post office in the village. Several other petitions had
been presented in the years gone by, but for some
reason had failed to secure the desired end. T'he
petition was generally signed by all to whose atten
tion it was brought. I only recall one person declin
ing to affix his signature, he declining on the ground
that " as he neither wrote or received any letters, he
could not see the necessity of an office in Swamp
scott." John L. Seger, at that time a clerk in my
store, did much toward securing many signers to the
petition. In due time the petition was forwarded to
the proper authorities at Washington, D. C, and at
length an office was established at Swampscott, and
the writer received the commission as postmaster, re
ceiving in payment for his services fifty dollars per
year and the " franking" privilege.
For a number of years, previous to the post office

134 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
being established at Swampscott, " Father Story," on
returning from selling his fish in Lynn, would bring
and distribute all letters, receiving two cents each for
them. Soon the office received two mails from Lynn
per day, and sent out two, Benjamin Pierce, driver
of Goldthwait's omnibus, running from Lynn to Mar
blehead, acting as mail carrier. The business of the
office increased from year to year, and in 1861 there
were one hundred boxes, where in 1846 there were
only twelve. In 1861, Daniel P. Stimpson was ap
pointed to the position of postmaster, he holding the
commission until October i, 1866, when Jacob Porter
was appointed to the charge of the office as post
master, and his son Joseph as his assistant. The post
office was then removed to his apothecary store, in
Widger's block, where it remained until June i, 1869,
when Mr. Stimpson was reappointed as postmaster,
which position he had held up to the present time,
January, 1885. The office now contains three hundred
and fifty boxes. A list of letters is posted in the out
side office on the arrival of each mail.
Mr. Hilton, David Austin and James Wheeler have
at different times acted as mail carriers, Deacon James
Wheeler being the present carrier, the mail being
taken to and from the depot of the Eastern Railroad
at Swampscott. There are at present five mails re
ceived, and four mails sent from the office per day.
In 1S76, during the months of June, July and August,
there were 15,400 letters handled at the office. In the
corresponding months in 1877, 16,516 letters, show-

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 135

ing an increase of 1116. In June, July and August,
1883, there were 24,331 letters, and 6301 pieces of
third and fourth-class matter. Mr. Stimpson, the
present postmaster, is assisted in his duties by Miss
Nellie A. Martin.
A post office was established September i, 1879, at
Beach Bluff", with A. Wesley Clough as postmaster,
and James O. Sanborn as assistant. They handle
four mails per day from June to November, and two
mails per day for the remaining period. "In" mails,
sent from September i to December 31, 1879, '^°"'
tained 5000 pieces; for the year 1880, 22,000; 1881,
24,000; 1882, 25,000; 1883, 38,000 pieces, showing
that the business of this office as well as the main
office is rapidly increasing.
The Eastern Railroad Company was incorporated
April 14, 1836, and a track of the road was opened
from East Boston to Salem, August 27, 1838. One
thousand persons passed over the road the first day.
On the arrival of the train at East Boston the pas
sengers left the cars and went on board a ferry boat,
which soon landed them on the Boston side, near the
foot of Commercial Street. On the 27th of August
I saw, at 10.30 A. M., the first passenger train passed
through Swampscott, on the road to Salem.
" First, the shrill whistle, then the distant roar.
The ascending cloud of steam, the gleaming brass,
Thc mighty moving arm; and on amain
The mass comes thundering, like an avalanche o'er
The quaking earth ; a thousand faces passed —
A moment, and are gone, like whirlwind sprites.

136 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Scarce seen; so nmch the roaring speed benights
Atl sense and recognition for a while;
A little space, a minute and a mile !
Then look again — how swift it journeys on ;
Away, away, along the horizon.
Like drifted clouds to its determined |)lace;
Power, speed and distance, melting into space!"
Previous to the opening ofthe road, people went to
and from Boston in stages. These stages would start
from the old Elm Street Tavern in Boston, and thence
over the old turnpike to the West Lynn Hotel. In
the summer of 1S3S, I was sent to the seashore at
Swampscott for my health. Arriving in Boston, I
took my seat in the stage at the tavern naraed, and
was soon on the way. At the West Lynn Hotel I
was transferred to a buggy owned by the stage com
pany, and taken to Ebenezer Weeks' house, Swamp
scott, where I spent several weeks, gaining rapidly
in health and strength. Cost of ride from Boston
to Swampscott, fifty cents.
A short time after the opening of the railroad a
depot was established at the easterly end of the bridge,
near the present cemetery, to accommodate Swamp
scott and Marblehead passengers. From the depot a
stage made four trips daily to Marblehead. This
depot did not furnish sufficient accommodations for
Swampscott passengers, and a petition was presented
to President Neal by Hon. Cyrus Washburn and
others, for a depot where the station now stands ;
this petition was granted, and a building was erected
ten by twenty feet, and was devoted to the several

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 137

uses of ticket office, waiting room, baggage room
and store room. Daniel F. Proctor was appointed
ticket master, which position he held until August
IO, 1877 ' George R. Hussey is station master at the
present time (1884). Swampscott now has a first-
class station with a neat clock in the tower, and ample
space about the building for the use of its patrons.
Here can be found conveyances to take passengers to
their several destinations, among them being those of
the veteran John Washburn, who for more than thirty
summers has transported passengers to and from the
station, and of whom it has been said that he never
lost a train but once, and then he was waiting for a
newly-wedded couple.
In 1873, October 20, a branch road was opened
from Swampscott to Marblehead, four miles in length,
and called the Swampscott Branch Railroad. E. B.
Phillips, J. P. Palmer and others, exerted their in
fluence to have it constructed, and now it has hand
some stations along the line, and many beautiful
residences have been built on the attractive seashore
route. During the summer season many more trains
are run on this branch than in the winter. The
advent of the steam cars has done much toward mak
ing Swampscott a noted summer resort, it being about
thirty minutes' ride from Boston. Hundreds of
people are carried to the city in the morning, return
ing at night, while many others stay for a week or
more, and then depart for other resorts, being able to
travel the required distance rapidly by the aid of the

138 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Eastern and other railroads. It is estimated there
have been as many as fifteen thousand people, perma
nent and transient guests, in Swampscott, in a single
season. In July, 1883, there were thirty-five pas
senger trains going east, and thirty-five going west,
and nine freight trains each way, per day, over the
main line of the Eastern Railroad, a total of eighty-
eight regular trains.
The Eastern Railroad Station in Boston, at the
present day, is on Causeway Street, opposite Friend
Street. Horse cars and omnibuses run every few
minutes to all parts of the city. It is one of the most
spacious stations in the city, the inward and outward-
bound trains having distinct tracks, so that liability of
mistake in entering cars is greatly lessened, and much
confusion avoided. The principal freight dejjot of
the road is now at Charlestown. Officers of the com
pany have rooms upon the second floor of the pas
senger station, for the transaction of business.
In the Lynn Daily Item of February 20, 1882, it
is stated that railroad station agents see a good deal of
life, and many strange things are brought to their
notice. The average man or woman coming to the
ticket window is generally confused as to how to
express the want which they feel. Perhaps a good
illustration of this may be had by a perusal of the fol
lowing list of names which would-be purchasers of a
commutation ticket -between Boston and Lynn have
given at the Eastern Railroad Station : Commenda
tion, communication, combination, compensation.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 139

computation, communion, complimentary, chip, clip,
card, club, billet, bunch, baggage-ticket-what-do-you-
call-them, slip, season, trip, long ticket, dollar ticket,
one-of-those-things-you-know-what, full ticket, five
ride, punch, package and excursion ticket.
Previous to the year 1881, people from Swampscott
desiring to ride on the horse cars were obliged to pass
King's Beach, by way of Humphrey and Ocean
Streets, to the terminus at the foot of Lewis Street.
In the spring of 1881, however, after some opposition,
the Lynn and Boston Horse Railroad was extended
to Mudge's .Square, and on Saturday evening, about
six o'clock, May 14, 1881, the first passenger car
passed over the line into Swampscott, and regular
trips were commenced on the following week. The
cars make trips every fifteen minutes between Swamp
scott and Lynn, transferring passengers to such cars
as may connect, for all parts of the city, at one fare.
In May, 1882, the Upper Swampscott track was ex
tended to the head of Burrill Street, on Essex Street.
Fare from any part of Swampscott to any part of
Lynn, five tickets for twenty-five cents. Many
Lynn jjeople have built tasteful cottages in Swamp
scott, and go to and from their work on the horse
cars. In the summer of 1884, the line was extended to
Marblehead. The cars began running June 25th,
and at once met with an unexpected patronage.
Three thousand people are said to have been carried
over tlie road in one day soon after its completion.

140 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
It runs past Phillips Beach Station and the head of
Beach Bluff' Avenue.
" Hail! to-day cheap transportation
Comes in triumph to our station ;
Bearing in its train the story
Anti-monopoly, the people's glory!
Roll it along, through all tlie town.
The people's right-cheap transportation !
See the people come to meet us !
At tlie station many greet us !
All take Seats wilh exultation.
Glory in cheap transportation."
In June, 1884, the Lynn and Boston Railroad Co.,
erected a large stable 280 x 35 feet, containing one
hundred and one stalls, and also a car-shed 237 x 44
feet, being large enough to store thirty-two cars, on the
site of the old " Duck-house," (this was moved to
Chippewa Court in Lynn). The stable is lighted by
gas, has Lynn water, and all modern improvements.
A blacksmith's shop is conveniently located in the
rear of the stable.
Previous to the year 1824, there were no engines for
putting out fires in the village of Swampscott. Feel
ing the need of an engine to insure their safety, the
citizens petitioned the town (Lynn) for the necessary
apparatus. The petition was granted, and the "As
sistant," built by Thayer, of Boston, was shortly after
received and kept in a small house, built for the pur
pose, on a ledge at Blaney's Beach. It was a " tiny
little tub," but in the hands of Foreman Ephraim
Taylor, and his crew, did effective service when
needed. The law of the State exempted any man

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 141
serving in a fire-engine company from railitary dutj'.
After nearly twenty-five years, it was found that the
old building had been rendered useless by wear and
from its exposed position, and that the machine was
nearly " played out." A new house was built on
Humphrey Street, and a new engine, the "Atlantic,"
No. 7, purchased, and with an efficient crew, consist
ing of strong and J0II3' fisherinen, was ready for
instant use in time of need. After many years the
house was removed to a site on New Ocean Street,
where it still stands. Ainong the first foremen were
Ephraim Taylor, E. Ingalls, W. A. Phillips, P. L.
Seger, F. E. Andrews, Allen Washburn and John
Chapman. It is not too much to say that for stalwart men, who
could bend on to the brakes and stick there, no com
pany in the vicinity excelled the old " Atlantic."
They pulled the machine along steady as truck horses,
and walked her up to a fire like a thing of life. She
could work — and play. One old fireman says, "I
have seen her lifted clean off the ground at each end,
when the boys would 'jump her' in earnest." The
tub never lacked for volunteers, and many a Lewis-
streeter caught on and " manned the rope" as she was
rushed along on the way to a fire. The " Atlantic"
always had water enough and to .spare. Sometimes
the boys would encounter a rival company, and a
race would be the result, when one company would
" wing out" its brakes and keep the other from pass
ing them. Lynn firemen were up to all the dodges.

142 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
and the Swampscotts usually did their best to dodge
them. In the year 1883, it was voted to purchase a steam
fire engine, ofthe most approved make. The school-
house, which was located on Essex Street, near the
cemetery, was removed to New Ocean Street, and
prepared for the reception of the new engine, named
" Swampscott, No. i." The steamer — a "Silsby"
machine — has proved itself able to do effective work,
and it is a credit to the makers and to the town. A
fire department has been organized, with the follow
ing officers: Chief Engineer, D. Holman Millett;
Assistants, Robert Harris, Ivory Emmons.
In the fall of 18S2 and spring of 18S3, there were
laid in the streets of the town, about fourteen thou
sand feet of water pipes. George H. Norman, of
Newport, R. I., being the contractor.
The new patent ballot-box was first used at the
November, 1884, election.
Since 1882, the streets of the town have been well
lighted by one hundred and twenty-five lamps.
In 1845, Edwin Walden commence the sale of
weekly newspapers, magazines, etc., forj. L. Alger,
of Lynn, one year; B. F. Brackett, two years; then
Mr. Walden bought and run the business two years,
and sold to J. M. Munroe in 1850. The route was
Saugus, Lynn and Swarapscott. Mr. Walden called
often at the writer's store in Swampscott with his
bundle of papers, and once made the remark that
Swampscott was the best paying part of his route.

CHAPTER XIIL
SCHOOLS.
ScJiool-Jiouses and ScJiools. — TeacJiers in 1883.

Previous to the year 1794, Lynn had only one
school-house, situated near the easterly boundary of
land now used as the Common, for the accommoda
tion of all its scholars, including the villages of
Swampscott and Nahant. This building was sold for
£14, as the town had decided to have two school-
houses, whicii were erected, one at the westerly sec
tion of the town, and the other at " Fresh Marsh
Lane," near the spot where Chestnut and Collins
Streets now intersect. Between 1797 and 1814, the
children in Swampscott went to the latter school
across the fields, as no roads were then laid out. P.
L. Seger, who moved to Swampscott frora Marble
head, in the year 1800, attended this school and was
its last survivor, his death occurring in 1874; his
parents occupied the farmhouse still to be seen on the
Mudge estate.
Svvampscott's first school-house was purchased in
Marblehead, in 1814, by Jaraes and "Farraer"
Phillips, for fifty dollars, and in May of that year all

144 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
the neighbors turned out, and with ten yokes of oxen,
moved the building to a site at Whale's Beach, near
the spot where the Hotel Beacon now stands, and
nearly opposite the summer residence of Philo S.
Shelton, of Boston. The services of the men were
given to further the cause of education. Such was
the provision then made to accommodate thirty
scholars in the village of Swampscott — a little sec
ond-hand building, about 25 x 30 feet, painted red.
The school-house had one window on each side and
•one door, partly of glass, with a shutter which swung ^
up overhead. This shutter furnished a fine trap, and
the boys of the school were accustomed to load it,
when raised, with all sorts of " trash," so that when
the master closed the school and lowered the shutter,
down came tiie contents upon his devoted head. Of
course these youngsters were called to account, but as
in similar mischievous pranks conimitted by school
boys of the present day, all persisted in saying that
they " knew nothing about it."
" Hold on for a moment teacher!
You'd better ignore the rule,
Than punish that little urchin
Who has just laughed out in school."
Alien Rowe, uncle of the gentleman of that name
now living at Beach Bluft', near the Marblehead line,
and brother of that venerable citizen of Swampscott,
William D. Rowe, who died in 1877, at the age of
ninety-four years, was the first teacher in this school-
house, others being Ira Ingalls, of Salem ; Henry

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 145
Perley, Master Dean, and Miss Judith Phillips. Wal
ter Phillips was the last teacher in this place, where
many now living graduated with honor. The scholars
took turns in making fires and keeping the house in
order, and as matches was then unknown, and it being
too much trouble for each pupil to take a tinder-box,
a skillet was used to carry live coals from the nearest
house to light the school-house fire.
The following is a copy of a " Reward of Merit "
issued by Master Perley to a well-known citizen of
Swampscott :
" This is to certify that E. B. Phillips
For being bright and early.
That you receive the praise and thanks
Of your teacher — Henry Perley."
Miss Judith Phillips, mentioned above, was a
teacher only a short time. She received the attentions
of one Mr. Fish, but seeras afterwards to have mar
ried a Mr. Pond, which fact caused some person to
indite the following lines, which were made public :
" Miss Judith Phillips was a lucky Fish,
As ever looked upon ;
She just escaped the frying pan.
And jumped into a Pond."
The second school-house was located near the
present intersection of Orient Street and Orient
Court, at about the spot where George Horton's
house now stands. The lot was deeded for the pur
pose May 15, 1830, by Joseph and Ruth Blaney.
Master Merrill was the first teacher in this house.

146- HISTORICAL SKETCHES
The third school-house was located on Orient
Street, now Huraphrey Street. The land was pur
chased by the late E. B. Phillips, as School Com
mittee, from Messrs. George and Walter Phillips, in
the year 1838. This was the only school-house for
several years in this part of the village. The land
was deeded in 1838, but the original deed having
been lost before it was recorded, another was gi-ven
and recorded in 1839. '^ he latter deed bears the fol
lowing endorsement : " It is the same lot of land that
was sold by our late father, John Phillips, to E. B.
Phillips as agent for said ward. The said deed from
John Phillips to said E. B. Phillips is said to be lost,
as it has never been recorded, and this deed is given
on account of the same being lost ; and if the other is
found, then it is to be of no effect, otherwise it is of
free eftect and virtue."
Prior to 1840, a small wooden school-house was
erected on the eastern side of Cherry Street, Upper
Swampscott (then, as all other portions of the town,
included in the limits of Lynn), near its junction with
Essex Street, and nearly opposite the Leonard Collins
Estate. The early teachers there were Miss Harriet
Folsom (later Mrs. Otis H. Green) and a Miss Beck
with. Aniong the pupils of this primitive school
were some who afterwards became jirominent in
business, in politics, or in literature. About 1846,
the school-house was renioved to Jackson Street,
Lynn, and enlarged to double its original size. After
serving its purpose here for years, it gave place to a

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 147

larger structure, and was removed to Howard Street,
where it was used for a ward-room. Its final dispo
sition is unknown to the writer.
The fourth school-house was located on a part of
the site of the present grammar school-house on
Redington Street, and when a new and larger build
ing was demanded, the old house was moved to Bla
ney's Beach and the grammar school-house built on
the spot where it now stands, an exchange of adjoin
ing lots havingbeen made, slightly altering the location
of the school-house from the original site of the old
building. The land was deeded to Lynn by Captain
Nathaniel Blanchard, May 15, 1846. On the 24th of
August, 1845, the first Sunday School in town was
organized in this school-house. It has since been
used as a ward-room, school-house, and is now the
headquarters of the Swampscott Reform Club.
The fifth was the grammar school-house specified
above. The sixtii school was located on the " Farms," in
1855, and was first taught by Miss Laura Roberts,
whose services were paid for by subscriptions collected
in that neighborhood. For three years the school was
kept in Captain E. S. Martin's house, situated at
what is now the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Orient
Street, Miss Harriet N. Bartlett being the teacher in
1856 and 1857. The new school-house in this district
was built in 1858, on the farm of the late John P.
Palmer, for which an appropriation of $1200 was
made by the town.

148 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
The seventh school-house was located on Pine
Street, and was built by Ivory Emmons, in 1864.
After a few years, the building was raised another
story to accommodate two schools. A hall was fin
ished in the upper story and named Palmer Hall, in
honor ofj. P. Palraer, which is now the headqiiarters
of General Jaraes L. Bates Post 118, G. A. R. The
estimated expense was $2500, but the actual expense
amounted to the sum of $4576.12.
The eighth school-house was located on Essex
Street, nearly opposite Swampscott Cemetery, and
was built under a vote and appropriation of $3000
passed by the town, March 9, 1872.
Lynn High School-house was dedicated in Jan
uary, 1851. D. W. Fuller and others attended this
school until Swampscott was set off as a town in
1S52. A High School was established in the Town Hall,
in 1876. The gramraar school building on Reding
ton Street having been enlarged, the High School was
removed to new quarters, in that building, in 1876.
In the year 1883, it was found necessary to have
larger and better accommodations for the school child
ren in the upper part of the town, therefore the old
school-house opposite the cemetery was removed to a
site on New Ocean Street, and remodelled into an
engine-house, -and a new school-house was built by
Ivory Emmons, on the spot where E. Burrill's barn
was burnt years before, and nearly opposite Burrill
Street, on Essex Street.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 149

The following are the teachers for 1885 : First
Primary, Miss C. F. Mott ; Pine Street Primary, Miss
A. E. Boynton; Beach Primary, Miss S. A. Porter;
Beach, Miss H. M. Norton ; Essex Street, Miss Emma
J. Machon ; Pine Street Intermediate, Miss H. J.
Thing ; Farm, Miss Cora E. Gale ; Second Grammar,
Miss E. J. Hadley and Miss L. E. Chase ; First
Grammar, Miss A. M. Mott ; High School, Mr. and
Mrs. E. P. Barker.

CHAPTER XIV.
WAR RECORD.

Old Soldiers. — Revolutionary War. — War of
1812. — War for the. Union. — Naval Service.
— Soldiers' Alonument.

As has been shown, our chief citizen in the early
days, John Huraphrey, held a high railitary rank,
having been commissioned Sergeant Major General,
and put in command of all the troops in the county.
Doubtless his martial appearance inspired terror in
the souls ofthe natives, and may have kept them from
many a nightly raid upon the flocks of the settlers.
That he was of soldierly blood is shown by the tradi
tions concerning his gallant ancestor. Sir John Hum
phrey, who flourished in the year 1390, as
" A warrior who spared
Nor land, nor gold,
Nor child, nor wife,
Nor lirab, nor life,
In the brave days of old."
Mrs. Mary Qiiestrom, widow of Oliver Qiiestrom,
and daughter of John Melzard, a soldier in the Revo
lutionary War, died at the advanced age of nearly

SWAMPSCOTT. lol

eighty-six years. Her father assisted in rowing
Lafayette ashore at Marblehead, and was with Wash
ington when he was " crossing the Delaware."
The following toast was given by George Wash
ington in a hospital of the army in 1776. It was re
lated to my father by a Revolutionary soldier who
was present and heard it :
" Better health to the sick and wounded, honor to
the brave, success to the American flag, and freedom
to the slave."
This toast was repeated by the same veteran soldier
at the dinner given to General Lafayfitte at the laying
of the corner stone of Bunker Hill Monument.
Philip L. Seger served in the war of 1813, enlist
ing in Captain Samuel Mudge's company as private,
at Salem Neck ; he was soon promoted to sergeant,
and was afterward made bearer of dispatches.
Nathaniel Blanchard served in Captain Martin's
company. Colonel Messenger's 3d Regiment, 3d
Brigade, ist Division, of Boston, from September 16
to October 10, 1814.
John Seger served in a detachment of Captain Ben
jamin Mudge's company, of Lynn, which was a part
of Colonel Brimblecom's regiment (4th), ist Brigade,
2d Division, from June 29 to August 15, 1814.
The brig "Grand Turk," belonging in Salem,
]\Iass., was one of the finest of American privateers
in the war of 181 3. She was fortunate as a cruiser,
and was famous for her good cjualities as a sea-going
vessel. She was three hundred and ten tons burden.

1.j2 historical SKETCHES
and was manned by one hundred and fifty men, under
the command of Captain Nathaniel Green. Her
aniiament consisted of eighteen gims (nine-pounders).
Captain Thomas Widger, of Marblehead, and later of
Swampscott, was one of the gallant crew. On arriv
ing at Salem, after a cruise of one hundred and three-
days, there reniained but forty-four of her original
crew, the greater portion of the rest being in charge
of her prizes — seven vessels, of various kinds. There
were also fifty prisoners, and merchandise to the value
of twenty thousand dollars between her decks ; these
were landed on Salem wharf. One of the captured
cannons, a nine-pounder, was brought to Swamp
scott and mounted on Winnepisekitt Hill, where for
many years it was used for firing salutes ; it was
afterwards moved to Blaney's Beach, where on the
4tli of July, 1857, Henry Scales and John Draper
were seriously injured by a premature discharge,
while firing salutes. Scales was badly wounded in
the abdomen and had an arm broken ; Draper had an
arm broken, an eye destroyed and was otherwise
injured ; both were removed to the Massachusetts
General Plospital, where death soon ended their
sufferings. The cannon is seven feet long, and bears
date of 179S, with figure ofa crown and other marks.
It now rests at the foot of the flagstaft", beneath the
" starry flag,'' at the Town Hall. In 18S5, the can
non is to be renioved to Mudge Square.
Swampscott's response to President Lincoln's call
for troops to preserve the Union of States was prompt

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 153

and hearty. The total number of raen sent into mili
tary service was 170; nuraber of raen drafted who
paid commutation fee of $300, 9; nuraber of men
drafted who procured substitutes, 5 ; number of sea
men that served in the naval service, 25 ; total, 209.
One hundred and twenty-nine of the men who en
listed in the army received a bounty. The whole
araount of bounty money voted and paid by the town,
together with that raised by subscription was
$27,375. Other expenses, $5,814.41. Total ex
penses, $33,249.41. There were 55 raen who en
listed in the army and 25 in the navy who received
no bounty. All of the town's quotas under the dif
ferent calls of the President were promptly filled, and
at the close of the war a surplus of twenty-two men
over all calls was remaining. These facts and figures
show conclusively that Swampscott has never been
wanting in patriotism, or backward in fulfilling her
whole duty toward the government and the country.
That the ladies of the town were equally patriotic
with the men, is shown in the fact that in the year
1863, they formed themselves into an association for
the purpose of aiding the Swampscott soldiers, and by
their devoted labors were able to contribute raany
supplies for their relief and comfort.
Charles Redington Mudge, son of the Hon. E. R.
Mudge, of Swampscott, was killed at the battle of
Gettysburg, July 3, 1863, while leading a charge on
the rebels. He graduated from Harvard College in
i860. He enlisted as ist Lieutenant in 2dMass. Vol-

154 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
unteer Infantry, May 25, 1861 ; promoted to ranlc of
Captain, July 8, 1861 ; Major, November 9, 1862 ;
Lieutenant-Colonel, June 6, 1S63. He was aged
twenty-three 3'ears, eight months, eleven days, when
he was killed at the head of his regiment. His body
was brought home and buried in his father's lot at
Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn ; afterwards the remains
were removed to the garth of the Mudge Memorial
Church (St. Stephen's), on South Common Street,
Lynn. It may be said that Colonel Mudge was born
for a military career. He was a young man of ex
cellent traits, and won many friends, but he never
seemed to have fairly attained his peculiar sphere in
life, or the pursuit for which nature had fitted him,
until he found himself in the uniforra of the soldier.
Everett Boynton, son of Eli and Mary Boynton,
was born in Pepperel, Mass., July 13, 1822 ; graduated
at Darmouth College, 1S45 ; engaged in teaching
until the Rebellion broke out. In Septeniber, 1S61,
he enlisted as private in ist Mass. Cavalry, for three
years, or for the war. In 1862, appointed warden of
regimental hospital, and subsequently as clerk in
general hospital, at Port Royal, S. C. In 1S63,
transferred to signal corps by orders^from the war de
partment. In 1864, served as clerk at headquarters,
"Rendezvous of Distribution," near Alexandria, Va.
Discharged at Boston, Septeraber, 1864, having
served three years and ten days from the date of en
listment. He has been a resident of Swampscott
since the summer of 1850.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 155

Rev. Jonas Bowen Clark, M. A., Darmouth Col
lege. Enlisted, September i8, 1861 ; commissioned
by Governor Andrew; discharged August 19, 1863,
by special order of Major-General Peck, Eighteenth
Army Corps. He proceeded South as Chaplain of
the 23d Mass. Regiment; encamped at Annapolis,
Md., during the fall of 1861, and in December of the
same year embarked from that place for Fortress
Monroe ; from thence erabarked for Hatteras Inlet
and Roanoke Island, N. C. After the battle of
Roanoke Island, proceeded to Newbern, N.C, and
then with the regiment went into permanent quarters
for the spring and sumraer of 1862, the regiment
doing provost duty. Appointed to Sanitary Com
mission, October 27, 1862. Special service, April
10, 1862, Major-General Burnside, transport " Con-
sack" to be fitted as a hospital ship. Chaplain Clark
¦ to take charge of the sick and wounded, and see that
they were conveyed to their homes at the North, this
order being issued with special concurrence of T. G.
Snelling, Medical Director of i8th Army Corps.
.Special order 82 of General Foster, to proceed to
Massachusetts for sanitary supplies, as Sanitary Com
mission for North Carolina Department. Special
order U. S. A. Q. M. to Chaplain Clark, to ship sani
tary stores from Massachusetts to North Carolina De
partraent, Noveraber, 1862. By special order, Jan
uary 21, 1863, he was detailed as bearer of dispatches
flora General Foster to the North. Special order
from Secretary of War, February 27, 1S63, with re-

156 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
ference to the Sanitary Commission Departraent.
Special order by Brigadier-General Palmer, Newbern,
N. C, March 25, 1863, to proceed as Post Chaplain
to convalescent camp, Trent River, N,C., and re
port to headquarters its condition. Detail for special
service as officer in charge of flag of truce, in the
spring of 1S63. Resigned August 19, 1863, by reason
of illness from effects of climate, by advice and order
of Acting Surgeon-General Derby, Department of
North Carolina.
Since the close ofthe war Chaplain Clark has been
connected with various army associations, as chaplain
of array posts, east and west, and chairman ofan im
portant commission ; on the roll of honor of Dart
mouth College, and, now Chaplain and Librarian of
the City Institutions of South Boston.
Colonel Josepii A. Ingalls, of Swampscott, en
listed as private in Co. I, Sth Regt. M. V., August
20, 1862. Promoted to Quartermaster-Sergeant, No
veraber 7, 1862, and again to ist Lieutenant and
R. Q. M., 8th Regt. M. V [Colonel Ingalls' raili
tary record was published at length in the history of
the Ingalls family.]
Edward Marsh, Jr., enlisted May 7, 1S61. He
participated in twenty battles, and was wounded at
Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1S62, in the breast. He
was conveyed to the hospital at Alexandria, and then
to Washington, and was honorably discharged at the
expiration of his term of enlistment.
Sylvester Blaney enlisted in August, 1S61, for three

OP SWAMPSCOTT. 157
years, in Co. F, 22d Mass. Infantry, as a private ; no
bounty. Promoted to corporal in December, 1862 ;
was with his regiment in every battle in which it
participated to July 3, 1863, receiving a gunshot
wound at Gettysburg. Was discharged in August,
1864, at the expiration of his term of enlistment.
Richard Horton enlisted July 5, 1861, for three
years, in Co. G, 14th Infantry, afterwards ist Mass.
Heavy Artillery, and was placed in charge of the
magazine ; he was discharged at the expiration of his
term of enlistment.
Peter A. Martin, Jr., enlisted Januaiy 16, 1862, for
three years, in Co. G, 14th Mass. Infantry. Pro
moted to Corporal in 1864 ; transferred to " Shandon "
in the navy. May 16, 1864, and discharged April 27,
1865. George W. Wilkins enlisted July 5, 1861, in Co.
G, ISt Heavy Artillery, discharged January i, 1S64,
to re-enlist. In May, 1864, transferred to the navy,
from which he was discharged August 8, 1865, at the
expiration of his enlisted term.
Edwin A. Stimpson enlisted under the first call,
April, 1861, for three years, in Co. C, 14th Infantry ;
transferred to ist Heavy Artillery, December 21, 1863,
and discharged July 31, 1865. He participated in the
following battles: Spottsylvania, Va., North Anna,
Tolopotomy Creek, Cold Harbor, siege of Petersburg,
Va., June, 1864; Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom,
Polar Spring Church, Boynton Plank Road, Weldon
Railroad, Hatcher's Run, capture of Petersburg, in

158 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
1865 ; Sailor's Creek, capture of rebel wagon train in
April, 1865 ; capture of Farmville, and when General
Lee surrendered was at Clover Hill, Va.
Joseph A. Horton enlisted for three years, in 1862,
in Co. G, i4tli Infantry; transferred to ist Mass.
Heavy Artillery. He was in the second Bull Run.
Discharged July 8, 1865; time expired.
Samuel C. Heald enlisted July 20, 1862, for three
years, in ist Infantry, receiving $250 bounty ; he was
killed in the service.
W. W. Cox enlisted September 28, i86i, in ist
Milss. Cavalry, Co. H; discharged July 7, 1862.
Caleb O. Stone enlisted for nine months' service,
in Co. E, 45th Regt. Mass. Infantry, September 26,
1862. He died at Foster General Hospital, Newbern,
N. C, Deceraber 11, 1862, after a sickness of about
two weeks. His remains were buried in Swampscott
Cemetery. William Widger enlisted September 16, 1861, for
three years' service, in ist Mass. Cavalry, Co. PI.
He was taken sick at the battle of Fredericksburg,
and died December 20, 1862. His body was buried
in our cemetery.
George Dudley Blaney enlisted September 26, 1862,
for nine. months' service, in Co. E, 45th Regt., Mass.
Infantry. He died at Camp Spinola, Newbern, N. C,
June 23, 1863, of raalarial fever, and his reraains now
rest in Swampscott Cemetery.
Andrew M. Chute enlisted in Co. B, 23d Regt.,
for three years' service, February 18, 1864. He was

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 159

taken prisoner by the " Rebs." and died in Anderson
ville slaughter-pen, September i, 1864.
Zachariah Small, Jr., enlisted August, 1861, in Co.
E, ISt Mass. Heavy Artillery. Was captured, and
confined in Andersonville prison-pen, where he died
September 20, 1864.
Thomas Donnelly enlisted September 26, 1862, for
nine months, in Co. E, 45tli Regt., Mass. Infantry.
He was killed at the battle of Whitehall, N. C, De
cember 16, 1862.
Ezra F. Delano entered the service May 13, 1864,
for one year, in Co. E, 19th Regt. He was taken
prisoner before Petersburg, Va., June,' 1864, and died
in Andersonville, November 3, 1864.
Michael Haley entered service February 16, 1864,
in Co. D, 19th Regt. He was discharged on account
of disability, December 16, 1864, and died on his way
home. Joseph W. Boynton, Adjutant and staff" officer in an
Ohio regiment, died of wounds received at the battle
of Murfreesboro', Tenn. His body now rests in
Swampscott Cemetery. ,
E. T. Heath enlisted for three years, in Co. I, 29th
Mass. Regt., and was transferred to the Veteran
Reserve Corps in 1863. He participated in several
important battles.
Thomas L. Glass enlisted for three years in Co. I,
29th Infantry. He participated in fourteen battles,
and was discharged by reason of disability, February
26, 1863.

160 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Augustus A. Blaney, son of Benjamin and Sally
Blaney, enlisted April 19, 1861, for three years, in
Co. I, 29th Mass. Regt. Discharged on surgeon's
certificate of disability, April 2, 1863, having com
pleted his enlisted terra within seventeen days.
E. A. Blanchard enlisted in September 26th, 1862,
nine months, Co. E, 45th Infantry. Discharged,
July 7, 1863 ; tirae expired.
Charles E. Harris enlisted in May, 1861, for three
years, in Co. I, 29th Regt.
George Horton enlisted for three years, in Co. I,
29th Infantry. He was wounded in the battle of
Blue Springs, October 10, 1863 ; he also took part in
battles of Antietara, Jaraes' Cross Roads, siege of
Knoxville, and the Wilderness. Discharged in May,
1864. E. G. Blaney, enlisted 1862, nine months, Co. E,
45th Infantry. Discharged July 5, 1863; time ex
pired. Joseph A. Millett enlisted at the first call, April 19,
1 861, for three years, in Co. I, 29th Infantry; was
wounded in the hand at the battle of Spottsylvania ;
discharged May 24, 1864.
John R. Merritt was born in Marblehead ; raoved
to the city of Philadelphia, where his parents went,
in 1852, and remained there until 1859, when he came
to Swampscott at the breaking out of the Rebellion ;
was a member of the Winthrop Cadets, Captain
Daniel Fuller; enlisted October 17, 1861, in the 2d
Regt., Mass. Vol. Infantry ; served until October 20,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 161
1864, participating with his regiment in all the prin
cipal battles of the Army of the Potoraac, and sub
sequently in the Army of the Cumberland, under
General Sherman, in his " march to the sea."
Sergeant Charles H. Smith, then a mere stripling,
hardly arrived at the military age of eighteen, en
listed in Co. K, 22d Regt., M. V. M., September lo,
1861, for three years, and was discharged July 8,
1862, for disability. September 26, 1862, he re-en
listed for nine months in Co. E, 45th Mass. Regt.,
Captain Thomas B. Wales, Jr., being honorably dis
charged at the expiration of his term of service, July
7, 1863. December 29, 1863, he was again mustered
into the service as Sergeant of Co. D, 56th Mass.
Regt., serving with that body till the next Septem
ber, when he was taken prisoner at Hatch's Run, Va.,
and sent to Salisbury, N.C, where he died Decem
ber 31, 1864.
Alphonso Nesbitt enlisted for three years in Co. F,
2d Infantry. In 1863, he was transferred to the regu
lar Army, and afterwards to a gunboat in the Navy.
John Merritt enlisted under the call of 1861, in the
17th Infantry, Co. A. He was injured while helping
to save the wagon train when the army was retreating
during the " Seven Days' Fight." Discharged August
7, 1862, at Harrison's Landing, Va., by reason of
physical disability.
R. A. Douglass enlisted April 21, 1861, for three
years, in Co. K, 12th Infantry, transferred to V. R. C,
December 2, 1863, and was discharged June 27, 1864.

162 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Moses N. Woodbury enlisted for three years, in
Co. D, 1 2th Mass. Vol. Infantry, no bounty, under
the call for 75,000 men, in 1861. He was in thirty-
two engagements, among them. Cedar Mountain,
Thoroughfare Gap, Second Bull Run, Chantilly,
South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettys
burg and Rappahannock Station, was in the advance
towards Richmond, under General Grant, May 3, to
June 36, 1864, and was raustered out July 8, 1864, at
expiration of term of service. Colonel James L.
Bates, wrote of Woodbury, August 10, 1864, as fol
lows : "Moses N. Woodbury, a private of Co. D,
1 2th Regt. Mass. Vols., is one who has often been an
object of my admiration upon the battle-field ; he is
brave as the bravest, and in action enthusiastic, enter
ing into the spirit of the fight as though it were his
greatest delight. At the battle of Fredericksburg he
was complimented on the field by me for his splendid
conduct. It is with pleasure that I bear this testi
mony to the character of the highest type of the
Union soldier."
William D. Brackett, Jr., enlisted in Co. E, 45th
Infantry, for nine months, September 26, 1862, as
private, receiving $200 bounty. He was promoted to
Corporal, and discharged July 7, 1863, by expiration
of term of enlistment.
John W. Brooks enlisted for nine months in Co. E,
45th Infantry, in 1863, as private, receiving $300
bounty ; promoted to rank of Corporal ; discharged
jn 1863.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 163

George C. Richards enlisted in 1862 for nine months
in Co. E, 43d Regt. Infantry. Wounded April 39,
1863, in battle of Gum Swamp, N. C. ; discharged in
1863, at expiration of term of enlistment.
William W. Bowman enlisted Septeniber 26, 1862,
in Co. E, 45th Infantry, for nine months, receiving
$200 bounty ; promoted to Corporal, and discharged
July 7, 1863, at expiration of term of service.
Richard B. Caswell, Jr., enlisted for nine months
in Co. E, 45th Infantry, September 26, 1862 ; dis
charged July 7, 1863, time expired.
William Henry Collins enlisted September 26, 1862,
for nine months, receiving $200 bounty, in Co. E,
45th Infantry ; discharged July, 1863, time expired.
Sylvester F. Douglass enlisted for nine months in
Co. E, 45th Infantry ; discharged July 7, 1863.
Joseph W. Glass enlisted for nine months in Co. E,
45th Infantry. Re-enlisted for three years in Co. F,
29th Infantry. Was in battles of Cold Harbor,
Whitehall, Goldsborough, and Gum Swamp. Was
wounded in the eye at battle of Petersburg, and also
in right hand. He was taken to the hospital at An
napolis, thence to York hospital, and was mustered
out in June, 1S65.
Horace W. Wardwell enlisted July 5, 1861, in 14th
Infantry, Co. H; transferred to ist Pleavy Artillery
in 1863; promoted to Sergeant May i, 1S63 ; trans
ferred to Navy, May 30, 1864 ; accidentally wounded
by pistol ball, in joint of left ankle ; discharged Au
gust 7, 1865.

164 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
David C. Bunting enlisted for three years in Co. H,
23d Infantry : discharged at Newbern, N.C, in 1862,
for disability, and re-enlisted in September, 1862, in
Co. E, 45th Infantry. He was wounded at Roanoke
Island, and received an honorable discharge.
Patrick Milan enlisted for three years in Co. I, 33d
Infantry, and in 1863 re-enlisted for three years.
State records say he was killed in action.
Frederick C Pierce enlisted in Co. C, I4tli Infan
try, and was transferred to ist Mass. Heavy Artillery ;
discharged after about six months' service for disabil
ity, and, on recovering, re-enlisted in the ist Infantrv
in 1862, and discharged June 29, 1865.
James Uraber enlisted at Marblehead, in ist Mass.
Heavy Artillery, for three years. He was wounded
before Petersburg. He was discharged after serving
nineteen months and one day, by special order.
John C Stirapson enlisted for nine months, Sep
tember, 1862, in Co. E, 45th Infantry, receiving $200
bount)'. Discharged June, 1863, on account of dis
ability. Merritt E. Porter enlisted in September, 1862, for
nine months in Co. E, 45th Infantry ; received $300
bounty. In battle of Kingston, N.C, disabled four
raonths, and was ill in hospital with typhoid fever.
Discharged July 7, 1863.
George F. Colcord enlisted for three years in 1S63,
in 1st Heavy Artillery, Co. L. Received no bounty
from the town, but was presented with $125 as a pri
vate gift. He was wounded, before Petersburg, Va.,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 105

in the right temple, causing loss of right eye. Dis
charged May i6, 1865.
Frederick O. Ellis enlisted September 15, 1862, for
nine months, in Co. E, 45th Infantry, and was dis
charged July 7, 1863.
Below are given the names of those who served in
the defense of our countiy in the Navy ; also a few
statistics gathered from a report of 1866 :
Joseph Wilson entered the Navy as" Paymaster,
July 24, 1813, and served in the brig "Rattlesnake,"
1813 ; ship "Argus,"' 1814; brig " Savannah," 1815 ;
frigate " Macedonian," 1817, for four years ; schooner
"Shark," 1824; frigate "Guerriere," 1828 for four
years; "North Carolina," 1836, four years ^ ship
"Preble," 1840; ship "Lexington," 1846, for four
years; steamship " Powhattan," 1861. He was born
at Marblehead, October 30, 1788, and died at his resi
dence on Black Will's Clift', Swampscott, in June,
1875. He was the oldest Payraaster in the service,
and was a raost correct and raethodical raan. It is
said that his accounts with the government never va
ried a dollar, and he enjoyed, as he deserved, the
fullest confidence of the authorities in the Navy De
partment. During the closing years of his life, he
was placed on the retired list, ranking as Commodore.
His remains now rest at Marblehead.
Samuel R. Bartlett, " St. Lawrence," " Quaker
City;" C O. Blaney, "Huron;" Edward H. Cas
well, "Western World," "Anacostia," "Ella," "Ot-
they Vassar;" John C Caswell, "Restless," " Santi-

166 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
ago de Cuba ;" Nicholas Cross, "Siren ;" Thomas H.
Durgan, "Housatonic" and "Monitor;" Edward I.
Frost, "Midnight;" William Gross, "St. Law
rence;" Michael Haley, Jr., "Tuscarora;" Christo
pher C Hewes, "Sabine" and "Florida;" Rodney
Lane, "Tahoma;" Simon Lowell, "Kensington;"
Ebenezer S. Martin, " Ethen Aflen ;" Alphonso
Nisbett, " Gunboat ;" Willis Newcomb, "King Fish
er ;" Thomas Pray, Jr., "Santiago de Cuba" and
" Genisbok ;" Nelson Phillips, "Minnesota;" Elisha
D. Pedrick, "Lancaster;" Jaraes O. Stone, "Kear
sarge;" James O. Stone, "Hunchback," "Itasca,"
and "Savannah," (re-enlisted).
The surrender of the stained and tattered banners,
borne by the soldiers of Massachusetts, to the keeping
ofthe State, was one of the most imposing, and at the
same tirae, affecting occasions incident to the war.
This took place Deceraber 22, 1865. There are two
hundred and sixty-nine flags in all, one hundred and
ninety-four having been carried bv the infantry regi
ments and seventy-five b)' cavalry and artillery.
" And many saw the waving flags,
The fluttering fiags, the tattered flags.
Red, white and blue, shot through and through.
Baptized with battle's deadly dew."
" And the Star Spangled Banner, oh, long may it wave
O'er the land ofthe free, and the home ofthe brave."
In New York City, on the occasion of rejoicings
over a victory of the Union forces, manj' banners and
mottoes were displayed along the line of procession,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 167

among them was one large flag, with the following
inscription : " Colors warranted not to run."
In April, 1865, when it became known that the war
was at an end, there was great rejoicing in the town.
A procession was formed, with Captain Nathaniel
Blanchard at the head, and they raarched through the
streets, responding to the cheers which greeted them
all along the route. Many of the private dwellings
were brightly illurainated, bonfires were lighted in the
streets, bells were rung, and a salute fired. Swamp
scott had nobly contributed her share in putting down
the Rebellion, and could well rejoice in the downfall
of Richmond.
The formation of a Grand Army Post in the Town
of Swampscott was first conceived by Comrade John
R. Merritt, a rnember of Gen. Lander Post No. 5, of
Lynn. Mr. Merritt, living in Swampscott, knew
there were many men in town who had served the
United States in crushing the Rebellion in the dark
days of 1861-65. Acting with military promptness,
he procui'ed an application for a charter in December,
1869, and circulating it araong the "Boys in Blue"
he was enabled in three days to forward to the head
quarters in Boston, a list of twenty-one names. Mer
ritt E. Porter, also a citizen of Swampscott, and mem
ber of Gen. Lander Post, co-operated heartily with
Mr. M. in the work, and, on the 24th of January,
1S70, a charter was issued, bearing twenty-one names,
as follows: Edwin A. Stimpson, ist Mass. Heavy
Artillery; A. J. Noble, ist Mass. Heavy Artillery;

168 HISTORICAL SKE"TCHES
John R. Merritt, 2d Mass. Infantry; Merritt E. Por
ter, 45th Mass. Infantry; Edward Marsh, Jr., 2d
Mass. Infantry; B. H. Phillips, loth Mass. Light
Battery; G. W. Wilkins, ist Mass. Heavy Artillery;
R. L. Rich, 45th Mass. Vol. Infantry; B. F. Smith,
4tli Mass. Light Artillery ; E. G. Blaney, 45th Mass.
Infantry; E. T. Heath, 29th Mass. Infantry; Sylves
ter Blaney, 33d Mass. Infantry ; M. N. Woodbury,
i3th Mass. Infantry; S. F. Douglass, 45th Mass. In
fantry; W. H. Fletcher, ist Mass. Light Battery;
Daniel G. Frazier, 8th Mass. Infantry ; J. A. Horton,
1st Mass. Heavy Artillery ; C O. B. Blaney, seaman,
U. S.Navy; E. PI. Caswell, searaan, U. S. Navy;
H. W. Wilson, searaan, U. S. Navy; E. S. Martin,
Jr., searaan, U. S. Navy.
The forraation of the Post took place in the Town
Hall on Monday evening, February 3, 1870, in the
lower room, the officers and men being mustered in
by Frederick Grant, of Saleni, Inspector for the dis
trict. The following were elected to serve as officers
of the Post for the year: Coraraander, John R. Mer
ritt; S. V. Cora., B. F. Smith ; J. v' Com., S. F
Douglass ; Adjutant, Sylvester Blaney ; Quartermas
ter, Edwin A. Stimpson; Chaplain, A. J. Noble
Surgeon, M. N. Woodbury ; Officer of the Day, W
N. Fletcher; Officer of the Guard, M. E. Porter
[Q. M. S. and Sergeant Major not appointed.] The
nuniber of the Post was 118. The name of General
James L. Bates, of i3th Mass. Regt., was oftered by
Comrade Moses N, Woodbury, ofthe same regiment,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 169
as a name for the Post, and the Post was thereafter
known as "Gen. James L. Bates Post, No. iiS,
Swampscott." The muster-roll of the Post shows the
membership to have been as high as sixty, but death
and change of residence has reduced the ranks until
there remain but about thirty men. Since the organi
zation of the Post more than seven hundred dollars has
been distributed for charitable purposes. The head
quarters of the organization has been in Palraer Hall,
for the past twelve years, and during the past few
years no rent has been collected by the town for its use.
The Post as an organization has maintained its
association, and stands to-day as the only society in
town of a secular nature, holding weekly meetings,
and running- for over thirteen years. The present
commander, Peleg Gardner, is very popular among
his comrades.
In 1883, a Soldier's Monuraent was erected in
Monuraent Square, formerly Mudge's Square, directly
in front of the Mudge estate, the land being given
to the town for that purpose by the Mudge heirs.
The monument is of granite^ with bronze trim
mings and bronze tablets. Its height is thirty feet
from the ground, with a base six feet ten inches
square. The four dies or tablets are three feet six
inches square (bronze). The front tablet, facing the
Mudge estate, contains the inscriptions ; on the oppo
site side is the date of erection ; on the two other
sides are the names of the fourteen soldiers to whose
iTiemory the monuraent is erected,
24

170 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
On the first section ofthe shaft are four bronze bas-
reliefs — on the front the U. S. coat of arms ; on the
opposite side a soldier and sailor ; on the right a rep
resentation of cavahy, and on the left a representa
tion of artillery. Above this is a bronze wreath.
The shaft is square, with a plain, pointed top.
The monument, which cost $2943.10, was (Jedicated
in 1883.
When the last soldier and sailor who served in the
Rebellion shall have passed away, who will strew the
beautiful ftoral tributes over his grave.''
In closing these notes of Swampscott in the war, I
will quote from a shield which hangs in the mansion
once owned by Robert E. Lee, at Arlington Heights,
Va., the grounds of this estate being the resting-place
of fifteen thousand soldiers who fell in the defence of
their country :
'* Here sleep the brave, who sink to rest.
By all their country's wishes blest."

CHAPTER XV.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

William D. Rowe lived in Swampscott when first
married. In 1820, he moved to Lynn and < took
charge of the poor farm at the salary of two hundred
and fifty dollars a year. He attended service at the
" First Church." Afterwards moved to Swampscott,
but continued to attend the same church until his
death. In 1842, it was the custom to have the
owner's .name painted on the pew. There was a
painter in Lynn who was indebted to hira fifty dollars ;
he could not collect his bill, and so he hired him lo
paint his name on the pew, by way of settlement ; he
told the writer that when he saw the name on the pew
his first reflection was that it had cost him fiftj'
dollars. About the year 1826, Mrs. Sarah Ellis opened a
sraall variety store near where the Reform Club, now
have their headquarters ; she afterward moved to the
other side of the street. The school-children passed
by her door on their way to and from school, and
manj- would leave their pennies in exchange for her
wares. In the woods she gathered sassafras, gold-

172 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
thread and checkerberry ; by the roadside catnip and
yellow dock ; in her garden she raised sage, rue and
wormwood, while the meadows yielded her flagroot
and rosemary. With the aid of these roots and herbs
she would care for the bruised and wounded, and sell
salve and ointments. Every one knew her as an
honest, simple-hearted darae, whose tears were ready
to flow at a tale of suffering, and whose hands were
always ready to help the needy.
In the year 1S75, Philip L. Seger died at the
advanced age of eighty-three. He was born in Mar
blehead, Januaiy i, 1792, and carae to Swampscott
in 1800, and lived at the old farra-house on the Mudge
estate. The old elra near was set out in 17405 and
was one of the landraarks of " the olden, tirae." Mr.
S. attended school at the old school-house, located in
what was called Fresh Marsh Lane, Lynn. In early
manhood he learned the shoemaker's trade, afterwards
engaged in fishing. By request of Michael Collins,
of Eastham, he went to that town and taught hira to
raake the first shoes raanufactured in that place. Mr.
Collins, who is quite an old man, visited his instructor
during the last year of his life. In the war of 1812,
John Proctor was drafted to perforra military duty,
but by mutual consent Mr. Seger went as substitute,
and served in a corapany which went from Lynn, un
der command of Captain Samuel Mudge. They were
quartered at Salem Neck. Mr. Seger was promoted
to a Sergeant, and afterward was bearer of dispatches.
He lived for many years with the faraily of Richard

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 173

L. Hanford. At his decease his remains were de
posited in Eastern Burial Ground, Lynn.
Ebenezer Weeks first came to Swampscott in the
year 1805, and lived on what is now the "Rowe"
farm. He afterwards kept a hotel near Blaney's
Beach. His nephew, Ebenezer Weeks, Jr., who
was born in 1802, came to Swarapscott with a pack
on his back in theyear 1818. Pie raarried his cousin,
Mary E. Weeks, in 1831. Soon after his arrival,
Mr. Weeks learned the trade of shoemaking, and
worked in Mark Phillips' shoe shop, on Burrill Street.
He boarded with Mr. Mears, at the old Mudge farm
house, paying $1.50 per week. Captain L. D. Storj'
was at that time working for Mr. Mears, for his food
and lodging, sleeping on a straw bed up stairs.
There was no spare bed for Mr. W^eeks, and on the
afternoon of his arrival they went to the woods in the
rear of the house, cut down some cedar trees and
brought them to the house ; there they cut off' the
limbs but not the bark, bored sorae holes for a cart
rope to go through to fasten them together, braced the
legs with nails and boards, and placed the affair in a
little room on the first floor. The time consumed in
making the whole was less than two hours. After
Mr. Weeks' marriage he engaged in the lobster busi
ness at East Boston. He was a very successful busi
ness man and much respected. He died leaving a
large property.
Thomas Dolliver boarded for many years with
Ebenezer Weeks ; he had lost the use of his lower

174 ; HISTORICAL SKETCHES
limbs, and could only move about by means of a
chair in whicii he sat. He was a shoemaker by
trade, and was much respected by all who knew him.
At his death he gave to Mary E. Weeks, by will, a
lot of land on Blaney Street, where the vestry of the
First Congregational Church now stands.
Captain Nathaniel Blanchard was born in Thetford,
Vt., moved to Lynn while a boy, and learned the
shoemaker's trade, working at it for four or five years,
after which he followed fishing, acting as master most
of the time. He married Alice P. Blaney, April 2,
1820. Served in the war of 181 2-14. When the old
militia system was in vogue he commanded a com
pany in the eastern district of Lynn. He served on
the board of Selectmen before Swampscott was set
oft' as a town. Ocean Street, Lynn, was laid out at
this time.
When the California fever broke out he engaged
with others in fitting out a vessel to go thither. When
he built his brick house, the first in town, he went out
fishing one morning in his dory, caught a load of fish,
took them to Boston, sold them, and came home with
the dory laden with stone caps, which were placed
over the windows in his new house. He died in
June, 1871 ; his widow still lives in the brick house on
Humphrey Street, and is a very sraart old lady, who
has many a tale to relate of the days gone by.
On election days it was custoraary for the Swamp
scott fishermen to go to Lynn to cast their ballots. A
good description of their proceedings being given in

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 175
"Johnson's Sketches of Lynn," I quote from it briefly.
There being an uncertainty as to who was elected
Moderator, by a vote by voice, they would be obliged
to pass through an opening in a railing and be
counted. "At this stage of the meeting, perhaps the ' un-
terrified ' from Swampscott had not arrived ; but
before the ' yeas ' had all passed through, the martial
drum and piercing fife announced the coming of the
sturdy fishermen hosts that never marched except to
victory. Theii a rush of boys — some of thera pretty
well grown up — would pour out at the door, and
down over the stairs to meet the ' old guard.' Soon
the heavy tread of fishing boots would be heard —
there were no rubber boots then, and probably not a
pair of French boots were seen in the whole lot —
and the invincible army whose presence was a pre
sage of victory marched into the hall with ^Captain
Natty' (Nathaniel Blanchard) at his head. Ney, as
he led the Iraperial Guard raight have had more
horses shot under him and his face more blackened
with powder, but he neVfer marched with a prouder
step, when his great captain gave the destinies of
Europe into his hands on the field of Waterloo, than
' Captain Natty ' as he led the one hundred, more or
less, to the bloodless victories that never ended in a
Waterloo or a Peterloo ; for this veteran never
blanched before any. danger on the land or on the sea
— especially on the sea. Then the cry would go up,
not exactly the cry of Winkelried's ' Make way for

176 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Liberty!' but one animated with the same spirit —
' Make way for Swampscott !' Then they would
march in solid phalanx, solid as practicable, through
the passage in front ofthe ' calf pen,' and the destinies
of the day were sealed.''
William Marshall, of Swampscott, born Maj- 26,
17S9, died March 9, 1870. Betsy, his wife, was born
December 15, 1792, and died October 17, 1877-
They were married in 1828, and lived in the Mar
shall House, on the Point. During the early part of
his life he manufactured shoes, and would frequently
start on foot, before the sun was up, with his bag of
shoes over his shoulder, for the Boston market. In
warm weather he was often called upon to furnish
fish dinners for parties, who came from other places
to enjoy the cooling breezes at the seashore. Daniel
Webster was at one time his guest, and hundreds en
joyed the repasts prepared under his direction, during
the forty years of his stay at the Point. About the
J'ear 1835, some of his sumraer guests presented him
the pleasure yacht " Tom." Hewas a skillful gun
ner, and often "feathered his own nest" frora the
down from the breasts of birds that fell before his
skill. He spent the last few years on his farra at
North Bend, Lynn.
Deacon Jaraes Wheeler, the veteran raail carrier,
was married January 29, 1833, to Adeline Briggs.
They lived in the only house on Blaney Street at that
time. In 1858, Mr. Wheeler had a large tent erected
near the coiner of Humphrey and Phillips Streets,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 177

and there gave a first-class concert, the first of the
kind in town. Land on Blaney Street was valued at
thirty dollars per acre in 1845, while now (1884) it
would cost thousands. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler cele
brated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage on
January 29, 1883, at which time their friends gathered
by hundreds to wish them joy and prosperity, as they
journeyed onward toward the seventy-fifth.
Thomas Stone resided at Blaney's Beach, not far
frora where the club-room now stands, but on the
opposite side of the street. He was a very strict man
in all his dealings, and died at the advanced age of
seventy-two years, leaving many descendants and
friends to mourn his loss.
Dr. J. B. Holder, son of Aaron L. Holder, of
Lynn, completed his education aS' physician and sur
geon at the " Harvard Medical School." He first
practiced medicine in Swampscott, in 1846, and was
the first doctor in the village. He built a pretty cot
tage, with diamond-shaped windows, adjoining what
is now the summer residence of Charles E. Morrison,
on Winnepurkitt Hill. This hill was named for
Winnepurkitt, who, at the time Francis Ingalls built
his log house, was only thirteen years old. He was
the brother of Montowampate, and succeeded him as
Sachem of this range. This hill was his favorite
place of residence, having one of the finest lookouts
on the entire shore. He died in 1684 and his wife in
the following year. Dr. Holder practiced for several
years very successfully in the village, but his practice
25

178 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
having largely increased in the surrounding country,
he found it necessary to remove to the corner of Na
hant and Sagamore Streets, wliere he built a cottage,
which may still be seen there. In 1859, ^^ ^^^ ^"S"
gestion of Prof. Agassiz, he was appointed post-
surgeon at Port Jefferson, on the Florida coast,
where he remained some years. One important ob
ject gained in the appointment was the study of the
marine zoology of those semi-tropical waters, for the
benefit of science, under the auspices of the Smith
sonian Institute and the Agassiz Museum. On the
breaking out of the Rebellion, Dr. Holder was ap
pointed surgeon at the military prison at the Dry
Tortugas, where he continued in charge until after the
close ofthe war. In 1866, he was ordered to Fortress
Monroe as medical officer of that post, then reorgan
ized as the artillery school. After serving three and
one-half years at that noted place he accepted an in
vitation to join in building up the Museum of Natural
History in Central Park, New York. The success of
the institution being secured he was appointed per
manent Curator of Zoology, which position he still
holds to the satisfaction of all.
In the fall of 1859, Dr. William B. Chase, then a
young man of twenty-six, located in Swampscott.
He had previously been practicing medicine some
three years in the State of Vermont, and was a
graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Phila
delphia. At that time Swampscott was a town of
about one thousand two hundred inhabitants, The

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 179
doctor then held full sway as far as doctors in town
were concerned, as he was the only one located in it,
and indeed he soon discovered that he had chosen
wisely, for the same day of his arrival he was called
upon to pay a visit to his first patient. Success fol
lowed, and the doctor has met with his full tide of
business, and has grown gray in the service up to
1884. About the year 1869, Dr. Chase entered into
partnership in the drug business with J. P. Porter, in
what was known as the old " Widger Block." After
a short tirae he bought out the business, and continued
there until the new " Towns Block" was built, into
which he removed and where he still remains.
A physician's life is by no means an easy one, and
perhaps an incident or two in the doctor's experience
may be, if not instructive, at least amusing to the
readers of this article. Some years ago when Thos.
Widger, Jr., was keeper of the lighthouse on Egg
Rock, one storiny day in mid-winter, the schooner
"Champion" as she rounded the island, was hailed
from the Rock by the signal of distress, and " heav
ing to," was informed that a doctor must be sent out
immediately. The order was complied with, and in
an incredibly short space of time a dory was pushed
off from the Swampscott shore with Dr. Chase on
board. The sea was running high and one boat had
already been overturned in the surf, in the efforts
made to put off, while the old fisherman who alone
was in it, and who was no less a personage than the
old man Widger himself, drenched through, had been

180 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
obliged to put back to shore to get a dry change of
clothing. When the schooner, after sorae difficulty,
for the wind was blowing a gale, carae to, oft' the
rock, the waves weie running dangerously high, the
white surf breaking with a terrific roar on the rock-
bound island, threatening every instant to engulf the
two small boats which put out frora the schooner, the
one as protection to the other should anj- accident
occur. The long stairs leading to the top of the rock
were covered with ice, and the fishermen though
inured to the dangers of the deep, found some dif
ficulty in securing a foothold, but waiting for a favor
able moment in which to take advantage of the tide,
and calling to the doctor to lie down in the bottom of
the boat, they sprang upon the slippery steps and
with a mighty lurch the boat, assisted by the light-
keeper who stood waiting to receive them, was
drawn far up out of the tremendous sea, which with
every advancing tide, was breaking around thera.
The feelings which the doctor experienced at that
moment he says can never be described ; he had been
in many serious situations before, but never when
he felt so perfectly helpless as that moment in which,
suspended at an angle of forty-five degrees, with his
heels elevated in air and water dashing over his
prostrate form, the thunder of the elements around
him, he found himself performing a feat which a few
hours previous he would have deemed simply im
possible. The descent was attended with fully as
much danger as had been the ascent, but this time the

OP SWAMPSCOTT. 181

doctor was right side up with care, and braced himself
for the sudden lurch into this frightful sea, which bore
them at last in safety to the schooner awaiting them.
In telling us some of the interesting reminiscences
of his professional experience, the doctor gave us one
too good to be lost. While practicing in Vermont he
was called to attend the wife of a farmer who had
previously buried four wives. This one shared the
fate of the others, and the morning after her death, as
the doctor was passing the house the old man came
hurrying out to the gate with his handkerchief to his
eyes in great distress. " Oh doctor, doctor !" said he,
" she is gone ; what shall I do.?" fairly sobbing aloud
in his grief; then suddenly brightening — " Do you
know, doctor, where I could get another.?" About
three weeks afterward, as the doctor was driving that
way, he met the old man with a one-horse wagon
load of household goods, on the top of which perched
a ^(voman ; he had secured number six, and was
bringing her home.
Dr. Chase belongs to the Masonic fraterriity, having
taken thirty-three degrees in all, including the ancient
Scottish Rite.
Dr. Chase married Miss Marietta C Bement, of
Ashfield, in 1859 ; they have two accomplished daugh
ters — Miss Lettie, Professor of Music, and Miss
Louie, Professor of Elocution.
John Chapman a well-known house carpenter ; has
built many first-class houses during the past forty
years.

182 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Joseph Stanley will long be remembered for his
many good deeds for more than forty-two years.
He has held many town offices.
William H. Holden died at the age of fifty-six years
and eight months, in Swarapscott, in the year 1877.
He Was born in Middlesex, Washington County, Vt.
In his early days he assisted his father on the farm,
and as Town Clerk, Town Treasurer and Registrar of
Deeds, it being the custom in Vermont to register all
deeds in the Town Clerk's office. Mr. Holden suc
ceeded his father, Horace Holden, in the various
positions, and filled thera acceptably until his re
moval to Massachusetts. The offices of Town Clerk,
Treasurer and Registrar has been held in the Holden
family upwards of fifty years, a brother of the de
ceased now filling them. Mr. Holden was associated
with his son, George H. Holden — who was Treasurer
of the town of Swampscott, in 1883 — in the grocery
business for the last five years preceding his death.
He left a wife and one son, now of the firm of Geo.
H. Holden & Co., grocers.
John P. Palraer died at his residence in Swamp
scott, December 18, 1883, at the age of sixty-eight
years and six months. He was born in Woodstock,
N. H. Mr. Palmer informed the writer that after pay
ing his toll across Charlestown Bridge to Boston he
only had two cents left in his pocket. In connection
with his brother, D. R. Palmer, he was engaged in
the grocery business, Boston, for thirty years. His
public spirit led to his prominence in town affairs,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 183

which he maintained up to the tirae of his decease.
The prompt filling of the town's quota during the
war, 1S61-5, was largely due to his energy and per
severance. He had been Chairman of the Board of
Selectmen, and held other important offices in the
town. He was prominently connected with the free
ing of the old Salera turnpike, whicii was built in
1S04, also the building of the Swampscott Branch
Railroad to Marblehead. Mr. Palmer married a
daughter of James Phillips, who survived him but a
few weeks, leaving two daughters.
Of the residents of Swampscott who have rounded
out the age of three score and ten, are Capt. John
B. Harris and wife, natives of Marblehead. Married
November 22, 1829. They settled at Lynn (now
Swampscott), August, 1833. They can both lay
claim to service of their ancestry in the battle of
Bunker Hill, through William Harris who served in
Capt. Samuel R. Trevett's Conipany, and Andrew
Leavitt, grandfather of Mrs. Harris, of whom the
records of Capt. Crosby's Company, now on file at
Concord, N. H., gives as property lost during the
battle of Bunker Hill, "A pair of stockings by Andrew
Leavitt." Capt. Harris has followed the sea all his life, and
now in his eighty-third year is as fond as ever of " a
life on thti ocean wave." John B. Harris, born April
27, 1802, Marblehead ; Mrs. Amy (Leavitt) Harris,
born March 15, 1810, Marblehead.
Philander Holden, son of Williara Holden, born in

184 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Middlesex, Vermont, April 27, 181 2, and located in
Swarapscott, October 17, 1850, and for nearly thirty
years owned the corner of Huraphrey and Redington
.Streets, where he carried on the grocery, provision
and produce business. Since Mr. Holden has been
in town, he has held the offices of School Coraraittee,
Selectman, Treasurer, Collector and Assessor.
Mr. Holden's grandfather, William Holden, was
born at Groton, Mass., March 3, 1728. He entered
the Colonial Army at a very earlj' age, and was in
many important engagements in the French War,
among thera the surrender of Fort Williara Henry, at
Lake George, the capture of Louisburg and Quebec.
About 1760, he settled in Charleston, N. H., and was
a Captain in the American Array, through the Revo-
lutionarj- War.
W. D. Brackett, a well-known citizen of Ipswich,
and formerly prorainent as a business raan in Swamp
scott, died of pneumonia, April, 1884, at the age of
seventy-two years. He was born at WeUfleet, Mass.,
was engaged in business in Swampscott some twen
ty-five years, and retired to a farm at Ipswich, Mass.,
some twenty years ago, since which time he has been
active in town and church affairs, holding the office of
Selectman, and being a Trustee of the Ipswich Sav
ings Bank, He was well-known in connection with
the Asbury Grove Camp Meeting, and was highly
esteemed in his own and the neighboring towns. He
leaves a family of five children.
Nehemiah Lee, born in Moultonborough, N. H.,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 185
in 1826 ; came to Swampscott, where he resided from
1S44 to 1852, when he commenced the carpenter and
building business, in which he was successful. Moved
to Lynn in January, 1859, where he carried on the
same kind of business, erecting some of the finest
structures in that city. Mr. Lee has since engaged
in the lumber trade, and is a dealer in wood and coal,
doing a thriving business. He has held many im
portant offices of trust, and has a beautiful home on
West Baltimore Street, where he now resides.
Captain Lorenzo D. Story, son of Phineas and
Rosanna Story, was born in Essex, June 11, 1808.
His father removed to Swampscott in 1816, and lived
in the old "Story" house, corner of Humphrey
Street and Story's Court. He graduated at the little
red school-house at Whale's Beach, E. B. Phillips
being a member of the same class. Captain Story
then lived with Mr. Means, working for his food and
lodging, at the Mudge farm. He said that pork, cab
bage and pumpkin pies, baked in large earthen milk-
pans, were among the chief articles on the dinner
table. Ebenezer Weeks, Jr., roomed with him, and
worked in Phillips' shoe shop. The place bought by
Mr. Story's father was formerly owned by Eben Tar
box, the name being afterward changed to Thorndike.
The house where Mr. Thorndike was married was
very small. He made shoes, his wife closing them,
as it was called, by use of an awl and wax-end, the
work being securely held by a clamp placed between
the knees. When Phineas Story purchased the place.

186 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
in Swampscott, there were^only fourteen houses be-
tween'the "Point" and Stacey's Brook, and one at
Tufts' Corner, now near the junction of Lewis and
Fayette Streets. Captain L. D. Story married when
quite young; he built the "Wilson" House on the
Cliff, at the end of Story's Court, which is now the
property of James A. Knowlton ; he also built the
house owned by Colonel Farwell, on Proctor's Court.
Captain Story was one of the raen who went to Dux
bury, to purchase the "Jane," so well-known, here.
In 1826, could be seen on the coast at Marshfield,
near the farm of Daniel Webster, two shanties, on
the bank of Cut River, which emptied itself into the
ocean at that place. They were the property of
Ebenezer Thorndike & Company, lobster dealers, of
Charlestown, Mass. They were the teraporary horaes
of twelve men, six residing in each, and among them
Captain L. D. Story. They were a jolly crew.
Lyman Sears, afterwards captain of the "Jane," and
Seth Peterson, who was Webster's right-hand man
in his fishing and gunning trips, and one of the
bearers at Webster's funeral, were among them.
Peterson was the recipient of many favors from Web
ster, among the gifts being a hat. Story and Webster
wore the same size hats. One evening, after their
work was done and all were assembled near the huts.
Captain Story caught up Webster's hat, and having a
very retentive memory, and a good voice, he mounted
a hogshead and delivered one of Webster's speeches
to his small but appreciative audience. He was

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 187

greatly applauded, and Peterson laughed heartily,
saying, " You have outdone Webster himself." Story
at once retorted, " How can I help it, when I have
Webster's words in my raouth and Webster's hat on
my head ?" Captain Story was a great lover of music,
and was a fine tenor singer, and his daughter being a
good musician, raany were the pleasant evenings
passed by the young folks of the town at his house.
He attended the first concert at which the famous
Jennie Lind sang, in Boston, paying $5 for an admis
sion ticket. He moved with his family to Magnolia,
in March, 1865, where he kept a grocery store, and
was the first postmaster, which position he held for
many years. His home was the seat of genuine hos
pitality, and good cheer. He had quite a genius for
rhyming, and many persons can bear witness to his
skill with the pen. Although a great lover of "the
weed," he never allowed any one to smoke in his
store, saying the smoke tainted the goods. He died
December 5, 1883, in the seventy-sixth year of his
age, leaving a number of sons and daughters. His
remains now rest in Swampscott Cemetery.
Mark G. Phillips was a highly respected citizen of
Swampscott, who passed away in 1884 at the age of
eighty-two years, his funeral being attended from the
Congregational Church. He was generally known as
" Uncle Mark." In his earlier days he engaged in
the manufacture of shoes on Burrill Street. He was
so eminently just and kindly in his dealings with
those whom he employed, that in speaking of him

188 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
they often quoted approvingly the Scripture words :
" Mark the perfect man."
Daniel Roberts was born at Danvers, Mass., in
1 82 1, on the farm of Hon. Daniel P. King. He re
mained with his father, who moved to Tamworth,
N.H., until he was fourteen years of age, when he
took his sraall pack of homespun clothing upon his
back, and started alone on foot for Massachusetts.
At last he arrived at Breed's Island Farm, and let
himself to Mr. Breed, the owner. The stone base
ment still remains near Winthrop Station, on the side
hill. After remaining a raonth he learned that his
master was slow pay, so he packed his bundle and
started for Lynn, leaving his wages behind. Arriving
at Lynn, he stopped at the Village House, Woodend,
over night. The bar-tender came from Taraworth,
so they soon became acquainted with each other and
had a pleasant chat. Next morning he started for
Marblehead, and called on Hathaway, who after
wards had charge of Rev. Parson Bardett's farra, and
let hiraself for $15 per month until November. Then,
with his wages in his pocket, he started for Tam
worth, on foot, and, after a long but pleasant walk,
reached his father's house, where he attended school
until he had finished the winter term, and then, in the
spring, carae back to Lynn again and let hiraself to
John Newhall, near the corner of Broad and Atlantic
Streets, upon the farm, when he cut the winter's
wood in Lynn woods ; his stent was one cord per day.
On the Sabbath, Mr. Newhall invited him to attend

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 189

the service at the Friends' Church ; so Mr. Roberts
went with him, but thought it was quite still com
pared to what he had been accustomed to in Tam
worth. He remained with Mr. Newhall two years.
In 1845, Mr. Roberts married Miss Lucinda Wash
burn, of Tamworth, N. H., and commenced taking
boarders at Farmer Phillips' farm-house. Mr. Rob
erts has one son, William H., who is in the Swamp
scott and Boston express business, and one daughter,
Mrs. Frank F. Stanley, living on Burrill Street. Mr.
Roberts drew water from a well that had supplied the
old house for over two centuries before, with
" The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket.
The moss-covered bucket that hung in the well."
The following are a few names of the people who
spent the summer with Mr. Roberts while he took
boarders : Hon. Rufus Choate, George Pratt, James
Buck, for eight summers ; Reuben L. Wade, George
Tuckerman, M. H. Ballou, of Boston ; John Silsbee,
Hon. L. Saltonstall and Richard Fay, of Salera. Mr.
Roberts lived with Jarnes Phillips in 1844, and carted
hogsheads of water by the aid of oxen, to Clambake
Hill, for the thousands who' made it a resort. In
1846, Mr. Roberts, while on Jonathan Phillips' farra,
raised one thousand five hundred barrels of onions
and carted them to Boston in an ox cart drawn bj'
four oxen. He used to start in the evening, in order
that he might be at the market at first dawn of day
and be ready for cu.stomers. He was the first farmer

190 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
who carted onions to Boston market from Swamp
scott. The onions brought $1.50 per barrel.
Williara P. M. Martin was born in Marblehead in
1800, and was son of Ebenezer and Jane Martin. Mr.
Martin built a large boarding-house, the " Anawan,"
on the lot between Mr. Bates' estate and the street.
Rehoboth, a place ten miles from Providence, memo
rable on account of the capture of Anawan, August
28, 1676. Anawan was the last of King Philip's
chieftains, and it was for him that Mr. Martin named
his house. Franklin Haven and J. D. Bates were its
first two boarders. The Anawan was sold to J. D.
Bates, who moved the building to the spot where the
old Ocean House used to be and called it the Beach
House. Mr. Ford and afterwards Mr. Phillips rented
it. In 1854, Mr. Bates rented it to S. H. and E. N.
Wardwell for two years, when E. N. Wardwell
bought and ran it until 1875. He moved it back, en
larged it from tirae to time during the years 1866-69,
and gave it the name of the Ocean House. The cot
tage on the front side was formerly a part of the
Ocean House. R. W. Carter, of Boston, bought the
Ocean House of H. F. Pitman, of Marblehead, in
1881, and made many improveraents. The house
was burned in September, 1882, at a loss of about
$80,000. In July, 1884, the New Ocean House was
built, with all modern conveniences.
Hon. Harvey Jewell spent more than twenty sum
mers at Whale's Beach.
May 28, 1845, Joseph W. Millett was accidentally

OF SJVAMPSCOTT. 191

killed while blasting rocks on Clambake Hill. He
married a daughter of Captain (Sir) Joseph Fuller,
and left a large faraily.
Fitzwilliam Griffin was a fisherman, of Swamp
scott, and w.as one of the fence viewers in 1852, the
first year of Swampscott's incorporation as a town.
He was a man of large stature, and peculiar in his
looks and ways ; he was very set and straightforward
in all his dealings. It was remarked by some who
knew him that his profile greatly resembled that of the
" Old Man of the Mountains." He lived to a good
old age.
James Abbot first came to Swampscott in August,
1839, from Rockport, where he was born March 15,
1786. In the winter of 1866, he was eighty years
old, and working for Captain Thomas Hadley, split
four hundred quintals of fish. He passed away
June 13, 1868, aged eighty-two years, leaving many
friends to cherish his memory. His brother, William
Tarr Abbott is now living at Rockport, aged ninety-
six years, and is still hale and hearty.
Joseph Harding died in the year 1872, being nearly
ninety-seven years of age. He was the oldest Free
Mason in the country, having been initiated in Adams
Lodge, of WeUfleet, in the year 1800.
Mrs. Sally Gilbert, died at Swampscott, November
9, 1878, at the ripe old age of ninety-five years. She
was the widow of Captain Jonathan Gilbert, of Glou
cester, who was for many years engaged in the West
India trade ; he died in 1845, after which time she re-

192 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
moved to Swampscott, residing with Capt. A. C New
hall and George Gilbert until her death. She was a na
tive of Ipswich. She was a smart old lady, and her
many friends greatly enjoyed a social chat with her.
She reraerabered seeing Gen. Washington at Ipswich.
Phineas Story, better known as " Father Story,"
was born in Chebacco, Mass. (now Essex), May 4,
1782, and on July 13, 1804, was united in marriage
with Rosanna Burnham. They brought up a faraily
of three sons and six daughters. Father Story lived
in the old " Story" house, which until recently stood
on the now (1884) vacant lot, corner of Humphrey
Street and Story's Court, and died at an advanced
age. For many years in early life he followed the
fishing business ; afterward he peddled fish in Lynn,
and with a zeal and promptitude worthy of imitation.
In hot or cold weather, rain or shine, he at dawn
would load his hand-cart with the best of fish brought
in by the dorymen, and start on his weary way to the
homes of his custoraers in Lynn and West Lynn ;
after disposing of his fish he would go to the post
office, then at the south end of Federal Street, West
Lynn, and receiving the Swampscott letters, would
distribute them after reaching horae, charging two
cents per letter. He continued to deliver such letters
from Lynn until 1846, when a post office was estab
lished in Swampscott. Then he remarked that he
had " lost his new-milch cow," referring to the letters.
Year after year he followed his honorable calling, the
sound of his horn being eagerly listened for.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 193

Alexander Greenlaw, was born in Scotland, and
after coming to these shores, in 1826, was a florist,'
and for ten years was gardener on the estates ofj.
D. Bates and Mr. Jeffries. In 1868, he wentto Bos
ton and engaged in business as a florist, and has met
with success.
Joshua P. Small, born in Truro, Mass., December
37, 1S23 ; moved to Swampscott, in 1849. At the age
of nine years he first engaged in fishing, which call
ing he has successfully followed up to the present
time. He now resides on Phillips Street (1885).
Jasper Emerson, who is so favorably known in
Swampscott, opened a meat market in Saleni, in
i860, and in 1863, first started a route in Swamp
scott, aad to the present day continues in the busi
ness. " The Cliff" House," Jas. A. Knowlton ; " Cove
House," Jonathan Blaney; "Blaney House,'' Wm.
R. Blaney, have fof many years been favorably
known to summer visitors.
Eben Martin is an old and respected citizen, who
has for many years engaged in fishing.
George Towns, who is a native of Keene, N. H.,
moved to Swampscott, in 1856, and engaged in the
express business to Boston, continuing in that and the
ice business for sixteen years, and is living at jDresent
near the hay scales.
Benj. J. Lindsey opened a store for the sale of dry
goods in 1S69. He has acted as Town Clerk for
seven years. 27

194 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
In 1877, George E. Gilbert opened a dry goods
store in Town's Block.
Charles E. Durgin, Calvin Tucker, L. D. Pettingill,
S. M. Shattuck and George H. Holden & Co., are all
well known as dealers in fine groceries and provisions.
November 26, 1884, Captain Miles Blanchard, shot
ten ducks, among then a king eider duck, a very rare
bird in this vicinity. He has had the bird stuffed and
mounted. During the year 1S84, Captain Thomas Stanley
shot five hundred and twenty sea birds.
In 1870, the writer had a list of twenty-one persons
in the town, whose ages averaged eighty-four years
and three months. Captain Joseph Harding, aged
ninety-seven, was the oldest, and Samuel Tufts, the
youngest, aged seventy-eight. At the present writing
all have passed away.
Within a j'ear, George Stanley, F. L. Young, and
one other person, have been killed on the railroad,
just east of the bridge beyond the Swampscott depot.
All having been struck by the railroad train.
September 25, 1884, a whirlwind suddenly swept
down Winnepurkitt Hill, Swampscott. Mr. John
Stanley and Deacon J. B. Richardson, a fisherman of
seventy-six years, were standing near the fish-houses
on Blaney's Beach, and the hats of each were blown
oif and down the beach into the water. At the same
time the water roughened and three dorys were over
turned. The air was filled with sand, and for a mo
ment swept in all directions.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 195

In the year 1800, Mark Phillips' father built a shoe
shop near what is now the sumraer residence of Ari-
och Wentworth, of Boston.
Nathaniel Fuller was drowned by falling from a
fishing boat, off' Phillips Point, July 26, 1800. He
was thirty-eight years of age.
Caleb Strong was the sixth Governor of Massachu
setts, under the new charter. His son married a
daughter of Sheriff' Allen, then High Sheriff of Essex
County, and the Governor often visited the farm at
Swampscott, whicii was known as the "Strong farm ;"
it is now owned by the heirs of the late John P.
Palmer. Sir William Proctor resided on Cherry Street, Up
per Swampscott, for many years. Being sick in his
old age, he was removed from his own room, which
was unplastered and unfinished, to a finished cham
ber ; here he remained a few days, but then he asked
to return to his old room, saying, he " wanted pure air
to breathe." The request was granted.
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Richardson, of Swampscott,
observed their golden wedding, April 14, 1885, by a
pleasant family celebration. There was a large gath
ering of friends, and among other souvenirs the two
hundred members of the Congregational society pre
sented a book containing their autographs.

CHAPTER XVL
SWAMPSCOTT AS A WATERING PLACE.
Sea SJiore Resort in Ancient Times.

The custom of spending the sultry months of the
year on shore, or mountain, has prevailed from verj'
ancient times. So early as the days of the first Per
sian monarchy, the king and court would leave Susa
in the hot season and go away to the highlands and
cooler air of Persipolis, or Ecbotana. In the flourish
ing days ofthe Roman Empire the magnificent villas
of the Senators dotted the coast of beautiful Cara
pania. Baiae in the northern indentation of tlie Baj'
of Naples was a celebrated resort. The magnificence
of its palaces was only equalled by the dissipfition of
some of its noble and imperial visitors. Here Nero
had a palace. It was also a favorite resort of the poet
Horace. Multitudes from the imperial city thronged
for refreshnrient to the nearest shores at the mouth of
the Tiber, Minucius Filix has left a charming little
sketch of an excursion from Rome to the marine
baths at Ostia, the port of the citj-. Minucius, who
wrote about A. D. i66, was a Christian, and repre-

SWAMPSCOTT. 197

sents himself as accompanied by two companions, on
the excursion, one a Christian, and the other a
heathen, who enlivened the journey with a discussion
which leads to the conversion of the former worship
per of stones. His object in going, he says, " is
that mj' body may have a soothing and appropriate
remedy for drying its humors, from the marine bath
ing, especially as the holidays of the courts at vintage
time have released me from my cares." Conversing
pleasantly the friends arrive at the sea, and are walk
ing on the broad and open beach. " There," he says,
" the gently rippling way was smoothing the outside
sands, as if it would leave them as a promenade ;
and as the sea is always restless, even when the winds
are lulled, it came up on the shore, although not
with waves crested and foaming, yet with waves
crisped and curling." What modern pen could
better have characterized our sparkling waters of
Swampscott as compared with the rolling waves of
Newport.? "Just then !" he goes on, " we were ex
cessively delighted at its vagaries, as on the verj»
threshold of the water we were wetting the soles of
our feet, while the wave now by turn approaching
broke upon our feet, and now returning and retracing
its course sucked itself back into itself" How like a
scene to be witnessed any summer's day on our beach
is the following: "When we came to that place
where the little ships were drawn up, we saw sorae
boys eagerly gesticulating as they played at throwing
shells into the sea. This play is : To choose a shell

198 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
from the shore, rubbed and made smooth by the toss
ing of the waves, to take hold of the shell in a hori
zontal position with the fingers, to whirl it along
sloping, and as low down as possible upon the waves,
that when thrown it may skim the back of the wave,
or may swim as it glides along with a smooth im
pulse or raay spring up as it cleaves the top of the
waves and rise as if lifted up with repeated springs.
That boy claimed to be conqueror whose shell went
out farthest and leaped up most frequentlj'." How
early in modern times the practice of going to sum-
ra.er resorts began, it would be hard, perhaps, to
determine ; but, however early, it was only the re
suming of an ancient custom fallen unto desuetude, if
at all, through the general decline of civilization dur
ing the dark ages.
The old Ocean House, at the Point, after several
years' occupancy, was burnt and the grounds looked
desolate enough. Charles W. Galloupe purchased
the place of Mrs. Catherine H. Fenno, in 1864, for
himself and other parties, James Beck, P. L. Everett
and S. D. Nickerson. The land was sub-divided and
conveyed by deed to these parties in 1866. The site
comprised twentj' acres of rock, field, hillside and
level meadow land, and there Mr. Galloupe decided to
locate his abiding place for the summer. In time he
caused a unique villa to be erected upon the most
prominent part of this charming point, overlooking
the sea and adjacent country. The house was fitted
and furnished in excellent taste, and at the same time

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 199
the work of renovating the grounds was commenced,
under the charge of that veteran nurseryman and hor
ticulturist, the late Sarauel C Pitman. Ere long
other cottages were erected : the heirs of John Colla
more — Messrs. P. L. Everett, Dr. W^illiam R. Law
rence, of Longwood, who has a fine villa and about
five acres of land, and John T. Bradley, who has
spent several suraraers at this point — are aniong
the joint owners of the beautiful spot. Mr. Galloupe's
grounds, are very noticeable, and he has on the
premises a spacious and convenient conservatory,
literally stacked with floral geras.
'* He who observes it ere he passes on
Pauses again; returns and gazes long
That he may call it up when far away."
The Lincoln House was built by S. H. Wardwell.
It is pleasantly situated at the western end of Phillips
Point, which extends a inile in length frora east to
west. Wardwell Brothers now run the place.
Among the first who kept boarders at Blaney's
Beach was Mrs. Jonathan Blaney, better known as
"Aunt Betsey." In the summer of 1830, she kept
boarders at the old house next to the Blaney House
which was built in 1656. Mrs. Blaney had as board
ers Mrs. Dudley Hall, of Medford, and some others,
and her price per week was $3, which was considered
high, as the boarders often waited upon themselves.
She kept boarders until within a few years of the
tirae that she passed away, October 21, 1861, at the
age of ninety-seven years.

CHAPTER XVII.
S U iM M E R RESIDENTS.

Walter Phillips, Jr., in 1684, and J. Phillips and
Henry Mayo, in 1693, owned the Point, but on March
10, 1696, the last-named person sold the part which
now comprises J. L. Little's estate, to Walter Phillips
for £140. Phillips Point has been in the hands of
the Phillips family from 1690 to 1884. Mrs. Mary
Phillips was the mother of Jonathan Phillips, known
as " Farraer" Phillips, whose father's house has be
come a resort for summer visitors. As early as i777'
William Allen, of the Boston Registry of Deeds
office, on Court Street, and house at West Street,
came down to Phillips Beach to board for the warm
season of the year, wending his way through cart
paths with many bars to let down and put up. At
the time there were only five houses in the village.
In 1779, Demraon Jarvis, of Boston, and in 1795,
Joseph Wilson, came down to the point to board.
Jonathan Phillips (" Farmer") was born in 1769, at
Swampscott, and married Miss Susan Garney, of
Marblehead, in 1815. She was born October 21,
1790, and died in Lynn, in i860, at the age of seventy

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 201

years. Farmer Phillips was married when he was
forty-six years old and his wife twenty-five years old.
He comraenced taking boarders in his sraall house in
1815. When Farmer Phillips was a boy the first
money he received was for wheeling ballast stones
from Phillips Beach on board a lighter, in about 1783.
The beach has been from an early date, until 1884, a
place for many ballast lighters to procure beach stones
for ships in Boston Harbor, but the law of 1884 pro
hibits them from doing so longer. It is a great source
of relief for the fisherinen, for oftentimes the lighters
drew their nets upon the beach and destroyed them,
and it also saves the beach frora being further washed.
The writer has seen an oil painting of the Phillips
estate, done by a summer boarder, in about 1846,
showing the beach with a small bath-house on it at
about the same place as Mr. Little's bath-houses are
at the present tirae. Mrs. Phillips is shown in the
picture as beckoning to her husband, who is fishing
just off the Point, to come home with the fish for
dinner, for cod and haddock, feeding near the rock-
bound shore, were very plenty in those days. Mrs.
Phillips is represented as standing about where
"Shingle Side Cottage" is now. The house and
barn with the well having the moss-covered bucket
attached to the long sweep, is also shown.
During the summer of 1855, Joseph Ames, the art
ist, lived in the house of the writer, over his store and
post office, on Black Will's Cliff". While there, he
painted the celebrated picture, "Last Days of Daniel
38

202 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Webster at Marshfield." Many copies of this paint
ing have been executed in steel, and now adorn many
a house in the land. The artist borrowed the writer's
old " slouch" hat for a model, and it is represented in
the picture as held in the hand of John Taylor, the
farmer. Beginning at the left of the picture, the fol
lowing-named persons are represented : Charles Hen
ry Thoraas, Jacob LaRoy, Hon. Edward Courtis,
Mrs. Daniel Webster, Mrs. Jaraes W. Paige, Samuel
A. Appleton, James W. Paige, Hon. George Ash
raun, Hon. Rufus Choate, Peter Harvey, Fletcher
Webster, Daniel Webster, Miss Caroline L. Apple-
ton, Master Daniel Webster, Master Ashburton Web
ster, Mrs. Fletcher Webster, Miss Caroline Webster,
Dr. J. Mason Warren, Dr. John Jeffries, Sarah (col
ored servant) , John Taylor, farmer. Porter Wright.
The spot where Webster reposes is upon elevated
land overlooking the sea and his farra at Marshfield.
The spot is retired and quiet, nothing being heard
save the soothing dirge of the ocean and the answer
ing sighs of the wind. It is the spot of all others for
his resting place. A stone bears these words : "Dan
iel Webster, born January i8, 17S2 ; died October 24,
1852." In his last speech on the fishery question,
Mr. Webster exclairaed with a flashing eye and ges
ture full of meaning: " The fishermen shall be pro
tected, hook and line, bob and sinker." Nothing
could have pleased his hearers better, and loud and
long was the applause that followed.
Wendell Phillips and family, in the summers of

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 203

1865, '66, '68 and '69, boarded with Abner Hayford,
Humphrey Square. Mrs. Phillips was an invalid,
but enjoyed the fine landscape and sea view, which
was not to be surpassed. In 1870, Mr. Phillips spent
the summer with Z. King Harding, on Winnepurkitt
Hill, and was much pleased with the sea-view and
scenery from that place. The Baptist Church was
built in 1873, and soon after, a course of lectures was
begun to help pay for the church. The committee
called upon Mr. P. and asked his price for one lecture.
He replied $30 ; and after delivering the lecture, that
amount was paid him. Several days after, he for
warded a check for this amount to the committee as a
present to the church. Mr. Phillips died in Boston,
Februarj' 2, 1884, at the age of seventy-two years.
" Only the ashes of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in the dust."
In the days of the Ocean House, Ocean Street was
considered a part of Swampscott, the summer water
ing place. Among the first to erect a summer cottage
was Benjamin T. Reed, who purchased the land of
Joseph Ingalls, in 1842, for $1500. An old resi
dent says that Mr. Reed was looking for a spot on
which to locate, and saw Mr. Ingalls at work in his
field making hay. Approaching him, Mr. Reed said,
"Good afternoon, sir. Is this your land.?" "Yes,
sir," was the answer. " Will you sell it.?" " Yes."
"I will give you four hundred dollars per acre for it."
Mr. Ingalls threw down his rake in astonishment, and

204 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
asked " Do you mean it.?" On being assured that the
offer was bona fide, Mr. Ingalls sta.rted for a lawyer
to have the deed made at once, fearing that Mr. Reed
would change his mind. The price was a large one
at that time (1843). The land is now worth $8000
per acre (1884). Mr. Alexander, the artist, built the
beautiful house now owned by Isaac Sweetser, of
Boston. Judge Benjamin R. Curtis built the Blake
summer cottage. George M. Barnard and Judge
Curtis, of Boston, were among the first boarders at
Phillips Point, Messinger House, and residence on
Ocean Street. The next in order was George M.
Barnard, who sold his property to James R. Law
rence, and Mr. Lawrence built a large house on the
place. The estate is now owned by Wm. T. Hart,
of Boston. Mr. Prescott built the house afterward
owned by Charles H. Scott, of Hudson, N. Y., and
now occupied by Mrs. Page, as a first-class boarding
house. Hon. Leopold Morse spent his first summer
in Swampscott, in 1866, at Bay Cottage, Ocean
Street. He spent five summers near Whale's Beach.
Joseph lasigi lived in his mansion on Ocean Street
for many summers. It is now owned by Francis
W. Breed, of Lynn. William B. Reynolds built a
pretty cottage on this street, and after enjoying it
several seasons, he went to Longwood and spent his
remaining days. The house, rauch improved, is now
occupied by Benjamin W. Currier, of Lynn. Na
thaniel Hooper had a fine estate which he sold to the
late Silas Pierce, who occupied it thirteen summers.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 205

The estate is now leased by J. B. Holden, of Boston.
Royal S. Robbins, of the Waltham watch factory,
has a fine estate ; the house was built by .Judge Chas.
Curtis, in 1845. Mrs. J. M. Lander owns the stone
house with about three acres of land. Hon. Henry
L. Pierce is the owner of B. T. Reed's Westerly
House, now rented by T. B. Aldrich, the poet. Dr.
Fuller, of Charlestown, has a beautiful villa, and near
by George H. Tinkham occupies Bellevue Cottage.
Thomas Hall lived many summers at Ash Cottage,
now occupied by his son-in-law, Mr. Brewer. In
front of Ash Cottage stands the remains of an old ash
tree planted over a hundred years ago, when Lewis
Street was but a cart path, and the bay from Stacy's
Brook to Red Rock could be seen from that path.
Next in order we corae to the imposing mansion on
Whale's Beach, designed by Hunt, the distinguished
New York architect, which was erected by Jacob M.
Haskell. It is one of the handsomest and most con
venient along the Nortii Shore, and the estate era-
braces a large lot of land and an elegant stable on the
opposite side of the street. This is now the property
of Colonel Henry G. Parker, editor and proprietor of
the well-known and popular Boston Saturday Even- '
ing Gazette, now in its seventy-second year. It is
the oldest journal in Boston, and a paper widely
known and highly regarded for its ability and success.
Colonel Parker had been accustoraed to pass the sum
mer on the South Shore, but in 1880, he found his
way to Swampscott, and for two summers hired the

206 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
house of the late Hon. J. Thomas Stevenson. Then
he purchased his present residence of Mr. Haskell,
refitted and furnished it throughout, and has resided
there three years. Now Colonel Parker has become
a legal resident and votes in the town of Swampscott.
Philo S. Shelton has one of the finest mansions on
Whale's Beach. His first visit to Swampscott was in
1836, at the old Ocean House at Phillip's Point. He
has spent every summer but one in Swampscott since
that time. That one suraraer he went to the South
Shore, but the warm land breeze was so different from
the cool sea breeze at Swampscott, that he decided to
revisit Swampscott. He is the oldest suinmer resident
of Swampscott. Thurlow Weed, of Ne-^v York,
while visiting Mr. Shelton, in 1851, at Swampscott,
caught a cod fish weighing sixty-seven pounds, which
pleased him greatlj'. Sorae tirae later a private din
ner was in progress at the Astor House, N. Y., when
Mr. Shelton chanced to visit that hotel. "You are
just the raan we want to see," said Colonel Stetson ;
" at a dinner in that room are a dozen public men, all
friends of yours, and a heavy bet is made that Weed
did not catch a cod fish weighing fifty pounds." Mr.
Shelton was called in and saved Mr. Weed from loss
by announcing that he had been his guest when the
cod was taken, and that instead of fifty pounds, it
weighed sixty-seven pounds.
G. S. Hall's parrot, " Butter Cup," Phillips Point,
is known bj' all for the pretty songs it has sung for tlie
last six J'ears.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. , 207

Ex-Gov. Gaston has a pretty Cottage on Woodbine
Avenue. Weston Lewis also has a cottage on that
avenue. At one time during the summer of 1883,
his son walked from Hotel Vendome, Boston, to
Mudge's gate, Swampscott, distance twelve miles, in
two hours, thirty-four minutes.
George Blackburn, 1870, enjoyed his summer resi
dence on Proctor's Court, for many summers. Col.
Farwell now occupies the place.
C P. Curtis lived with his father. Judge Curtis, in
1845, on Ocean Street. After several summers he
purchased, in 187 1, a place at the point, bordering on
Whale's Beach, and made many improvements upon
it. The celebrated dog, " Foam," is cared for on the
place bj' George T. Melzard in the winter, but in the
fall he attends his master on sporting excursions to the
South. F. L. Richardson's first summer in Swamp
scott was in i860, and that summer he spent at the
Highlands. In 1861, he rented Mrs. Rowe's cottage
Black Will's Cliff, and has spent his summers there
every year since. N. B. Gibbs and family have spent
many summers at Blaney's cottage, and in 1880 at
Waldo Thompson's cottage. William Ropes and
family rented the Blanej- cottage in 1857; he was
much interested in the welfare of the First Congre
gational Church, and built a vestry for the parish.
In 1843, Gridley J. F. Bryant, of Boston, rented a
cottage on Story's Court. He spent twenty-six sum
mers on the Nortii Shore, twenty-four of which were
at Swampscott and two at Nahant. Eleven summers

208 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
he occupied Mudge's old farm house, whicii was built
in 1634. John H. Rogers rented his first cottage in
1865, and in 1866 he bought a cottage on King's
Beach, which he now occupies. Arioch Wentworth
has a house on Burrill Street, which he has enjoj'ed
for about twenty years. E. B. Hull has spent the
greater part of his suraraers since 1871 in Swamp
scott. Rev. Dr. Parkman spent several summers in
this town about the year 1847. Dr. George H. Gay-
was a summer resident of Swampscott from 1856 to
1S66. He passed his first summer at the square, flat-
roofed house, owned by William R. Blaney, in com
pany with hisffither-in-law. Dr. Winslow Lewis. He
lived in the house the following summer. In 1868,
he hired the old house now owned by Orlando R.
Millett, where he continued to live until 1875. He
passed the summers of 1875 and 1876 in Grantville,
and his last sumraer was spent in Swampscott, at a
house belonging to Eben B. Phillips, on Atlantic
Avenue, now occupied by Warren Phillips. Dr. Gay-
was born March 23, 1S23, and died August 13, 1S78.
Arthur Cheney lived during the summer of 1866 in
the cottage owned by Joseph Blaney, next the Han
ford estate. In 1867, he occupied the estate which
he bought of Gorham Gray, since become Hotel Bea
con ; he continued to live here until 1875. Dr. Wins
low Lewis lived in William R. Blaney's house in
1866 and 1867, and his son-in-law, Arthur Cheney,
from i868 to 1873; he lived in Nathaniel Blanchard,
Jr.'s house in 1873 ^"'^ '^74-

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 209
Hon. A. A. Ranney rented the Marshall cottage at
Blaney's Beach for four years. Mr. Edward Alden
has occupied his mansion on Winnepurkitt Hill manj'
summers. G. Frank Brow-n now owns the E. B.
Phillips estate. R. E. Demmons owns the Lee Cot
tage. Mr. Griflfiths owns the Gray estate. C H.
Allen has a prettj' cottage at Piiillips Point. Col.
J. A. Ingalls and J. W. Cha ¦ nan have cottages on
Blaney's Beach. Frederick Jones has spent many
summers at D. H. Millett's residence. R. M. Field,
manager of the Boston Museura, rented the Stanley
Cottage. Oliver Ditson and family have spent a
number of summers at the Lincoln House. W. E.
James rented A. R. Bunting's cottage on Black Will's
Cliff', four seasons.
Col. Charles A. Stetson, who opened the Astor
House, New York, in 1837, '^^^ noted for gathering
to his hotel distinguished travelers and business men,
who wished a home while in the city. He has vol
umes of autographs of these gentlemen, and when he
retired from hotel life he stored the volumes at his
residence at " Woodside" farm, in Swampscott, for
notice by future generations. Mrs. Lucy A. Stetson,
his wife, died March 29, 1881.
A southern lady, while driving through our woods
during the summer, noticed several white birch trees.
She had never seen anything of the kind before, so,
turning to her companion, she exclaimed, " How
very particular you northerners must be to take the
trouble to whitewash all these trees !"
29

CHAPTER XVIII.
YACHTING.
Origin of Regattas. — Noted TacJits.

Venice is the home and birth-place of regattas,
whence they were introduced into England in 1775.
In the appendix of the Ani^ual Register of that year
is an article entitled, " Some account of the new en
tertainment, called the Regatta, introduced from Ven
ice into England in i775'" '^he event is chronicled
as producing an universal sensation. The entire bank
of the Thames was crowded from London Bridge to
Milbank, and even Westminster Hall was provided
with a staging for spectators. Plans of the regatta
were sold for prices ranging frora a penny to one
shilling each, songs on the occasion were hawked
about, in sorae of which " regatta" was made to
rhyme with " Ranelagh," and " Royal Family" with
"Liberty." In the account in question, the racing
does not seem to have attained to any degree of im
portance in point of time or speed, since the Register
dismisses that feature with the meagre note: "The
wager boats started on the signal of the firing of a

SWAMPSCOTT. 211
single piece of cannon," adding that " they were ab
sent about fifty minutes."
The following description of the yacht "Fearless"
was written by a person competent to judge of her
sailing qualities :
" Swampscott has always been noted for her fast-
sailing fishing-boats. Probably no place can excel
them in speed and model. They are often compet
ing with each other, which gives a very lively in
terest to racing. Almost every day these trials of
speed occur, which afford much food for discussion
for all on shore when the day is not suitable for fish
ing. The 'Fearless' was built in Bath, Me., in
1871, by C B. Harrington. She is schooner-rigged,
measures fifty-four feet three inches on the water-line,
is sixteen feet wide and of forty-four tons burden.
At this time of writing she is owned by E. B. Phil
lips, belongs to the Eastern and Boston clubs, and
has probably made the best record of speed of aflj'
yacht that floats. She has taken prizes as follows :
First prize in Eastern, in the first-class, 1872 and
1873 ; first prize in second-class, 1874 and 1875 ! al
ways winning first prize in first-class in Boston club,
and first prize in Boston regattas ; winning prizes at
Swampscott, Beverly and Isles of Shoals — in all win
ning eighteen successive prizes during four years, in
a variety of chances, through light, variable and heavy
winds, and thunder squalls. The owner was a
Swampscott fisherman some fifty years ago, when he
took a lively interest in sailing, fishing and shooting.

212 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
and at near the age of three score and ten years, he
returns to yacht sailing, to corapete with ' Young
America.' Either the model of the boat or the skill
and science of sailing her by the wind has caused
great wonder, and the mind of the ingenious yachts
man and fisherraan has been much taxed to discover
in what manner her speed had been acquired. I have
been a fisherman and yachtsman for raany years, and
have often contended with the ' Fearless.' The last
tirae I saw her sail was at the Isles of Shoals, in 1875,
at the time the stake boat was displaced. The
' Resolute,' of New York, ' America' and ' Fearless '
hauled by theiwind, ten miles to leeward of the Isles
of Shoals, the yachts being within speaking distance
of each other. The ' Fearless' took the lead, arriv
ing at the stake boat at the Isles of Shoals first. The
' Resolute ' is two hundred and six tons, the ' Amer
ica,' one hundred and seventy, and the ' Fearless '
forty-four tons. The sail took place in a good lead
ing breeze — enough to take in staysails. To sail a
boat of forty tons against the two naraed, which are so
celebrated for speed, looked like presumption, yet the
' Fearless' was successful in so contending. I do not
hesitate to say, and feel confidence in the assertion,
that the ' Fearless' is the smartest schooner boat, by
the wind, that now floats." The "Fearless" has
taken thirty-one prizes, consisting of money, cups and
other articles, up to the present tirae (1884).
The yacht " Halcyon," now so famous, was built at
Port Jeflferson, N. Y., in the year 1866. She was

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 213

one hundred and twenty-one tons, old measurement,
and by the new is registered six'ty-seven tons. Since
being built, the owners have had an overhanging
stern added to the original hull. Previous to the year
1881, slie was not considered as a very fast yacht.
Being purchased by General C J. Paine, of Boston,
and was entered by her owner to compete for the
" Buck" prizes, offered by E. A. Buck, of New York,
in a race sailed August 5, 1881, and contested by
yachts of the Eastern and New York clubs. The
prizes consisted of two cups, of unique design and
elaborate workmanship, and were valued at five
hundred dollars each. The course was off Clarke's
Point, New Bedford, and was thirty miles in length.
There was a good sailing breeze, the tide was the first
of the ebb, and all the yachts moved off close hauled on
the starboard tack, and presented a beautiful appear
ance. The " Halcyon " soon took the lead, but was
hard pressed by the " Dauntless," Comraodore Wal
ler. Soon after the opening of the race the " Daunt
less " set a working staysail, but although it increased
her speed, she could not pass the " Halcyon,'- which
was going through the water so fast she made it al
most a seething maelstrom ; it boiled and hissed, but
she went forward all the raore ! Near the close of
the race a threatening fog shut the contesting yachts
from view, but the " Halycon " triumphantly came
in, almost like a phantom ship, winning the race,
making the entire distance in three hours twenty-
seven minutes fifty-six seconds, corrected tirae. It

214 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
was a great surprise, but to the New York club it
was the cause of much chagrin, especially so when it
was remembered that while the winning yacht be
longed to their club, she was not thought worthy of
particular attention in a race.
In August, 1882, the "Halcyon" sailed another
race with the New York club, this time with the
addition of the "Montauk," which had beaten their
best yachts. The " Halcyon" got the lead in the first
hour, but then broke the step of the jibboom, which,
causing delay, lost them the race. The prize was for
a cup valued at $1000. After the race the fleet left
for Marblehead, when another race was arranged, but
no araount of persuasion could induce the owners of
the "Montauk" to compete with the "Halcyon,"
which won the race.
On the loth of August, 1883, there was a race
sailed off' Marblehead, in which the " Fortuna,"
"Montauk," "Halcyon" and "Estelle" competed
for a cup valued at $350. The New York Spirit
of tJie Ti-mes saj's : " The race was, of course, be
tween lhe two center-board boats, for, fast as the ' For
tuna' undoubtedly is, no keel yacht has any business
with boats like the ' Halcyon' and ' Montauk' in anj'
weather. It was a pity that the two center-boards
parted corapany, as there was so much curiosity to
see how the ' Montauk ' would sail with so noted a
flyer as the ' Halcyon,' but the latter went round on
the starboard tack soon after the start, the 'Montauk'
holding her port reach, and so they were widely sepa-

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 215
rated. The judgment of the 'Halcyon' skipper proved
most correct, and the shift ofthe wind gave her a nice
reach, with head full for the mark, the ' Montauk'
constantly coming up and making a wide circuit in
her eff'orts to reach the mark close hauled. Even the
' Fortuna,' which had also made a reach in shore,
beat the ' Montauk,' which finished last, the ' Estelle'
being withdrawn."
Captain Martin V. B. Stone, of Swampscott, has
acted as sailing master for twelve years, having charge
ofthe following yachts : sloop "Euchre," H. B. Gow
ing, owner, three years; schooner "Princess," F.
W. Lawrence, owner, three years ; schooner " Zeph
yr," Gen. C J. Paine, owner, one year ; schooner
" Halycon," C J. Paine, owner, five years. Swamp
scott is notorious as a birthplace of first-class sailing-
masters, araong them being Captain Hezekiah K.
Newcomb, now sailing-master of Commodore Hovey's
yacht " Fortuna," and at present in the West Indies ;
Captain Seth C Kendrick, master ofthe "Fearless,"
a noted yacht ; Captain Rufus Delano, who has sailed
the " Haze," " Dawn " and " Caroline " and others.
Mr. Demond Jarvis, of Lincoln House, owned the
sloop " Trotter " that won many prizes. Built by J.
A. Knowlton, of Swarapscott.
The schooner yacht "Bessie" is another pleasure
boat hailing from Swampscott. The "Bessie" was
built by Pierce Brothers, of South Boston, for parties
in New Bedford. She was not considered as fast for
several years, and took no prizes. After several

216 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
years, Charles P. Curtis purchased the boat, and made
some important changes by adding an overhanging
stern, cutting down the masts and widening the heads
ofthe sails. Once more she made an appearance in
her native element, and soon was prominent as a
yacht of great speed for her class. She has contested
in raany races, and won fifteen first prizes and two
second. Her measurement is now twenty-seven feet
on the water line, and thirty-four feet over all.
While leading in one race, Mr. Curtis' dog " Foam,"
a Chesapeake Bay retriever, bred for fielding wild
geese and ducks, mistaking a lobster buoy for a duck,
jumped overboard in pursuit. The delaj' caused by
his actions lost the " Bessie" the race.

CHAPTER XIX.
BEACH BLUFF.

Beach Bluff is a part of Swam'pscott. The first
piece of land here named on record, independent of
Lynn, was when Daniel King made his will and spoke
of his property as being in " Swarapscott." In 1671,
part of his land was at Beach Bluff, near Beaver
Brook, which runs through Allen Rowe's farm to the
salt water. Seventy-five j'ears ago there were 'out two
houses in this quiet village — one was W. D. Rowe's
farm-house, another was a house built by Jacob Phil
lips, over two hundred years ago, which was a small
building. Addison Child and others enlarged the
house from time to time until it was a large and roomy
mansion, being surrounded by a velvety lawn and
shaded by elms. The house was let to Mr. Chicker
ing, piano manufacturer at Boston, and after that
tirae was called the " Chickering Mansion." Mr.
Rowe, who lived directly opposite, died at the age of
ninety-five years. The year before he died he gave
one of his friends a problem that he had worked out,
when a small boy, upon a bootjack with a piece of
chalk, by the light of a pine knot fire, as follows :
3°

218 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
" A COW had a calf every year from the time she was
three years old until she was twenty years old. All
her calves and their offspring had heifer calves yearly
from the time they were three years old till they were
twenty. How raany did all produce.?"
If the walls of our old houses had ears and could
now talk, they could relate strange stories ofthe olden
times, and picture the joy and suffering that was en
dured, but which has long since passed away. A
family named Redin occupied the farm house for
more than fifty, years. It was one of the early grants
made by the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the sec
ond recorded (Book i, page 2) in the Essex Registry
of Deeds. The grantee, Christopher Foster, (some
times called Sir Christopher), came over in the "Abi
gail" in 1635, at the age of thirty-two. Daniel King,
a man of influence in the colony, bought it in 1645,
and subsequently conveyed it (Book i, page 18) to
his daughter, the wife of Thadeus Redin. She rented
it to her son John for the term of nine hundred and
ninety-nine years at £10 a year. The lease (subse
quently merged in the fee) will expire in the year
2679 in our era. Possibly a new era may be evolved
to date leases from before that one expires. The last
resident of this old familj', also named Thadeus, be
coming misanthropic, suspicious and'miserly, secreted
his money in his neighbor's cellar, now Rowe's,
where he often went to count and gloat over the shin
ing pieces, coined before George III. was king. One
day, impelled by family troubles or some other cause.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 219
he strewed his gold about the cellar, and incontinent
ly hung himself there, of which his family were
speedily notified ; but they lost so much time in se
curing and dividing his money that the old man was
dead before they loosened his cravat. Suicides not
being allowed burial in Christian ground in those
days, and cremation not being in vogue, they inhumed
his body on the gravelly knoll just north of the house,
on what is now called Rokely Street, near Hooper
Cottage. Many years afterward, when strangers possessed
his fireside and the plow had levelled the gravelly
mound, people began to question his home-made
grave. To test it, some farm laborers took the ad
vantage of a moonlight night to open the unconse
crated mound, where they struck a pine box, and,
upon raising the decaying cover, beheld the self-mur
derer lying on his back, as perfect in face and form
as when on the day his heirs garnered him in ; gaz
ing a moraent, the bucolic worthies betook themselves
to their heels in fright. On returning soon after with
reinforcements, lo, the coffin was empty ! Did the
subject take his opportunity to "leave. his unwhole
some grave," and "visit the glimpses of the moon
shine," or 'shall we seek a prophylactic against such
ghostly fancies in the chemistry ofthe elements.?
In 1755, this place passed from the Redins to Jacob
Fowle, a wealthy land owner in this and the adjoin
ing towns of Salem and Marblehead. He lived in
patriarchal style, owning raany negro slaves whom

220 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
he seeraed to have treated as gle lae ascriptus, liter
ally burying thera about the farm wherever most con
venient ; several have been unearthed in making re
cent improvements. In 1785, Mr. Fowle sold the
farm to Walter Phillips, and it was kept in the hands
of the Phillips family until 1854. Then George
Phillips, the grandson of Walter Phillips, sold the
property to Rev. J. B. Clark and Edward Woodford
for $7000. Mr. Clark built a house and lived there
many years. He also set out many trees about the
grounds, which now give fine shade, and under which
the Sunday school (Mr. Clark being the pastor ofthe
First Congregational Church) and parish enjoyed
many social hours. Mrs. Manton now owns the
estate, and Mr. Woodford, who kept a school for boys
many years, the Chickering house. Mr. Clark and
Mr. Woodford laid out the avenue, now called Beach
Avenue, to the sea. Lots, containing one or more
acres, are laid out on each side of the avenue ; the
larger part of them were sold at auction at about one
or two cents per foot. Mr. Payson erected a house
on his lot in 1857, which he occupied the year around
until after Mr. Child purchased it in 1863. He re
modelled the house and grounds, but not satisfied
with one house, he bought more lots, laying out
streets, and built some five or six cottages which have
all the modern conveniences. The water is pumped
by a windraill into a tank fifty feet in height; an al
most unlimited number of houses can be supplied
with pure, fresh water from this spring. There are

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 221
more windmills at the present time in Beach Bluff'
than in the whole town put together.
" The windmill is a useful thing when fixed upon a vane;
It tells which way the wind blows and pumps the water up again."
In 1868, the county built the road called Atlantic
Avenue, which runs from Humphrey Square, through
Beach Bluff to Marblehead, opening many cHbrming
sites along the shore.
Dr. Ahlborn and I. P. T. Edmands have pretty lots
and cottages, and there are two others owned by the
Phillipses. In 1872, Hotel Preston was built upon one of the
most commanding sites. Near by is the upland, of
which there are two houses, each of delightful location.
There is a magnificent view of the water and uninter
rupted inland scenery, and the dry soil and good
drainage, makes it fully appreciated. Phillips Beach,
a mile in length, furnishes good boating and bathing.
The Swampscott Branch Railroad passes through the
village, carrying its many passengers. A pretty
station was built at Beach BluflT, and a room on the
second story was finished off, and now the Farmers'
Club holds its ra.eetings there.
"The Elms" has been enlarged during the past
winter, and now has accommodations for over one
hundred guests. The lofty English elms about the
place afford a fine shade, and as the cooling breeze
comes in from the bay they give a pleasant resting
place beneath the branches for the guests' of the house.

222 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
The house is within easy reach of both horse and
steam cars — the horse cars run every hour from Lynn,
through Swampscott to Marblehead, and return.
George S. Burton, who has been an earnest advo
cate of the natural attactions of Beach Bluft', and who
has erected there some cosey cottages, replete with all
city conveniences, one of whicii he occupies as his
summer home, is a direct descendant through nine
generations of Boniface Burton, whose portrait adorns
the frontispiece of Lewis' History of Lynn (edition
of 1844, page 63), with the following inscription:
"Boniface Burton was a farmer, and was admitted a
freeman May 6, 1635 ; 1638, sixty acres of land were
giv.en him. He died June 13, 1669, aged 113 years.
He was the oldest man that ever lived in Lynn." As
Swampscott was formerly a part of Lynn, Mr. Bur
ton at present resides in the same town as the pro
genitor ofthe family two hundred and fifty years ago.
The Burton family in the mean time have been one of
the oldest and most prorainent New Hampshire fam
ilies, and has given its blood in every war for the
preservation of the colony and subsequent nation
since the landing ofthe Pilgrims in 1620 ; and the de
scendants of this same Boniface have peopled everj'
Northern State and Territory in this country.
George D. Fenno rented the Wilcox Cottage for
the season of 1884; this cottage is also on Beach
Blufl' Avenue.
Leonard Ware has a pretty cottage on Forest
Avenue.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 223

Allen W. Clough, at Beach Bluff, is station agent
and postmaster. Charles S. Lewis is station agent at
Phillips Beach. The last named station has a tower,
and a $200 clock given by the late J. P. Palmer. On
one side of the station are the Phillips Fairbanks
Scales, of the latest improved pattern.
Mr. L. Ware, Jr., planted rock maple trees in the
Grammar School-house j'ard, in 187S, which are an
ornament to the town.
Henry F. Miller, H. F. Miller, Jr., and J. C Mil
ler, have pretty cottages on Mostyn Street. Many
other cottages and stately mansions adorn the place.
In 1875, the huge fawn-colored grey-hound, famil
iarly called " Brownie," died suddenly of heart dis
ease when in his twelfth year. After winning the
Waterloo cup in England, which is the highest prize
a dog can take in a coursing match, his owner gave
him to a citizen of Boston. He passed the remainder
of his days with Addison Child, at Beach BluflT,. win
ning the hearts of all by his beauty, grace and intelli
gence. A cast of his head was taken for the Museum
of Natural History, Boston.
In 1S83, Cedar Hill Cottage was burned ; loss
$5500. First jewelry store in town was opened in
1883. The oldest lady in town, in 1885, is Widow Thank
ful Higgins, born 1798-

CHAPTER XX.
THE POINT.

William Fenno, the popular proprietor of a res
taurant in Theatre Alley, Boston, went down to
Swarapscott in 1835, on a fishing excursion with
Captain Miles Blanchard. While passing the Point,
Mr. Fenno remarked to the skipper, " That would
make a fine summer resort." On their return they
walked over to view the landscape, and on looking it
over, Mr. Fenno resolved to buy a lot of land there.
He soon found the owners, and the deeds were passed
for land bounded on the soutii by the sea, on the east
by the land of Jonathan Phillips, on the north by the
old road, and on the west bj' land of Nathan Martin.
The lot was called New Cove, Phillips Point, Swamp
scott, and contained about twenty-two acres. The
deeds were signed bj' William Chase, Jr., Walter
Phillips, and eighteen other heirs. The field was
bought for $1700, a much smaller sum than 'it is
worth to-day. On this lot Mr. Fenno erected a hotel
called the Ocean House, and for manj' years it was a
resort for summer pleasure-seekers. Among the first
parties who found their way to this hotel were Messrs,

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 225

Philo S. Shelton, of Boston, and John Cushing, of
Watertown. After two years Mr. Fenno let the hotel
to Colonel Thomas Alker and Mr. Messenger to run
for the summer, and built a new hotel named Fenno
Cottage. Mr. Putman was successful with Ocean House
Company about 1850.
The chief features of attraction possessed by this
now fashionable watering-place — this Mecca of the
North Shore, to which the dwellers in marble halls,
invalid tenants o,f brick and mortar houses, the wearied
man of business, the merchant from his counting-
house, the lawyer from his briefs, the physician fol
lowing his convalescent patients, the chemist from his
laboratory, the clergyman frora his study, the fatigued
followers in the train of metropolitan excitement, to
which all, who can find here teraporary homes dur
ing the summer solstice, are now hurrying — are its
unsurpassed sea view, its invigorating breezes wafted
across the sea from every point of the compass save
due north, its bold and rugged front piled up against
old ocean, its marble beach, whose surface scarce
deigns to receive an inipression from the dainty feet
which patter over it, and its unequalled facilities for
bathing. Th'ere is a famous spring at the Point, which, al
though only a foot or two in depth, has 'never been
known to run dry, even in times of the most severe
drought. It discharges from five hundred to two
thousand gallons each twenty-four hours, and is well
31

226 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
known, not only to the immediate vicinity, but to the
neighboring towns. It was often the case, when the
spring was open to the public, that persons from a dis
tance would bring with them vessels for carrying the
water to their homes, and thus procure several days'
supply ofthe best drinking water.
But there exists a spring of pure, fresh water upon
the beach, only to be reached when the tide is more
than half out, which, although not of so extensive a
reputation, was verj- well known and enjoyed in a
peculiar way, by the eccentric proprietor of the old
Fenno estate, who always appreciated a good joke,
and was a proverbially generous host. It was his
custom to invite his boon companions to visit him at
Swampscott, and, after they had enlivened themselves
at his festive board, he would take them for an airing
to the beach and, reraoving the sand and gravel
which concealed the spring, throw out with his hands
enough of the material to make a receptacle sufficient
to hold the contents of a bottle, and then pour into it
a full flagon of Hennessey's best brandy, and bid them
drink it before it became diluted, and they generally
effectually did it.
Joshua Sears, well known in Boston, in 1S46, once
said that the ladies coming from Boston like to enjoy
a sea bath at Swampscott Beach in just such costumes
as they please, in elaborate costumes or in old cast-
off dresses, without fear of talk. And one would
almost think, to see the lady bather of to-daj', that a
genuine mermaid had come up out of the water.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 227

In the month of July, 1847, James L. Little made an
agreement with W. P. M. Martin to purchase of him
that portion of his present estate in Swampscott,
Phillips Point, that was afterward conveyed to him,
October 25, 1847, about whieh time he commenced
the house known as " Blythewood," in wliich he now
resides, and which he occupied for the first time in
the spring of 1848. Mr. Little at that time was the
senior member of the firm of Little, Alden & Co.,
importers of dry goods. The land then purchased
was rough, rocky and swampy, covered with stunted
trees and underbrush, and it would be hard to recog
nize it in its present state of improvement. At or
about the same time Edward C Bates purchased a
property along side of that of Mr. Little, from E. B.
Phillips, and built the residence now known in its
improved form as " Greenhill." The property was
added to Mr. Little's estate by purchase from the
heirs of Mr. Bates, January 21, 1879. Shortly after
the date, Mr. Li|tle plowed up the garden and laid it
out to lawn, building two very large and fine man
sions, one of which, the " Shingleside," has been oc
cupied by Charles P. Hemenway for three summers ;
the other, " Grasshead," by Henry C Weston for
three summers. The " Greenhill" house was occu
pied one summer after its accession to Mr. Little's es
tate, by H. C Weston, in 1880; one summer by
David P. Kimball, 1881, who is connected with Mr.
Little through the marriage of his youngest son,
David M. Little and Miss Clara B. Kimball, daugh-

228 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
ter of Mr. Kiraball ; by W. L. Bradley, during the
summer of 1882 and 1883, and is leased for the pres
ent summer to Hon. W. A. Russell, M. C. (1884).
About the time that these houses were built, the
house known as the " Cottage," on the old Bates es
tate, was enlarged and altered by Arthur Little for a
residence for Mrs. Grace A. Oliver, tlie daughter of
Mr. Little, whose literary tastes are well known.
Those who have had a glimpse of this most charming
cottage, pronounce it delightful in all its appoint
ments. The house known as "Beach End," whicii
has been occupied for four seasons by ex-Mayor
Samuel C Cobb, of Boston, was first built on land
purchased by Charles L. Pearson, April 6, 1867, and
was acquired of him by Mr. Little, October 9, 1873,
for his oldest son, James L. Little, Jr., who has since
left the paternal homestead for Brookline, where he
built himself a very fine residence. The " Beach
End" house was added to during the occupancj' by
Mr. Little, Jr. "Brier Gate," as the residence of
John Mason Little was called, was built in the au
turan of 1874, upon land belonging in part to the old
estate purchased in 1847, and in part upon land pur
chased in 1874, the latter being a part of what was
then known as the old Roberts barn ; in fact the old
horaestead of Jonathan Phillips. JohnM. Little, is
the second son of J. L. Little, and is his man of busi
ness, and fias always been most intimately connected
with him in his relations. Mr. Little ha^ a tower
on his estate, in connection with a reservoir whicii

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 229
supplies all his cottage's with pure water from a spring
near by. The water is pumped up by a small steam
engine. {See Finis.)
"John's Field" was a part of Farraer Phillips'
farm and contained about five acres. x\mong its
other features was a beautiful cove. About, ninety
years ago, a lady whose name was Mary Cove, took a
pleasant walk, one fine morning, to Swampscott,
along the coast. After a long walk she came upon a
cove with a white, sandj- beach, and the tossing waves
as they were breaking upon the shore. Anxious to
see the rocks and the inner part of the cove, she
climbed down over them, but by some misstep she lost
her footing and fell into the water. As good fortune
would have it, a farmer was near, and seeing her,
caught her dress and pulled her in upon the shore.
At this tirae the cave was called simply " The Cove,"
but after this incident it was called "The Old
Woman's Cove." In this place many loads of sea
weed were washed upon the shore, but for a long
time no way could be invented to carry it away, since
the cliff was so steep that oxen could not carry it up.
At last Mr. Phillips found a way by which the sea
weed could be raised up to land and carted away. A
car was made and a pulley constructed, and in this
way the seaweed was hoLsted and then borne away by
oxen. It took two men to load, two to unload, and
one to drive the oxen. Daniel Webster was (as re
port says) the first farmer who used seaweed as a
fertilizer. He made the experiment on his farm at

230 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.
Marshfield, and there is no doubt but that Farmer
Phillips was the first to use it on his farm. It is very
probable that to a certain degree the rich land of to
day of the Phillips estate has resulted from the use of
seaweed. Dr. G. H. Lodge purchased the "John's
Field" of the heirs of Jonathan Phillips, in 1849, and
there were fourteen signatures to the deed. The
doctor built a fine house near the cove and surrounded
it with beautiful lawns and ornaraental trees. A long
and winding avenue points the way to the house,
starting from Orient Street. The tall and bending
trees meet overhead and make one think of passing
through a tunnel in a forest, if such a thing could be.
John D. Bates purchased the lot formerly owned by
Nathaniel Martin, known as Cedar Clifl^s, Phillips
Point. He built a pretty villa and lived in it many
summers. Mr. Bates has stated that when he first
carae to Swampscott sunimer visitors left their best
carriages at horae for fear that the salt water might
tarnish them. The estate is now owned by Mrs.
Anna Lloyd Jeffries, wife of Colonel John Jeffries,
and it is one of the pleasantest places at the Point.

POEM BY THE LATE MISS BEERS.
Miss Delia Beers, of Swampscott, who died March
17, 1884, at the age of twenty-eight years, was the
author ofthe following lines, written on the occasion
of her graduation at Salem Normal School :

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 231

THE BASKET WEAVER.
Down by the seashore, all alone,
Sat weary little May,
Weaving the long, lithe willow strips
Into a basket gay,
O, how her little body ached !
I^'or she had worked all day;
And ho\v she longed to be somewhere
To be at rest, for aye.
She was so tired, so sick of work.
Her life was full of sighs;
And with her hand she dashed away
The tears that filled her eyes.
But now the sun is going down,
In shadows is the lea;
His golden beams shoot far across
The blue, the murmuring sea.
And one more bright than all the rest
Is shining in her hair,
And makes her little mournful face
Look like a picture fair.
Then how she wished, poor little girl.
That she could climb afar
Up to the heavenly city fair
On such a golden bar.
She thought perhaps the lovely cloud
The gate of heaven might be,
And if she could but open it
She would the angels see.
And as she looked at those bright scenes,
Her dark blue eyes did close,
Kor the great brightness dazzled them ;
Soon she forget her woes.
At length^ the' long, long weary day,
In silence has passed by;
The stars are peeping, one by one,
From out the vaulted sky.

232 HISTORICAL SKETCHES.

A breeze sprang up, the waters moaned
And rolled in toward the shore;
The little waves came near her feet,
She did not heed them more.
Her small bare feet drew up beneath
The ragged gown she wore;
The murmuring wave still nearer come,
Still slept she, as before.
And now the surging waves are near!
Their roar her feelings calms ;
And now they lift her poor frail form
Up in their awful arms.
Dear little May ! is there no hope —
No saving power nigh?
Oh, yes! thy loving Father 's near!
You 'II see Him by and by.
The cold blue waves are carrying thee
On to the heavenly shore;
No human aid can help thee now,
Thy spirit longs to soar.
The night at length has passed away,
The sun brings in the day;
No trace is seen on the lone shore
Of tired little May.
For thro' the golden gates she 's passed,
Unto her home above;
We know it opened to her knock,
Because of her great love.
Only a glance at life was hers —
A life bereft of love;
Only a life of shadows here —
A life of rest above.

CHAPTER XXI.
THE MUDGE ESTATE.

This historic place is justly the pride of Swamp
scott. Approaching the village by King's Beach the
visitor has on his right the sea, with Egg Rock and
Nahant in the distance, and Black Will's Cliff near at
hand. Directly in front is Monument Square, its
granite shaft and ancient cannon telling of our honored
heroes; and just beyond, its green lawn, its beautiful
shrubbery, and its picturesque cottage, exposed hos- '
pitably to the eyes of all ; and giving promise of the
beauty of the town, is the time-honored estate.
Handed down through two hundred and fifty years
from the Humphreys, it was a hundred years in the
possession of the Burrill familj', who in 1799 deeded
it to Robert Hooper, of Marblehead. When the
deed was given seven persons named Burrill signed
it, together with three others, Samuel Waldo acting
as witness. The last-named gentleman afterwards
went to Maine, and the town of "Waldo" was
•named for him. In 1843, Mrs. W. Reed, deeded the
farm, containing about one hundred and thirty acres
to the late Hon. E. Redington Mudge, for the sum of

234 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
eight thousand dollars, a property for which Mr.
Mudge declined an offer of one hundred thousand
dollars. The name of Mudge was originally written
" Mugge," and can be traced back to the fourteenth
century. E. R. Mudge was born in Orrington, Me.,
March 22, 181 2, and died in 1881, aged sixty-nine
years. He married Caroline A. Patten, of Portland,
Me., who died January 9, 1882. Mr. and Mrs.
Mudge are buried in the garth at St. Stephen's
Memorial Church at Lynn — this church having been
erected by Mr. Mudge as a memorial to his children,
Charles Redington and Fannie Olive. The idea
which has gone abroad that there were tombs in the
garth or in the basement is a false one, as no one will
be buried there except the Mudge family, and the
garth will be devoted to no other use. In early life
Mr. Mudge was a merchant in Portiand, Me., and in
1840 he opened the St. Charles Hotel, New Orleans.
He left New Orleans in 1843 and engaged in mercan
tile pursuits, having his home in Swampscott. Upon
taking charge ofthe St. Charles Hotel, Stephen Free
man and his wife and two children were slaves, and
Mr. Mudge gave $1500 for the family. On buying
the " Reed" farm he took with him Freeman and his
faraily, and gave them their freedom. Freeman re
mained with him nearly eight years, when he left him
to reside in Lynn, where he may still be found (1884).
In 1863, Mr. Mudge deeded the old farm-house and
about three acres of land to his daughter. Near the
farm-house stands the famous elm tree which for over

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 235
one hundred and fifty years has cast its pleasant shade
over the house and grounds. "Paradise" road, which
was opened by Mr. Mudge through his forest, where
the first spring flowers are usually found, has been
greatly enjoyed by the public, thanks to his kindness
in allowing access thereto.
The stone cottage called "Elmwood" was built
with great care at a short distance from the farm house.
Many of the fine forest trees on the lawn Mr. Mudge
planted himself, and now, after a growth of forty
years, they are a beautiful sight, and passers-by often
bless the meraory of the man who by planting them
made his estate a joy to others besides himself. " Elm
wood" has a fine view of the ocean. The entrance
from Burrill Street is by a shaded avenue, in whose
trees Mr. Mudge took especial delight. A fountain is
sometimes seen throwing up its spray in the sunlight
and returning it upon the lawn with a musical sound.
" While the birds are singing in the morning,
And the myrtle and the ivy are in bloom."
All who were acquainted with Mr. Mudge, or who
know of the position of respect which he held in
Swampscott, will be pleased to see the following ac
count of his father, the Rev. Enoch Mudge, and of his
noble bequest to the church of which he was a cora
municant : Rev. Enoch Mudge, father of the late Hon.
E. R. Mudge, was a pioneer Methodist preacher of
the New England Conference, and a man of remark
able originality and power. His educational advan-

236 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
tages had been of a very limited character, as his
early youth was passed in a Lynn shoemaker's shop,
yet he everywhere attracted attention through his
peculiar gifts in prayer and exhortation. In a volume
entitled " Itinerant Preaching in the Early Days of
Methodism," prepared from the journal of Mrs.
Tucker, a contemporary of Rev. Mr. Mudge, the
following interesting allusions to the gifted j'oung
preacher occur: " One evening my husband and mj-
self were invited to take tea at Mrs. Perry's, one of
the family of Coraraodore O. H. Perry, the celebrated
naval hero (this was at Newport, R. I., in 1829).
Her mother, an aged lady, was present, and related
the following incident of her first experience in listen
ing to Methodist preaching, whicii was by this early
pioneer of Methodisra in New England, who left his
shoemaker's bench in Lynn, a mere boy, and sallied
forth into the fields. Several of his first efforts were
made in Newport, R. I., where his youth, his remark
able talents, and his fervid piety attracted crowds to
hear him. Mrs. Perry related that, being on her way
to church one Sabbath morning, a friend raet her and
said, ' Madam, why do n't you go to the Court House
and hear the remarkable young preacher.? ' ' What is
his name.?' inquired Mrs. Perry. ' I do n't know,' re
plied her friend ; ' but this I do know, he is the most
wonderful preacher I ever heard.' Mrs. Perry's curi
osity being awakened, she went up to the Court
House and found it completely filled. With difficulty
obtaining a seat, she looked up at the pulpit and saw

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 237
a little boy sitting there, but took little note of him, as
she sat anxiously awaiting the preacher's appearance.
What was her surprise, when this boy arose and com
menced reading a hymn ! She was still more sur
prised when he knelt and made the raost fervent and
striking prayer she ever listened to. When he com
menced speaking she observed that he used no notes.
Now she began to tremble for him, thinking the little
boy would surely break down ; but he went on with
his discourse, and as he advanced, his flow of lan
guage, his knowledge of divine things, and his fervid
eloquence, so unlike anything she had ever heard
before, astonished not only her, but every one in the
house. That wonderful boy so impressed her that for
many long years his appearance and remarkable ser
mon was fixed in her memory. On one occasion
Brother Mudge was visiting a friend's house where a
large company had assembled, including a very pom
pous lady whose husband was very proud of his con
nection with Harvard. She had very patronizingly
condescended to notice the young preacher, and with
rather a consequential air inquired of him, ' At what
college did you take your degree, sir.?' Brother
Mudge replied, with great simplicity of manner, ' I
took my degree, raadam, at my father's shoemaker's
bench in Lynn.' The lady seemed not a little sur
prised and confounded, but the corapany appreciated
the truthful good sense of the young preacher."
St. Stephen's Memorial Church, situated at the cor
ner of South Common and Blossom Streets in Lynn,

238 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
of which the Rev. Louis DeCormis is rector, is one of
the finest specimens of church architecture in the
country. Its walls are built of a reddish granite
rubble, quarried on the estate of Hon. E. R. Mudge,
at Swampscott, with facings and angles of red brick,
and weatherings and carvings of Nova Scotia free
stone. The plan of the church proper is in the form
of a Latin cross, the apse facing the east ; but the
spaces in the angles of this cross are covered by aisle
roofs, so that the whole area is included in the body
of the building, thus presenting a rectangular audi
torium sixty-eight feet from nortii to south, and ninety
feet from the west wall to the arch of the apse. The
nave and transepts are severally forty feet wide, and
the latter are twelve and a half feet deep, the angles
of the central crossing being marked by four clustered
stone piers, from the capitals of which spring open
timber trusses of Georgia pine, across nave and tran
septs, and diagonally, supporting the roof, which is
visible in its structure to the apex.
The organ which was built from specifications
drawn by E. K. Weston, organist of the church, is a
model in every particular.
Over the main entrance of the porch is carved in
the arch the words " That thy power, thj' glory, and
the mightiness of thy kingdora might be known unto
men." In the porch over an inscribed slab surmounted
by a bracket is the stone presented by St. Margaret's
Church, of King's Lynn, England.
The edifice was erected by the late Hon. Enoch

MUDGE MEMORIAL EPISCOPAI. CHURCH, LYNN.

OF SWAMPSCOTT. 239

Redington Mudge as a memorial to two of his chil
dren — Charles Redington, who was killed at Gettys
burg, and Fannie Olive, who died about two years
ago — the entire expense being borne by him. He
was deeply interested in the construction of the
church, personally inspecting each step taken in the
progress toward completion, and made the last pur
chase of materials needed for the furnishing of the
structure only a few hours before his death, which
occurred Saturdaj', October i, 1883.
Mr. Mudge's artistic taste and wide experiences
added to his devout attachment to the church of
which he was so prorainent a member, led him to
erect this costly and enduring memorial, and his ideas
have been ably seconded by the architects.
It is a fact of sad interest that the first service held
in the church was the funeral of its generous donor.
Among the altar furnishings are a massive solid gold
communion service made to order in England, and a
beautiful Spanish altar cloth five hundred years old.
We cannot better bring these historical sketches tO
a close than by noting what will be valuable historical
material for some distant generation, namely, the con
tents of the box deposited under the corner stone of
the church. The stone has sculptured on its west
face a cross, and on its northern face the date 1880.
The box is of copper, hermetically sealed, contains
the Bible and prayer-book formerly used by Charles
Redington Mudge and Fanny Olive Mudge ; a me
morial of the. Mudge family in the United States ; in

240 HISTORICAL SKETCHES
meraoriara of Charles Redington Mudge, Lieutenant
Colonel, Second Massachusetts Infantry, born in New
York, October 2, 1839, killed at Gettysburg, July 3,
1863 ; names ofthe standing committee ofthe diocese
of Massachusetts ; names of delegates to the General
Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of
1880 ; roll of parchment with the naraes of the officers
of St. Stephen's Church ; historical sketch of the
Church Aid Society of Lynn ; programme of the
Easter festival of the Sunday School of St. Stephen's ;
silver dollar of the United States of the latest coinage ;
journal of the diocesan convention of 1879 ; church
almanac of 1880; copies of all the Boston and Lynn
newspapers of latest dates ; a copper plate bearing
the inscription : "May 19, 1880.
"This church, named in honor of St. Stephen,
the martyr, the corner stone of which is this day
laid by Benjamin Henry Paddock, D.D., bishop of
Massachusetts, is to be erected by Enoch Redington
Mudge as a thank offering to Alraighty God, to be
consecrated to the glory of God, and in raeraory of
Charles Redington and Fanny Olive, children of
Enoch Redington Mudge. The fee of this land and
church buildings thereon is held by the trustees of
donations to the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
diocese of Massachusetts. The deed of trust rehearses
that St. Stephen's parish in the City of Lynn, Essex
County, Massachusetts, shall have the use of these

OF SWAMPSCOTT.

241

buildings in conformity with the rites, ceremonies,
usages and canons of the branch ofthe Holj' Catholic
Church, known in law as the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States of America. Architects
of this Church, Messrs. Ware & Van Brunt of Bos
ton."

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