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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38417-8.txt b/38417-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4a729da --- /dev/null +++ b/38417-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4332 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Curiosities of History, by William W. Wheildon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Curiosities of History + Boston, September Seventeenth, 1630-1880 + +Author: William W. Wheildon + +Release Date: December 27, 2011 [EBook #38417] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive.) + + + + + + + + + + _Curiosities of History:_ + + BOSTON + SEPTEMBER SEVENTEENTH, + 1630-1880. + + + BY WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. + + + _SECOND EDITION._ + + + "Ringing clearly with a will + What she was is Boston still." + --WHITTIER. + + + BOSTON: + LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. + NEW YORK: + CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM. + 1880. + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1880, + BY WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. + + + _Author's Address:_ + BOX 229, CONCORD, MASS. + + + _Franklin Press: + Rand, Avery, & Company, + 117 Franklin Street, + Boston._ + + + + + AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED + _TO MY WIFE_, + JULIET REBECCA WHEILDON, + IN COMMEMORATION OF THE + Fifty-first Year of our Married Life, + _MAY 28, 1880_. + + WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +It seems proper to say in offering this little volume to the public, that +no attempt has been made to exhaust the subjects of which the papers +respectively treat; but rather to enlarge upon matters of historical +interest to Boston, which have been referred to only in a general way by +historians and previous writers.--This idea rather than any determination +to select merely curious topics, has in a large measure influenced the +writer; and the endeavor has been to treat them freely and fairly, and +present what may be new, or comparatively new, concerning them, from such +sources as are now accessible and have been open to the writer. It is not, +however, intended to say that an impulse towards some curious matters of +history has not been indulged, and, indeed, considering the subjects and +materials which presented themselves, could scarcely have been avoided, +which was by no means desirable. Although it has been impertinently said, +that "the most curious thing to be found is a woman not curious," we +submit that curiosity is a quality not to be disparaged by wit or sarcasm, +but is rather the germ and quality of progress in art and science and +history. + +It has been impossible to correct or qualify, or perhaps we might say +avoid, all the errors, mistakes, or contradictions, which have been +encountered in preparing these pages; and very possibly we may have +inadvertently added to the number. At all events, with our best endeavors +against being drawn into or multiplying errors, we lay no claim to +invulnerability in the matter of accuracy, or immaculacy in the way of +opinions; and we very sincerely add, if errors or mistakes have been made +and are found, we shall be glad to be apprised of them. There are errors +in our history which it is scarcely worth the while to attempt to correct, +although they are not to be countenanced and should not be repeated. + +A period of two hundred and fifty years since the settlement of the town +includes and covers a history of no ordinary character, involving progress +and development, not merely of customs, manners and opinions, but of +principles, passions and government. The city is a creation, as it were, +by the art and industry of man; and, with the reverence of Cotton Mather +himself, we add, "With the help of God!" and we venture the comparison +that no change or growth, improvement or embellishment, is to be found in +the settlement or the city, that may not be paralleled in the growth, +advancement and elevation of its people: indeed, we go even farther than +this, the material progress to be seen around us, in all its multifarious +forms and combinations, item by item, small or great, is indicative only +of the advancement of the people, and marks the progress of moral, mental +and intellectual power--of art, science and knowledge. + +We take this opportunity to acknowledge our indebtedness to several +friends for the loan and use of many rare and valuable works in the +preparation of this history, and in particular to Messrs. John A. Lewis +and John L. DeWolf, of Boston, and Mr. J. Ward Dean, of the N. E. His. +Gen. Society. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS: + + + I. Topography of Boston. 13 + The Peninsula. + Two Islands. + Anne Pollard. + Curious Descriptions. + The Mill Creek. + Great South Cove. + The North Cove. + Boston Common. + + II. The Public Ferries. 27 + The Great Ferry. + Order of Court, Nov. 1630. + Lease to Edward Converse. + Ferry to Winnisimmet; + Grant to Harvard College. + Bad "peag," money. + Wampompeague. + Judge Sewall over the Ice. + Charlestown mother of Boston. + Andros Revolution and Fires. + Portsmouth Stage. + Paul Revere crossing. + + III. The Boston Cornfields. 37 + Spragues at Charlestown; + Dividing the Land; + Corn from the Indians; + Fencing the Fields, &c. + The Cornfields and Pastures; + The Granary. + + + IV. Puritan Government. 45 + Authority of the Company. + Ex post facto Laws. + Punished for a pun. + Fines and Ear-cropping. + Whipping through three towns. + Set in his own Stocks. + Regulating the Dress of Women. + The "Body of Liberties." + Ward on Kissing Women. + John Dunton on the Laws. + + + V. Narragansett Indians. 57 + Murder of Mr. Oldham. + Visit of Miantonomo to Gov. Vane, Treaty, &c. + Narragansett Art. + Coining money. + Marriage of Children. + Egyptian Custom. + Marriage of Cleopatra. + + + VI. Names of Places, Streets, &c. 62 + Curious Indian Names; + Names of Streets, Taverns, &c.; + Paddy Alley and William Paddy; + Dates of the Streets and Lanes; + Royal Names, Names of Patriots, Puritans and Union Names; + Names of Taverns and Shops; + Number of Streets and Wharves. + + + VII. Persecution of the Quakers. 74 + Church Government and Civil Government. + Interference of the King. + Arrival of Quakers, 1656. + Execution of Quakers. + Order from the King, 1661. + Hutchinson's Opinion. + Triumph of the Quakers. + Their Meeting House. + Meetings discontinued. + + + VIII. First Newspaper in America. 87 + First ever issued--in writing. + Gazette in Venice, 1583. + English Mercury, 1588. + "Publick Occurrences" 1690. + Legislative Interference. + To cure the 'Spirit of Lying.' + The Christian Indians. + Massacre of French Indians. + General character of the paper and its reading matter. + + + IX. Curious Boston Lectures. 98 + History of Boston; + "Boston's Ebenezer;" + A Stone of Help; + Widows and Orphans; + Hope in God; + Appeal to the Public Officers; + Household Religion; + Fanaticism and Declamation. + + + X. Remarkable Proclamations. 1774-5. 104 + _March 29_, War against France; + _October 18_, On account of a Riot; + _October 19_, War against Indians; + _October 20_, Thanksgiving Day; + _Nov. 2_, Rewards for Indian scalps; + 1745, _March 25_, For a Fast Day; + " _July 8_, Thanksgiving Day; + " _Sept. 6_, For a Fast Day; + " _November 22_, Sailor's Riot; + " _November 25_, Thanksgiving. + + + XI. Popular Puritan Literature. 115 + An Earthquake in Boston; + Deborah; a Bee; + Popish Invasion of England; + The Scotch Rebellion. + + + XII. Revolutionary Proclamations. 126 + Gen. Gage's Administration; + Shutting up of Boston Harbor; + Election of delegates to Congress; + General Gage's Proclamation; + Against non-importation league. + Remarkable Proclamation for the promotion of Piety and Virtue. + Its Character and Observance. + + + XIII. Curiosities of the Market. 131 + Supplies of Gov. Winthrop; + Bartering for Furs; + Scarcity of Provisions; + Hunting, Game, Fish, &c.; + Living in the Olden Time; + Supplies for a British fleet. + + + CONCLUSION. + + + + +[Illustration: Map of DORCHESTER, BOSTON and CHARLESTOWN, the Three +Peninsulas, showing their Bays and Coves, Castle Island, Roxbury and +Cambridge.] + + + + +I. + +TOPOGRAPHY OF BOSTON. + + +THE ORIGINAL PENINSULA. + +There is a line of Cowper to the effect that "God made the country, and +man made the town;" and there is probably no more striking evidence of the +truthfulness of the axiom than is to be found in the history and growth of +Boston, between the years 1630 and 1880, confirming in a remarkable manner +Capt. Wood's prophecy concerning the town, in 1650: viz., "whose +continuall inlargement presages some sumptuous city." The original +territory which has formed the basis, so to speak, of Boston proper, was a +peninsula, and appeared like two islands, or, by the continued operation +of the sea, was likely to become so. Its distinguishing feature was to be +found in its three prominent hills, or, perhaps, its two hills and its +three-peaked mountain. These were her jewels: they have since represented +her fame, her history, her sentiments; for these were all wrapped around +them. The peninsula was a point of land projected into the harbor, with a +narrow neck connecting it with the mainland, and another narrow place in +the vicinity of what is now Dock Square, which was once quite open to the +harbor. In length from the south line at Roxbury, it was something less +than three miles (two and three-fourths and two hundred and thirty-eight +yards). Its width at the widest point, between Wheelwright's wharf +(afterwards Rowe's, and now Foster's) to Barton's Point, Leverett Street, +was something over one mile, and its circumference about four miles. + + +CURIOUS EARLY DESCRIPTIONS. + +The first impression of the "island" which has been recorded is that of +Anne Pollard, who died in Boston, Dec. 6, 1725, at the age of 105 years, +and left over one hundred descendants. She always said that she came over +from Charlestown, in 1630, in the first boat that crossed with Gov. +Winthrop's party, and, being what might now be called a romping girl for +those times, ten years of age, was "the first to jump ashore;" and she +afterwards described the place "as being at that time very uneven, +abounding in small hollows and swamp, and covered with blueberry and other +bushes." We do not think there is any one inclined to dispute this +statement, or question its truthfulness. + +There are several descriptions of early Boston, topographical and +otherwise, which have been quoted by subsequent writers upon the subject, +rather as curious and original than as having any particular merit in +themselves. First among these is that of Capt. Edward Johnson, in his +"Wonder-Working Providence of Sion's Saviour in New England," written +about 1640. He describes it as surrounded by the brinish flood, "saving +one small Istmos which gives free access to the neighbor townes," and +says, "At their first landing the hideous thickets in this place were such +that wolfes and beares nurst up their young from the eyes of all +beholders.... The forme of this Towne is like a hearte, naturally situated +for fortifications, having two hills on the frontice part thereof next the +sea." These were Fort and Mill (Copps') Hills. "Betwixt these two strong +armes lies a large cove or bay, on which the chiefest part of the town is +built, overtopped with a third hill" (Sentry or Beacon Hill). There were +two smaller hills on the Common, on one of which Gen. Gage afterwards +built a battery, when the town was in his military possession, and on the +other a powder-house. + +Another curious description of Boston is given in Wood's "New England's +Prospect:"-- + + "Boston is two miles North-east from Roxberry. His situation is very + pleasant, being a Peninsula hemm'd in on the south side with the Bay + of Roxberry, and on the north side with Charles River, the marshes on + the back side being not half a quarter of a mile over; so that a + little fencing will secure their cattle from the woolves. It being a + Necke and bare of wood, they are not troubled with those great + annoyances, wolves, rattlesnakes and musquetoes.... This Necke of Land + is not above four miles in compasse, in forme almost square, having on + the south side at one corner a great broad hill, whereon is planted a + Fort, which can command any ship as shee sayles into any Harbour + within the still Bay. On the north side is another Hill equall in + bignesse, whereon stands a winde mill. To the north-west is a high + Mountaine, with three little rising Hills on the top of it, wherfore + it is called Tramount.... This town although it be neither the + greatest, nor the richest, yet is the most noted and frequented, + being the Center of the Plantations, where the monthly Courts are + kept. Here likewise dwells the Governor. This place hath very good + land, affording rich Corne-fields, and fruitful gardens, having + likewise sweete and pleasant springs." + +There were two large coves projecting into the peninsula,--one from the +harbor and one from Charles River, nearly opposite to each other, and +producing the narrow portion of the land already spoken of, so that if the +peninsula was not formed of two islands originally, as has been supposed, +the cutting of a creek across this narrow portion, nearly on the line of +Blackstone Street, and uniting the waters of the two coves, had the effect +practically to make it so, at least at such times as the waters of Charles +River and the harbor met across the neck, near Roxbury; so that the +peninsula can hardly be said to have been heart-shaped, much less square. + +But the most curious description of Boston, though it may hardly be called +such, is that given by Edward Ward--a low, but ingenious and scandalous +author, whose book cannot enter a decent presence--in his "Trip to New +England."[1] He says of "Boston and the Inhabitants,"-- + + "On the south-west side of Massachusetts Bay is Boston, whose name is + taken from the Town in Lincolnshire, and is the Metropolis of all New + England. The houses, in some parts, join as in London. The buildings, + like their women, being neat and handsome. And their streets, like the + hearts of the male inhabitants, are paved with pebble. + + "In the chief or High Street there are stately edifices, some of which + have cost the owners two or three thousand pounds the raising, which I + think plainly proves two old adages true, viz., That a fool and his + money is soon parted; and, Set a beggar on horseback he'll ride to the + devil; for the fathers of these men were tinkers and pedlars. + + "To the glory of religion, and the credit of the town, there are four + churches, built with clapboards and shingles, after the fashion of our + meeting houses; which are supply'd by four ministers, to whom some, + very justly, have applied these epithets, one a scholar, the second a + gentleman, the third a dunce, and the fourth a clown." + +These extracts afford no idea of the scandalous character of the book, nor +do even sentences like these: "The women, like the men, are excessive +smokers." "They smoke in bed, smoke as they knead their bread, smoke +whilst they are cooking their victuals, smoke at prayers," &c. "Eating, +drinking, smoking, and sleeping take up four parts in five of their time," +&c. "Rum, alias kill-devil, is as much ador'd by the American English, as +a dram of brandy is by an old billingsgate," &c. We can give our readers +no further idea of the gross and indecent character of the whole volume, +without offending in the way the author has done. + + +THE SOUTH COVE. + +The South Cove extended from what is now Batterymarch Street to near the +North Battery, at the foot of Fleet Street, curving inward as far as Kilby +Street and near the old State House, with creeks extending towards Spring +Lane, Milk and Federal Streets. Dearborn says, "Winthrop's Marsh, +afterwards called Oliver's Dock, was near Kilby Street, and between the +corner and Milk Street, a creek ran up to Spring Lane." An aged citizen +once said he remembered hearing Dr. Chauncy say that he had taken smelts +in Milk Street; and a Mr. Marshall remembered that when a boy they were +caught in Federal Street, near the meeting-house, (Dr. Channing's). +Another aged inhabitant is reported to have said, that, in the great storm +of 1723, "we could sail in boats from the South Battery to the rise of +ground in King Street," near the old State House. Dock Square was at the +head of a small cove, the tide rising nearly to the pump, which was +formerly there, at the foot of Cornhill. The statue of Sam Adams, recently +erected, is directly over the well in which the pump stood. + +A narrow point or tongue of land projected into the cove between the Town +Dock (then near Faneuil Hall) and Mill Creek, and upon this land stood the +celebrated triangular warehouse,--a remarkable building for the time. It +stood opposite the Swing Bridge, and a little north of the dock, measuring +forty-one feet on Roebuck Passage (named after the tavern near it), and +fifty feet on the back side. Near this place, in the small square formed +by the junction of Ann, Union, and Elm Streets, was the Flat Conduit, so +called. Ann Street was originally Conduit Street as far as Cross Street; +and Union Street, in 1732, lead from the conduit to the Mill Pond. + +Around the South Cove, as has been said, in the early time the chiefest +part of the town was built; and from thence it gradually expanded along +the shore to the south and to the west. John Josselyn, in 1638, visited +Boston, and wrote a volume entitled "New England Rarities," in which he +says, "It was then rather a village than a town, there being not above +twenty or thirty houses." + + +THE NORTH COVE. + +The Cove on the north side of the peninsula, Charles River, commenced near +the Charlestown Ferry, curving inwardly nearly to Prince Street, Baldwin +Place, Haymarket Square, nearly on the line of Leverett Street, to +Barton's Point, where the almshouse formerly stood. "The Mill Pond," as it +was afterwards called, says Shurtleff, "was bounded by portions of Prince +and Endicott Streets on the east, and Leverett Street, Tucker's pasture, +and Bowling Green on the west; and on the south it covered the whole space +of Haymarket Square. Most of the estates on what is now Salem Street, ... +and on the west on Hawkins Street and Green Street, extended to the Mill +Pond Cove." The margin of the cove, it is said by another, "passed across +Union, Friend, and Portland Streets, to the bottom of Hawkins Street; +thence westerly, across Pitts and Gouch Streets, to Leverett Street, which +at one time was called Mill Alley. The descent of the land here was very +steep. A street was laid out on the line of Temple Street [Staniford] from +Leverett Street to Beacon Hill, where steps led to the top of the hill, a +hundred and thirty-eight feet above the sea." + + +THE MILL CREEK. + +The Creek, or the Mill Creek, as it was afterwards called, was undoubtedly +prior to the formation of the Mill Pond; and it is doubtful if it was ever +included in it, although Shaw conveys the idea that the North Cove was +simply a piece of salt marsh, and that the creek was used for the purpose +of covering it with water at flood-tide, and thus forming a mill-pond. As +early as the 5th of July, 1631, an order was passed by the Court of +Assistants, "that £30 be levied on the several plantations for clearing a +creek, and opening a passage to the new town,"--the town at this time +being the settlement around the South Cove; so that the "clearing of a +creek" was "a work of industry" on a small scale for such an enterprise. +It was made across the narrow neck of land between the two great coves, +and while it united the waters of Charles River with the harbor, divided +the peninsula into two islands or sections. The creek, whatever its +relations may have been to the Mill Pond in the later years of its +existence, was used by the boats coming from the Middlesex Canal, which +terminated at Charlestown Neck, and furnished to them a shorter way to the +harbor with their freights of wood, lumber, &c. A few extracts from the +town records will afford some further insight into the character and uses +of the creek. + +In 1648, in describing the property of Thomas Marshall, who owned some +land near the Water Mill, Mill Creek, it is stated, "with liberty of +egress and regress in said creek with boats, lighters, and other +vessels;" and it is added, "Thomas Marshall shall not build any nearer the +creek than the now dwelling-house of said Milom, and that he shall not +hinder the mills going by any vessel in the creek." + + 1656, Aug. 25.--Butchers may throw their "garbidge" into the Mill + Creek over the drawbridge, and in no other place. [The drawbridge was + in Ann Street.] + + 1659, Oct. 20.--As the people were returning from the execution of + Robinson and Stevenson [Quakers], the draw of the drawbridge fell upon + a crowd of them, mortally wounding a woman, and severely hurting + several others. + + 1691, August.--A fire broke out on Saturday evening, "consuming about + fourteen houses, besides warehouses and brue houses from the Mill + Bridgh down half way to the Draw Bridgh." + + 1698, Nov. 6.--Mr. James Russell of Charlestown and Mr. John + Ballentine of Boston, or "whoever else may be concerned, or owners of + the bridge over the Mill Creek, are ordered forthwith to repair the + pavement on each side of the bridge, and to move the gutters beside + it, that it might be passable for horse and cart, according to the + grant of the Town, or pay 20_s._ a week till it should be done." + + 1712, March 10.--Ordered to make the draw-bridge (so called) in Ann + Street a fast, firm bridge the width of the street. A committee was + appointed to inquire if any damage be sustained by anybody in making + the bridge in question a "fast bridge." + + +THE MILL POND. + +The Mill Pond was formed by the building of a causeway across the head of +the cove, as the street now runs, where there was, it would seem, a sort +of Indian causeway, or pathway, at some prior time. It is represented by +writers on the subject to have been built from Leverett Street to the +Charlestown Ferry; but as this would include the creek, built some ten or +twelve years before, this seems to be impossible; for if the creek was +connected with the pond, without a gate to shut it off, there could be no +mill-power. The creek, therefore, must have been separated from the pond +by a gate, while there was a gate from the pond into Charles River. + +However, the causeway was built, and the mill-pond and the water-power it +furnished, used for more than a hundred years without any special +publicity or inquiry concerning them. In fact, it would seem as if the +subject, and the large piece of territory involved, had been pretty much +forgotten; so that in 1765, in March, a committee was appointed to inquire +"by what terms the mill-owners held the mill-pond mills." In May +following, this committee reported, that on the 31st of July, 1643, there +was granted to Henry Simons, George Burden, John Hill, and their partners, +all the cove on the north-west side of the causeway leading towards +Charlestown, with all the salt marsh bordering thereupon, not formerly +granted, on these conditions: that within three years they erect thereon +one or more corn-mills, "and maintain the same forever; also make a gate +ten feet wide to open with the flood for the passage of boats into the +cove," &c. This gate was also to be "maintained forever." + +The Mill Pond, it is said, included about fifty acres,--nearly as large as +the north end island,--and, of course, must have furnished during the time +it was available--from an hour or two after full tide until an hour or two +before the next tide, night and day--a very large and extensive +water-power, and was, no doubt, though probably not half used, a very +valuable property. + +It is stated by Drake, as if it were a consequence of the action of the +committee, that, "four years after the above report, a committee took +possession of the premises, as having reverted to the town." These +proceedings, it will be noticed, all refer to the "mill-pond mills," but +may be presumed to include the pond and the whole grant made in 1643; so +that in 1769 the property was in the hands of the town, as appears from +these statements. + +After this time, by some means or other, the Mill Pond Company, or +Corporation, came into possession of the property, as Shaw says, "for the +consideration of five dollars;" and in 1807, the town became a partner in +the matter of tilling it up, the town to have the streets, we presume, and +one-eighth of the lots filled within twenty years. Permission was also +given to use the gravel of Beacon Hill for the purpose. The filling was +completed more than fifty years ago, and the entire space has long been +covered with buildings, and in 1832 included a theatre. The Boston and +Maine Railroad Station stands over the creek; and the large depot +buildings of the Fitchburg, Eastern, and Lowell Railroads are all on land +taken from the river outside the ancient causeway: so that no one of the +great railroad depots in the city stands upon the original land of the +town. + + +CONCLUSION. + +Thus we have seen what were the features and topographical characteristics +of the original peninsula which forms the groundwork, as it were, of the +city proper of to-day. In the steady march of progress and improvements +which have marked its growth for two hundred and fifty years, such changes +and enlargements have been made, that neither its early outlines or its +original shape are any where to be observed. The great coves on either +side of the town have disappeared; and the renowned Tri-mountain, around +which so much of history gathered, and so much of puritanism and +patriotism were enshrined, is shorn of its ancient prestige, although +still, as it were, the summit of State authority; and of "Corne Hill," +whereon the settlers of Boston, Charlestown, Roxbury, and Dorchester, in +1632, built the first fort for the defence of the settlement, not a +vestige now remains. + +Yet, broad and extensive as these improvements and enlargements of the +original peninsula have been, they are at least equalled, if not exceeded, +by what has been accomplished in other parts of the town; so that Boston +proper--at first two islands, or nearly so, and afterwards a +peninsula--has long ceased to be either the one or the other, and must now +be regarded as a portion of the mainland. And this, too, while Charles +River, by encroachments upon its bed on both sides, the numerous wharves +projecting into it, and the bridges, railroads, and other structures +resting upon its bottom, has been reduced in its proportions to one-third +of its original size, and, in fact, has almost ceased to be a river in the +proper sense of that term. So also on the south side of the town: Four +Point Channel, which reached to Dover-street bridge, is now a narrow +stream; and the South Bay, which lay between Roxbury and South Boston, has +been greatly reduced in its proportions, and is crossed by the New England +Railroad. So that it may be said, the city proper to-day stands +consolidated on one side of the ancient neck with Roxbury and Dorchester, +and on the other with Roxbury and Brookline. There still remain, however, +a section of Charles River, forming a bay of itself, between Boston, +Cambridge, and Brookline, and a considerable portion of the South Bay +between Roxbury and South Boston. Brookline--originally Muddy Brook--was +formerly considered as belonging to Boston, and its lands were apportioned +among the early settlers of the town for agricultural purposes and the +keeping of cattle. It is now nearly surrounded by the enlarged city, +Brighton and Roxbury both belonging to Boston. + +There is, however, one feature of Boston which may be said to remain +intact, and that is BOSTON COMMON. When the settlers bought the peninsula +of William Blackstone, or all his interest in it, excepting six acres, +which he reserved for his own occupation, "the town laid out a place for a +training-field, which ever since and now is used for that purpose, and for +the feeding of cattle." This was undoubtedly the origin of Boston Common; +and the date of the transaction, as appears from the town records, was on +"the 10th daye of the 9th month, 1634," which, as the year commenced with +March, would be November, 1634. It has undergone many changes, some +enlargement by filling up the marsh on the river side, and numerous +improvements in its general appearance by laying out its malls and walks, +setting out trees, excluding cattle, walling around Crescent Pond +(formerly Frog Pond), introduction of the Cochituate water and fountains, +and, last, by the erection of the Army and Navy Monument on its highest +elevation, once occupied as a fortification against its rightful owners by +Gen. Gage and Gen. Howe. + +Thus we have seen Boston as it was in 1630 and subsequent +years,--originally one of three prominent peninsulas on the coast of New +England, known by the Indians as Shawmut, Mishawam, and Mattapan, and +afterwards, by the settlers, as Boston, Charlestown, and Dorchester (now +South Boston). Each of these was connected with the mainland by a narrow +neck of its own, and now all three, with the addition of Roxbury, West +Roxbury, Brighton, and Noddle's Island (East Boston), are included in the +present metropolis, while Muddy Brook (Brookline) and Winnisimmet +(Chelsea), which were originally attached to Boston, are not included +within her present limits. The growth and expansion of the town, we judge, +are unparalleled, in some respects, by any other city in the world, with a +character of her own and a position in the history of the country of which +she may well be proud. + + + + +II. + +THE PUBLIC FERRIES. + + +THE GREAT FERRY. + +The first settlers of Charlestown and Boston of course saw an immediate +necessity for the establishment of ferries on both sides of them; so that, +after considerable numbers had arrived, this became imperative, especially +that across Charles River,--"the great ferry," as it was afterwards +called. This may be called the first public enterprise undertaken by the +colonists. There was, no doubt, from the first, means of crossing the +river furnished by individuals before any public action had taken place, +just as was done by Samuel Maverick at Noddle's Island, who was disposed +and prepared to accommodate everybody that came along. Measures were taken +for the establishment of the Charlestown Ferry soon after the arrival of +Gov. Winthrop's party at Charlestown. At a meeting of the Court of +Assistants, holden at Boston, Nov. 19, 1630,--present the governor, +deputy-governor, Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Ludlowe, Capt. Endicott, Mr. +Coddington, Mr. Pinchon, and Mr. Bradstreet,--"It is further ordered, That +whosoever shall first give in his name to Mr. Governor that he will +undertake to set up a ferry betwixt Boston and Charlestown, and shall +begin the same at such time as Mr. Governor shall appoint, shall have +1_d._ for every person and 1_d._ for every 100 weight of goods he shall +transport." + +The ferry was no doubt undertaken at this time by Edward Converse; and, +probably as it did not then pay very well, in June 14, 1631, an order was +passed, "That Edward Converse, who had undertaken to set up a ferry +between Boston and Charlestown, be allowed 2_d._ for every single person, +and 1_d._ apiece, if there be two or more." + +The lease to Mr. Converse, in 1631, was renewed Nov. 9, 1636, in form as +follows: "The Governor and treasurer, by order of the general court, did +demise to Edward Converse the ferry between Boston and Charlestown, to +have the sole transporting of passengers and cattle from one side to the +other, for three years from the first day of the next month, for the +yearly rent of forty pounds to be paid quarterly to the treasurer: +Provided, that he see it be well attended and furnished with sufficient +boats; and that so soon as may be in the next spring he set up a +convenient house on Boston side, and keep a boat there as need shall +require. And he is allowed to take his wonted fees, viz., 2_d._ for a +single person, and pence apiece, if there be more than one, as well on +lecture days as at other times; and for every horse and cow with the man +which goeth with them 6_d._, and for a goat 1_d._, and a swine 2_d._ And +if any shall desire to pass before it be light in the morning, or after it +is dark in the evening, he may take recompence answerable to the season +and his pains and hazard, so as it be not excessive." + +The ferry was a great accommodation, of course, and could not be dispensed +with. Johnson mentions it quite early in his "Wonder-Working Providence." +In speaking of Charlestown, the "neighbor of Boston, being in the same +fashion, with her bare neck," he says "there is kept a ferry-boat to +convey passengers over Charles River, which, between the two towns, is a +quarter of a mile over, being a very deep channel." But at times, no +doubt, the ferry proved troublesome and annoying. So that in the month of +October, 1632, Mr. Winthrop records that "about a fortnight before this, +those of Charlestown, who had formerly been joined to Boston congregation, +now, in regard of the difficulty of passage in the winter, and having +opportunity of a pastor, one Mr. [Edward] James, who came over at this +time, were dismissed from the congregation of Boston." This, it was said, +was after a rather boisterous summer on the bay and harbor. + + +WINNISIMMET FERRY. + +At a General Court, holden at Boston, the 18th of May, 1631, there were +present Mr. Winthrop, governor; Mr. Dudley, deputy-governor; Mr. Ludlowe, +Capt. Endicott, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Pinchon, Mr. Bradford, assistants (at +which the governor and lieutenant-governor were chosen),--"Thomas Willins +[Drake gives the name as Williams] hath undertook to sett up a ferry +between Winnisimmet and Charlestown, for which he is to have after three +pence a person and from Winnisimmet to Boston four pence a person." Mr. +Savage, in a note to Winthrop's journal, speaking of Samuel Maverick at +Noddle's Island, says, "Winisemet Ferry, both to Charlestown and Boston, +was also granted to him forever." He certainly did conduct a ferry on one +or both these routes for a time. + +Jan. 23, 1635.--"Thomas Marshall was chosen by general consent for ye +keeping of a ferry from Milne Point [Copps' Hill] vnto Charlestowne, and +to Wynnyseemitt, and to take for his ferrying vnto Charlestowne, as ye +ferryman there hath, and vnto Wynnyseemitt for a single psn six pence; and +for every one above ye number of two, two pence apiece." It is not +probable that this ferry was continued for many years. + +In December, 1637, Edward Bendall was "to keepe a sufficient ferryboate to +carry to Noddle's Island and to the shippes ryding before the Town: taking +for a single person ij_d._ and for two 3_d._" + + +GRANT TO HARVARD COLLEGE. + +In 1640, the Charlestown Ferry was granted to Harvard College, to the +support of which the town had been annually contributing, and had received +from the ferry fifty pounds for the year previous, 1639. This grant was +continued, and, for nearly one hundred and fifty years before the bridge +was built, it was a source of very handsome income to the institution. In +1644, it appears by the records of the town, William Bridge was appointed +to keep the ferry in place of Mr. Converse, and "to have a penny a person +for each that goes over, except they agree with him by the year, and two +pence a person for each that goes over unseasonably." When the bridge was +built in 1785, the gratuity to the college was continued by the terms of +the Act authorizing it; and the sum of two hundred pounds per year was +paid to it in commutation of its claim to the ferry. + +Johnson, in his "Wonder-Working Providence," describes Boston as +surrounded by the brinish floods, and as having, on the north-west and +north-east, "two constant Faires, kept for traffique thereunto." A ferry +to Cambridge is spoken of in 1652; and in the fall of that year Mr. Cotton +took cold in crossing it, and died soon after. + + +COMPLAINTS OF THE FERRYMEN. + +In 1648, "the ferrymen, Francis Hudson and James Heyden, state in a +petition to the General Court, that the ferry never was less productive: +that contrary to law disorderly passengers would press into the boats, and +on leaving refuse to pay their fare; that some pleaded they had nothing to +pay, and others that they were in the country's service. And they further +state, that the payment generally tendered was 'usually in such refuse, +unwrought, broken, unstringed and unmerchantable peag' (wampum), at six a +penny, that they lost two pence a shilling, being forced to take peag at +six a penny and pay it at seven. They petition that if the Court intend +'all soldiers with their horses and military furniture be fare-free,' that +they might be paid for it by the colony: that strangers, not able to pay, +may be ordered to give in their names: that the 'peag hereafter to us paid +may be so suitably in known parcels handsomely stringed, and their value +assigned, that it may henceforth be a general, current and more agreeable +pay.'" + +At a session of the General Court, at Boston, the 10th of the eight month, +1648, "For preventing ferry men's Damage by Persons not paying, &c., it +shall be lawful for any Ferry man to demand and Receive his due before his +Boat put off from the Shore, nor shall he be bound to pass over any that +shall not give satisfaction, & any Ferry Man may refuse any wampum not +stringed or Unmerchantable and such persons whether Horse or Foot which +are passage free by Order of the Court must show something sufficient for +their Discharge, or else pay as others do, except Magistrates and +Deputies, &c., who are generally known to be free." + +And again, Oct. 18, the Court ordered that "all 'payable peag' should be +'entire without breaches, both the white and the black, suitably strung in +eight known parcels, 1_d._, 3_d._, 12_d._, 5_s._, in white; and 2_d._, +6_d._, 2-6_d._, and 10_s._, in black.' The Court also ordered that for +transporting officers in the colony service, the ferrymen should be +allowed £4 per annum for the past, and £6 per annum for the time to come." + + +PEAG, OR INDIAN MONEY. + +"Peag," or "wampum," or "wampumpeag," simply means stringed shells of a +peculiar kind, or Indian money; and this, it seems, came early into use, +as Hubbard says, "The people of New Plymouth, in the year 1627, began +trade with the Dutch at Manhados, and there they had the first knowledge +of Wampumpeag, and their acquaintance therewith occasioned the Indians of +those parts to learn to make it." Hutchinson thinks the New England +Indians, prior to this time, had not "any instrument of commerce;" and +speaks of the Narragansetts as coining money, making pendants and +bracelets, and also tobacco pipes. There seems, however, to have been +among the Massachusetts settlers some other kinds of money in use, as, in +1635, the court ordered that brass farthings shall be discontinued, and +that musket-balls shall pass for farthings. + + +PENNY FERRY. + +Penny Ferry, across the Mystic River, where the Malden Bridge now is, was +established by the town in April, 1640, when it was voted, "That Philip +Drinker should keep a ferry at the Neck of Land, with a sufficient boat, +and to have 2_d._ a single person, and a penny a piece when there go any +more." It was not a source of any profit to the town for many years. + +In 1651, the Penny Ferry was granted for a year to Philip Knight, who +appears to have had the income of it for taking care of it, he agreeing +"to attend the ferry carefully, and not to neglect it, that there be no +just complaint." + +In 1698, Judge Sewall makes the following entry in his diary: "February +19, I go over the ice and visit Mr. Morton, who keeps his bed. 21st, I +rode over to Charlestown on the ice, then over to Stower's (Chelsea), so +to Mr. Wigglesworth. The snow was so deep that I had a hard journey--could +go but a foot pace on Mystic river, the snow was so deep. 26th, a +considerable quantity of ice went away last night, so that now there is a +glade of water along Governor's island, about as far as Bird island. 28th, +a guard is set upon Charles River to prevent persons from venturing over +on the ice for fear of drowning; and the ferrymen are put upon cutting and +clearing the ice, which they do so happily, that I think the boat passeth +once a day." + + +CHARLESTOWN FERRY. + +The use of the ferry was confined to foot-passengers entirely at first; +and afterwards, when larger boats were built, chaises were allowed, as the +common riding or travelling vehicle of the time. It would seem that double +tolls had been demanded on certain days; and in 1783, when the names of +the ferrymen were presented to the town for approval, it was agreed, on +their not taking double ferriage on those days, and their faithful promise +to the same, to approbate them. It seems almost wonderful--but it is a +fact--that this ferry was kept up as the sole means of communication, +excepting the journey around through Roxbury and Cambridge, for more than +one hundred and fifty years. It was over this ferry that the people came +to Boston to assist in the fortification upon Corne Hill (Fort Hill) in +May, 1632, and at other times for similar purposes. It was over this ferry +also, on the 18th of April, 1689, that the troops came, in the time of the +Andros Rebellion, to assist in maintaining the rights of the people at +this early period in the history of the town. There were twenty companies +in Boston, and it was said about fifteen hundred men at Charlestown that +could not get over. Andros was imprisoned, the first charter of the colony +dissolved, and Thomas Danforth came in as deputy-governor. On many other +occasions during the long period of its continuance, and in cases of fire +in Boston, the ferry had large duties to perform; and it is wonderful how +it was ever made to answer its purposes for so long a time. + +1741.--Oldmixon, in his "History of the British Empire in America" ("The +History of New England," as a part of it is called), says, "Charlestown, +the mother of Boston, is much more populous than Cambridge, and exceeds it +much in respect of trade, being situated between two rivers, Mystic River +and Charles River, and parted from Boston only by the latter, over which +there is a ferry so well tended that a bridge would not be much more +convenient, except in winter, when the ice will neither bear nor suffer a +boat to move through it. Though the river is much broader about the town, +it is not wider in the ferry passage than the Thames between London and +Southwark. The profits of this ferry belong to Harvard College in +Cambridge, and are considerable. The town is so large as to take up all +the space between the two rivers." + +In 1763, April, the running of a stage-coach was commenced between Boston +and Portsmouth, N.H., once a week,--out on Friday, and return on Tuesday. +It is said, that, "owing to the trouble of ferrying the stage and horses +over Charles River, they were kept at Charlestown, at the sign of the +Three Cranes." The practice with this, and very likely other stage-lines, +probably continued until the bridge was built. + +The memorable night, April 18, 1775, when Paul Revere crossed Charles +River, near the ferry, is of course well remembered. During the occupation +of Boston Harbor by the British navy, the boats of the ferry were drawn up +alongside the men-of-war every night at nine o'clock, and there was no +passing after that hour; but it seems that Revere kept a boat of his own +at the north end, and employed two men to row him across, "a little to the +eastward where the 'Somerset' man-of-war lay." He landed at Charlestown +below the ferry, and says, "I told them what was acting, and went to get +me a horse," and then pursued his momentous ride to Lexington. + +Imagine the continuance of this ferry, as the usual means of crossing the +river between Boston and Charlestown, for a period of more than one +hundred and fifty years! and all this time probably without the use of +sails, as the stream at this point was very narrow and the currents very +strong, and certainly without the power of steam, now so generally applied +to ferries all over the country. There was, no doubt, in the winter +season, a good deal of passing on the ice. The Winnisimmet Ferry, for many +years prior to the introduction of steam, was operated by the use of large +sail-boats for foot-passengers only. + +It is said that the Indian name of Charles River was Quimobequin, and that +on Capt. Smith's map of 1614, it is called Massachusetts; and Hutchinson +says, "Prince Charles gave the name of Charles river to what had been +before called Massachusetts river." Smith himself says he called it +Charles River; still Hutchinson may be right. + + + + +III. + +THE BOSTON CORNFIELDS. + + +It will hardly be realized at the present time that Boston, or the +peninsula which originally comprised the town, was ever occupied by +cornfields, or, as one may almost say, was a cornfield. If there were +cornfields, as we assume there were, the curious thing about them is, that +we know so little of them; for it can scarcely be said that they hold a +place in history. There are, in fact, no definite statements about them; +and a mystery seems to hang over them as to where they were, who owned +them, who cultivated them, and what was done with the harvest. Were they +private property or public property? We have not been able to find in +contemporary or subsequent history any account of the Boston cornfields +that will enable us with certainty to answer this question. The fair +inference from statements made, however, is, that they were to some extent +both public and private property. Perhaps the first allusion to them to be +found in any record is that in 1632,--and there could have been no corn +planted in Boston earlier than 1631, unless by Blackstone,--and this +allusion is in the name of "Corne Hill." In 1632, May 24, "it was agreed +to build a fort in that part of Boston called Corne Hill," meaning what +thereafter was called Fort Hill; and one historical writer, quoting the +record, says a fortification was begun on "_the_ corn hill;" and that was +probably the only Corn Hill at that time. The question naturally arises, +Why was it called Corn Hill? and the almost necessary answer to the +question is, Because it was where corn was grown. + +There can be no doubt that it became necessary, as early as possible, for +the settlers to seek means for their future subsistence. The stock and +supply of provisions brought over were, no doubt, for a time and under +certain regulations, a common stock; and possibly some of Gov. Winthrop's +party had supplies of their own in addition thereto. But, at all events, +prudence and self-preservation required immediate attention to the +cultivation of the soil and the raising of corn and other grains. + +In 1628 (1629), before the arrival of Gov. Winthrop and his company at +Charlestown, the place had been occupied by the Spragues, from Salem, +under the direction of Mr. Graves, an agent of the company; and one of the +first things they did was "to model and lay out the form of the town, with +streets about the hill," which was approved by Gov. Endicott. They next +"jointly agreed and concluded that each inhabitant have a two acre lot to +plant upon and all to fence in common." The same year Mr. Graves wrote to +England, "The increase of corne is here farre beyond expectation," showing +that it had been grown, and most probably in the common cornfield; for it +is afterwards said that Thomas Walford "lived on the south end of the +westermost hill of the East Field." Another vote was passed the next year, +1630,--probably before the arrival of Gov. Winthrop,--that each person +"dwelling within the neck, shall have two acres of land for a house plot, +and two acres for every male that is able to plant." + +In the months of June and July, 1630, Gov. Winthrop and his party arrived +at Charlestown, after a passage by some of the ships of seventeen or +eighteen weeks, many of them sick of the scurvy. "The multitude set up +cottages, booths and tents about the Town Hill;" and it is said +"provisions were exceedingly wasted, and no supplies could now be expected +by planting; besides, there was miserable damage and spoil of provisions +at sea." Many of the party died,--some two hundred before December,--and +others started out for other locations; and finally in September, 1630, by +the invitation of Mr. Blackstone, the larger part of Gov. Winthrop's party +crossed the river to Boston. This year there was a scarcity of corn, as +will be seen by the following extract from Hutchinson's history:-- + + "In August, 1724, John Quttamug, a Nipmug Indian, came to Boston, + above 112 years of age. He affirmed that in 1630, upon a message that + the English were in want of corn, soon after their arrival, he went to + Boston with his father, and carried a bushel and a half of corn all + the way on his back; that there was only one cellar began in town, and + that somewhere near the _Common_." + +Wood, in speaking of Boston in 1639, says, "This place hath very good +land, affording rich cornfields and fruitful gardens," which, no doubt, +were in existence years before he wrote his book. In 1635, it was voted, +"Each able man is allowed two acres, and each able youth one acre to +plant." Provision of some sort on the subject was no doubt made before +this time, and gradually reached the regulation here recorded. In 1633, +great scarcity of corn is mentioned by Winthrop, as he says, "By reason of +the spoil of our hogs, there being no acorns, yet the people lived well +with fish and the fruit of their gardens." + +Almost as a natural consequence of what has now been said, in March, 1636, +we find that provision was made "for having sufficient fences to the +Cornfielde before the 14th of the next second month (April); that for +every defective rod then found, five shillings penalty;" and it was +further provided, "The field toward Rocksberry to be looked into by Jacob +Elyott and Jonathan Negoose; the Fort Hill, by James Penn and Richard +Gridley; the Mylne field, by John Button and Edward Bendall, and the New +Field by John Audley and Thomas Faireweather." + +Thus it will be seen, if the rule adopted was carried out, that there were +four or more large cornfields in Boston, and that the principal work of +the people for a time was the raising of corn. At a later period parcels +of corn were occasionally presented or sent to the governor by the +Indians, who had their cornfields before the English people arrived. In +fact, it is recorded in the next month after the arrival of Winthrop, that +so much provision had been sold to the Indians for beaver, that food +became scarce; and in October, 1630, a vessel was sent to the +Narragansetts to trade, and brought home one hundred bushels of corn. In +May, 1631, corn in Boston was ten shillings a bushel, as probably much was +required for planting at this time. In August, 1633, a great scarcity of +corn was reported; and in November, the next year, a vessel arrived from +Narragansett with five hundred bushels of Indian corn. It is very clear +that corn was very early, and for some time, the great dependence of the +settlers. + +In Plymouth Colony, in 1630, the salary of the messenger of the General +Court was thirty bushels of corn. In 1685, the secretary's wages was +fifteen pounds a year, payable in corn at two shillings per bushel. In +1690, "one third the Governor's salary ordered to be paid in money, the +rest in corne." + +In 1637, April 16, "all the fences and gates to be made up. Sargeant +Hutchinson and Richard Gridley to look after the Fort Field; John Button, +James Everett and Isaac Grosse, in the Mill Field; Wm Colburn and Jacob +Elyott on the Field next Roxburie." Again, in 1640, March 30, "To look to +the fences: Richard Fairbanks and William Salter the field towards +Roxbury; Benj. Gillam and Edmd. Jacklyn, the Fort Field; Wm. Hudson and +Edward Bendall the New Field; Mr. Valentine Hill and John Button, the Mill +Field." + +Dr. Shurtleff, in his "Topographical and Historical Description of +Boston," enumerates five fields as follows, and speaks of them as +ungranted lands: "The land around Copps' Hill, was known as the Mylne +Field, or Mill Field; that around Fort Hill, the Fort Field; that at the +Neck, the Neck Field, or the Field towards Roxbury; that where Beacon Hill +Place now is, Centry Hill Field, and that west of Lynde Street, and north +of Cambridge, the New Mill Field, or the New Field." And to show that +these were not waste lands or pastures, the writer enumerates the various +pastures for cattle, besides the privileges at Muddy Brook and +Winnisimmet, as follows: "Besides the fields there were many pastures, so +called: Christopher Stanley's was at the North End, covering the region of +North Bennet Street, between Hanover and Salem Streets; Buttolph's was +south of Cambridge Street; Tucker's, in the neighborhood of Lyman Street; +Rowe's, east of Rowe Street; Wheeler's, where the southerly end of Chauncy +Street is; Atkinson's, where Atkinson Street was a few years ago, and +where Congress Street now is." And besides these he names Leverett's on +Leverett Street; Middlecott's on Bowdoin Street; another on Winter and +Tremont Streets, and, as he says, "a very large number of other great +lots." + +And strange to say, in all this history, contemporary or modern, in only a +single instance, so far as we know, are these fields or any one of them +spoken of as a "cornfielde," and that is in the order of 1636, above +quoted. There is, however, one other reference to them made, in 1657, in +the body of instructions prepared for the selectmen to guide them in the +discharge of their duties: "Relying on your wisdom and care in seeking the +good of the town, we recommend that you cause to be executed all the +orders of the town which you have on the records," &c., "as found in the +printed laws under the titles Townships, Freeman, Highways, Small Causes, +Indians, Cornfields," &c., which would assuredly show that there were +cornfields in the town, distinct from pastures or waste lands, undoubtedly +laid out and divided among the people, as already indicated, for their +special cultivation. + +If, as we believe, the "fields" enumerated were cornfields, and cultivated +in the manner suggested,--at first one field, and year by year, as +necessity should require, a new field added,--there would naturally +become, among a people situated as they were, a necessity for a granary +for the storing and preservation of their crops. Consequently, in the +enumeration of public buildings in Boston at a later period, we find +mentioned "a public granary." The burying-ground on Tremont Street, known +as the Granary Burying-Ground, was laid out on land taken from the Common +in 1660, and, of course, took its name from the granary, which was built +soon after on what was afterwards Centry Street, and now Park Street. +Shurtleff says the land was first taken for the purpose, and "then, when +the need came, a building, eighty feet by thirty feet, for a public +granary, was erected, and subsequently, in 1737, removed to the corner, +its end fronting on the principal street (Tremont). It stood until 1809, +when it gave place to Park Street Church." So that, though latterly for +some years used for another purpose, the granary stood in Boston for more +than one hundred and forty years. It is described as a long wooden +building, and was calculated to hold twelve thousand bushels of corn. + +In 1733, it would seem that corn or other grain continued to be grown in +Boston, as in October of that year it was determined to erect a granary at +the North End, "not to exceed £100" in cost. In the records of the +selectmen, it is called a meal-house, and John Jeffries, Esq., and Mr. +David Colson, two of the selectmen, were to contract for the work on a +piece of land near the North Mill, belonging to the town. + +So that at what time the cultivation of corn ceased in Boston, it is +impossible to tell; but it would seem, from the necessity for a new +granary in 1733, that it must have continued for considerably more than a +hundred years after the settlement of the town. + + + + +IV. + +PURITAN GOVERNMENT. + + +The early government of the Puritans in Boston was a sort of extemporary +government, or, as it has been described, "temporary usurpation,"--a +government of opinions and prejudices, and in small sense a government of +law. It had some of the features of a family government, without system or +order. If the inhabitant offended, or did any thing which was not thought +proper by the Church, the assistants, or anybody else, fine or punishment +was pretty sure to follow. To be sure there was the Massachusetts Colony +Charter somewhere; but it is singular that the copy of it found among +Hutchinson's papers, and since printed, is certified to be a "true copy of +such letters patents under the great seal of England," by John Winthrop, +Governor, dated "this 19th day of the month called March, 1613-1644." This +verbose and peculiar document gives authority to the company in the matter +of government in the following elaborate form:-- + + "And wee do of our further grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion + give and grant to the said Governor and Company and their successors, + that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Governour or deputy + Governor and such of the Assistants and Freemen of the said Company + for the tyme being as shall be assembled in any of their generall + courts aforesaid, or in any other courts to be specially summoned and + assembled for that purpose, or the greater part of them (whereof the + Governour or deputy Governor and sixe of the Assistants to be always + seven) from tyme to tyme to make, ordaine and establish all manner of + wholesome and reasonable orders, lawes, statutes and ordinances, + directions and instructions not contrary to the lawes of this our + realme of England, as well for the settling of the formes and + ceremonies of government and magistracie fitt and necessary for the + said plantation and the inhabitants there, and for nameing and styling + of all sorts of officers both superiour and inferiour which they shall + find needful for that government and plantation, and the + distinguishing and setting forth of the severall duties, powers and + limits of every such office and place, and the formes of such oathes + warrantable by the lawes and statutes of this our realme of England as + shall be respectively ministred unto them, for the execution of the + said several offices and places, as also for the disposing and + ordering of the elections of such of the said officers as shall be + annuall, and of such others as shall be to succeed in case of death or + removall, and ministring the said oathes to the new elected officers, + and for imposition of lawfull fynes, mulcts, imprisonment or other + lawfull correction, according to the course of other Corporations in + this our realme of England, and for the directing, ruleing and + disposeing of all other matters and things whereby our said people + inhabiting there may be so religiously, peaceably and civily governed, + as theire good life and orderly conversation may winne and incite the + natives of that country to the knowledge and obedience of the onely + true God and Saviour of mankind and the christian faith, which in our + royall intention and the adventurers free profession is the principal + end of this plantation." + +The charter goes on to give authority to commanders, captains, governors, +and all other officers for the time being, "to correct, punish, pardon, +govern and rule all such the subjects of us, our heires and successors, +as shall from tyme to tyme adventure themselves in any voyage thither or +from thence, or that shall at any tyme hereafter inhabit within the +precincts and parts of New England aforesaid, according to the orders, +lawes, ordinances, instructions and directions aforesaid, not repugnant to +the laws and statutes of our realme of England as aforesaid." And in order +to make the laws of these officers known, it is provided, as printing +would not be practicable, that they shall be "published in writing under +theire common seale." + +But it would seem, notwithstanding, that the authority exercised by the +company was at first executive rather than legislative; and Mr. Savage +remarks, that the body of the people "submitted at first to the mild and +equal temporary usurpation of the officers, chosen by themselves, which +was also justified by indisputable necessity." The first "Court of +Assistants" was held at Charlestown, Aug. 23, 1630; and the first thing +propounded was, "how the ministers shall be maintained," and it was +determined, of course, at the public charge. Gov. Winthrop, Lieut.-Gov. +Dudley, and the assistants were present; and this body carried on the +government--what there was of it--"in a simply patriarchal manner," until +"the first General Court or meeting of the whole company at Boston, 19 +October," 1631, and this was held "for the establishing of the +government." It was now determined that "the freemen should have the power +of choosing assistants, and from themselves to choose a Governor and +Lieut. Governor, who with the assistants should have the power of making +laws and choosing officers to execute the same." This is the brief history +of the origin of a local government in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, if +it may be so called. It was autocratic for the first year and afterwards, +although fully assented to by a general vote of the people. + +At first, of course, there were no laws; and punishments were adjudged and +inflicted, under the authority of the charter, not only for trivial +matters, as they would be now considered, but for very questionable, if +not ludicrous, matters,--and all this, it would seem, without respect of +persons: for, as early as Nov. 30, 1630, at a court, it was ordered that +one of the assistants be fined five pounds for whipping two persons +without the presence of another assistant, contrary to an act of court +formerly made; so that this very early exercise of authority was not under +a law made after the fact. At the same court another person was sentenced +to be whipped for shooting a fowl on the sabbath day; and this, probably, +was _ex post facto_. In 1631, a man was fined five pounds for taking upon +himself the cure of scurvy by a water of no value, and selling it at a +dear rate; to be imprisoned until he paid the fine, or whipped. In 1632, +the first thief was sentenced to lose his estate, pay double what he had +stolen, be whipped, bound out for three years, and after that be dealt +with as the court directs. Other offences, or what not, were punished by +"taking life and limb, branding with a hot iron, clipping off ears," &c. +Indians also were proceeded against, in many cases by fines, penalties, +and punishments. + +John Legge, a servant, was ordered "to be whipt this day [May 3, 1631] at +Boston, and afterwards, so soon as convenient may be, at Salem, for +striking Richard Wright." Richard Hopkins was ordered to be severely +whipped, and branded with a hot iron on one of his cheeks, for selling +guns, powder, and shot to the Indians. Joyce Bradwick was ordered to pay +Alexander Beck twenty dollars for promising marriage without her friends' +consent, and now refusing to perform the same. This was in 1632, and is +undoubtedly the first breach-of-promise case that had occurred in the +colony. + +It was ordered if any one deny the Scriptures to be the word of God, to be +fined fifty pounds, or whipped forty stripes; if they recant, to pay ten +pounds, and whipped if they pay not that. A man, who had been punished for +being drunk, was ordered to wear a red D about his neck for a year. + +The case of one Knower, at Boston, 1631, is spoken of as curious, showing +that the court, usurper and tyrant as it was, had no intention of being +slighted, underestimated, or intimidated. "Thomas Knower was set in +bilbows for threatening the Court, that if he should be punished, he would +have it tried in England, whether he was lawfully punished or not." And +for this he was punished. + +1631.--Philip Radcliffe, for censuring the churches and government, has +his ears cut off, is whipped and banished. + +1636.--If any inhabitants entertained strangers over fourteen days, +without leave "from those yt are appointed to order the Town's +businesses," they were made liable to be dealt with by the "overseers" +(before there were selectmen) as they thought advisable. + +In 1637, "a law was made that none should be received to inhabit within +the jurisdiction but such as should be allowed by some of the magistrates; +and it was fully understood that differing from the religions generally +received in the country, was as great a disqualification as any political +opinions whatever." On this subject Judge Minot says, "Whilst they +scrupulously regulated the morals of the inhabitants within the colony, +they neglected not to prevent the contagion of dissimilar habits and +heretical principles from without.... No man could be qualified either to +elect or be elected to office who was not a church member, and no church +could be formed but by a license from a magistrate." + +In 1640, in the case of Josias Plaistow for stealing four baskets of corn +from the Indians, he was ordered to return eight baskets, "to be fined £5, +and to be called Josias, and not Mr. Josias Plaistow, as he formerly used +to be." + +A carpenter was employed to make a pair of stocks; and, it being adjudged +that he charged too much for his work, he was sentenced to be put in them +for one hour. A servant, charged with slandering the Church, was whipped, +then deprived of his ears and banished. This punishment was deemed severe, +and excited some remarks upon the subject. + +A Capt. Stone was fined one hundred pounds and prohibited from coming into +Boston without the governor's leave on pain of death, for calling Justice +Ludlow a "just-ass." Another party, for being drunk, was sentenced to +carry forty turfs to the fort; while another, being in the company of +drunkards, was set in the stocks. + +But finally the Court of Assistants began to make laws, or lay down rules +of some sort. As for example: Every one shall pay a penny sterling for +every time of taking tobacco in any place. In Plymouth Colony the law was +less stringent: there a man was fined five shillings for taking tobacco +while on a jury, before a verdict had been rendered. Absence from church +subjected the delinquent to a fine of ten shillings or imprisonment. Any +one entering into a private conference at a public meeting shall forfeit +twelve pence for public uses. 1642, Mr. Robert Saltonstall is fined five +shillings for presenting his petition on so small and bad a piece of +paper; and this, it seems, was after it had been determined "that a body +of laws should be framed which would be approved of by the General Court +and some of the ministers as a fundamental code." Notwithstanding this, in +all cases, like the above, where there was no law, one was made, or +inferred, to meet the case; so that, after the establishment of a +"fundamental code," there was about as much _ex post facto_ law as before. +Among the laws or orders of the "fundamental code" was one, "that no +person, Householder or others, shall spend his time unprofitably under +paine of such punishment as the court shall think meet to inflict;" and +"the constables were ordered to take knowledge of offenders of this kind," +and, among others, especially tobacco-takers. Another was, "that no person +either man or woman shall make or buy any slashed clothes, other than one +slash in each sleeve and another in the back; also all cuttworks, +imbroidered or needle workt caps, bands, vayles, are forbidden hereafter +to be made or worn under said penalty--also all gold or silver girdles, +hatbands, belts, ruffs, beaver hats, are prohibited to be bought or worn +hereafter, under the aforesaid penalty," &c. The penalty is such +punishment as the Court may think meet to inflict. + +In addition to these, the code went still further in regulating the dress +of women: "4th of 7th month [September, as the year began with March, +until 1752], 1639, Boston. No garments shall be made with short sleeves, +whereby the nakedness of the arm may be discovered in the wearing +thereof;" and, where garments were already made with short sleeves, the +arms to be covered with linen or otherwise. No person was allowed to make +a garment for women with sleeves more than half an ell wide, and "so +proportionate for bigger or smaller persons." + +In the matter of currency, it was ordered, in 1634, "that musket balls of +a full boar shall pass currently for farthings apiece, provided that no +man be compelled to take above 12 pence at a time in them." + +It would seem that some of these decisions, or the general character of +the government, had caused some remark, as it was "ordered that Henry Lyn +shall be whipt and banished the Plantation before the 6th day of October +next, for writing into England falsely and maliciously against the +government and execution of Justice here." "Execution of justice" is good, +we should say. + +Ward, in his "Trip to New England," a very coarse and abusive paper, +published in London, in 1706, in a book called "London Spy," says, in +Boston "if you kiss a woman in publick, tho' offered as a Courteous +Salutation, if any information is given to the Select Members, both shall +be whipt or fined." He relates, that "a captain of a certain ship, who had +been a long voyage, happen'd to meet his wife, and kist her in the street, +for which he was fined Ten Shillings, and forc'd to pay the Money. Another +inhabitant of the town was fin'd Ten Shillings for kissing his own wife in +his Garden, and obstinately refusing to pay the Money, endur'd Twenty +Lashes at the Gun, who, in Revenge for his Punishment, swore he would +never kiss her again either in Publick or Private." + +John Dunton, in his famous work, "Dunton's Life and Errors," speaks of the +government, when he was in Boston, in 1686. He says, "Let it be enough to +say, The laws in force here, against immorality and prophaneness, are very +severe. Witchcraft is punish'd with death, as 'tis well known; and theft +with restoring fourfold, if the Criminal be sufficient.--An English woman, +admitting some unlawful freedoms from an Indian, was forc'd twelve months +to wear upon her Right arm an Indian cut in red cloath." + +The "Body of Liberties," as it was strangely called, contained an hundred +laws, which had been drawn up pursuant to an order of the General Court, +by Nathaniel Ward, pastor of the church at Ipswich, who had been formerly +a practitioner of law in England; and this book was printed by Daye, the +first printer, at Cambridge in 1641. (Thomas, p. 47.) + +There was also published in 1649 a "Book of General Laws and Liberties, +concerning the Inhabitants of Massachusetts." By these, gaming by +shuffle-board and bowling at houses of entertainment, where there was +"much waste of wine and beer," were prohibited under pain for every keeper +of such house twenty shillings, and every person playing at said games, +five shillings. For "damnable heresies," as they were called, banishment +was the appropriate punishment. + +Oldmixon mentions a singular law. He says, "The goodness of the pavement +may compare with most in London: to gallop a horse on it is 3 shillings +and four pence forfeit." This was more than a hundred years after the +settlement of the town, and less than forty years before the commencement +of the revolutionary war. + +A letter from London, from Edward Howes to his relative, J. Winthrop, +jun., dated April 3, 1632, says, "I have heard divers complaints against +the severity of your government, especially Mr. Endicott's, and that he +shall be sent for over, about cutting off the lunatick man's ears and +other grievances" (Savage's Winthrop, p. 56, vol. 1). + +In respect to the levying of fines, Gov. Winthrop, who was accused of not +demanding their payment in some cases, remarked, "that in his judgment, it +were not fit in the infancy of a Commonwealth to be too strict in levying +fines, though severe in other punishments." + +It has been well said that "religion and laws were closely intertwined in +the Puritan community; the government felt itself bound to expatriate +every disorderly person, as much as the church was bound to excommunicate +him. They were like a household. They had purchased their territory for a +home; it was no _El Dorado_; it was their Mount of Sion. With immense toil +and unspeakable denials, they had rescued it from the wild woods for the +simple purpose that they might have a place for themselves and their +children to worship God undisturbed. They knew nothing of toleration. +Their right to shut the door against intruders seemed to them as undoubted +and absolute as their right to breathe the air around them."[2] + +This is the sum and substance of the Puritan government as long as it +lasted. Under the charter, or without the charter, they made such laws as +they pleased, before or after the occasion. They punished every thing +which they thought to be wrong, or which did not conform to their notions +of propriety or their practice, and this, too, without consistency or +discrimination. + +In 1639, Winthrop says, "The people had long desired a body of laws, and +thought their condition very unsafe, while so much power rested in the +discretion of the magistrates. Divers attempts had been made at former +courts, and the matter referred to some of the magistrates and some of the +elders, [the church and state, in such cases, were invariably united,] but +still it came to no effect, for being committed to the care of so many, +whatsoever was done by some, was still disliked or neglected by others." +So that it is doubtful if they ever really had a set of laws that were +relied upon; that limited the discretion of the magistrates, or was ever +reasonably and impartially enforced. If the law failed to be adequate, it +seemed to be proper for the magistrate to make it so; and he not only +supplied the deficiency, but occasionally coined or misconstrued a law for +his purpose. Such a government might well be considered "unsafe." + + + + +V. + +THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS. + + +VISIT TO BOSTON. + +The Narragansett Indians were one of the largest, if not the very largest, +tribe in New England, at the time of the arrival of the Puritans; and they +were especially friendly to the settlers. They lived along the coast, from +Stonington to Point Judith, on Narragansett Bay. "They consisted," says +Hutchinson, "of several lesser principalities, but all united under one +general ruler, called the Chief Sachem, to whom all others owed some kind +of fealty or subjection." The Nianticks were considered as a branch of the +Narragansetts, having very likely been conquered by them, and brought +under their subjection. + +A letter of Roger Williams, who was intimate with, and a strong friend of, +the Narragansett Indians, says they were "the settlers' fast friends, had +been true in all the Pequot wars, were the means of the coming in of the +Mohegans, never had shed English blood, and many settlers had had +experience of the love and desire of peace which prevailed among them." + +In October, 1636, after the murder of Mr. Oldham, Gov. Vane invited their +sachem, Miantonomo, to visit Boston, which he soon after did, bringing +with him another sachem, two sons of Canonicus, and about twenty men. The +governor sent twenty musketeers to Roxbury to meet them and escort them +into town. The sachems and their council dined together in the same room +with the governor and his ministers. After dinner a friendly treaty was +made with Miantonomo, and signed by the parties; and, although at this +time the English thought the Indians did not understand it, they kept it +faithfully; but the English, who were afterwards instrumental in the death +of Miantonomo, did not. The Indians were subsequently escorted out of +town, "and dismissed with a volley of shot;" and the famous Roger Williams +was appointed to explain the treaty to the Indians. + +In this treaty, Canonicus, who was the chief sachem of the tribe, and is +said to have been "a just man, and a friend of the English," was +represented by Miantonomo, his nephew, whom Canonicus, on account of his +age, had caused to assume the government. The deputation that Gov. Vane +sent to the Narragansetts in the matter of the murder of Mr. Oldham, speak +of Canonicus "as a sachem of much state, great command over his men, and +much wisdom in his answers and the carriage of the whole treaty; clearing +himself and his neighbors of the murder, and offering assistance for +revenge of it." Johnson represents Miantonomo "as a sterne, severe man, of +great stature and a cruel nature, causing all his nobility and such as +were his attendants to tremble at his speech." + + +INDIAN ART.--CURIOUS MARRIAGE. + +The Narragansetts not only coined money (wampumpeag), but manufactured +pendants and bracelets,--using shells, we presume, for these purposes. +They also made tobacco-pipes, some blue and some white, out of stone, and +furnished earthen vessels and pots for cookery and other domestic +uses,--so that they had several approximations, in these respects, to +civilization and art, not so distinctly manifested by other tribes. They +had, in fact, commercial relations with other people and distant nations, +and, it seems, were sometimes sneered at on account of their +disinclination for war,--preferring other service. + +There is evidence, also, that they considered themselves--in some +respects, at least--superior to other Indians; and this is illustrated by +a very curious piece of history, said to be "the only tradition of any +sort from the ancestors of our first Indians." It seems that the oldest +Indians among the Narragansetts reported to the English, on their first +arrival, "that they had in former times a sachem called Tashtassuck, who +was incomparably greater than any in the whole land in power and state." +This great sachem--who, it would seem, had the power to elevate, and, in +some respects, enlighten his race--had only two children, a son and +daughter; and, not being able to match them according to their dignity, he +joined them together in matrimony, and they had four sons, of whom +Canonicus, who was chief sachem when the English arrived, was the eldest. +There is no reason to doubt that the marriage was a happy one, agreeable +to the parties, satisfactory to the parent, and certainly famous in its +progeny. + + +INTERMARRIAGE AMONG THE EGYPTIANS. + +This probably is the only record of such a marriage in this country. The +form of family marriage, however, it is a matter of history, was common +among the Egyptians, and probably has been practised more or less among +all the savage nations of the earth. Cleopatra, the daughter of Ptolemy +Auletes, on the death of her father, was married, according to his will, +to Ptolemy XII., his eldest son, and ascended the throne; both being +minors, Pompey was appointed their guardian. In the wars which followed, +her husband was drowned, and she then married her second brother, Ptolemy +(Necteros), a child seven years old. Afterwards she became the mistress of +Cæsar, and subsequently poisoned her boy-husband, when at the age of +fourteen, because he claimed his share of the Egyptian crown. So that, in +fact, she made war against her first husband, and poisoned her second,--a +result very different from that recorded of the Narragansett +intermarriage. + + +MURDER OF MIANTONOMO. + +In a subsequent Indian war, 1643,--brought about, it is said, by +Connecticut, between the Narragansetts and the Mohegans,--Miantonomo, by +some strange accident, fell into the hands of Uncas, who, for fear of +retaliation, instead of taking his life, sent him to Hartford. The +Connecticut people, in their turn, sent him to Boston, to be judged by the +Commissioners of the United Colonies; and these commissioners, "although +they had no jurisdiction in the case, nor any just ground of complaint +against the sachem," came to the conclusion "that Uncas would not be safe +if he were suffered to live." Drake says, "Strange as it may seem, it was +with the advice of the Elders of the Churches" (Winthrop says five of the +most judicious elders) that it was determined Uncas might put Miantonomo +to death,--a piece of barbarism and injustice hardly matched by any +conduct of the Indians. He was taken back to Uncas "with a guard of +English soldiers," and Uncas readily undertook the execution of his +victim. When he arrived at a place appointed, a brother of Uncas "clave +his head with a hatchet." "Thus inhumanly and unjustly perished the +greatest Indian chief of whom any account is found in New England's +annals." Canonicus, it is said, was greatly affected by the death of his +nephew, in whom he always had the utmost confidence, and regarded him with +the fondness of a father. Canonicus died in 1647. After the death of +Miantonomo, the Narragansetts were never on very good terms with the +English, who had suspected them once or twice unjustly. Hutchinson says, +"The Narragansetts are said to have kept to the treaty until the Pequods +were destroyed, and then they grew insolent and treacherous." It certainly +appears that they were not well used by the English settlers, and it is +not surprising that they should grow "insolent and treacherous;" for the +treachery appears to have been first against them. + + + + +VI. + +NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC. + + +As a matter of course, some of the early names of places in and around +Massachusetts Bay were Indian names or corruptions, until others were +applied, as Shawmut, Mishawam, Mattapan, Winnisimmet, and others. The name +of Plymouth, of course, the Pilgrims brought with them, as the Puritans +did the name of Salem and of Boston. But just how the name of +Massachusetts originated is not so well known. It was no doubt of Indian +origin; and if derived from the "greatest king of the Indians," Massasoit, +or, as Hutchinson says, Massasoiet,[3] it is well that it has been so +preserved and perpetuated. Among the earliest English names, besides these +mentioned, were the names applied to the islands, as Noddle's Island, +which possibly was given to it by Maverick, and Bird Island, in 1630; +Lovell's Island, in 1635, and several others. The names of Blackstone, +Maverick, and Walford,[4] the original settlers of Boston, Noddle's +Island, and Charlestown, have all been preserved in the names of streets, +banks, &c., although two of them (Blackstone and Walford) were driven +away, and the third, though living almost alone on Noddle's Island, being +an Episcopalian, was rather severely treated in the general persecutions +of the time. Of the Indian names, only a few of them have been preserved, +and are in common use, and among them Shawmut, Mishawam, Winnisimmet, and +possibly one or two others. In the list of nearly two thousand names of +streets, places, &c., only three Indian names are to be found, namely, +Shawmut, Oneida, and Ontario. + +But perhaps the most curious peculiarity prevailed with regard to the +naming of streets, places, taverns, trades, &c., in Boston, before King +Street and Queen Street had been named, and after they had passed away. +King Street gave way to State Street; Queen Street, which at an earlier +date had been called Prison Lane, gave way to Court Street: still some of +the old English names remain. Marlborough, Newbury, and Orange, all +English names, gave way to that of Washington, and this street has now +been extended, under its latest name, from Haymarket Square (Mill Creek) +to Brookline (Muddy Brook). Formerly it extended from the Gate at the Neck +to Dock Square, and bore the name of Orange Street from the Gate to +Eliot's Corner (Essex Street); Newbury Street from Eliot's Corner to +Bethune's Corner (West Street); Marlborough Street from thence to Haugh's +Corner (School Street); and Cornhill from thence to Dock Square. + + +LANES AND ALLEYS. + +The first mention of any alley is that of Paddy Alley[5] (after a +resident), running from Ann to Middle Street, 1658, but whether so named +before or after the streets which it connects is not known. Rawson's Lane, +afterwards Bromfield's Lane, and now Bromfield Street, 1693; Black Horse +Lane, part of what is now known as Prince Street, 1698; Beer Lane, part of +Richmond Street; Blind Lane, part of Bedford Street; Elbow Alley, which +was in the form of a crescent, from Ann to Cross Street; Pudding Lane, +part of Devonshire Street--all mentioned in 1708, when a list of the names +of the streets, lanes, &c., was prepared and published by the Selectmen. +Among these were Frog Lane, Hog Alley, Sheafe Lane, Blind Lane, Cow Lane, +Flounder Lane, Crab Lane, &c. Probably all these lanes and alleys were +laid out or established, at a much earlier date than that mentioned. Sheep +Lane was first called Hog Lane, in 1789; Turn-again Alley, at an early +date, was near Hamilton Place. + +The first lanes and possibly alleys, it has been said, were probably +cow-paths or foot-paths, but at the end of seventy-eight years, in 1708, +they had undoubtedly all received names, peculiar as some of them were. +Most of these lanes--not all of them--were named after residents or owners +in the neighborhood. The alleys were each named after some citizen, +excepting where there might be some local name or peculiarity, as Board +Alley, Brick Alley, Crooked Alley; and so of some of the lanes and +streets, as Bog Lane, Marsh Lane, Well Street, Bath Street, Grape Place, +Granite Place, and some others. + + +NAMES OF CORNERS. + +One of the most curious collections of names in the list of 1879, is that +of "Corners," not now recognized, and, we think, never before recorded, +though occasionally used in defining the limits of streets. Over one +hundred corners are named in this list, of which about eighty of them bear +date of 1708 and 1732. All these are named after persons occupying the +corners, and among them are the following: Antram's Corner, Ballantine's, +Barrill's, Bill's, Bows', and Bull's Corners; Dafforne's, Frary's, and +Frizzel's Corners; Gee's, Meer's, Melynes', Powning's, Ruck's, and +Winsley's Corners, and there were five Clark's Corners in different parts +of the town, in 1708-32. At the present time, as in the early time, the +corners of streets may be spoken of and referred to, but are not +recognized as local names of record. + + +NAMES OF STREETS, ETC. + +Names, of course, of some kind or other, local, personal, or traditionary, +must have been very early used in the settlement, to designate places, +paths, and business, as well as persons and things, and most of these have +been preserved and remembered. In Drake's collection of local names there +are nearly one thousand, including the names of islands, wharves, streets, +taverns, &c., and of these only about twenty are mentioned by date prior +to 1700, though many of them must have been in use long before that time. +In the collection of names made by the city government in 1879, there are +about eighteen hundred, not including islands, wharves, or taverns. The +earliest dates attached to any of the names is that of the Anchor Tavern, +1661, and of the Alms House on Sentry or Park Street, 1662. + +In the naming of streets, as in the laying of them out, there appears to +have been neither rule, system, or order; but in both matters the action +depended upon local circumstances, or some public or personal influence. +It is believed that the first movement in laying out the road over the +Neck to Roxbury, what is now a portion of Washington Street, was in June, +1636, as follows:-- + + "It is agreed that there shall be a sufficient foot-way from William + Coleburne's field-end unto Samuel Wylebore's field-end next Roxbury, + by the surveyors of highways before the last of the next 5th month" + (July, 1636). + +From this it appears that there were at this early period surveyors of +highways, and that highways, to some extent, were foot-ways. The foot-way +in this case, to be laid out in one month, extended as supposed, from the +corner of Boylston Street to the northerly line of Castle Street, that +being the northerly end of Boston Neck; and the road or way laid out after +this time to Roxbury, was on the easterly side of the present Washington +Street, all the way near or on the sea-beach, and probably started from +near Beach Street. + +The next order that we have in relation to the streets, is under date of +1636, 4th, 8 mo., which would be Oct. 4, 1636, and is as follows:-- + + "At a meeting of the overseers," it was ordered, that "from this day + there shall be no house at all be built neare unto any streetes or + laynes therein, but with the consent of the overseers, for the + avoyding disorderly building to the inconvenience of streetes and + laynes and for the more comely and commodious ordering of them, upon + the forfeiture of such sume as the overseers shall see fitting." + +Soon after this, liberty was granted to Deacon Eliot "to set out his barn +six or eight feet into the street, at the direction of Colonel Colbron." + +On the 17th of the same month, October, 1636, a street and lane were laid +out, but names were not given to them in the record. + +In May, 1708, "at a meeting of the selectmen," a broad highway was laid +out from the old fortifications at the Neck, near the present Dover +Street, to Deacon Eliot's house (near Eliot Street), and called Orange +Street, and money was appropriated for paving it, "provided the abuttors +would pave each side of the street." A hundred years after this time, the +road over Boston Neck to Roxbury, from Waltham Street to Roxbury line, +was very wide, and paved only in the middle portion, so that the travel +for years was chiefly on the sides of the street. + +In naming the streets, as we have said, there were local, personal, and +national considerations. As an illustration of the latter influence, King +and Queen Streets, two of the most important streets of the town, are well +remembered. Possibly before these the Puritan names of Endicott, Winthrop, +Eliot, Leverett, and others, may have been used. The names of +revolutionary patriots were subsequently applied to streets, as Hancock, +Adams, Warren, Franklin; and these were followed by national names, as +Union, Congress, and Federal. There was also a class of local names, as +North, South, Middle, Canal, School, Exchange, Water, Tremont, Beacon, +Margin, Back, Bridge, Pond, High, and Broad, applied at different times. +Then there were Orange, Elm, Chestnut, Walnut, Pine, Cherry, &c., +followed, it may be, by Sun and Moon, Summer, Winter, and Spring. Latterly +the names of towns in the State have been applied to the streets of the +city; among the earliest of these are Salem, Lynn, Cambridge, Brighton; +and after these, Arlington, Berkley, Clarendon, Dartmouth, and many +others. + + +LISTS OF STREETS, COURTS, ETC. + +In 1708, a list of the names of streets, places, lanes, alleys, &c., in +Boston proper, was prepared by the Selectmen; and in this list there were +at that time forty-four (44) streets recorded; eighteen (18) alleys; +thirty-three (33) lanes; three squares, Church Square, Dock Square, and +Clark Square; two ways, Old Way and Ferry Way; two hills, Snow Hill and +Corn Hill; five courts, Half Square Court, Corn Court, Minot's Court, Sun +Court, and Garden Court; one row, Merchants' Row; and two markets, Corn +Market and Fish Market, making one hundred and ten (110) named places in +the town, in May, 1708. + +In 1732, there was published in "Vade Mecum," a list of streets at that +time, and in this list are fourteen not in that of 1708, making the number +of streets sixty, lanes forty-one, alleys eighteen, making in all one +hundred and nineteen (119), exclusive of squares, courts, &c. + +In 1817, including lanes, alleys, squares, and streets, there were 231 in +Boston proper, and among them were Berry and Blossom, Chestnut and Walnut, +Poplar and Elm, Myrtle and Vine, and others. There were at this time, +thirty-four wharves. There are now probably five times as many streets in +Boston proper as there were in 1732, a hundred years after the settlement +of the town, without reckoning courts or squares. + +In 1817, Shaw enumerates 229 streets, lanes, &c., and after this time much +attention was given to the subject of new streets, naming old ones not +before accepted, &c., and some of the names were changed. + +In 1879, a complete list of the names of streets, avenues, places, courts, +squares, corners, &c., that have ever been in use, or applied, was +prepared by order of the city government, and has been printed. This +list, of course, shows a surprising increase in the number of names over +any former record, many of which, we presume, have never before been +recorded, although they may have been to some extent in use. In this list +nearly two thousand names (1795) are printed: of these 554 are streets, of +which some are duplicates. Many of them are second or third names, all of +which are recorded, so that the list does not represent the number of +streets at present in the city proper, but simply the names that have +heretofore been used, or are now applied to them. + + +NAMES OF TAVERNS. + +Taverns were early mentioned by names, more or less personal and peculiar: +one of the first mentioned is the State Arms, where the magistrates +usually dieted and drank, in King Street, 1653; Ship Tavern, in Ann +Street, 1666; Bunch of Grapes, in King Street, 1724; King's Head Tavern, +near Fleet Street, 1755; Queen's Head, in Lynn Street, 1732; Ship in +Distress, an ancient tavern, opposite Moon Street; and if the +"ordinaries," spoken of by Cotton Mather, were taverns, they were very +numerous and were known as ale-houses, or, as Mather says, "hell-houses." + + +BUSINESS NAMES. + +There were numerous curious names in use among the tradespeople, as the +Six Sugar-Loaves, probably a grocer, in Union Street, 1733; Three +Sugar-Loaves and Canister, grocer, in King Street, 1733; two bearing the +sign of Two Sugar-Loaves, one in Cornhill and the other in King Street, +1760,--all of these indicating some active competition in the sugar trade. +Noah's Ark was the sign of a dry-goods store in Marlborough Street, 1769. +There were signs of the Three Crowns, Three Doves, Three Horseshoes, Three +Kings, and Three Nuns and a Comb. Another class embraced the Bible and +Heart, afterwards Heart and Crown, corner of Cornhill and Water Streets, +1748; Blue Dog and Rainbow, sign of a dyer near Bowling Green, now +Cambridge Street, 1729; Blue Glove, a bookstore on Union Street, 1762; +Brazen Head, Cornhill, opposite Williams Court, where the great fire of +1760 commenced, in a dwelling-house occupied by Mrs. Mary Jackson and son, +probably a boarding-house; Buck and Breeches in Ann Street, 1758, near the +Draw Bridge, Joseph Belknap's sign; Golden Cock, in Ann Street, 1733; +Golden Eagle, Dock Square, 1758; and one of the last things named was the +Whipping Post, in King Street, removed in 1750, only twenty years before +the Boston Massacre. + + +NAMES OF PERSONS. + +In regard to the names of persons, as well as places and things, it is +said that there was "a prejudice in favor of the Israelitish custom, and a +fondness arose, or at least was increased, for significant names for +children." "The three first that were baptized in Boston church were Joy, +Recompence and Pity. The humor spread. The town of Dorchester, in +particular, was remarkable for such names as Faith, Hope, Charity, +Deliverance, Dependance, Preserved, Content, Prudent, Patience, Thankful, +Hate-evil, Holdfast," &c. These are pretty much out of fashion: possibly +the name of "Prudence" may yet be found. It is somewhat strange that this +"prejudice" did not get a more public expression: perhaps Salutation Alley +may be a relic of it. + + * * * * * + +The Hangman's Gallows, strange to say, was a permanent structure on the +Neck, on the east side and somewhat in the rear of the burying-ground: the +pirates were hung there as late as 1815. The following peculiar historical +names, although well known, may be mentioned: Liberty Pole was in Liberty +Square, at the point of meeting of Water and Kilby Streets. It was not +restored after the Revolutionary War. Liberty Tree, corner of Newbury (now +Washington) and Essex Streets, nearly opposite Boylston Market. It was cut +down by the British in August, 1775. Green Dragon was the sign of a noted +tavern in Union Street, licensed in 1697, and disappeared 1854. The +building which now occupies the spot in Union Street, displays the Green +Dragon on its front. The "Orange Tree" spoken of in the history of Boston, +was on Hanover Street. A private school is spoken of as being in Hanover +Street, "three doors below the Orange Tree," and an earlier writer speaks +of it as on Queen (Court) Street. It was a tavern on or near the corner of +these streets, probably on the site afterwards occupied by Concert Hall. + +Boston, at the present time, includes South Boston (formerly Dorchester), +East Boston (formerly Noddle's Island), Dorchester, Roxbury, West Roxbury, +and Charlestown, and within this territory there are now over 2,650 +streets, squares, avenues, places, courts, &c., and 225 wharves, +twenty-nine of which are in Charlestown District. Public halls in Boston, +119, and the number of these is increasing. In 1735, there were twelve +wards in the town; revised in 1805, and now, including the annexations +above named, there are twenty-five wards. + + + + +VII. + +PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS. + + +Notwithstanding the strange judgments, fines, and punishments, made under +the civil law or without law in the colony of Massachusetts, there seems +to have been another sort of government, or perhaps one of the same kind, +in relation to spiritual or religious things, the administration of which +shows such a spirit and system of persecution, and such a degree of +fanaticism, as can hardly be paralleled in history. And it would seem also +that the two kinds of government, both in the hands of the same parties, +might occasionally be found in conflict. In 1655, Hutchinson says, +"However inconsistent it may seem with the professed ecclesiastical +constitution and the freedom of every church, the general court, in +several instances, interposed its authority. They laid a large fine upon +the church at Malden for choosing a minister without the consent and +approbation of the neighboring churches and allowance of the magistrates, +and there were other similar interferences, which, we suppose, were +acceded to, and that the church was, in fact, under the control of the +state." And the state, it may be added, was to some extent, subordinate to +the church. + +The Episcopalians, Anabaptists, Baptists, and Quakers, were all treated, +or maltreated, with the same spirit, though not proceeded against with the +same degree of persistency and malice. The Episcopalians were mulcted in +heavy fines "for contemptuous and seditious language," but finally +overcame all difficulties, and became permanently established in 1686, and +built a church in 1688. The Baptists were persecuted in a similar way, but +finally got a meeting-house built in 1679, before the Episcopalians. The +Quakers were persecuted from the first landing of some of their number in +1656 to 1667, and even later; and four of them were hanged on Boston +Common. + +In July, 1656, two Quakers, both women, arrived at the settlement from +Barbadoes, and soon after eight more came from England. In a few days they +were ordered before the Court of Assistants. Some books were found about +them or in their possession, amounting to a hundred volumes; and these +were burned in the market-place, and their owners sent to prison. They +were condemned as Quakers, kept in confinement several weeks, and then +sent away; and yet it is said there was no law at this time against +Quakers. After this, stringent laws were made to keep them out of the +colony. Masters of vessels were subjected to one hundred pounds fine if +they brought a Quaker into the colony, and required to give security to +take him away; and, if a Quaker came into the jurisdiction, he was sent to +the house of correction, and whipped twenty stripes. And the next year, +further laws were made against the Quakers, and against all who +befriended or entertained them: who were to be fined forty shillings an +hour; and, "if he persisted, the offender was to have one of his ears cut +off," and, if repeated, he was to lose his other ear. If this did not +answer, whipping and boring the tongue with a hot iron, were to be the +consequences. + +Notwithstanding these severe proceedings against the Quakers, others came +into the colony, and some who had been banished returned to suffer more +severe punishments. One Myra Clark, wife of a merchant tailor of London, +came to Boston in 1657, to comply with what she conceived to be a +spiritual command, and was whipped in a cruel manner. About the same time, +two men, Christopher Holder and John Copeland, were seized in Salem, and, +after being roughly handled, were "had to Boston." Holder, it is said, +when he attempted to speak, had his head hauled back by the hair, and his +mouth stuffed with handkerchief and gloves. At Boston they were whipped +with a knotted whip, with all the strength of the hangman. A man named +Shattock was imprisoned and whipped for interfering when Holder was +gagged, and was afterwards banished. + +In the next year, (September, 1658), Holder, Copeland, and another young +man named Rouse, had their right ears cut off in the prison. A number of +women were whipped and imprisoned; and one, Katharine Scott of Providence, +being in Boston, pronounced the above punishment in prison, "a work of +darkness," and was therefore shamefully treated and abused, although a +mother of children, and "a grave, sober, ancient woman." She was publicly +whipped, and threatened with hanging if found in Boston again. + +Three persons known as Quakers, on their way from Salem to Rhode Island, +to provide a place for themselves and families, were arrested by the +constable at Dedham, and sent to Boston, where Gov. Endicott set them at +liberty, but fined them twelve shillings, as it would seem for the +stupidity of the constable. The constable, no doubt, arrested them for +fear of being fined for neglect of duty. + +In 1658-59, persecutions continued fearfully, and numbers were arrested, +imprisoned, and punished. In the latter year, William Robinson, formerly a +London merchant, Marmaduke Stevenson, and Myra (or Mary) Dyar, having +returned after banishment, were sentenced to be hung; and the two men were +hung, Oct. 20. Myra Dyar was upon the ladder, her arms and legs tied, and +the rope about her neck, when, at the urgent solicitation of her son, she +was spared and sent out of the colony; but she returned again the next +year, impressed with the belief that her death was necessary to the cause +she had espoused,--as fanatical as were the Puritans themselves,--and was +hung in June. The bodies of the men, it is said, were shamefully stripped +and abused, after they were literally cut down, and were thrown into a +hole together. + +In July, 1660, Margaret Brewster, from Barbadoes, and two or three other +women, made an incursion into the Old South Church; she appeared "in +sackcloth, with ashes on her head, barefoot and her face blackened," with +some purpose of warning the people against the black pox, "if they put in +practice a cruel law against swearing." + +It is said also "that Deborah Wilson went through the streets of Salem +naked as she came into the world, for which she was well whipped." Thomas +Newhouse went into a meeting-house in Boston, and smashed two empty +bottles together, with a threat to the people; and, no doubt, other +provoking things were done. + +In March, 1661, persecutions still prevailing, William Leddra, who came +from Barbadoes, was arrested, together with one William Brend; and Drake +says, "The cruelties perpetrated on these poor, misguided men are +altogether of a character too horrid to be related." It is said that +Leddra would not accept life on any terms, and was therefore hung on the +14th of March; and Capt. Johnson, who led him forth to the gallows, was +afterwards taken "with a distemper which deprived him of his reason and +understanding as a man." + +These proceedings, outrageous as they certainly were, led to a movement in +England by the Quakers and their friends, which resulted in an order from +the King, Sept. 9, 1661, requiring that a stop should be put to all +capital or corporal punishments. The following are the words of this +remarkable document:-- + + "CHARLES R. + + "Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. Having been informed that + several of our subjects amongst you, called Quakers, have been and are + imprisoned by you, whereof some have been executed, and others (as + hath been represented unto us) are in danger to undergo the like: We + have thought fit to signify our pleasure in that behalf for the + future, and do hereby require, that if there be any of those people + now amongst you, now already condemned to suffer death or other + corporal punishment, or that are imprisoned, and obnoxious to the like + condemnation, you are to forbear to proceed any further therein, but + that you forthwith send the said persons, whether condemned or + imprisoned, over into this Our Kingdom of England, together with the + respective crimes or offenses laid to their charge, to the end such + course may be taken with them here as shall be agreeable to our laws + and their demerits; and for so doing these our letters shall be your + sufficient warrant and discharge. + + "Given at Our Court at Whitehall the ninth day of Sept., 1661, in the + thirteenth year of Our Reign. + + "To Our trusty and well-beloved John Endicott, Esquire, &c. + + "By his Majesty's Command, + "WILLIAM MORRIS." + +The bearer of this mandate from the King was one of the banished Quakers, +formerly of Salem; and when he appeared at Gov. Endicott's house, on +Pemberton Square, was admitted to the presence, and ordered to take his +hat off; and on receiving the mandamus the Governor took his own hat off +(which he probably put on to receive his callers). After reading the +document, he went out and bade the two Friends to follow him, and +proceeded to consult, as it appeared, with Lieut.-Gov. Willoughby (not +Bellingham, as some writers have it). His answer was, "We shall obey his +majesty's command." So far as hanging was forbidden, the command was +obeyed. The formality of sending Commissioners to England to defend and +justify the measures of the colony was adopted, but never amounted to any +thing. + +The laws against the Quakers were afterwards revived to the extent of +whipping, limited to "through three towns only;" and perhaps they did not +choose to regard this display as "capital or corporal punishment." + +In May, 1664, Edward Wharton, of Salem, being in Boston, a Quaker meeting +was held, when a warrant was issued for his arrest: but the meeting being +over, he was found at a friend's house; was arrested; the next day +whipped, and sent to the constable at Lynn, to be whipped there, and then +sent to Salem. In one instance, a girl, eleven years of age, allowing +herself to be a Quaker, whether she knew what the word meant or not, was +sent to prison, and afterwards brought before the great and dignified +Court. The Court speak of "the malice of Satan and his instruments," and +determine that as "Satan is put to his shifts to make use of such a child, +not being of the years of discretion, it is judged meet so far to slight +her as a Quaker, as only to admonish and instruct her according to her +capacity, and so discharge her." Hutchinson says, "It would have been +horrible, if there had been any further severity." + +In 1665, additional laws were made, or orders passed, levying a fine of +ten shillings for attending a Quaker meeting, and five pounds for speaking +at one; and, in the same year, the penalty of death was revived against +all Quakers who should return to the colony after they had been banished. +Some persons ventured to express their dissent with regard to some of +these laws, and, probably owing to their respectability, escaped +punishment; but Nicholas Upsall, who had shown compassion to some Quakers +while in prison, in 1656-57, was fined and banished, and endured +incredible hardships. Three years later, in 1660, he returned, and was +again thrown into prison, and died in 1666. + +The laws against Quakers and heretics were published in Boston "with beat +of drum through its streets." We presume they were read after the +town-crier fashion of later days. + +In 1677, when the toleration of the Quakers was thought to be one of the +sins which brought on the Indian war, as a punishment, the Court ordered, +"That every person found at a Quaker's meeting shall be apprehended ex +officio, by the constable, and, by warrant from a magistrate or +commissioner, shall be committed to the House of Correction, and there +have the discipline of the house applied to them, and be kept to work, +with bread and water, for three days, and then released, or else shall pay +five pounds in money, as a fine to the country, for such offence, and all +constables neglecting their duty, in not faithfully executing this order, +shall incur the penalty of five pounds, upon conviction, one third thereof +to the informer." + +Upon this remarkable order, Hutchinson declares, "I know of nothing which +can be urged as in anywise tending to excuse the severity of this law, +unless it be human infirmity," and, he adds, the practices of other +religious sects who are persuaded that the indulgence of any other "was a +toleration of impiety" and brought down the judgments of heaven. This law +cost the colony many friends. + +Soon after this a party was arrested and "whipped at the cart's tail up +and down the town with twenty lashes." On the same day, fourteen Quakers +were arrested at a meeting, and twelve of them whipped: the other two had +their fines paid by their friends. At the next meeting, fourteen or +fifteen more, including some strangers, were arrested and whipped. And yet +the Quakers continued their meetings; and, finally, one of them was so +large, that, as it is said, "fearfulness surprised the hypocrites," and +the meeting was not molested.[6] + +Hutchinson says, "Notwithstanding the great variety of sectaries in +England, there had been no divisions of any consequence in the +Massachusetts; but from 1637 to 1656, they enjoyed, in general, great +quietness in their ecclesiastical affairs, discords in particular churches +being healed and made up by a submission to the arbitrament of neighboring +churches, and sometimes the interposition of the civil power." But soon +after all this, commencing indeed in 1655, in New England, continues +Hutchinson, "it must be confessed, that bigotry and cruel zeal prevailed, +and to that degree that no opinions but their own could be tolerated. They +were sincere but mistaken in their principles; and absurd as it is, it is +too evident, they believed it to be for the glory of God to take away the +lives of his creatures for maintaining tenets contrary to what they +professed themselves." It is said, however, "that every religion which is +persecuted becomes itself persecuting; for as soon as, by some accidental +turn, it arises from persecution, it attacks the religion which persecuted +it." Perhaps the Puritans thought they had been persecuted! + +It seems to be understood that the Quakers finally got a standing in +Boston, and a meeting-house, as, in 1667, mention is made of their +"ordinary place of meeting," though their numbers were small. The +Baptists, however, did not get their meeting-house until 1679; and then, +as a law had been passed against the building of meeting-houses without +permission of the county courts, theirs was built as a private house, and +afterwards purchased by them. But Drake says, "The times had become so +much changed that such a law could not be very well enforced." By this +time, also, the matter was again brought to the notice of the king, +Charles II.; and he wrote, on July 24, to the authorities of Boston, +"requiring them not to molest people in their worship, who were of the +Protestant faith, and directing that liberty of conscience should be +extended to all such." This letter, it is said, had some effect on the +rulers, although they regarded it as an interference with their chartered +rights; and, after all, it was rather a development of that common sense +which fanaticism and bigotry had so long obscured, possibly awakened by +the order of the king, rather than controlled by it, that brought about +the change in the spirit of persecution. + +In 1737, a different Christian spirit was manifested towards the Quakers, +and they were exempted from taxes for the support of the clergy, provided +they attended their own meetings. A letter from a Quaker to the King gives +the following statement of the punishments and penalties received by his +brethren: "Twenty-two have been banished on pain of death, three have been +martyred, three have had their right ears cut, one hath been burned in the +hand with the letter H, thirty-one persons have received six hundred and +fifty stripes, ... one thousand and forty-four pounds worth of goods have +been taken from them, and one lieth now in fetters, condemned to die." The +letter H was probably intended for "heretic," which would certainly be +giving a judgment against the religion the Quakers professed. + +In 1694, the Quakers owned a lot on Brattle Street, and it is thought +probable had some sort of a meeting-house upon it; but still the years +passed on, we hardly know how, until 1708, when they desired to build a +brick house, but could not get permission to do so. Afterwards they built +a small brick meeting-house in the rear of Congress Street on one side, +and in the rear of Water Street on the other. It ran back to what is now +the line of Exchange Place; in fact, was nearly in the centre of the +square formed by State, Congress, Water, and Devonshire Streets. This +building was partly destroyed by fire in 1760, having been standing more +than fifty years; was then repaired, and finally demolished in 1825, +having been unoccupied for nearly twenty years, the society, in 1808, +having voted to discontinue their meetings. + +It is probably true that the treatment of the Quakers in the Massachusetts +Colony, in the years mentioned, from 1600 to 1666-67, is unparalleled in +the history of the human race; and although it may be true, as has been +said, that the people here exiled themselves in order that "they might +maintain and perpetuate what they conceived to be the principles of true +Christianity," they manifested but little of the spirit of the Saviour of +mankind or the religion he came to teach. Hutchinson concludes what he has +to say of the remarkable persecution of the Quakers and its severity, with +the remark, "May the time never come again, when the government shall +think that by killing men for their religion they do God good service." +However other denominations of Christians were persecuted by the Puritans, +only Quakers and witches were hung. "These transient persecutions," as +Bancroft calls them, with all the leniency possible, "begun in +self-defence, were yet no more than a train of mists hovering of an autumn +morning over the channel of a fine river, that diffused freshness and +fertility wherever it wound." Much of this condition of things, it must be +admitted, resulted from natural causes; namely, the character and +circumstances of the settlers, their peculiar religious belief, and +absolute fanaticism. + +Finally, another writer says, "The Puritans _disclaimed_ the right to sit +in judgment on the opinions of others. They denied that they persecuted +for conscience sake." These and some other statements seem to show that +they did not practise as they preached, or gave an interpretation to that +practice not in accordance with the understanding and convictions of +mankind. To be sure, they had a law to punish any one who spoke +disrespectfully of the Scriptures, and at the same time fined, punished, +banished, and hung those who entertained and presumed to teach principles, +belief, or doctrines in relation to the Scriptures different from their +own; not, as they allege, because they had the right to sit in judgment +upon them, but because of the dangers of their teaching and practice: in +other words, for their own protection, "self-defence," as has been said. +Nevertheless, maiming, marring, and taking the lives of God's creatures, +the equals in every respect of themselves, as Hutchinson puts it, is only +to be apologized for or excused by the infirmities of humanity; indeed, we +should rather say, is not to be excused on any such ground, and their own +doctrine and belief teaches that it was a proceeding to be punished and +repented of. This, at any rate, was always the belief of the Quakers. +Drake says, "The persecuted Quakers were fully persuaded that a day of +wrath would overtake New England, and they did not fail to declare their +belief; and, indeed, it was not long before their predictions were +fulfilled: for the terrible war with the Indians, which followed in a few +years, was viewed by them as the vengeance of heaven for their cruelty to +the Quakers." + + + + +VIII. + +FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA. + + +It is said that the first newspaper ever issued was at Venice in 1583,[7] +called "The Gazette,"--and this was in manuscript,--unless (as has been +reported) there was an older paper of some kind issued at Hong-Kong. The +oldest printed newspaper, "The English Mercury," was issued in England in +1588,[8] but, it is believed, was not regularly published. In the next +century, from 1624 onward, newspapers multiplied; and among them were "The +Parliament Kite," and "The Secret Owl," and some other curious names. +Towards the close of this century, the first American newspaper appeared; +and possibly this had been preceded by what represented a newspaper, in +manuscript, as was the case afterwards in Boston in 1704, when "The +News-Letter" first appeared. The first American newspaper was issued in +Boston in 1690,--only fifty or sixty years after newspapers became common +in England,--if the statements which we have quoted are reliable. But at +this time, as might be reasonably supposed, the people who came to this +country in order to improve their liberties, were not prepared for a free +press, or, one might almost say, for any thing that did not tally with +their religious notions and vague superstitions; so that, after the first +issue, Sept. 25, 1690, the paper was suppressed, as said, by the +"legislative authorities." Still it was a newspaper, intended to be such, +and intended to be regularly issued once a month, or oftener, if occasion +required. + +It was entitled as follows:-- + + "Numb. 1. PUBLICK + OCCURRENCES, + _Both Foreign and Domestic_. + BOSTON, _Thursday, Sept. 25, 1690_." + +It was "printed by R. Pierce, for Benjamin Harris, at the London Coffee +House, 1690." And it would seem that most of the copies were destroyed, +though probably not many were printed, as only one copy has ever been +found, and that by some unknown chance got into the colonial state-paper +office, in London. It is a small sheet of paper doubled, printed on three +pages, two columns to each; and some years ago, after a good deal of +trouble to find the copy in the London office, the contents of the whole +sheet were copied by Dr. Samuel A. Green, of Boston, and have since been +once or twice reprinted. + +It is said that it was stopped by the "legislative authorities," who +described it as a "pamphlet," and as containing "reflections of a very +high nature;" and the order of the Court, passed in 1662 forbade "any +thing in print without license first obtained from those appointed by the +government to grant the same:" so that it would seem that there was a law +against printing any thing without a license, and that this sheet, called +a pamphlet, came within its provisions. "In 1644, It is ordered that the +Printers shall have leave to print the Election Sermon with Mr. Mather's +consent, and the Artillery's with Mr. Norton's consent." This, of course, +meant without their undergoing any inspection. + +With respect to the contents of this first newspaper, the introductory +paragraph is as follows:-- + + "_It is designed that the countrey shall be furnished once a month_ + (_or if any Glut of_ Occurrences _happen oftener_,) _with an Account + of such considerable things as have arrived unto our Notice._" + +The editor, it is said, will take pains to get a faithful relation of +things, and hopes observers will communicate of such matters as fall under +their notice; and then states what is proposed in an editorial way: first, +that memorable occurrences may not be neglected or forgotten: second, that +people may better understand public affairs; and third, "_that something +may be done towards the_ Curing, _or at least the_ Charming _of that_ +Spirit of Lying, which prevails among us," &c. This, probably, is one of +the passages referred to by the authorities as "reflections of a very high +nature." And, in addition to what has been said, "the Publisher of these +Occurrences" proposes to correct false reports, and expose the "First +Raiser" of them, and thinks "_none will dislike this Proposal, but such as +intend to be guilty of so villainous a Crime_." + +Then follows the news, or "Occurrences." Mention is made of a +thanksgiving appointed by the Christian Indians of Plymouth; the +husbandmen find no want of hands, "which is looked upon as a merciful +Providence," being a favorable season; the Indians have stolen two +children, aged nine and eleven years, from Chelmsford; an old man of +Watertown hung himself in his cow-house, having lately lost his wife, and +thereupon "the devil took advantage of the melancholy which he thereupon +fell into." Epidemical fevers and agues and small-pox are next spoken of: +of small-pox, three hundred and twenty had died in Boston, and "children +were born full of the distemper." A large fire is spoken of near the Mill +Creek,--twenty houses burned; and on the 16th and 17th of this instant +(September, 1690), a fire broke out near the South Meeting-house, which +consumed five or six houses; a young man perished in the flames, and one +of the best printing-presses was lost. Report of a vessel bound to +Virginia, put into Penobscot, where the Indians and French butchered the +master and most of the crew. + +The next is a longer article in relation to the expedition to Canada under +Gen. Winthrop, its failure, and a variety of Indian complications. The +editor says, "'Tis possible we have not so exactly related the +Circumstances of this business, but the Account is as near exactness as +any that could be had, in the midst of many various reports about it." + +Then follows an account of the massacre of a body of French Indians in the +"East Country." Two English captives escaped at Passamaquoddy, and got +into Portsmouth. There was terrible butchery among the French, Indians, +and English at this time. Following this is some news from Portsmouth by +an arrival from Barbadoes; a report that the city of Cork had proclaimed +King William, and turned their French landlords out of doors, &c.; more +Indian troubles at Plymouth, Saco, &c., &c. Then follows the imprint at +the end, as already quoted. + +Such was the nature, character, and contents of the first paper ever +published in America; and we doubt if the first paper printed in England, +more than a hundred years before, exceeded this in manner and matter. The +judgment of the present day would be that it was a very good paper for the +time, both in its news and editorial matter, and we fail to see any ground +of offence either against law or religion. Many of the early papers +published in this country, after the failure of this attempt, are not half +as good as this first copy of "Publick Occurrences." It is creditable to +Benjamin Harris, and its discontinuance not so creditable to the +"legislative authorities," who either made or perverted a law for its +suppression. But the idea of establishing a newspaper "that something may +be done towards the Curing, or at least the Charming of that Spirit of +Lying, which prevails among us," is very peculiar. + +In all newspaper nomenclature it is hardly possible to find a more +appropriate name than that selected for this first newspaper of America. +We now have Heralds, Couriers, and Messengers; Records, Chronicles, and +Registers; then all sorts of party names; Banner, and Standard; Crayon, +Scalpel, and Broadaxe; Age, Epoch, Era, Crisis, Times; and finally Sun, +Star, Comet, Planet, Aurora, Galaxy, &c., but among these and thousands of +other names, not one more truthful and expressive than that of "Publick +Occurrences." + + +THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER. + +The first Boston newspaper which gained a permanency, was published in +1704, and was continued for more than seventy years. It was equally +fortunate in the selection of an appropriate and significant name, the +"Boston News-Letter," and this was possibly suggested by the fact that it +was preceded by the issue of a news-letter in manuscript which was as +strictly, as the newspaper which followed it, a "News-Letter." Naturally +enough too, considering the times, it was originated by the postmaster, +who came in contact in his business, not only with the people of Boston, +but generally with those of the whole colony, as we think, there were then +but few post-offices in the colony: the need of a News-Letter for +everybody would, as we have intimated, naturally suggest itself to him, +and be also, as in fact it was, an important aid to his business, though +it is said he did not make much out of it, and soon after lost his +position as postmaster. + + New England. + + _The_ BOSTON News-Letter. + + From Monday April 17, to Monday April 24, 1704. + + "Boston: Printed by B. Green, and sold by Nicholas Boone, at his shop + near the old meeting-house." + +[Illustration: The Boston News-Letter.] + +John Campbell, a Scotchman, bookseller and postmaster, was the proprietor +of the paper. It was printed on a half-sheet, pot paper, and was to be +continued weekly, "Published by authority." Among the contents was an +article from the "London Flying Post," containing news from Scotland, +"concerning the present danger of the kingdom and the Protestant +Religion," "Papists swarm the nation," &c.; also extracts from the London +papers, and four paragraphs of marine news. Advertisements inserted "at a +reasonable rate from twopence to five shillings." On the same day that the +paper was issued Judge Sewall notes in his diary that he went over to +Cambridge, and gave Mr. Willard, president of the College, "the first +News-Letter that was ever carried over the river." + +The second issue of the paper, No. 2, was on a whole sheet of pot paper, +the last page blank. + +In the fifth number Boone's name was left out, and the paper was sold at +the post-office. To No. 192, the paper was printed on a half-sheet, +excepting the second issue. + +Green printed the paper for Campbell, until Nov. 3, 1707, after which it +was printed by John Allen, in Pudding Lane, near the post-office, and +there to be sold; and Allen printed it four years to No. 390. On the day +that number was published, Oct. 2, 1711, the post-office and +printing-office were burnt; and the following week it was again printed by +Green, in Newbury Street, and he continued to print it until October, +1715. In 1719, Mr. Campbell tried the experiment of printing a whole +sheet, instead of a half sheet, every other week, but this did not pay +very well; and in addition to this difficulty, he lost the office of +postmaster in December of that year. The new postmaster also printed a +paper (Gazette) and this led to the first newspaper war in the country, +but which did not last long, and terminated without much damage. + +In 1721, Campbell got a new idea and printed some copies of the +"News-Letter" on a sheet of writing paper, leaving one page blank, so that +his subscribers could write their letters on that, and send the paper +abroad without extra postage. In the next year, after he had published the +paper eighteen years, he sold to his printer, Bartholomew Green. +"Published by authority" had been omitted by Campbell for two years, and +in 1725 Green restored it. In December, 1726, the title was changed to +"The Weekly News-Letter," and subsequently, in 1730, to "The Boston Weekly +News-Letter," and the numberings of the previous issues were added +together, and the total reached 1,396, in October, 1730. No other +alteration took place until the death of Green, when in Jan. 4, 1733, John +Draper, his son-in-law, succeeded him. Draper printed the "News-Letter" +for thirty years, and died November, 1762. His son, Richard Draper, +continued the paper and enlarged the title to "The Boston Weekly +News-Letter and New England Chronicle." In about a year the title was +again altered to "The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Weekly +News-Letter," and was decorated with the King's Arms. Richard took a +kinsman as partner, and the paper now bore this imprint: "Published by +Richard Draper, Printer to the Governor and Council, and by Samuel Draper, +at the printing-office, in Newbury Street." Richard Draper continued the +paper, and in May, 1768, a singular arrangement took place between the +"Massachusetts Gazette" (or News-Letter) and the "Boston Post Boy and +Advertiser," and both papers were "Published by authority," in other words +as government papers. Each paper was one-half "The Massachusetts Gazette, +published by authority," and the other half bore its own proper name; and +Draper called it the "Adam and Eve paper." This plan continued until +September, 1769, and then its title "The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston +Weekly News-Letter," was resumed. In May, 1774, Draper took a partner, and +the next month he died, and his widow, Margaret Draper, continued the +paper in the interest of the loyalists or tories, until the evacuation of +Boston, and then it ceased. She went to Halifax and then to England, and +there obtained a pension. The "News-Letter" was published seventy-two +years. It is a curious fact that the first newspaper established in Boston +should have got into the hands of the tories, and in the last year of its +existence, in the trying times of the revolutionary war, should have been +conducted by a woman. + + * * * * * + +"The New England Chronicle, or The Evening Gazette," published at +Cambridge, Sept. 28, 1775, speaks of "Mrs. Draper's Paper," in the +following paragraph:-- + + "The miserable Tools of Tyranny in Boston appear now to be somewhat + conscious of their infamy in Burning Charlestown, and are, with the + assistance of the Father of Liars, devising Methods for clearing up + their characters. One of them, in Mrs. Draper's paper, asserts that + the Provincials, on the 17th of June, after firing out of Houses upon + the King's troops, set the Buildings on Fire. This doubtless, is as + true as that the Provincials fired first upon the King's Troops at + Lexington. Both of them are equally false, and well known to be as + palpable Lies as ever were uttered. The propagation of them are, + however, perfectly consistent with the Perfidy, Cowardice, and + Barbarity of Gage and his detestable understrappers." + +Some other paragraphs are copied from "Mrs. Draper's last Boston Paper," +of which the following is one:-- + + "We hear a certain Person of Weight among the Rebels hath offered to + return to his Allegiance on Condition of being pardoned and provided + for: What encouragement he has received remains a secret." + + * * * * * + +John L. DeWolf, Esq., of Boston, has complete files of "The Boston Weekly +News-Letter," for the years 1744 and 1745; and we are indebted to him for +the use of them. The following are specimens of some of the advertisements +of the time:-- + + "To be sold, a likely Negro boy about 12 years old: enquire of the + printer." + + "To be sold by the Province Treasurer: Good Winter Rye, which may be + seen at the Granary, on the Common" [Park street]. + + "A fine negro male child to be given away." [There are numerous + advertisements of slaves and negroes.] + + "To be sold, a Good Dwelling-House, situate near the Green Dragon, in + the Main street, with a large tract of Land for a Garden, a good Well + in the Cellar and other conveniences. Enquire of Daniel Johonnot, + Distiller." + +Elizabeth Macneal advertises "a likely young negro girl;" "also some +Household goods to be sold." + +Josiah Jones advertises his man servant, 19 years of age as a runaway, +"having on an old ragged Coat, a good Check'd Shirt and Trowsers, a Pair +of Black Callamanco Breeches, a pair of Gray Yarn Stockings, and a new +Pair of Shoes." + + "The Gentleman who borrowed a Blue Great Coat at the White Swan, about + three weeks past, is desir'd to return the same forthwith: the Person + whom he borrow'd it of, thinking he has had it long enough." + + "This is to inform the Publick, That the Cold-Bath in the Bath-Garden, + at the West End of Boston is in Beautiful Order for use. It is a + living Spring of Water, which the coldest Season in Winter never + affects or freezes," &c. + + "This is to inform the Publick that Edmond Lewis of Boston, + watch-maker, never bought a Watch of, nor ever sold one to any Slave + whatever; and the malicious Report of his having dealt with some + negroes is scandalously false." + + "Choice Carolina Pork and Beef, to be sold at the Warehouse on the + South side of the Town Dock, adjoining the Impost office." + + "A negro woman to be sold by the Printer of this paper; the very best + negro woman in town; who has had the small-pox and measles; is as + hearty as a horse, as brisk as a bird, and will work like a Beaver." + + + + +IX. + +CURIOUS BOSTON LECTURES. + + +BOSTONIAN EBENEZER. + +There was published in Boston, in 1698, a very small thin volume of 82 +pages, 3 × 5 inches, entitled "The Bostonian Ebenezer." "Some Historical +Remarks on the State of BOSTON, the _Chief Town of New England_ and of the +_English_ AMERICA, with some _agreeable methods_ for Preserving and +Promoting, the _Good State_ of THAT, as well as any _other Town_, in the +like circumstances." "Humbly offered by a native of Boston." Ezk. 48, 35, +"The Name of the City from that day, shall be THE LORD IS THERE." Boston: +printed by B. Green and F. Allen, for Samuel Phillips, at the Brick Shop, +1698. + +This singular little volume contains two lectures. Preceding the first +lecture at the top of the page are these lines:-- + + "THE HISTORY OF BOSTON, + Related and Improved. + At _Boston_ Lecture 7_d._ 2_m._ 1698." [April 7, 1698.] + +The remainder of the page is occupied with this preface:-- + + "Remarkable and memorable, was the Time, when an _Army_ of Terrible + _Destroyers_ was coming against one of the _Chief Towns_ in the Land + of Israel. God Rescued the _Town_ from the Irresistible Fury and + Approach of those Destroyers, by an Immediate Hand of Heaven upon + them. Upon that miraculous Rescue of the _Town_, and of the whole + Country whose Fate was much enwrapped in it, there follow'd that + Action of the Prophet, SAMUEL, which is this Day, to be, with some + Imitation Repeated, in the midst of thee, O, BOSTON, _Thou helped of + the Lord_." + +At the head of the next page we have the text,-- + + I SAM. VII. 12. + + "Then SAMUEL took a Stone and Set it up, ... and called the Name of it + EBENEZER, saying, Hitherto the Lord hath Helped us." + +Then follows the exordium, in which the preacher says the Thankful +Servants of God have used sometimes to erect monuments of stone as durable +tokens of their thankfulness:-- + + "Jacob did so; Joshua did so; and Samuel did so." "The Stone erected + by Samuel, with the name of Ebenezer, which is as much as to say, _A + Stone of Help_. I know not whether any thing might be _Writt_ upon it; + but I am sure, there is one thing to be now _Read_ upon it, by + ourselves, in the Text where we find it: Namely, this much, + + "_That a People whom the God of Heaven hath Remarkably Helped, in + their Distresses ought Greatly and Gratefully to acknowledge, what_ + =help= _of Heaven they have Received._ + + "Now, 'tis not my Design to lay the Scene of my Discourse, as far off + as _Bethcar_, the place where Samuel set up his Ebenezer. I am + immediately to Transfer it into the heart of _Boston_, a place where + the _Remarkable Help Received from Heaven_, by the People, does loudly + call for an Ebenezer. And I do not ask you, to change the Name of the + Town, into that of =Help stone=, as there is a Town in _England_ of + that Name, which may seem the English of =Ebenezer=; but my _Sermon_ + shall be this Day your _Ebenezer_, if you will with a Favorable and + Profitable Attention Entertain it. May the Lord Jesus Christ, accept + me, and assist me now to _Glorify Him_, in the _Town_, where I drew my + First Sinful Breath. A _Town_, whereto I am under Great Obligations, + for the Precious Opportunities to _Glorify Him_, which I have quietly + enjoy'd therein, for NEAR EIGHTEEN years together. _O my Lord God, + Remember me, I pray thee_, and _strengthen me this once, to speak from + thee_, unto thy People. + + "And now, Sirs, That I may set up an EBENEZER among you, there are + these Things to be inculcated." + + "1. Let us Thankfully, and Agreeably, and Particularly, acknowledge + what Help we have received from the God of Heaven, in the years that + have rolled over us. While the Blessed Apostle Paul, was as it should + seem, yet short of being _Threescore_ years old, how affectionately + did he set an _Ebenezer_ with the Acknowledgment in Acts 26, 22. + _Having obtained Help of God, I continue to this day._ Our Town is now + _Threescore and Eight_ years old: and certainly 'tis Time for us, with + all possible affection to set up our _Ebenezer_, saying, Having + obtained Help from God, the Town is continued, until almost the Age of + Man is passed over it. The Town hath indeed Three Elder Sisters in + this Colony; but it hath wonderfully outgrown them all; and her + Mother, old Boston, in England also; Yea, within a Few Years, after + the first settlement it grew to be, _the Metropolis of the whole + English America_. Little was _this_ expected, by them that first + settled the town, when, for a while, Boston was proverbially called + _Lost Town_, for the mean and sad circumstances of it. But, O Boston, + it is because thou hast _Obtained help from God_." "There have been + several years wherein the Terrible Famine hath Terribly Stared the + Town in the Face. We have been brought sometimes unto the Last Meal in + the Barrel! But the fear'd Famine has always been kept off." + +The preacher proceeds,-- + + "A formidable French squadron hath not shot one Bomb into the midst of + Thee;" our Streets have not run Blood and Gore; devouring-flames have + not raged. "Boston, 'Tis a marvellous Thing, a Plague has not laid + desolate!" "Boston, Thou hast been lifted up to Heaven; there is not a + Town upon Earth, which, on some accounts, has more to answer for." + + Secondly, we are to acknowledge whose help it is. "This is the voice + of God from Heaven to Boston this day; Thy God hath helped thee!" "Old + Boston, by name, was but Saint _Botolphs Town_. Whereas Thou, O + Boston, shall have but one Protector in Heaven, and that is Our Lord + Jesus Christ." + +The preacher's third division is that the help Boston has already had +should lead her people to Hope. "Hope in him for more help hereafter." +"The motto upon all our Ebenezer's is Hope in God! Hope in God!" In the +course of this part of his lecture, the preacher says,-- + + "The Town is at this day full of Widows and Orphans, and a multitude + of them are very helpless creatures. I am astonished how they live! In + that church, whereof I am the servant, I have counted. The Widows make + about a sixth part of our communicants, and no doubt in the whole + town, the proportion differs not very much. Now, stand still my + Friends, and behold the will of God! _Were_ any of these ever starved + yet? No, these widows are every one in some sort provided for." + + Fourthly, "Let all that bear public office in the town contribute all + the help they can that may continue the help of God in us!" First the + ministers will help, and then he calls upon the Justices of the + Courts, the constables, the school-masters and the townsmen to help: + "Each of the sorts by themselves, may they come together to consider, + What shall we do to save the town?" + + Fifthly, "God help the town to manifest all that piety which a town so + helped of Him, is obliged unto!" And then the town is warned against + all sorts of iniquities: against fortune-tellers, bad houses, drinking + houses, &c. + + "Ah! Boston, Beware, Beware, lest the Sin of Sodom get Footing in + thee!" + + "And, Oh! that the Drinking Houses in the Town, might once come under + a laudable _Regulation_. The Town has an _Enormous Number_ of them! + Will the _Haunters_ of those _Houses_ hear the Counsels of Heaven? For + _you_ that are the _Town Dwellers_, to be oft, or long, in your + _Visits_ of the _Ordinary_, 'twill certainly Expose you to Mischiefs + more than ordinary. I have seen certain _Taverns_ where the Pictures + of horrible Devourers[9] were hang'd out for the signs; and thought I, + 'twere well if such _Signs_ were not sometimes too _Significant_! + Alas, men have their estates _Devoured_, their names _Devoured_, their + Hours _Devoured_, and their very soul _Devoured_, when they are so + besotted, that they are not in their _Element_, except they be in + Tippling at Such Houses. When once a man is Bewitched with the + Ordinary, what usually becomes of him? He is a _gone man_. And when he + comes to Dy, he'l cry out, as many have done, _Ale Houses are Hell + Houses! Ale Houses are Hell Houses! Ale Houses are Hell Houses!_" ... + "There was an _Inn_ at _Bethlehem_, where the Lord Jesus Christ was to + be met withal. Can _Boston_ boast of many such? Alas, Too ordinarily + it may be said, _There is no Room for Him in the Inn!_ My Friends, Let + me beg it of you: Banish _the unfruitful works of Darkness_, from your + _Houses_, and then the _Sun of Righteousness_ will shine upon them. + Don't countenance _Drunkenness_, _Revelling_ and _Mispending_ of + precious Time in your Houses. Let none have the _snares of Death_ Laid + for them in your _Houses_." + +The preacher goes on in two or three _further divisions_ with his +declamation against evil and sins, and his conjurations for better things, +in faith, hopes and works, intimating all the evils that exist in Boston, +and warning the people of the danger of them. + +The second sermon is a piece of similar declamation, about what the +preacher calls Household Religion, "at Boston Lecture, 26d. 7m. 1695." A +short extract will give a sample of this discourse. + + "First, I suppose, we are all sensible, That for us to Loose our + Houses by any Disaster whatsoever, would be a very terrible Calamity: + Oh! it would be a _Judgment_ of God, wherein the _Anger_ of God, would + be seen written with _fiery_ characters. If by an accident, or by an + enemy, our House be laid in desolation, every Roar of the Raging + Flames, every crack of the Tumbling Timbers, every Downfall of the + Undermined walls, and every jingle of the Bells then tolling the + Funeral of those Houses, would loudly utter the voice in Deut., _A + Fire is Kindled in the Anger of God_." + +This discourse is very severe upon all "Houses where God is not served," +and defines them as gaming-houses, drinking-houses, houses where troops +and harlots assemble. "If the Worshipful Justices, and the Constables, and +the Tythingmen, would Invigorate their zeal, to Rout the Villanous Haunts +of those Houses, the whole Town would be vastly the Safer for it." + +All that can be said of these curious discourses is that they are a +strange medley of declamation, fanaticism, and exhortation, not lacking in +thought perhaps, or devoid of sense, but rather insinuating than direct +and sensible. The author does not print his name, though they purport to +be Boston Lectures, one delivered in 1695 and the other in 1698: it is +understood, however, that they were by the Rev. Cotton Mather. + + + + +X. + +REMARKABLE PROCLAMATIONS. + + +FAST DAY. + +The first proclamation, issued on a broadside, that we have seen, is that +of March, 1743, "for a public fast." It is issued by Gov. Shirley, and +begins, "It being our constant and indispensable duty by prayer and +supplication with thanksgiving to make known our requests to God," &c. He +then appoints the 12th of April ensuing to be observed as a day of general +fasting and prayer. After acknowledging "all our heinous and aggravated +offences," the people are required to implore the Divine mercy for "the +following blessings, namely," the life and health of "Our Sovereign Lord +the King;" the prosperity of his government; that he would direct and +grant success to his Majesty's arms in the present war, and prevent a +further rupture among the nations; in behalf of the Prince and Princess of +Wales; and that "it would please God to cover and defend the English +plantations, more especially this Province," &c. Given at the Council +Chamber, signed, &c., and ending "God save the King." + + +"WAR AGAINST THE FRENCH KING." + +The next proclamation which we have is not probably much known, and not +such as were issued by the governors of the Provinces or States, but is a +"Declaration of war against the French King." It purports to be issued +originally from "Our Court at St. James's, the twenty-ninth day of March, +1744, in the 17th year of our reign." "God save the King." "Printed in +London by Thomas Baskett and Robert Baskett, printers to the King's most +excellent Majesty, 1744." "Boston, N. E. reprinted by John Draper, Printer +to His Excellency the Governor and Council, 1774." + +The proclamation rehearses the troubles which have taken place among the +European states, "with a view to overturn the balance of power in Europe, +... in direct violation of the solemn guaranty of the Pragmatick Sanction +given by him [the French King] in 1738, in consideration of the cession of +Lorrain." It refers to other offensive conduct of the French King, and +then replies to some assertions made in the "French King's declaration of +war." "Being therefore indispensably obliged to take up arms," the King +calls upon all his subjects to assist in prosecuting the same by sea and +land; but no special reference is made to the British colonies in America, +and the governor (Shirley) does not even add his name to the proclamation. +One copy of the remarkable document, at least, has been preserved, and is +in possession of Mr. John L. DeWolf of Boston. It is headed by an +engraving of the King's arms, as are all the proclamations issued by the +governor, including those for Fast and Thanksgiving Days, &c. It is not +probable, though we do not know the fact, that a declaration of war by the +King of England was ever re-issued by the governor of any other colony. +Previously to this, in this colony, in 1672, the proclamation of war, by +the King of England against the Dutch, was publicly read in Boston. + + +FAST DAY. + +Following this on the 8th of June, 1744, was issued the "proclamation for +a public fast." "Whereas it hath pleased God, in his holy, wise and +sovereign Providence, further to involve the British dominions in war, +whereby this Province will be greatly affected," &c. Therefore the 28th +day of June is appointed to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, +&c., "and all servile labor and recreations are forbidden on that day." +Signed, W. Shirley. [Troops were raised in Boston at this time, following +the declaration of 29th March, and sent to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, where +they arrived, as Gordon says, in season, and "were the probable means of +saving the country."] + + +RIOT IN BRISTOL COUNTY. + +Among the lesser proclamations, issued by Gov. Shirley, was one on account +of "an heinous riot in the Town of Bristol, in open defiance of His +Majesty's authority and Government within this Province." This was a case +where the six persons named and "a great number of others," marched to the +county jail, and there demanded the release of John Round, jr., and by +force of arms broke open said prison, "rescuing and carrying off the said +John Round and Samuel Borden, another prisoner in said gaol." The governor +calls upon all officers and people to apprehend and secure the parties, +and "for the encouragement of all persons whatsoever that shall discover +the parties," a reward of one hundred pounds is offered for several of +them, and fifty pounds each for others. Given at the Council Chamber in +Boston, 18th day of October, 1744. Signed, &c. + + +WAR AGAINST THE INDIANS. + +Another remarkable proclamation was issued by "His Excellency, William +Shirley, Esq., Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and over His +Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England." This is a +"declaration of war against the Cape Sable's and St. John's Indians." It +is stated that whereas some of the Cape Sable Indians, who have formally +by treaty submitted to his Majesty's government, have, "in the port of +Jedoure, in a treacherous and cruel manner, murdered divers of His +Majesty's English subjects, belonging to a fishing vessel; and, whereas, +the Cape Sable Indians with the St. John's tribe, have in a hostile manner +joined with the French King's subjects in assaulting His Majesty's fort at +Annapolis-Royal, &c., therefore, said Indians are declared to be rebels, +traitors, and enemies, and His Majesty's officers and subjects are to +execute all acts of hostility against the said Indians," &c. This +proclamation is dated at Boston, Oct. 19, 1744. + + +THANKSGIVING. + +On the next day, 20th October, 1744, there was issued the usual +proclamation for thanksgiving: "Forasmuch as, amidst the many rebukes of +Divine Providence with which we are righteously afflicted, more especially +in the present expensive and calamitous war, it has pleased God to favor +us with many great and undeserved mercies in the course of this year," +particularly in preserving the life and health of the King, the Prince and +Princess of Wales, &c.; in the restraint hitherto given to the Indians +near the frontiers of this Province, &c.: therefore, the twenty-second day +of December is to be observed as a day of thanksgiving throughout the +Province. It will be noticed that nothing is said concerning the season or +the crops in any of these thanksgiving proclamations, and it would seem +that that matter was not thought of any account as compared with the +health of his Majesty the King and the royal princesses. + +[Here are three proclamations issued on the 18th, 19th, and 20th October, +1744, the first in relation to a "heinous riot," the second a bloody +declaration of war, and the third for a public thanksgiving.] + + +BLOODY PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE INDIANS. + +In two weeks after the thanksgiving proclamation, on the 2d of November, +1744, came forth another proclamation from Gov. Shirley, of a most bloody +character, against the Indians, as follows:-- + + [Illustration] + + BY HIS EXCELLENCY + + WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq.; + + Captain-General and Governour-in-Chief, in and over HIS MAJESTY'S + Province of the _Massachusetts-Bay_ in NEW-ENGLAND. + + A PROCLAMATION + + _For the Encouragement of_ Voluntiers _to prosecute the_ WAR _against + the_ St. John's _and_ Cape Sable's _Indians_. + + Whereas the Indians of the _Cape-Sable's_ and St. _John's_ Tribes have + by their Violation of their solemn Treaties with His Majesty's + Governours, and their open Hostilities committed against His Majesty's + Subjects of this Province and the Province of _Nova-Scotia_, obliged + me, with the unanimous Advice of His Majesty's Council, to declare war + against them; In Consequence of which the General Assembly of this + Province have "_Voted_, That there be granted, to be paid out of the + publick Treasury, to any Company, Party, or Person singly, of His + Majesty's Subjects, belonging to and residing within this Province, + who shall voluntarily, and at their own proper Cost and Charge, go out + and kill a male Indian of the Age of Twelve Years or upwards, of the + Tribe of St. _Johns_ or _Cape-Sables_, after the _Twenty-sixth_ Day of + _October_ last past, and before the last Day of _June Anno Domini_, + One Thousand seven Hundred and forty-five (or for such Part of that + Term as the War shall continue), in any place to the Eastward of a + Line, to be fixed by the Governour and His Majesty's Council of this + Province, somewhere to the Eastward of _Penobscot_, and produce his + Scalp in Evidence of his Death, the Sum of _one Hundred Pounds_ in + Bills of Credit of this Province of the new Tenor, and the Sum of _one + Hundred & Five Pounds_ in said Bills for any Male of the like Age who + shall be taken Captive, and delivered to the Order of the + Captain-General, to be at the Disposal and for the Use of the + Government; and the Sum of _Fifty Pounds_, in said Bills, for women; + and the like Sum for Children under the Age of Twelve Years killed in + Fight; and _Fifty-five Pounds_ for such of them as shall be taken + Prisoners, together with the Plunder: _Provided_ no Payment be made as + aforesaid for killing or taking Captive any of the said Indians, until + Proof thereof be made to the Acceptance of the Governour and Council;" + + AND _whereas_, since the passing of the said Vote of the General + Assembly, I have with the Advice of His Majesty's Council determined, + That the Line above mentioned, to the Eastward of which the said + Indians may be slain and taken Prisoners, shall begin on the Sea-Shore + at Three Leagues Distance from Eastermost Part of the Mouth of + _Passamaquoddy_ River, and from thence to run North into the Country + thro' the Province of _Nova-Scotia_, to the River of _St. Lawrence_; + + =I have therefore thought fit, with the Advice of His Majesty's + Council, to issue this Proclamation for giving public notice of the + Encouragement granted by the General Court of all Persons who may be + disposed to serve their King and Country in the Prosecution of the War + against the said Cape-Sable's and St. John's Tribes, in the manner + above-mentioned, upon their own charge; as also to give Notice to the + several Tribes of the Eastern Indians, who are still in Amity with us, + of the Boundary-Line aforesaid; assuring them that this Government + have determined to treat as Enemies all such Indians as live beyond + the said Line.= + + Given at the Council Chamber in _Boston_, on Friday the Second Day + of _November_, 1744. In the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of Our + Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of + _Great-Britain_, _France_ and _Ireland_, KING, Defender of the + Faith, &c. + + W. SHIRLEY. + + _By order of the Governour, with + the Advice of the Council_, + J. WILLARD, Secr. + + GOD save the KING. + +No mention is made of either of these remarkable proclamations in any +history of Boston, or other work that we have seen; and it can scarcely be +generally known that Massachusetts indorsed the proclamation of the King +of England, declaring war against "the French King," or that the colony, +without regard to the King and his government, declared war, including the +most desperate and bloody conditions, against the St. John's and Cape +Sable's Indians, a hundred years after the settlement of the colony, and +something more than one hundred and fifty years ago. It will be noticed +that the sum of five pounds additional is offered in each case for man, +woman, or child, if brought in alive; but considering the expense, danger, +and trouble of doing so, it could hardly have been expected that any thing +beyond the scalps of the victims, even of children, would be brought in; +and it would seem, if any considerable number were killed or brought in, +that the debt incurred would be likely to become somewhat burdensome upon +the colony. The terms of the proclamation were based upon the votes and +orders of the General Court, authorizing the payment of the rewards +offered, passed on the 26th day of October. The records of Boston show +that in 1756, January, £50 were paid for an Indian scalp, and it is to be +hoped this was the only payment ever made for such a purchase. + + +FAST DAY. + +This threatening proclamation was followed by another, on the 18th +February, for a general fast, as at this time the expedition to +Louisbourg, which soon followed, was in preparation:-- + +"Whereas it has pleased Almighty God, in his holy and sovereign +Providence, to involve His Majesty's Dominions in War, which, +notwithstanding the many instances of success, which, through Divine +favor, have attended the arms of His Majesty and his allies, ought to be +regarded as an effect of the anger of God against us; and, whereas, this +government have, upon mature consideration, determined by the Divine +permission, to prosecute an expedition against His Majesty's enemies, upon +the success of which, the prosperity of His Majesty's subjects in North +America, and more especially in this Province, does under God, much +depend," &c., &c., therefore the 28th day of February instant, is +appointed for a general fast, to be observed with fervent prayers and +supplications, and all labor and recreation are strictly forbidden. "Given +at the Province House, in Boston, the 18th day of February, 1744." + +[The expedition sailed soon after, and arrived at Canso, under Col. +Pepperell, on the 4th of April, having 3,250 Massachusetts troops. The +fort and city of Louisbourg were surrendered and given up on the 17th of +June; and two East India ships and one South Sea ship, worth £600,000, +were captured at the mouth of the harbor.] + + +ANOTHER FAST. + +On the 25th of March, 1745, Gov. Shirley issues another proclamation for a +general fast, on Thursday, 4th day of April. The expedition for Cape +Breton had just embarked and "taken their departure from this place," and +this was deemed, in addition to the usual custom, occasion for a fast. The +favor of Divine Providence was implored for the success of the expedition +which the government had, at "great expense and labor, raised and fitted +out with a large body of troops and a considerable naval force, for an +expedition against the French at Cape Breton," &c. + + +THANKSGIVING REJOICING. + +News of the success of the expedition was received in Boston, on the 2d of +July, 1745, and there were great rejoicings and illuminations in the town +in consequence; and on the 8th, Gov. Shirley issued his proclamation for a +general thanksgiving, it having pleased God, as he elaborately expressed +it, "by a wonderful series of successes to bring this great affair to a +happy issue in the reduction of the city and fortress of Louisbourg." +There was added, "All servile labor is forbidden on said day," and the bar +against recreations is omitted; but all persons are called upon to +preserve order. + + +GOV. PHIPS'S PROCLAMATIONS. + +In September, 1745, while Gov. Shirley and his lady were absent on a visit +to Louisbourg, the scene of the late success of his expedition, Spencer +Phips, acting governor, issued three proclamations in the following three +months: on the 6th of September, for a public fast, partly on account of +the war with the Indians, and among other things "that His Excellency the +Governor may be directed and succeeded in the important affairs he is +transacting at Louisbourg and returned in safety." Signed S. Phips. By +order of the honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with the advice of the +Council. J. Willard, Secretary. + +The second was issued on the twenty-second day of November, 1745, on +account of some disorders in Boston, committed by divers officers and +seamen, belonging to His Majesty's ship "Wager," and other seamen +belonging to the sloop "Resolution," late in His Majesty's service, by +which two persons lost their lives. The constables and authorities of +Boston and Charlestown are called upon to search for them in any justly +suspected houses, &c. By order of the Honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with +the advice of the Council. + +The third proclamation of acting Governor Phips was issued on the 25th of +November, 1745, for a general thanksgiving, in "consideration of the +manifold and remarkable instances of the Divine favor towards our nation +and land in the course of the past year, which (though mixed with various +rebukes of Providence manifesting the righteous discipline of God toward +us for our sins) demand our publick and thankful acknowledgments." Signed, +S. Phips. By His Honor's command, with the advice of the Council. + +Besides the above there were two or three other proclamations, calling for +troops and other objects. The first Fast Day held in the Plymouth Colony, +so far as we know, was in the month of July, 1623, and the first in the +Massachusetts Colony, July 30, 1630, soon after Winthrop's arrival. + + + + +XI. + +POPULAR PURITAN LITERATURE. + + +AN EARTHQUAKE IN BOSTON. + +On the Lord's day, June 3, 1744, between ten and eleven o'clock, there was +experienced at Boston, a violent earthquake, "which was felt for above an +hundred of miles." The matter, naturally somewhat startling and +impressive, called forth from some unknown author, an elaborate poem, the +purpose and spirit of which will be readily understood by a few extracts. +It is printed on a sheet, about 12 by 20 inches, in three columns, and was +"sold by Benjamin Gray, in Milk Street, 1744." The first portion and some +other parts of the poem are missing from the copy we have. Somewhere near +the middle of the first column our quotations commence:-- + + "Again the Lord did shake the Earth, + While Christ was in the Tomb, + When from the glorious Heavenly World + A glorious Angel came. + Behold there was at that same Time + An Earthquake strong and great, + Which made the Watchmen at the Tomb + To tremble, shake and quake. + Again when Paul and Silas was + Once into Prison cast, + And cruelly the Keeper had + In stocks made their feet fast, + Like the dear Children of the Lord, + They to their Father sing, + They praises sing unto the Lord + Till all the Prison did ring. + When lo! immediately there was + A terrible Earthquake, + Which made the whole foundation of + The Prison-House to shake. + The Doors fly open by its Power + And now wide open stand, + 'Till these dear Prisoners of the Lord + Are loosed from their Bands. + And thus we see in very Truth, + This wondrous Work is done, + By none but the eternal God, + And Israel's holy One. + And that they're tokens of his Wrath, + O, let not one gain-say, + For sure the Lord is much provok'd, + When he speaks in this way. + Be then excited, O, dear Friends + With vigorous accord, + And all the might and strength you have, + To turn unto the Lord. + For lo! on the last Sabbath day, + The Lord did plainly shew, + What in a single moment's time + He might have done with you. + A solemn warning let it be, + To all with one accord + For their Souls precious Life to haste + Their turning unto God. + + * * * * * + + "Perhaps you'll think the Danger's past + That all is safe and sure + Because the mighty God hath said + He'll drown the world no more. + But, oh! consider dearest Friends, + How vast his judgments are, + And if you are resolv'd to Sin + To meet your God prepare. + Who hath his Magazines of Fire, + In Heaven and Earth and Seas, + Which always wait on his Command, + And run where'er he please. + If God the awful word but speak, + And bid the Fire run, + The Magazines together meet, + And like a furnace burn. + Above our Head, below our Feet, + God Treasures hath in Store; + And when he gives out his Command, + The Volcano's will roar. + Amazingly the Earth will quake, + The World a flaming be + When God, the great, the mighty God + Gives forth his just Decree. + + * * * * * + + "That man can't be prevail'd upon + Tho' with our strong desire, + To get prepar'd against the Day + When all the World on Fire + Shall burn and blaze about their Heads, + And they no Shelter have; + No Rock to hide their guilty Heads, + No, nor no watery Grave. + For Rocks will melt like Wax away + Before the dreadful Heat, + And Earth and Sea and all will flame + In one consuming Heap. + The Earth beneath abounds with Stores + Of Oils and Sulphurs too, + And Turfs and Coals, which all will Flame, + When God commands the blow. + The flaming Lightning which we see + Around the Heavens run, + Do livelily now represent + The Conflagration. + Those flaming magazines of God + Have fire enough in store, + And only wait their Lord's commands + To let us feel their power. + When once receiv'd they then will run, + They'll run from Pole to Pole, + And all the strength of Earth and Hell + Cannot their power controle. + Justly may we now stand amaz'd, + At God's abundant Grace, + To think so base and vile a World + Is not all in a Blaze; + When far the greatest part thereof + Are poor vile Infidels, + Among the Christian part thereof + Are sins as black as Hell." + +In conclusion, these "precious souls" are entreated to join with one +accord + + "In praising of the Holy Name, + Of the Eternal God." + +Earthquakes were at one time rather common in New England, but nothing to +be compared to their frequency in England. It is said that in what is +called the "mobile district," of Comrie, in Perthshire, during the winter +of 1839 and 1840, they had one hundred and forty earthquakes, being at the +rate of about one shock a day on an average; and it is added, "They seldom +do much harm." + +The following is a memorandum, probably nearly correct and complete, of +earthquakes experienced in Boston, between the years 1636 and 1817; and it +may be considered fortunate that they were not all commemorated by Puritan +poets. + + 1638. June 1. Great earthquake in Boston. + + 1639. Jan. 16. Another earthquake. + + 1643. March 5. Sunday morning another earthquake. + + 1658. A great earthquake. + + 1663. Jan. 26. Very great earthquake. + + 1669. April 3. An earthquake. + + 1727. Oct. 29. An earthquake. + + 1730. April 12. An earthquake. + + 1732. Sept. 5. An earthquake. + + 1737. Feb. 6. An earthquake. + + 1744. June 3. The earthquake commemorated. + + 1755. Nov. 18. A very great earthquake. About one hundred chimneys + thrown down, and other damage. + + 1757. July 8. An earthquake. + + 1761. March 12. An earthquake. + + 1761. Nov. 1. An earthquake. + + 1782. Nov. 29. An earthquake. + + 1783. Nov. 29. An earthquake. + + 1800. March 11. An earthquake. + + 1810. Nov. 9. An earthquake. + + 1817. Sept. 7. An earthquake. + + +DEBORAH: A BEE. + +Another broadside sheet, some seven by twelve, is entitled as above, and +divided into paragraphs, numbered from one to twenty, in prose. It is a +sort of sermon in which the Christian is compared to the Bee, or perhaps +placed in competition with the industrious and self-supporting insect. Its +positions, omitting most of the applications, are these: The bee is a +laborious, diligent creature; so is the Christian. The bee is a provident +creature; so is the Christian. The bee feeds on the sweetest and choicest +foods; so does the Christian. The bee puts all into the common stock; so +is the Christian of a generous, communicative temper. The bee is always +armed; so is the Christian with respect to his spiritual armor. Bees are a +sort of commonwealth; so Christians are likened to a city that is +compacted together. The bee, as it always has a bag of honey, has also a +bag of rank poison; so has the Christian, with the grace of God, a body of +sin and corruption, &c. Lastly, the bee lies dormant all winter; so the +Christian sometimes slumbers, &c. "Yet the hour is coming when all that +are in the graves shall awake and come forth, they that have done good, +unto the resurrection of life; but alas, they that have done evil, unto +the resurrection of damnation!" Sold by Kneeland & Green, in Queen Street. +Illustrated with a small fanciful engraving of a bee-hive, surrounded with +horns of plenty and decorative carving. + + +PROPOSED POPISH INVASION. + +Every thing which occurred in England, or elsewhere, in fact, having any +reference to Popery, however remote, was sure to interest the Puritans, +and demand their attention; and, it would seem, was sometimes provocative +of poetry. So when the "happy discovery of a cursed plot against the +church of God, Great Britain and her King," was announced by the King, on +the 15th of February, 1743 (i.e., 1744), a large hand-bill was issued from +the Boston press, to which the printer did not put his name, headed, "Good +news from London, to the rejoicing of every christian heart." This was the +discovery of the plot "for bringing in a young Popish pretender." The news +was received by an arrival at Portsmouth, N.H., in twenty-six days from +England, and included the message of the King to Parliament. The hand-bill +contained the message in which the King declares that "having received +undoubted intelligence that the eldest son of the pretender to his crown +is arrived in France, and that preparations are making there to invade +this kingdom, in concert with disaffected persons here," &c., his Majesty +acquaints the House of the matter in order that measures may be taken, &c. + +This is followed by a long anonymous poem, beginning,-- + + "Behold the French and Spaniards rage, + And people with accord + Combine, to take away the life + Of George, our sovereign lord. + + * * * * * + + "When George the first came to the throne, + Their rage began to burn, + And now they fain would execute + The same upon his son. + + "Their hellish breast being set on fire, + Even with the fire of Hell, + Nor Love, nor charms, nor clemency, + Can their base malice quell." + + * * * * * + +And so on through three columns, and then comes the + + +CONCLUSION. + + "Let all that openly profess, + The ways of Christ our Lord, + Not spare to tell how much such things + Are by their souls abhor'd. + + "Let every child of God now cry, + To the eternal one, + That George our sovereign lord and king + May ne'er be overcome. + + "That all his Foes may lick the Dust, + And melt like Wax away, + That joy and peace and righteousness + May flourish in his day." + +The proposed expedition, it is well known, never landed in England. The +combined fleet escaped an engagement, and the transports were wrecked and +scattered by a storm in the English Channel. + + +THE SCOTTISH REBELLION. + +"A short history of the Grand Rebellion in Scotland, or a brief account of +the rise and progress of Charles Stuart, the young pretender, and his +associates; and his seasonable defeat by His Majesty's Forces under the +command of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland." + +This remarkable production is printed on one side of a single sheet of +paper, seven by twelve, in verse, three columns. It begins,-- + + "From Rome the proud Pretender's come + Flush'd with conceits of Britain's Crown, + Imagining, poor silly Lad, + Those glorious Kingdoms to have had, + And all the churches of the Lord, + They've roll'd in seas of Purple Blood; + His grand commission from the Pope + Was Fire, Faggot, Sword, and Rope, + Or Boots, or Scourges, Cord and Whips, + For all poor vile Hereticks." + +The poet proceeds with the landing in Scotland, where the Popish priest +demised to him the land; the joining of the disaffected, the robbing of +the people:-- + + "They range about and seek for prey + Nor spare aught comes in their way; + They murder, steal, rob and destroy, + And many a goodly Town annoy." + +Flushed with victory, they move toward England, "and now to London drive +along." + + "Which brave Prince William quickly hears + And without any Dread or Fears, + Pursues the Rebels in full chase, + And lo, they fly before his Grace, + Who still pursues and overtakes, + And many a Highland captive makes. + + * * * * * + + The rest now fly, won't stand to Fight, + But back to Scotland make their flight. + And there like Beasts who've furious grown + They range about from Town to Town. + + * * * * * + + But Heaven beheld these bloody men, + No longer now would bear with them, + Inspires the Duke of Cumberland + To take the work into his hand, + To scourge this cursed barbarous Brood + For all their Rapine, Stealth, and Blood. + Away he goes, post haste he flies, + To face the raging Enemies, + To Scotland, where the wretches fled, + When chas'd from Carlisle, full of dread, + Where being come, his troops combine, + And all in lovely Consort join, + And strong Desires do now express, + To slay these Sons of Wickedness. + Great Joy and Gladness now was shown, + When to the Folk it was made known + That Cumberland, the brave, was come + To save them from expected Ruin." + +The people joining the Duke, the enemy was pursued, when-- + + "A church in which their stores did lay, + They blow'd up ere they ran away," + +after they had bid the people enter in, and many "precious souls at one +sad Blast, into eternity are cast." + + "But hard beset by British force + They dare not stay, or they'd do worse; + Some fly to mountains, some to dales, + When all their hellish Courage fails. + + * * * * * + + Flying I leave them, 'till we hear + The end of this most bloody war. + + * * * * * + + For which the thankful folk proclaim + Thanksgivings to the Almighty name, + And may we all now join with them, + And to their Thanks join our Amen." + +Sold by B. Gray, near the market. Without date; printed in 1744. + + + + +XII. + +REVOLUTIONARY PROCLAMATIONS. + + +Gen. Gage's administration of less than a year and a half in the "Province +of Massachusetts Bay," for he never had any government over the province +other than military, was prolific in proclamations, some of which are +rather curious. On the 1st of June, 1774, by order of Parliament and the +King, Boston Harbor was closed and possessed by ships of the British navy. +Nothing could enter or leave the port: wood as fuel could not be brought +from the islands, or merchandise or lumber removed from wharf to wharf by +water; nothing whatever could be water borne within a circle of sixty +miles, either to arrive or depart. At the same time British troops held +the town; and the government, such as it was, was removed to Salem, where +the General Court reassembled on the 7th of June. At this session, on the +17th, as the result of arrangements made by Samuel Adams and his +fellow-patriots, five delegates were chosen to represent the colony in the +proposed Continental Congress, at Philadelphia. As soon as these +proceedings, while yet in progress, reached Gen. Gage's ears by a tricky +tory, who got out of the hall by feigning a call of nature, he issued his +first proclamation, which Mr. Secretary Flucker, as he found the door +locked and could not get into the chamber, had to read on the stairs, as +follows:-- + + "Province of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. + + By the GOVERNOR. + + "A PROCLAMATION for dissolving the General-Court. + + "WHEREAS the Proceedings of the House of Representatives, in the + present Session of the General Court, make it necessary, for his + Majesty's Service, that the said General Court should be dissolved:-- + + "I have therefore thought fit to dissolve the said General Court, and + the same is hereby dissolved accordingly, and the Members thereof are + discharged from any further Attendance. + + "GIVEN under my Hand at Salem, the 17th Day of June, 1774, in the + Fourteenth Year of his Majesty's Reign. + + By his Excellency's Command,} + } T. GAGE. + THO'S FLUCKER, Secretary. } + + "GOD SAVE THE KING." + +Gen. Gage's next proclamation was against the existence of the famous +"Committee of Correspondence," which Samuel Adams had originated, and the +"solemn league and covenant" "to suspend all commercial intercourse with +the island of Great Britain," &c. And "in tenderness to the inhabitants of +this province," he issued this proclamation of warning. + +Then, as if to cap the climax of pretension and folly, not to say +hypocrisy, on the 25th of July, while he relied upon the counsels and +efforts of the tory party, issued what may be called a very curious +proclamation, such as possibly, under some circumstances, might have been +issued by Gov. Endicott, in the early days of New England Puritanism; but +the Puritans had long before this time passed out of power. The following +is the proclamation:-- + + MASSACHUSETTS BAY. + + By the GOVERNOR. A PROCLAMATION. + + _For the Encouragement of Piety, and Virtue, and for preventing and + punishing of vice, profanity and immorality._ + + In humble imitation of the laudable example of our most gracious + sovereign _George_ the third, who in the first year of his reign was + pleased to issue his Royal proclamation for the encouragement of piety + and virtue, and for preventing of vice and immorality, in which he + declares his royal purpose to punish all persons guilty thereof; and + upon all occasions to bestow marks of his royal favor on persons + distinguished for their piety and virtue: + + "I therefore, by and with the advice of his Majesty's Council, publish + this proclamation, exhorting all his Majesty's subjects to avoid all + hypocrisy, sedition, licentiousness, and all other immoralities, and + to have a grateful sense of all God's mercies, making the divine laws + the rule of their conduct. + + "I therefore command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, and other + Officers, to use their utmost endeavors to enforce the laws for + promoting religion and virtue, and restraining all vice and sedition; + and I earnestly recommend to all ministers of the gospel that they be + vigilant and active in inculcating a due submission to the laws of God + and man; and I exhort all the people of this province, by every means + in their power, to contribute what they can towards a general + reformation of manners, restitution of peace and good order, and a + proper subjection to the laws, as they expect the blessing of Heaven. + + "And I do further declare, that in the disposal of the offices of + honor and trust, within this province, the supporters of true religion + and good government shall be considered as the fittest objects of such + appointments. + + "And I hereby require the Justices of assize, and Justices of the + peace in this province, to give strict charge to the grand Jurors for + the prosecution of offenders against the laws: and that, in their + several courts they cause this proclamation to be publickly read + immediately before the charge is given. + + "_GIVEN at the Council Chamber in Salem, the 21st day of July, 1774, + in the fourteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the + Third by the Grace of GOD of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, + Defender of the Faith, &c._ + + "THOMAS GAGE. + + "By his Excellency's Command, + THOS. FLUCKER, Secry. + + "GOD SAVE THE KING." + +The gist of the proclamation, which was specially intended for the people +of Boston, for whose benefit the words "sedition and hypocrisy" were used, +was in the phrase, "submission to the laws of God _and man_." This +proclamation was not like the previous one, directed to the sheriffs; nor +was it ordered to be posted in the several towns of the province; nor was +it ordered to be read from the pulpits of the churches; but the justices +of the courts and grand juries were to see to its observance. It was, in +fact, a mere piece of gasconade on the part of the governor, in imitation +of his Majesty very likely; but, like the others, nobody either observed +it or troubled themselves about it; and it has very rarely been spoken of +since, if at all, by any historian. However it may be characterized, it +simply had the effect to exasperate the minds of the people, owing to the +insertion of _hypocrisy_ among the immoralities.[10] The proclamation +itself, as they thought, was the boldest piece of political hypocrisy the +government had yet perpetrated. It was much like every thing else which +the king, ministry, or governor had done from the time of the stamp-act, +and had a tendency to make matters worse instead of better. + +Gen. Gage's proclamation of the 12th of June, 1775, offering pardon to all +who shall lay down their arms, &c., is well known. It begins,-- + +"Whereas the infatuated multitude who have suffered themselves to be +conducted by certain well-known incendiaries and traitors in a fatal +progression of crimes against the constitutional authority of the state, +have at length proceeded to avowed rebellion," &c. ... "A number of armed +persons to the amount of many thousands assembled on the 19th of April," +&c. "In this exigency I avail myself of the last effort," and thereupon +offers "a full pardon to all who shall lay down their arms, excepting +Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whose offences are of too flagitious a +nature to admit of any other consideration than that of condign +punishment," &c. + +The proclamation was probably written by Gen. Burgoyne, and so little +attention was paid to it that the army continued intact at Cambridge, and +in exactly one week from its date occurred the battle of Bunker Hill, +which proved so "fatal" to more than a thousand British soldiers. In less +than four months after this time Gen. Gage "laid down his arms" and +returned to England; and a few months later, in March, 1776, the army and +the navy followed his example and left the country, taking the "Port Act" +with them, but leaving for the use of the colony, arms, ammunition, +provisions, and even medical stores. + + + + +XIII. + +CURIOSITIES OF THE MARKET. + + "The turnpike road to people's hearts, I find + Lies through their mouths, or I mistake mankind." + [Peter Pindar. + + +After arriving at Mishawam, and voting the church and that the minister +should be supported at the common charge, it became necessary to think of +providing in some way for the sustenance of the party. Although Gov. +Winthrop, when he arrived off the harbor, went up to Salem in a boat, and +was handsomely entertained by Gov. Endicott, whom he came to displace, +with a rich _venison paté_, such fare was not afterwards found to be very +plenty; and the strawberries, which those he left on board the ships found +on Cape Ann, were not always to be had, nor a very substantial food for +the settlers. Of course, the party had a supply of provisions,--a market +of their own which they brought with them; and, as nobody could become a +freeman or have a vote in public affairs unless he was a member of the +church, it is to be inferred that nobody would be allowed any thing to eat +only on the same condition; and this, if Peter Pindar was right, was a +facile method of conversion and making disciples of the most obdurate. +Hunting and fishing were no doubt readily resorted to as rather promising +pursuits, and possibly some thought may have been given to cornfields, +though there was no great anxiety for work. At all events, however +successful the hunting parties were, so much of their supply of provisions +was bartered with the Indians for furs that a scarcity of food was soon +experienced, and then they had to buy corn of them. Matters soon became +serious: for whatever might have been the primary object of the Puritans +in coming to this country, eating was not beyond a secondary +consideration, to say the least of it; and a market of supplies for the +material man became an important consideration then, and has been so ever +since. Dr. Johnson, who loved a good dinner and rarely found it at home, +thought "a tavern was the throne of human felicity;" but, of course, such +a notion as that never entered the minds of the Puritans. + +The first thanksgiving was for the safe arrival of the party, and the next +was for the arrival of the "Lion," or some other ship, with a supply of +food; and this, it is supposed, was not bartered off for furs. Indian +corn, which was a new thing to the settlers, was for a long time the +principal diet, occasionally modified with fish; but the truth is, how the +settlers managed to live through all this time, in such a climate, up to +the times that we know something about, is a complete mystery. + +Capt. Roger Clapp, who arrived at Hull on the 30th of May, 1630, about a +fortnight before Gov. Winthrop arrived at Salem, and who died in 1690-91, +described the state of things "in those days," in the following words:-- + + "It was not accounted a strange thing in those Days to drink Water, + and to eat Samp or Hominie without Butter or Milk. Indeed, it would + have been a strange thing to see a piece of Roast Beef, Mutton or + Veal; though it was not long before there was Roast Goat. After the + first Winter, we were very Healthy; though some of us had no great + Store of Corn. The Indians did sometimes bring Corn, and Truck with us + for Cloathing and Knives; and once I had a Peck of Corn or + thereabouts, for a little Puppy-Dog. Frost-fish, Muscles and Clams + were a Relief to many." + + +ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND FISHES. + +Wood, in his famous "New England's Prospect," gives some particulars about +game and hunting among the early settlers in 1639:-- + + "Having related unto you the pleasant situation of the country, the + healthfulness of the climate, the nature of the soil, with his + vegetatives, and other commodities; it will not be amiss to inform you + of such irrational creatures as are daily bred, and continually + nourished in this country, which do much conduce to the well-being of + the inhabitants, affording not only meat for the belly, but cloathing + for the back. The beasts be as followeth:-- + + "The kingly Lion, and the strong arm'd Bear, + The large limb'd Mooses, with the tripping Deer; + Quill-darting Porcupines, and Raccoons be + Castel'd in the hollow of an aged tree; + The skipping Squirrel, Rabbet, purblind Hare, + Immured in the self same castle are, + Lest red-ey'd Ferret, wily Foxes should + Them undermine, if rampir'd but with mould; + The grim-fac'd Ounce, and rav'nous howling Wolf, + Whose meagre paunch sucks like a swallowing gulf; + Black glistering Otters, and rich coated Bever, + The Civet scented Musquash smelling ever." + + +WHAT BEFELL A HUNTER. + + "Two men going a fowling, appointed at evening to meet at a certain + pond side, to share equally, and to return home; one of these gunners + having killed a Seal or Sea-calf, brought it to the pond where he was + to meet his comrade, afterwards returning to the sea-side for more + game, and having loaded himself with more Geese and Ducks he repaired + to the pond, where he saw a great Bear feeding on his seal, which + caused him to throw down his load, and give the Bear a salute; which + though it was but with goose-shot, yet tumbled him over and over; + whereupon the man supposing him to be in a manner dead, ran and beat + him with the handle of his gun. The Bear perceiving him to be such a + coward to strike him when he was down, scrambled up, standing at + defiance with him, scratching his legs, tearing his cloaths and face, + who stood it out till his six foot gun was broken in the middle; then + being deprived of his weapon, he ran up to the shoulders into the + pond, where he remained till the Bear was gone, and his mate come in, + who accompanied him home." + +The author gives a peculiar description of the animals named. Of the lion, +he says he had never seen one; but others "lost in the woods have heard +such terrible roarings as have made them much agast: which must be either +Devils or Lions;" so lions have it. The moose "is as big as an ox, slow of +foot, headed like a Buck, with a broad beam, some being two yards wide in +the head; their flesh is as good as beef, their hides good for cloathing." +He describes deer, rabbits, squirrels, &c. The small squirrel troubles the +planters so, that they have "to carry their Cats into the corn-fields till +their corn be three weeks old." "The beasts of offence be Squncks, +Ferrets, Foxes, whose impudence sometimes diverts them to the good Wives +Hen-roost, to fill their paunch." He gives a fearful account of the +wolves, which set on swine, goats, calves, &c., and care nothing for a +dog. + +Equally curious with these are his descriptions of the "beasts living in +the water," as the otter, musquash, &c., and of "the birds and fowls, both +of land and water." + + "The princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawk, + Whom in their unknown ways there's none can chalk; + The Humbird for some Queen's rich cage more fit, + Than in the vacant wilderness to sit; + The swift-winged Swallow sweeping to and fro, + As swift as arrows from Tartarian bow; + When as Aurora's infant day new springs, + There th' morning mounting Lark her sweet lays sings; + The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle Dove, + Who to her mate does ever constant prove; + The Turkey-pheasant, Heathcock, Partridge rare, + The carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare." + +The raven, screech-owl, heron, cormorant, and so on to geese, gulls, +mallards, teal, ducks, snipes, and many others. The fish also are +rehearsed in verse:-- + + "The king of waters, the sea-shouldering Whale, + The snuffing Grampus, with the oily Seal; + The storm-presaging Porpus, Herring-Hog, + Line shearing Shark, the Catfish, and Sea Dog; + The scale-fenc'd Sturgeon, wry-mouth'd Hollibut, + The flouncing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut; + Cole, Haddick, Hake, the Thornback, and the Scate, + Whose Slimy outside makes him seld' in date; + The stately Bass, old Neptune's fleeting post, + That tides it out and in from sea to coast; + Consorting Herrings, and the bony Shad, + Big-bellied Alewives, Mackrels richly clad + With rainbow colour, the Frostfish and the Smelt, + As good as ever Lady Gustus felt; + The spotted Lamprons, Eels, the Lamperies, + That seek fresh-water brooks with Argus eyes; + These watery villagers, with thousands more, + Do pass and repass near the verdant shore." + + +KINDS OF SHELL-FISH. + + "The luscious Lobster, with the Crabfish raw, + The brinish Oyster, Muscle, Perriwig, + And Tortoise fought by the Indian's Squaw, + Which to the flats dance many a winter's jig, + To dive for Cockles, and to dig for Clams, + Whereby her lazy husband's guts she crams." + +It was recommended to those who came over after Winthrop, to bring with +them a hogshead and a half of meal, "to keep him until he may receive the +fruit of his own labors, which will be a year and a half after his +arrival, if he land in May or June." Also, "malt, beef, butter, cheese, +pease, good wines, vinegar, and strong waters;" and in addition, a variety +of clothing, boots, shoes, implements, iron wares, stew-pans, +warming-pans, fish-hooks, and every conceivable thing for use or labor, +being assured that whatever they did not want, could be disposed of at a +profit. + + +MARKET SUPPLIES. + +One of the earliest accounts of the market supplies in Boston is that +written by a French refugee in 1687,--almost two hundred years ago. He +says,-- + + "An ox costs from twelve to fifteen crowns; a Cow, eight to ten; + Horses, from ten to fifty Crowns, and in Plenty. There are even wild + ones in the Woods, which are yours if you can catch them. Foals are + sometimes caught. Beef costs Two pence the Pound; Mutton, Two pence; + Pork, from two to three pence, according to the Season; Flour, + Fourteen shillings the one hundred and twelve Pound, all bolted; Fish + is very cheap, and Vegetables also; Cabbage, Turnips, Onions, and + Carrots abound here. Moreover, there are quantities of Nuts, + Chestnuts, and Hazelnuts wild. These nuts are small, but of wonderful + flavor. I have been told that there are other Sorts, which we shall + see in the Season. I am assured that the Woods are full of + Strawberries in the Season. I have seen Quantities of wild Grapevine, + and eaten Grapes of very good Flavor, kept by one of my friends. There + is no Doubt that the Vine will do well; there is some little planted + in the country which has grown. The Rivers are full of Fish, and we + have so great a Quantity of Sea and River Fish that no Account is made + of them." + +It is pretty certain that these things have been so ever since. + + +FAMILY BILL OF FARE. + +A later account than this, however, and one with which some who are now +living may be more or less familiar, or have heard of, is given as +follows:-- + + "The ordinary food of the early settlers here, for both breakfast and + supper, was bean porridge, with bread and butter. On Sunday morning + there was coffee in addition. Brown bread, made of rye and Indian, was + the staff of life, white bread being used only when guests were + present. Raked pumpkins (in their season) and milk composed a dish + said to be luxurious. [This dish is in common use among the country + people at the present time.] For dinner, twice every week, Sundays and + Thursdays, baked beans and baked Indian pudding, the latter being + served first. [This last custom has gone wholly out of practice; but + the Sunday dinner prevails to-day over the whole of New England, to a + very large extent.] Saturdays, salt fish; one day in every week, salt + pork and corned beef, and one day, also, when practicable, roasted + meat was the rule." + +It is surprising how continuously some of these customs have been kept up +and prevail. + + +SEARCHING FOR PROVISIONS. + +It is not to be denied that provisions have been scarce in Boston, at +times, since the days of the Puritans, hardly now to be realized. Long +before the Revolutionary period, in 1711, during one of the wars between +France and England, Admiral Sir Hovender Walker, with a fleet of fifteen +men-of-war, and forty transports with upwards of five thousand men, +arrived in the harbor on his way to the St. Lawrence River, for the +protection of Canada. He wanted to victual his ships, and applied to Capt. +Belcher (father of Gov. Jonathan Belcher), a rich and leading man, as +being the only person who could undertake the service, and he declined it. +Next to Mr. Andrew Faneuil, and he undertook it. Provisions were scarce +and the price put up, so that a supply could not be had, and the governor +was compelled to issue an "order for searching for provisions." The men, +during the stay of the fleet, were in camp at Noddle's Island, and it is +said that a formidable number of them deserted. + + +CONCLUSION. + +We have thus travelled over some of the old avenues, ways, customs, and +things, peaceful and warlike, more or less in connection with the early +settlement, the mature town, and the gorgeous city, from 1630 to 1880; +from the period of scarcity and deprivation to that of prosperity and +abundance. The task has been delightful, and whatever may be thought of +the ways and doings, and we may almost say the undoings, of the Puritans, +the town which they planted and the principles they promulgated, rather +than the intolerance they practised, have become permanent and sure. Now, +indeed, there is neither intolerance nor scarcity; and however much our +predecessors may have suffered we are now able to supply bread and beef to +millions of people less favorably circumstanced. Perhaps nothing more +distinctly or emphatically marks the character and quality of a people +than their "ways and means" of living. It has been said that Americans are +disposed to revel in big dinners; and, in fact, undertake to accomplish +every thing with a big dinner, or at least celebrate the accomplishment of +it in that way. One writer has said, if we welcome a guest it is done with +a dinner; if we inaugurate a stock company or start a charity, it is +pretty sure to have its relations with the market and the stomach. This +may be partly so. A good dinner, social and liberal, is the reconciler, +the inspiration, the motive power of good works generally; and what it +cannot do, or at least help to do, is pretty sure not to be accomplished. +Of course, all this is understood, and almost sure to be practised, so +that, when any thing comes up, instead of going to bed to sleep on it, we +hurry off to Parker's or Young's, or it may be, if the matter is very +staid and respectable, to the old Tremont, and eat on it. The custom is +in us--in the blood; it is Saxon, and comes naturally enough from the +mother country. In England, the great diner-out, Douglas Jerrold, who +knows all about it, says, "If an earthquake were to engulf all England +to-morrow, Englishmen would manage to meet, and dine somewhere among the +rubbish," as if the occasion needed to be celebrated in that way. + +There have been times, now fortunately more than a hundred years ago, when +our market could not be made to furnish a big dinner; when there was no +market; when the enemy were seizing all the sheep and cattle; when the +people were starving on salt provisions, and, in one instance at least, a +party of gentlemen were invited to dine off a roasted rat in Boston; and +again when a special request was made to the people, in consequence of the +necessities of the times, "not to have more than two dishes of meat on +their tables." But not long after this, on the 24th of January, 1793, +there was a grand festival in honor of French Liberty and Equality, when +an ox of more than a thousand weight was roasted entire, and drawn on a +car by fifteen horses, followed by other carriages with hogsheads of +punch, loaves of bread, &c., and a large procession of civil, military, +municipal officers, and citizens, through the principal streets to State +Street, where the table was spread and the dinner was served up in high +style. At the present time, it would be an easy matter to roast an ox +every day, and big dinners are regarded as of small account on the score +of rarity. Some philosopher has said, "Eating dinner is a task which, +above all others, requires the conscience pure, the mind easy, a reason +undisturbed, the senses critical, and the body and spirit perfectly at +rest." It may be said that the philosophers of the present day do not deem +eating a good dinner "a task;" and it is pretty certain the mass of the +people do not. It is to be hoped our market will never again be unprepared +to furnish a big dinner, on all reasonable occasions, supply a British +fleet, or meet the requirements of the people at home, or the necessities +of the race abroad. + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] The Second Volume of the Writings of the Author of the London Spy. +London: 1706. + +[2] The New England Tragedies in Prose, by Rowland H. Allen. + +[3] In the first interview between Governor Carver of Plymouth and the +Indian Chief Massasoit, "after salutations, the Governor kissing his hand +and the king kissing him, the Governor entertains him with some +refreshments, and then they agree on a league of friendship." March 22, +1621. + +[4] Walford Street, in Charlestown, we believe, has been cut off by the +Eastern Railroad freight tracks and likely to be lost. + +[5] William Paddy died in 1658, and the alley (now North Centre Street) +bore his name for more than a hundred years. When some changes were made +in the Old State House, in 1830, to accommodate the Boston Post Office, a +stone was dug up which proved to be his grave-stone, though it is a little +difficult to tell how it came there. On one side of it was the +inscription, "Here lyeth the body of Mr. William Paddy, aged 58 years. +Departed this life August--, 1658." And on the other side,-- + + "Here sleaps that + Blessed one whose lief + God help vs all to live + That so when time shall be + That we this world must lief + We ever may be happy + With blessed William Paddy." + +It may be concluded, we judge, that Paddy's Alley was well named. + +[6] In 1693, an eminent Quaker visited Boston, and afterwards wrote an +account of his visit. He says, being a stranger and traveller, he could +not but observe the barbarous and unchristian welcome he had into Boston. +"Oh, what a pity it was," said one, "that all your society were not hanged +with the other four!" + +[7] Faust invented printing, 1450. + +[8] Printing introduced into England, 1571. + +[9] The "Lion Tavern," or possibly the "Green Dragon." + +[10] Gordon's History, Vol. I., p. 253. + + + + +LIST OF PUBLICATIONS. + + +_Siege and Evacuation of Boston and Charlestown_, with a brief account of +Pre-Revolutionary Buildings. By WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. 8vo. pp. 64. 50 +cents. + + "In this pamphlet Mr. Wheildon has gathered together, and put in a + compact and readable form, such records as are accessible of the + stirring events of a hundred years ago. Nothing could be more timely; + and whoever wishes to acquaint himself with the events of 17th of + March, 1776, will find what he seeks told in a simple and modest style + between the covers of this pamphlet."--_Boston Journal._ + + "His account of the Siege and Evacuation of Boston and Charlestown, is + by far the most complete and the best that has been + prepared."--_Index._ + + "It is the most concise and accurate history of this interesting year + of the Revolution published."--_Herald._ + + "To those who have read the history of the Battle of Bunker Hill, by + the same author, William W. Wheildon, it is unnecessary to praise this + work which covers a longer period."--_New Haven Palladium._ + + "It is an interesting story as told by Mr. Wheildon, who gives the + chief credit for the conduct of the military operations, not to + Washington, but to the Massachusetts officers."--_Boston Daily + Advertiser._ + + +_Sentry or Beacon Hill: Its Beacon and Monument_, 1635 to 1812. By WILLIAM +W. WHEILDON. 8vo. pp. 120, with plans, heliotype plates, and engravings. +75 cents and $1.25. + +EXTRACTS FROM SOME PRIVATE LETTERS. + + "I am delighted with your new book Beacon Hill, &c. Nothing of the + kind ever pleased me more." + + "I have read and re-read your exhaustive history of Beacon Hill. It + revives a thousand delightful memories of my boyhood; all its + statements tally with my recollections." + + "I enjoyed the reading of your book on Beacon Hill very highly. You + have certainly made a careful study of that field, and have given me a + large amount of information. I know much more about ancient Boston + than I did before." + + +_Paul Revere's Signal Lanterns_, April 18, 1775. By WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. +8vo. pp. 50. Concord, 1878. + + "Mr. Wheildon considers, one by one, the various statements that have + been made and theories broached concerning the display of lights from + the Old North Church, on the evening of April 18, 1775. The conclusion + to which he arrives seems to be supported by both documentary evidence + and local tradition."--_Transcript._ + + "An occasional doubt has been thrown on the authenticity of the story; + but the author of this pamphlet has evidently made a patient + investigation, and appears to have established a very satisfactory + case."--_Daily Globe._ + + "The author introduces many fresh facts having a direct bearing upon + the once disputed position of the lanterns; and in consequence has + produced a work of great historical value, in addition to many others + of a similar nature from his pen."--_Commercial Bulletin._ + + [Since the publication of this pamphlet, the city committee have + purchased two hundred copies of the work.] + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_. + +Passages in Blackleter font are indicated by =Blackleter=. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Curiosities of History, by William W. 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Wheildon—A Project Gutenberg eBook + </title> + + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + + body {margin-left: 12%; margin-right: 12%;} + + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right; font-style: normal;} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + + hr {width: 33%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + .dent {padding-left: 2em;} + + .giant {font-size: 200%} + .huge {font-size: 150%} + .large {font-size: 125%} + .gothic {font-size: 115%; font-weight: bold;} + + .blockquot {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .poem {margin-left: 15%;} + .hang {margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em;} + + .right {text-align: right;} + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .smcaplc {text-transform: lowercase; font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + p.dropcap:first-letter{float: left; padding-right: 3px; font-size: 200%; line-height: 83%; width:auto;} + .caps {text-transform:uppercase;} + + a:link {color:#0000ff; text-decoration:none} + a:visited {color:#6633cc; text-decoration:none} + + .spacer {padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em;} + + .verts {margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Curiosities of History, by William W. Wheildon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Curiosities of History + Boston, September Seventeenth, 1630-1880 + +Author: William W. Wheildon + +Release Date: December 27, 2011 [EBook #38417] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="" /></div> +<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> + +<p class="center"><span class="giant"><i>Curiosities of History:</i></span></p> + +<p class="center"><span class="huge">BOSTON</span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge"><span class="smcap">September Seventeenth</span>,</span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">1630-1880.</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><small>BY</small><br /> +<span class="large">WILLIAM W. WHEILDON.</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><i>SECOND EDITION.</i></p> +<p> </p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> +<tr><td>“Ringing clearly with a will<br /> +What she was is Boston still.”<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;">—<span class="smcap">Whittier.</span></span></td></tr></table> + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">BOSTON:<br /> +LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS.<br /> +NEW YORK:<br /> +CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM.<br /> +1880.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright</span>, 1880,<br /> +<span class="smcap">By</span> WILLIAM W. WHEILDON.</p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><i>Author’s Address:</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">Box 229, Concord, Mass.</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p class="center"><i>Franklin Press:<br /> +Rand, Avery, & Company,<br /> +117 Franklin Street,<br /> +Boston.</i></p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<p class="center"><small>AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED<br /> +<i>TO MY WIFE</i>,<br /> +JULIET REBECCA WHEILDON,<br /> +IN COMMEMORATION OF THE</small><br /> +<strong>Fifty-first Year of our Married Life,</strong><br /> +<small><i>MAY 28, 1880</i>.</small><br /> +<br /> +WILLIAM W. WHEILDON.</p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + + +<p>It seems proper to say in offering this little volume to the public, that +no attempt has been made to exhaust the subjects of which the papers +respectively treat; but rather to enlarge upon matters of historical +interest to Boston, which have been referred to only in a general way by +historians and previous writers.—This idea rather than any determination +to select merely curious topics, has in a large measure influenced the +writer; and the endeavor has been to treat them freely and fairly, and +present what may be new, or comparatively new, concerning them, from such +sources as are now accessible and have been open to the writer. It is not, +however, intended to say that an impulse towards some curious matters of +history has not been indulged, and, indeed, considering the subjects and +materials which presented themselves, could scarcely have been avoided, +which was by no means desirable. Although it has been impertinently said, +that “the most curious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> thing to be found is a woman not curious,” we +submit that curiosity is a quality not to be disparaged by wit or sarcasm, +but is rather the germ and quality of progress in art and science and +history.</p> + +<p>It has been impossible to correct or qualify, or perhaps we might say +avoid, all the errors, mistakes, or contradictions, which have been +encountered in preparing these pages; and very possibly we may have +inadvertently added to the number. At all events, with our best endeavors +against being drawn into or multiplying errors, we lay no claim to +invulnerability in the matter of accuracy, or immaculacy in the way of +opinions; and we very sincerely add, if errors or mistakes have been made +and are found, we shall be glad to be apprised of them. There are errors +in our history which it is scarcely worth the while to attempt to correct, +although they are not to be countenanced and should not be repeated.</p> + +<p>A period of two hundred and fifty years since the settlement of the town +includes and covers a history of no ordinary character, involving progress +and development, not merely of customs, manners and opinions, but of +principles, passions and government. The city is a creation, as it were, +by the art and industry of man; and, with the reverence of Cotton Mather +himself, we add, “With the help of God!” and we <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span>venture the comparison +that no change or growth, improvement or embellishment, is to be found in +the settlement or the city, that may not be paralleled in the growth, +advancement and elevation of its people: indeed, we go even farther than +this, the material progress to be seen around us, in all its multifarious +forms and combinations, item by item, small or great, is indicative only +of the advancement of the people, and marks the progress of moral, mental +and intellectual power—of art, science and knowledge.</p> + +<p>We take this opportunity to acknowledge our indebtedness to several +friends for the loan and use of many rare and valuable works in the +preparation of this history, and in particular to Messrs. John A. Lewis +and John L. DeWolf, of Boston, and Mr. J. Ward Dean, of the N. E. His. +Gen. Society.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></p> +<h2>TABLE OF CONTENTS:</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#I">I.</a></td><td> Topography of Boston.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">The Peninsula.<br /> +Two Islands.<br /> +Anne Pollard.<br /> +Curious Descriptions.<br /> +The Mill Creek.<br /> +Great South Cove.<br /> +The North Cove.<br /> +Boston Common.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#II">II.</a></td><td> The Public Ferries.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_27">27</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">The Great Ferry.<br /> +Order of Court, Nov. 1630.<br /> +Lease to Edward Converse.<br /> +Ferry to Winnisimmet;<br /> +Grant to Harvard College.<br /> +Bad “peag,” money.<br /> +Wampompeague.<br /> +Judge Sewall over the Ice.<br /> +Charlestown mother of Boston.<br /> +Andros Revolution and Fires.<br /> +Portsmouth Stage.<br /> +Paul Revere crossing.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#III">III.</a></td><td> The Boston Cornfields.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">Spragues at Charlestown;<br /> +Dividing the Land;<br /> +Corn from the Indians;<br /> +Fencing the Fields, &c.<br /> +The Cornfields and Pastures;<br /> +The Granary.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#IV">IV.</a></td><td> Puritan Government.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">Authority of the Company.<br /> +Ex post facto Laws.<br /> +Punished for a pun.<br /> +Fines and Ear-cropping.<br /> +Whipping through three towns.<br /> +Set in his own Stocks.<br /> +Regulating the Dress of Women.<br /> +The “Body of Liberties.”<br /> +Ward on Kissing Women.<br /> +John Dunton on the Laws.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#V">V.</a></td><td> Narragansett Indians.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">Murder of Mr. Oldham.<br /> +Visit of Miantonomo to Gov. Vane, Treaty, &c.<br /> +Narragansett Art.<br /> +Coining money.<br /> +Marriage of Children.<br /> +Egyptian Custom.<br /> +Marriage of Cleopatra.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#VI">VI.</a></td><td> Names of Places, Streets, &c.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">Curious Indian Names;<br /> +Names of Streets, Taverns, &c.;<br /> +Paddy Alley and William Paddy;<br /> +Dates of the Streets and Lanes;<br /> +Royal Names, Names of Patriots, Puritans and Union Names;<br /> +Names of Taverns and Shops;<br /> +Number of Streets and Wharves.</td></tr> +<tr><td> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span></td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#VII">VII.</a></td><td> Persecution of the Quakers.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">Church Government and Civil Government.<br /> +Interference of the King.<br /> +Arrival of Quakers, 1656.<br /> +Execution of Quakers.<br /> +Order from the King, 1661.<br /> +Hutchinson’s Opinion.<br /> +Triumph of the Quakers.<br /> +Their Meeting House.<br /> +Meetings discontinued.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#VIII">VIII.</a></td><td> First Newspaper in America.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">First ever issued—in writing.<br /> +Gazette in Venice, 1583.<br /> +English Mercury, 1588.<br /> +“Publick Occurrences” 1690.<br /> +Legislative Interference.<br /> +To cure the ‘Spirit of Lying.’<br /> +The Christian Indians.<br /> +Massacre of French Indians.<br /> +General character of the paper and its reading matter.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#IX">IX.</a></td><td> Curious Boston Lectures.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_98">98</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">History of Boston;<br /> +“Boston’s Ebenezer;”<br /> +A Stone of Help;<br /> +Widows and Orphans;<br /> +Hope in God;<br /> +Appeal to the Public Officers;<br /> +Household Religion;<br /> +Fanaticism and Declamation.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#X">X.</a></td><td> Remarkable Proclamations. 1774-5.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_104">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent"><i>March 29</i>, War against France;<br /> +<i>October 18</i>, On account of a Riot;<br /> +<i>October 19</i>, War against Indians;<br /> +<i>October 20</i>, Thanksgiving Day;<br /> +<i>Nov. 2</i>, Rewards for Indian scalps;<br /> +1745, <i>March 25</i>, For a Fast Day;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"</span><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>July 8</i>, Thanksgiving Day;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"</span><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>Sept. 6</i>, For a Fast Day;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"</span><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>November 22</i>, Sailor’s Riot;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"</span><span style="margin-left: 1em;"><i>November 25</i>, Thanksgiving.</span></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XI">XI.</a></td><td> Popular Puritan Literature.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_115">115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">An Earthquake in Boston;<br /> +Deborah; a Bee;<br /> +Popish Invasion of England;<br /> +The Scotch Rebellion.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XII">XII.</a></td><td> Revolutionary Proclamations.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">Gen. Gage’s Administration;<br /> +Shutting up of Boston Harbor;<br /> +Election of delegates to Congress;<br /> +General Gage’s Proclamation;<br /> +Against non-importation league.<br /> +Remarkable Proclamation for the promotion of Piety and Virtue.<br /> +Its Character and Observance.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="right"><a href="#XIII">XIII.</a></td><td> Curiosities of the Market.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td class="dent">Supplies of Gov. Winthrop;<br /> +Bartering for Furs;<br /> +Scarcity of Provisions;<br /> +Hunting, Game, Fish, &c.;<br /> +Living in the Olden Time;<br /> +Supplies for a British fleet.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="center"><small>CONCLUSION.</small></td></tr></table> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[Pg xi]</a></span></p> + + +<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[Pg xii]</a></span></p> +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img1tmb.jpg" alt="Map of Dorchester, Boston and Charlestown, the Three Peninsulas, showing their Bays and Coves, Castle Island, Roxbury and Cambridge." /><br /> +<a href="images/img1.jpg"><small>Larger Image</small></a></div> +<p> </p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="I" id="I"></a>I.</h2> + +<p class="center"><span class="large">TOPOGRAPHY OF BOSTON.</span></p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">THE ORIGINAL PENINSULA.</p> + +<p>There is a line of Cowper to the effect that “God made the country, and +man made the town;” and there is probably no more striking evidence of the +truthfulness of the axiom than is to be found in the history and growth of +Boston, between the years 1630 and 1880, confirming in a remarkable manner +Capt. Wood’s prophecy concerning the town, in 1650: viz., “whose +continuall inlargement presages some sumptuous city.” The original +territory which has formed the basis, so to speak, of Boston proper, was a +peninsula, and appeared like two islands, or, by the continued operation +of the sea, was likely to become so. Its distinguishing feature was to be +found in its three prominent hills, or, perhaps, its two hills and its +three-peaked mountain. These were her jewels: they have since represented +her fame, her history, her sentiments; for these were all wrapped around +them. The peninsula was a point of land projected into the harbor, with a +narrow neck connecting it with the mainland, and another narrow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> place in +the vicinity of what is now Dock Square, which was once quite open to the +harbor. In length from the south line at Roxbury, it was something less +than three miles (two and three-fourths and two hundred and thirty-eight +yards). Its width at the widest point, between Wheelwright’s wharf +(afterwards Rowe’s, and now Foster’s) to Barton’s Point, Leverett Street, +was something over one mile, and its circumference about four miles.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">CURIOUS EARLY DESCRIPTIONS.</p> + +<p>The first impression of the “island” which has been recorded is that of +Anne Pollard, who died in Boston, Dec. 6, 1725, at the age of 105 years, +and left over one hundred descendants. She always said that she came over +from Charlestown, in 1630, in the first boat that crossed with Gov. +Winthrop’s party, and, being what might now be called a romping girl for +those times, ten years of age, was “the first to jump ashore;” and she +afterwards described the place “as being at that time very uneven, +abounding in small hollows and swamp, and covered with blueberry and other +bushes.” We do not think there is any one inclined to dispute this +statement, or question its truthfulness.</p> + +<p>There are several descriptions of early Boston, topographical and +otherwise, which have been quoted by subsequent writers upon the subject, +rather as curious and original than as having any particular merit in +themselves. First among these is that of Capt. Edward Johnson, in his +“Wonder-Working Providence of Sion’s Saviour in New England,” written<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +about 1640. He describes it as surrounded by the brinish flood, “saving +one small Istmos which gives free access to the neighbor townes,” and +says, “At their first landing the hideous thickets in this place were such +that wolfes and beares nurst up their young from the eyes of all +beholders.... The forme of this Towne is like a hearte, naturally situated +for fortifications, having two hills on the frontice part thereof next the +sea.” These were Fort and Mill (Copps’) Hills. “Betwixt these two strong +armes lies a large cove or bay, on which the chiefest part of the town is +built, overtopped with a third hill” (Sentry or Beacon Hill). There were +two smaller hills on the Common, on one of which Gen. Gage afterwards +built a battery, when the town was in his military possession, and on the +other a powder-house.</p> + +<p>Another curious description of Boston is given in Wood’s “New England’s +Prospect:”—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">“Boston is two miles North-east from Roxberry. His situation is very +pleasant, being a Peninsula hemm’d in on the south side with the Bay +of Roxberry, and on the north side with Charles River, the marshes on +the back side being not half a quarter of a mile over; so that a +little fencing will secure their cattle from the woolves. It being a +Necke and bare of wood, they are not troubled with those great +annoyances, wolves, rattlesnakes and musquetoes.... This Necke of Land +is not above four miles in compasse, in forme almost square, having on +the south side at one corner a great broad hill, whereon is planted a +Fort, which can command any ship as shee sayles into any Harbour +within the still Bay. On the north side is another Hill equall in +bignesse, whereon stands a winde mill. To the north-west is a high +Mountaine, with three little rising Hills on the top of it, wherfore +it is called Tramount.... This town although it be neither the +greatest, nor the richest, yet is the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> most noted and frequented, +being the Center of the Plantations, where the monthly Courts are +kept. Here likewise dwells the Governor. This place hath very good +land, affording rich Corne-fields, and fruitful gardens, having +likewise sweete and pleasant springs.”</p> + +<p>There were two large coves projecting into the peninsula,—one from the +harbor and one from Charles River, nearly opposite to each other, and +producing the narrow portion of the land already spoken of, so that if the +peninsula was not formed of two islands originally, as has been supposed, +the cutting of a creek across this narrow portion, nearly on the line of +Blackstone Street, and uniting the waters of the two coves, had the effect +practically to make it so, at least at such times as the waters of Charles +River and the harbor met across the neck, near Roxbury; so that the +peninsula can hardly be said to have been heart-shaped, much less square.</p> + +<p>But the most curious description of Boston, though it may hardly be called +such, is that given by Edward Ward—a low, but ingenious and scandalous +author, whose book cannot enter a decent presence—in his “Trip to New +England.”<a name='fna_1' id='fna_1' href='#f_1'><small>[1]</small></a> He says of “Boston and the Inhabitants,”—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“On the south-west side of Massachusetts Bay is Boston, whose name is +taken from the Town in Lincolnshire, and is the Metropolis of all New +England. The houses, in some parts, join as in London. The buildings, +like their women, being neat and handsome. And their streets, like the +hearts of the male inhabitants, are paved with pebble.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>“In the chief or High Street there are stately edifices, some of which +have cost the owners two or three thousand pounds the raising, which I +think plainly proves two old adages true, viz., That a fool and his +money is soon parted; and, Set a beggar on horseback he’ll ride to the +devil; for the fathers of these men were tinkers and pedlars.</p> + +<p>“To the glory of religion, and the credit of the town, there are four +churches, built with clapboards and shingles, after the fashion of our +meeting houses; which are supply’d by four ministers, to whom some, +very justly, have applied these epithets, one a scholar, the second a +gentleman, the third a dunce, and the fourth a clown.”</p></div> + +<p>These extracts afford no idea of the scandalous character of the book, nor +do even sentences like these: “The women, like the men, are excessive +smokers.” “They smoke in bed, smoke as they knead their bread, smoke +whilst they are cooking their victuals, smoke at prayers,” &c. “Eating, +drinking, smoking, and sleeping take up four parts in five of their time,” +&c. “Rum, alias kill-devil, is as much ador’d by the American English, as +a dram of brandy is by an old billingsgate,” &c. We can give our readers +no further idea of the gross and indecent character of the whole volume, +without offending in the way the author has done.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">THE SOUTH COVE.</p> + +<p>The South Cove extended from what is now Batterymarch Street to near the +North Battery, at the foot of Fleet Street, curving inward as far as Kilby +Street and near the old State House, with creeks extending towards Spring +Lane, Milk and Federal Streets. Dearborn says, “Winthrop’s Marsh, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>afterwards called Oliver’s Dock, was near Kilby Street, and between the +corner and Milk Street, a creek ran up to Spring Lane.” An aged citizen +once said he remembered hearing Dr. Chauncy say that he had taken smelts +in Milk Street; and a Mr. Marshall remembered that when a boy they were +caught in Federal Street, near the meeting-house, (Dr. Channing’s). +Another aged inhabitant is reported to have said, that, in the great storm +of 1723, “we could sail in boats from the South Battery to the rise of +ground in King Street,” near the old State House. Dock Square was at the +head of a small cove, the tide rising nearly to the pump, which was +formerly there, at the foot of Cornhill. The statue of Sam Adams, recently +erected, is directly over the well in which the pump stood.</p> + +<p>A narrow point or tongue of land projected into the cove between the Town +Dock (then near Faneuil Hall) and Mill Creek, and upon this land stood the +celebrated triangular warehouse,—a remarkable building for the time. It +stood opposite the Swing Bridge, and a little north of the dock, measuring +forty-one feet on Roebuck Passage (named after the tavern near it), and +fifty feet on the back side. Near this place, in the small square formed +by the junction of Ann, Union, and Elm Streets, was the Flat Conduit, so +called. Ann Street was originally Conduit Street as far as Cross Street; +and Union Street, in 1732, lead from the conduit to the Mill Pond.</p> + +<p>Around the South Cove, as has been said, in the early time the chiefest +part of the town was built; and from thence it gradually expanded along +the shore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> to the south and to the west. John Josselyn, in 1638, visited +Boston, and wrote a volume entitled “New England Rarities,” in which he +says, “It was then rather a village than a town, there being not above +twenty or thirty houses.”</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">THE NORTH COVE.</p> + +<p>The Cove on the north side of the peninsula, Charles River, commenced near +the Charlestown Ferry, curving inwardly nearly to Prince Street, Baldwin +Place, Haymarket Square, nearly on the line of Leverett Street, to +Barton’s Point, where the almshouse formerly stood. “The Mill Pond,” as it +was afterwards called, says Shurtleff, “was bounded by portions of Prince +and Endicott Streets on the east, and Leverett Street, Tucker’s pasture, +and Bowling Green on the west; and on the south it covered the whole space +of Haymarket Square. Most of the estates on what is now Salem Street, ... +and on the west on Hawkins Street and Green Street, extended to the Mill +Pond Cove.” The margin of the cove, it is said by another, “passed across +Union, Friend, and Portland Streets, to the bottom of Hawkins Street; +thence westerly, across Pitts and Gouch Streets, to Leverett Street, which +at one time was called Mill Alley. The descent of the land here was very +steep. A street was laid out on the line of Temple Street [Staniford] from +Leverett Street to Beacon Hill, where steps led to the top of the hill, a +hundred and thirty-eight feet above the sea.”</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">THE MILL CREEK.</p> + +<p>The Creek, or the Mill Creek, as it was afterwards called, was undoubtedly +prior to the formation of the Mill Pond; and it is doubtful if it was ever +included in it, although Shaw conveys the idea that the North Cove was +simply a piece of salt marsh, and that the creek was used for the purpose +of covering it with water at flood-tide, and thus forming a mill-pond. As +early as the 5th of July, 1631, an order was passed by the Court of +Assistants, “that £30 be levied on the several plantations for clearing a +creek, and opening a passage to the new town,”—the town at this time +being the settlement around the South Cove; so that the “clearing of a +creek” was “a work of industry” on a small scale for such an enterprise. +It was made across the narrow neck of land between the two great coves, +and while it united the waters of Charles River with the harbor, divided +the peninsula into two islands or sections. The creek, whatever its +relations may have been to the Mill Pond in the later years of its +existence, was used by the boats coming from the Middlesex Canal, which +terminated at Charlestown Neck, and furnished to them a shorter way to the +harbor with their freights of wood, lumber, &c. A few extracts from the +town records will afford some further insight into the character and uses +of the creek.</p> + +<p>In 1648, in describing the property of Thomas Marshall, who owned some +land near the Water Mill, Mill Creek, it is stated, “with liberty of +egress and regress in said creek with boats, lighters, and other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +vessels;” and it is added, “Thomas Marshall shall not build any nearer the +creek than the now dwelling-house of said Milom, and that he shall not +hinder the mills going by any vessel in the creek.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1656, Aug. 25.—Butchers may throw their “garbidge” into the Mill +Creek over the drawbridge, and in no other place. [The drawbridge was +in Ann Street.]</p> + +<p>1659, Oct. 20.—As the people were returning from the execution of +Robinson and Stevenson [Quakers], the draw of the drawbridge fell upon +a crowd of them, mortally wounding a woman, and severely hurting +several others.</p> + +<p>1691, August.—A fire broke out on Saturday evening, “consuming about +fourteen houses, besides warehouses and brue houses from the Mill +Bridgh down half way to the Draw Bridgh.”</p> + +<p>1698, Nov. 6.—Mr. James Russell of Charlestown and Mr. John +Ballentine of Boston, or “whoever else may be concerned, or owners of +the bridge over the Mill Creek, are ordered forthwith to repair the +pavement on each side of the bridge, and to move the gutters beside +it, that it might be passable for horse and cart, according to the +grant of the Town, or pay 20<i>s.</i> a week till it should be done.”</p> + +<p>1712, March 10.—Ordered to make the draw-bridge (so called) in Ann +Street a fast, firm bridge the width of the street. A committee was +appointed to inquire if any damage be sustained by anybody in making +the bridge in question a “fast bridge.”</p></div> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">THE MILL POND.</p> + +<p>The Mill Pond was formed by the building of a causeway across the head of +the cove, as the street now runs, where there was, it would seem, a sort +of Indian causeway, or pathway, at some prior time. It is represented by +writers on the subject to have been built from Leverett Street to the +Charlestown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> Ferry; but as this would include the creek, built some ten or +twelve years before, this seems to be impossible; for if the creek was +connected with the pond, without a gate to shut it off, there could be no +mill-power. The creek, therefore, must have been separated from the pond +by a gate, while there was a gate from the pond into Charles River.</p> + +<p>However, the causeway was built, and the mill-pond and the water-power it +furnished, used for more than a hundred years without any special +publicity or inquiry concerning them. In fact, it would seem as if the +subject, and the large piece of territory involved, had been pretty much +forgotten; so that in 1765, in March, a committee was appointed to inquire +“by what terms the mill-owners held the mill-pond mills.” In May +following, this committee reported, that on the 31st of July, 1643, there +was granted to Henry Simons, George Burden, John Hill, and their partners, +all the cove on the north-west side of the causeway leading towards +Charlestown, with all the salt marsh bordering thereupon, not formerly +granted, on these conditions: that within three years they erect thereon +one or more corn-mills, “and maintain the same forever; also make a gate +ten feet wide to open with the flood for the passage of boats into the +cove,” &c. This gate was also to be “maintained forever.”</p> + +<p>The Mill Pond, it is said, included about fifty acres,—nearly as large as +the north end island,—and, of course, must have furnished during the time +it was available—from an hour or two after full tide until an hour or two +before the next tide, night and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> day—a very large and extensive +water-power, and was, no doubt, though probably not half used, a very +valuable property.</p> + +<p>It is stated by Drake, as if it were a consequence of the action of the +committee, that, “four years after the above report, a committee took +possession of the premises, as having reverted to the town.” These +proceedings, it will be noticed, all refer to the “mill-pond mills,” but +may be presumed to include the pond and the whole grant made in 1643; so +that in 1769 the property was in the hands of the town, as appears from +these statements.</p> + +<p>After this time, by some means or other, the Mill Pond Company, or +Corporation, came into possession of the property, as Shaw says, “for the +consideration of five dollars;” and in 1807, the town became a partner in +the matter of tilling it up, the town to have the streets, we presume, and +one-eighth of the lots filled within twenty years. Permission was also +given to use the gravel of Beacon Hill for the purpose. The filling was +completed more than fifty years ago, and the entire space has long been +covered with buildings, and in 1832 included a theatre. The Boston and +Maine Railroad Station stands over the creek; and the large depot +buildings of the Fitchburg, Eastern, and Lowell Railroads are all on land +taken from the river outside the ancient causeway: so that no one of the +great railroad depots in the city stands upon the original land of the +town.</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">CONCLUSION.</p> + +<p>Thus we have seen what were the features and topographical characteristics +of the original peninsula which forms the groundwork, as it were, of the +city proper of to-day. In the steady march of progress and improvements +which have marked its growth for two hundred and fifty years, such changes +and enlargements have been made, that neither its early outlines or its +original shape are any where to be observed. The great coves on either +side of the town have disappeared; and the renowned Tri-mountain, around +which so much of history gathered, and so much of puritanism and +patriotism were enshrined, is shorn of its ancient prestige, although +still, as it were, the summit of State authority; and of “Corne Hill,” +whereon the settlers of Boston, Charlestown, Roxbury, and Dorchester, in +1632, built the first fort for the defence of the settlement, not a +vestige now remains.</p> + +<p>Yet, broad and extensive as these improvements and enlargements of the +original peninsula have been, they are at least equalled, if not exceeded, +by what has been accomplished in other parts of the town; so that Boston +proper—at first two islands, or nearly so, and afterwards a +peninsula—has long ceased to be either the one or the other, and must now +be regarded as a portion of the mainland. And this, too, while Charles +River, by encroachments upon its bed on both sides, the numerous wharves +projecting into it, and the bridges, railroads, and other structures +resting upon its bottom, has been reduced in its <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>proportions to one-third +of its original size, and, in fact, has almost ceased to be a river in the +proper sense of that term. So also on the south side of the town: Four +Point Channel, which reached to Dover-street bridge, is now a narrow +stream; and the South Bay, which lay between Roxbury and South Boston, has +been greatly reduced in its proportions, and is crossed by the New England +Railroad. So that it may be said, the city proper to-day stands +consolidated on one side of the ancient neck with Roxbury and Dorchester, +and on the other with Roxbury and Brookline. There still remain, however, +a section of Charles River, forming a bay of itself, between Boston, +Cambridge, and Brookline, and a considerable portion of the South Bay +between Roxbury and South Boston. Brookline—originally Muddy Brook—was +formerly considered as belonging to Boston, and its lands were apportioned +among the early settlers of the town for agricultural purposes and the +keeping of cattle. It is now nearly surrounded by the enlarged city, +Brighton and Roxbury both belonging to Boston.</p> + +<p>There is, however, one feature of Boston which may be said to remain +intact, and that is <span class="smcap">Boston Common</span>. When the settlers bought the peninsula +of William Blackstone, or all his interest in it, excepting six acres, +which he reserved for his own occupation, “the town laid out a place for a +training-field, which ever since and now is used for that purpose, and for +the feeding of cattle.” This was undoubtedly the origin of Boston Common; +and the date of the transaction, as appears from the town records, was on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +“the 10th daye of the 9th month, 1634,” which, as the year commenced with +March, would be November, 1634. It has undergone many changes, some +enlargement by filling up the marsh on the river side, and numerous +improvements in its general appearance by laying out its malls and walks, +setting out trees, excluding cattle, walling around Crescent Pond +(formerly Frog Pond), introduction of the Cochituate water and fountains, +and, last, by the erection of the Army and Navy Monument on its highest +elevation, once occupied as a fortification against its rightful owners by +Gen. Gage and Gen. Howe.</p> + +<p>Thus we have seen Boston as it was in 1630 and subsequent +years,—originally one of three prominent peninsulas on the coast of New +England, known by the Indians as Shawmut, Mishawam, and Mattapan, and +afterwards, by the settlers, as Boston, Charlestown, and Dorchester (now +South Boston). Each of these was connected with the mainland by a narrow +neck of its own, and now all three, with the addition of Roxbury, West +Roxbury, Brighton, and Noddle’s Island (East Boston), are included in the +present metropolis, while Muddy Brook (Brookline) and Winnisimmet +(Chelsea), which were originally attached to Boston, are not included +within her present limits. The growth and expansion of the town, we judge, +are unparalleled, in some respects, by any other city in the world, with a +character of her own and a position in the history of the country of which +she may well be proud.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">THE PUBLIC FERRIES.</span></p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">THE GREAT FERRY.</p> + +<p>The first settlers of Charlestown and Boston of course saw an immediate +necessity for the establishment of ferries on both sides of them; so that, +after considerable numbers had arrived, this became imperative, especially +that across Charles River,—“the great ferry,” as it was afterwards +called. This may be called the first public enterprise undertaken by the +colonists. There was, no doubt, from the first, means of crossing the +river furnished by individuals before any public action had taken place, +just as was done by Samuel Maverick at Noddle’s Island, who was disposed +and prepared to accommodate everybody that came along. Measures were taken +for the establishment of the Charlestown Ferry soon after the arrival of +Gov. Winthrop’s party at Charlestown. At a meeting of the Court of +Assistants, holden at Boston, Nov. 19, 1630,—present the governor, +deputy-governor, Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Ludlowe, Capt. Endicott, Mr. +Coddington, Mr. Pinchon, and Mr. Bradstreet,—“It is further ordered, That +whosoever shall first give in his name to Mr. Governor that he will +undertake to set up a ferry betwixt Boston and Charlestown, and shall +begin the same at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> such time as Mr. Governor shall appoint, shall have +1<i>d.</i> for every person and 1<i>d.</i> for every 100 weight of goods he shall +transport.”</p> + +<p>The ferry was no doubt undertaken at this time by Edward Converse; and, +probably as it did not then pay very well, in June 14, 1631, an order was +passed, “That Edward Converse, who had undertaken to set up a ferry +between Boston and Charlestown, be allowed 2<i>d.</i> for every single person, +and 1<i>d.</i> apiece, if there be two or more.”</p> + +<p>The lease to Mr. Converse, in 1631, was renewed Nov. 9, 1636, in form as +follows: “The Governor and treasurer, by order of the general court, did +demise to Edward Converse the ferry between Boston and Charlestown, to +have the sole transporting of passengers and cattle from one side to the +other, for three years from the first day of the next month, for the +yearly rent of forty pounds to be paid quarterly to the treasurer: +Provided, that he see it be well attended and furnished with sufficient +boats; and that so soon as may be in the next spring he set up a +convenient house on Boston side, and keep a boat there as need shall +require. And he is allowed to take his wonted fees, viz., 2<i>d.</i> for a +single person, and pence apiece, if there be more than one, as well on +lecture days as at other times; and for every horse and cow with the man +which goeth with them 6<i>d.</i>, and for a goat 1<i>d.</i>, and a swine 2<i>d.</i> And +if any shall desire to pass before it be light in the morning, or after it +is dark in the evening, he may take recompence answerable to the season +and his pains and hazard, so as it be not excessive.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>The ferry was a great accommodation, of course, and could not be dispensed +with. Johnson mentions it quite early in his “Wonder-Working Providence.” +In speaking of Charlestown, the “neighbor of Boston, being in the same +fashion, with her bare neck,” he says “there is kept a ferry-boat to +convey passengers over Charles River, which, between the two towns, is a +quarter of a mile over, being a very deep channel.” But at times, no +doubt, the ferry proved troublesome and annoying. So that in the month of +October, 1632, Mr. Winthrop records that “about a fortnight before this, +those of Charlestown, who had formerly been joined to Boston congregation, +now, in regard of the difficulty of passage in the winter, and having +opportunity of a pastor, one Mr. [Edward] James, who came over at this +time, were dismissed from the congregation of Boston.” This, it was said, +was after a rather boisterous summer on the bay and harbor.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">WINNISIMMET FERRY.</p> + +<p>At a General Court, holden at Boston, the 18th of May, 1631, there were +present Mr. Winthrop, governor; Mr. Dudley, deputy-governor; Mr. Ludlowe, +Capt. Endicott, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Pinchon, Mr. Bradford, assistants (at +which the governor and lieutenant-governor were chosen),—“Thomas Willins +[Drake gives the name as Williams] hath undertook to sett up a ferry +between Winnisimmet and Charlestown, for which he is to have after three +pence a person and from Winnisimmet to Boston four pence a person.” Mr. +Savage, in a note to Winthrop’s<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> journal, speaking of Samuel Maverick at +Noddle’s Island, says, “Winisemet Ferry, both to Charlestown and Boston, +was also granted to him forever.” He certainly did conduct a ferry on one +or both these routes for a time.</p> + +<p>Jan. 23, 1635.—“Thomas Marshall was chosen by general consent for ye +keeping of a ferry from Milne Point [Copps’ Hill] vnto Charlestowne, and +to Wynnyseemitt, and to take for his ferrying vnto Charlestowne, as ye +ferryman there hath, and vnto Wynnyseemitt for a single psn six pence; and +for every one above ye number of two, two pence apiece.” It is not +probable that this ferry was continued for many years.</p> + +<p>In December, 1637, Edward Bendall was “to keepe a sufficient ferryboate to +carry to Noddle’s Island and to the shippes ryding before the Town: taking +for a single person ij<i>d.</i> and for two 3<i>d.</i>”</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">GRANT TO HARVARD COLLEGE.</p> + +<p>In 1640, the Charlestown Ferry was granted to Harvard College, to the +support of which the town had been annually contributing, and had received +from the ferry fifty pounds for the year previous, 1639. This grant was +continued, and, for nearly one hundred and fifty years before the bridge +was built, it was a source of very handsome income to the institution. In +1644, it appears by the records of the town, William Bridge was appointed +to keep the ferry in place of Mr. Converse, and “to have a penny a person +for each that goes over, except they agree with him by the year, and two +pence a person for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> each that goes over unseasonably.” When the bridge was +built in 1785, the gratuity to the college was continued by the terms of +the Act authorizing it; and the sum of two hundred pounds per year was +paid to it in commutation of its claim to the ferry.</p> + +<p>Johnson, in his “Wonder-Working Providence,” describes Boston as +surrounded by the brinish floods, and as having, on the north-west and +north-east, “two constant Faires, kept for traffique thereunto.” A ferry +to Cambridge is spoken of in 1652; and in the fall of that year Mr. Cotton +took cold in crossing it, and died soon after.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">COMPLAINTS OF THE FERRYMEN.</p> + +<p>In 1648, “the ferrymen, Francis Hudson and James Heyden, state in a +petition to the General Court, that the ferry never was less productive: +that contrary to law disorderly passengers would press into the boats, and +on leaving refuse to pay their fare; that some pleaded they had nothing to +pay, and others that they were in the country’s service. And they further +state, that the payment generally tendered was ‘usually in such refuse, +unwrought, broken, unstringed and unmerchantable peag’ (wampum), at six a +penny, that they lost two pence a shilling, being forced to take peag at +six a penny and pay it at seven. They petition that if the Court intend +‘all soldiers with their horses and military furniture be fare-free,’ that +they might be paid for it by the colony: that strangers, not able to pay, +may be ordered to give in their names: that the ‘peag hereafter to us paid +may be so suitably in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> known parcels handsomely stringed, and their value +assigned, that it may henceforth be a general, current and more agreeable +pay.’”</p> + +<p>At a session of the General Court, at Boston, the 10th of the eight month, +1648, “For preventing ferry men’s Damage by Persons not paying, &c., it +shall be lawful for any Ferry man to demand and Receive his due before his +Boat put off from the Shore, nor shall he be bound to pass over any that +shall not give satisfaction, & any Ferry Man may refuse any wampum not +stringed or Unmerchantable and such persons whether Horse or Foot which +are passage free by Order of the Court must show something sufficient for +their Discharge, or else pay as others do, except Magistrates and +Deputies, &c., who are generally known to be free.”</p> + +<p>And again, Oct. 18, the Court ordered that “all ‘payable peag’ should be +‘entire without breaches, both the white and the black, suitably strung in +eight known parcels, 1<i>d.</i>, 3<i>d.</i>, 12<i>d.</i>, 5<i>s.</i>, in white; and 2<i>d.</i>, +6<i>d.</i>, 2-6<i>d.</i>, and 10<i>s.</i>, in black.’ The Court also ordered that for +transporting officers in the colony service, the ferrymen should be +allowed £4 per annum for the past, and £6 per annum for the time to come.”</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">PEAG, OR INDIAN MONEY.</p> + +<p>“Peag,” or “wampum,” or “wampumpeag,” simply means stringed shells of a +peculiar kind, or Indian money; and this, it seems, came early into use, +as Hubbard says, “The people of New Plymouth, in the year 1627, began +trade with the Dutch at Manhados,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> and there they had the first knowledge +of Wampumpeag, and their acquaintance therewith occasioned the Indians of +those parts to learn to make it.” Hutchinson thinks the New England +Indians, prior to this time, had not “any instrument of commerce;” and +speaks of the Narragansetts as coining money, making pendants and +bracelets, and also tobacco pipes. There seems, however, to have been +among the Massachusetts settlers some other kinds of money in use, as, in +1635, the court ordered that brass farthings shall be discontinued, and +that musket-balls shall pass for farthings.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">PENNY FERRY.</p> + +<p>Penny Ferry, across the Mystic River, where the Malden Bridge now is, was +established by the town in April, 1640, when it was voted, “That Philip +Drinker should keep a ferry at the Neck of Land, with a sufficient boat, +and to have 2<i>d.</i> a single person, and a penny a piece when there go any +more.” It was not a source of any profit to the town for many years.</p> + +<p>In 1651, the Penny Ferry was granted for a year to Philip Knight, who +appears to have had the income of it for taking care of it, he agreeing +“to attend the ferry carefully, and not to neglect it, that there be no +just complaint.”</p> + +<p>In 1698, Judge Sewall makes the following entry in his diary: “February +19, I go over the ice and visit Mr. Morton, who keeps his bed. 21st, I +rode over to Charlestown on the ice, then over to Stower’s (Chelsea), so +to Mr. Wigglesworth. The snow was so deep that I had a hard journey—could +go but a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> foot pace on Mystic river, the snow was so deep. 26th, a +considerable quantity of ice went away last night, so that now there is a +glade of water along Governor’s island, about as far as Bird island. 28th, +a guard is set upon Charles River to prevent persons from venturing over +on the ice for fear of drowning; and the ferrymen are put upon cutting and +clearing the ice, which they do so happily, that I think the boat passeth +once a day.”</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">CHARLESTOWN FERRY.</p> + +<p>The use of the ferry was confined to foot-passengers entirely at first; +and afterwards, when larger boats were built, chaises were allowed, as the +common riding or travelling vehicle of the time. It would seem that double +tolls had been demanded on certain days; and in 1783, when the names of +the ferrymen were presented to the town for approval, it was agreed, on +their not taking double ferriage on those days, and their faithful promise +to the same, to approbate them. It seems almost wonderful—but it is a +fact—that this ferry was kept up as the sole means of communication, +excepting the journey around through Roxbury and Cambridge, for more than +one hundred and fifty years. It was over this ferry that the people came +to Boston to assist in the fortification upon Corne Hill (Fort Hill) in +May, 1632, and at other times for similar purposes. It was over this ferry +also, on the 18th of April, 1689, that the troops came, in the time of the +Andros Rebellion, to assist in maintaining the rights of the people at +this early period in the history of the town. There were twenty companies +in Boston, and it was said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> about fifteen hundred men at Charlestown that +could not get over. Andros was imprisoned, the first charter of the colony +dissolved, and Thomas Danforth came in as deputy-governor. On many other +occasions during the long period of its continuance, and in cases of fire +in Boston, the ferry had large duties to perform; and it is wonderful how +it was ever made to answer its purposes for so long a time.</p> + +<p>1741.—Oldmixon, in his “History of the British Empire in America” (“The +History of New England,” as a part of it is called), says, “Charlestown, +the mother of Boston, is much more populous than Cambridge, and exceeds it +much in respect of trade, being situated between two rivers, Mystic River +and Charles River, and parted from Boston only by the latter, over which +there is a ferry so well tended that a bridge would not be much more +convenient, except in winter, when the ice will neither bear nor suffer a +boat to move through it. Though the river is much broader about the town, +it is not wider in the ferry passage than the Thames between London and +Southwark. The profits of this ferry belong to Harvard College in +Cambridge, and are considerable. The town is so large as to take up all +the space between the two rivers.”</p> + +<p>In 1763, April, the running of a stage-coach was commenced between Boston +and Portsmouth, N.H., once a week,—out on Friday, and return on Tuesday. +It is said, that, “owing to the trouble of ferrying the stage and horses +over Charles River, they were kept at Charlestown, at the sign of the +Three Cranes.” The practice with this, and very likely other stage-lines, +probably continued until the bridge was built.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>The memorable night, April 18, 1775, when Paul Revere crossed Charles +River, near the ferry, is of course well remembered. During the occupation +of Boston Harbor by the British navy, the boats of the ferry were drawn up +alongside the men-of-war every night at nine o’clock, and there was no +passing after that hour; but it seems that Revere kept a boat of his own +at the north end, and employed two men to row him across, “a little to the +eastward where the ‘Somerset’ man-of-war lay.” He landed at Charlestown +below the ferry, and says, “I told them what was acting, and went to get +me a horse,” and then pursued his momentous ride to Lexington.</p> + +<p>Imagine the continuance of this ferry, as the usual means of crossing the +river between Boston and Charlestown, for a period of more than one +hundred and fifty years! and all this time probably without the use of +sails, as the stream at this point was very narrow and the currents very +strong, and certainly without the power of steam, now so generally applied +to ferries all over the country. There was, no doubt, in the winter +season, a good deal of passing on the ice. The Winnisimmet Ferry, for many +years prior to the introduction of steam, was operated by the use of large +sail-boats for foot-passengers only.</p> + +<p>It is said that the Indian name of Charles River was Quimobequin, and that +on Capt. Smith’s map of 1614, it is called Massachusetts; and Hutchinson +says, “Prince Charles gave the name of Charles river to what had been +before called Massachusetts river.” Smith himself says he called it +Charles River; still Hutchinson may be right.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">THE BOSTON CORNFIELDS.</span></p> + + +<p>It will hardly be realized at the present time that Boston, or the +peninsula which originally comprised the town, was ever occupied by +cornfields, or, as one may almost say, was a cornfield. If there were +cornfields, as we assume there were, the curious thing about them is, that +we know so little of them; for it can scarcely be said that they hold a +place in history. There are, in fact, no definite statements about them; +and a mystery seems to hang over them as to where they were, who owned +them, who cultivated them, and what was done with the harvest. Were they +private property or public property? We have not been able to find in +contemporary or subsequent history any account of the Boston cornfields +that will enable us with certainty to answer this question. The fair +inference from statements made, however, is, that they were to some extent +both public and private property. Perhaps the first allusion to them to be +found in any record is that in 1632,—and there could have been no corn +planted in Boston earlier than 1631, unless by Blackstone,—and this +allusion is in the name of “Corne Hill.” In 1632, May 24, “it was agreed +to build a fort in that part of Boston<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> called Corne Hill,” meaning what +thereafter was called Fort Hill; and one historical writer, quoting the +record, says a fortification was begun on “<i>the</i> corn hill;” and that was +probably the only Corn Hill at that time. The question naturally arises, +Why was it called Corn Hill? and the almost necessary answer to the +question is, Because it was where corn was grown.</p> + +<p>There can be no doubt that it became necessary, as early as possible, for +the settlers to seek means for their future subsistence. The stock and +supply of provisions brought over were, no doubt, for a time and under +certain regulations, a common stock; and possibly some of Gov. Winthrop’s +party had supplies of their own in addition thereto. But, at all events, +prudence and self-preservation required immediate attention to the +cultivation of the soil and the raising of corn and other grains.</p> + +<p>In 1628 (1629), before the arrival of Gov. Winthrop and his company at +Charlestown, the place had been occupied by the Spragues, from Salem, +under the direction of Mr. Graves, an agent of the company; and one of the +first things they did was “to model and lay out the form of the town, with +streets about the hill,” which was approved by Gov. Endicott. They next +“jointly agreed and concluded that each inhabitant have a two acre lot to +plant upon and all to fence in common.” The same year Mr. Graves wrote to +England, “The increase of corne is here farre beyond expectation,” showing +that it had been grown, and most probably in the common cornfield; for it +is afterwards said that Thomas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> Walford “lived on the south end of the +westermost hill of the East Field.” Another vote was passed the next year, +1630,—probably before the arrival of Gov. Winthrop,—that each person +“dwelling within the neck, shall have two acres of land for a house plot, +and two acres for every male that is able to plant.”</p> + +<p>In the months of June and July, 1630, Gov. Winthrop and his party arrived +at Charlestown, after a passage by some of the ships of seventeen or +eighteen weeks, many of them sick of the scurvy. “The multitude set up +cottages, booths and tents about the Town Hill;” and it is said +“provisions were exceedingly wasted, and no supplies could now be expected +by planting; besides, there was miserable damage and spoil of provisions +at sea.” Many of the party died,—some two hundred before December,—and +others started out for other locations; and finally in September, 1630, by +the invitation of Mr. Blackstone, the larger part of Gov. Winthrop’s party +crossed the river to Boston. This year there was a scarcity of corn, as +will be seen by the following extract from Hutchinson’s history:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“In August, 1724, John Quttamug, a Nipmug Indian, came to Boston, +above 112 years of age. He affirmed that in 1630, upon a message that +the English were in want of corn, soon after their arrival, he went to +Boston with his father, and carried a bushel and a half of corn all +the way on his back; that there was only one cellar began in town, and +that somewhere near the <i>Common</i>.”</p></div> + +<p>Wood, in speaking of Boston in 1639, says, “This place hath very good +land, affording rich cornfields and fruitful gardens,” which, no doubt, +were in existence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> years before he wrote his book. In 1635, it was voted, +“Each able man is allowed two acres, and each able youth one acre to +plant.” Provision of some sort on the subject was no doubt made before +this time, and gradually reached the regulation here recorded. In 1633, +great scarcity of corn is mentioned by Winthrop, as he says, “By reason of +the spoil of our hogs, there being no acorns, yet the people lived well +with fish and the fruit of their gardens.”</p> + +<p>Almost as a natural consequence of what has now been said, in March, 1636, +we find that provision was made “for having sufficient fences to the +Cornfielde before the 14th of the next second month (April); that for +every defective rod then found, five shillings penalty;” and it was +further provided, “The field toward Rocksberry to be looked into by Jacob +Elyott and Jonathan Negoose; the Fort Hill, by James Penn and Richard +Gridley; the Mylne field, by John Button and Edward Bendall, and the New +Field by John Audley and Thomas Faireweather.”</p> + +<p>Thus it will be seen, if the rule adopted was carried out, that there were +four or more large cornfields in Boston, and that the principal work of +the people for a time was the raising of corn. At a later period parcels +of corn were occasionally presented or sent to the governor by the +Indians, who had their cornfields before the English people arrived. In +fact, it is recorded in the next month after the arrival of Winthrop, that +so much provision had been sold to the Indians for beaver, that food +became scarce; and in October, 1630, a vessel was sent to the +Narragansetts to trade, and brought home one hundred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> bushels of corn. In +May, 1631, corn in Boston was ten shillings a bushel, as probably much was +required for planting at this time. In August, 1633, a great scarcity of +corn was reported; and in November, the next year, a vessel arrived from +Narragansett with five hundred bushels of Indian corn. It is very clear +that corn was very early, and for some time, the great dependence of the +settlers.</p> + +<p>In Plymouth Colony, in 1630, the salary of the messenger of the General +Court was thirty bushels of corn. In 1685, the secretary’s wages was +fifteen pounds a year, payable in corn at two shillings per bushel. In +1690, “one third the Governor’s salary ordered to be paid in money, the +rest in corne.”</p> + +<p>In 1637, April 16, “all the fences and gates to be made up. Sargeant +Hutchinson and Richard Gridley to look after the Fort Field; John Button, +James Everett and Isaac Grosse, in the Mill Field; Wm Colburn and Jacob +Elyott on the Field next Roxburie.” Again, in 1640, March 30, “To look to +the fences: Richard Fairbanks and William Salter the field towards +Roxbury; Benj. Gillam and Edmd. Jacklyn, the Fort Field; Wm. Hudson and +Edward Bendall the New Field; Mr. Valentine Hill and John Button, the Mill +Field.”</p> + +<p>Dr. Shurtleff, in his “Topographical and Historical Description of +Boston,” enumerates five fields as follows, and speaks of them as +ungranted lands: “The land around Copps’ Hill, was known as the Mylne +Field, or Mill Field; that around Fort Hill, the Fort Field; that at the +Neck, the Neck Field, or the Field towards Roxbury; that where Beacon Hill +Place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> now is, Centry Hill Field, and that west of Lynde Street, and north +of Cambridge, the New Mill Field, or the New Field.” And to show that +these were not waste lands or pastures, the writer enumerates the various +pastures for cattle, besides the privileges at Muddy Brook and +Winnisimmet, as follows: “Besides the fields there were many pastures, so +called: Christopher Stanley’s was at the North End, covering the region of +North Bennet Street, between Hanover and Salem Streets; Buttolph’s was +south of Cambridge Street; Tucker’s, in the neighborhood of Lyman Street; +Rowe’s, east of Rowe Street; Wheeler’s, where the southerly end of Chauncy +Street is; Atkinson’s, where Atkinson Street was a few years ago, and +where Congress Street now is.” And besides these he names Leverett’s on +Leverett Street; Middlecott’s on Bowdoin Street; another on Winter and +Tremont Streets, and, as he says, “a very large number of other great +lots.”</p> + +<p>And strange to say, in all this history, contemporary or modern, in only a +single instance, so far as we know, are these fields or any one of them +spoken of as a “cornfielde,” and that is in the order of 1636, above +quoted. There is, however, one other reference to them made, in 1657, in +the body of instructions prepared for the selectmen to guide them in the +discharge of their duties: “Relying on your wisdom and care in seeking the +good of the town, we recommend that you cause to be executed all the +orders of the town which you have on the records,” &c., “as found in the +printed laws under the titles Townships, Freeman, Highways, Small Causes, +Indians, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>Cornfields,” &c., which would assuredly show that there were +cornfields in the town, distinct from pastures or waste lands, undoubtedly +laid out and divided among the people, as already indicated, for their +special cultivation.</p> + +<p>If, as we believe, the “fields” enumerated were cornfields, and cultivated +in the manner suggested,—at first one field, and year by year, as +necessity should require, a new field added,—there would naturally +become, among a people situated as they were, a necessity for a granary +for the storing and preservation of their crops. Consequently, in the +enumeration of public buildings in Boston at a later period, we find +mentioned “a public granary.” The burying-ground on Tremont Street, known +as the Granary Burying-Ground, was laid out on land taken from the Common +in 1660, and, of course, took its name from the granary, which was built +soon after on what was afterwards Centry Street, and now Park Street. +Shurtleff says the land was first taken for the purpose, and “then, when +the need came, a building, eighty feet by thirty feet, for a public +granary, was erected, and subsequently, in 1737, removed to the corner, +its end fronting on the principal street (Tremont). It stood until 1809, +when it gave place to Park Street Church.” So that, though latterly for +some years used for another purpose, the granary stood in Boston for more +than one hundred and forty years. It is described as a long wooden +building, and was calculated to hold twelve thousand bushels of corn.</p> + +<p>In 1733, it would seem that corn or other grain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> continued to be grown in +Boston, as in October of that year it was determined to erect a granary at +the North End, “not to exceed £100” in cost. In the records of the +selectmen, it is called a meal-house, and John Jeffries, Esq., and Mr. +David Colson, two of the selectmen, were to contract for the work on a +piece of land near the North Mill, belonging to the town.</p> + +<p>So that at what time the cultivation of corn ceased in Boston, it is +impossible to tell; but it would seem, from the necessity for a new +granary in 1733, that it must have continued for considerably more than a +hundred years after the settlement of the town.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IV" id="IV"></a>IV.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">PURITAN GOVERNMENT.</span></p> + + +<p>The early government of the Puritans in Boston was a sort of extemporary +government, or, as it has been described, “temporary usurpation,”—a +government of opinions and prejudices, and in small sense a government of +law. It had some of the features of a family government, without system or +order. If the inhabitant offended, or did any thing which was not thought +proper by the Church, the assistants, or anybody else, fine or punishment +was pretty sure to follow. To be sure there was the Massachusetts Colony +Charter somewhere; but it is singular that the copy of it found among +Hutchinson’s papers, and since printed, is certified to be a “true copy of +such letters patents under the great seal of England,” by John Winthrop, +Governor, dated “this 19th day of the month called March, 1613-1644.” This +verbose and peculiar document gives authority to the company in the matter +of government in the following elaborate form:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“And wee do of our further grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion +give and grant to the said Governor and Company and their successors, +that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Governour or deputy +Governor and such of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> Assistants and Freemen of the said Company +for the tyme being as shall be assembled in any of their generall +courts aforesaid, or in any other courts to be specially summoned and +assembled for that purpose, or the greater part of them (whereof the +Governour or deputy Governor and sixe of the Assistants to be always +seven) from tyme to tyme to make, ordaine and establish all manner of +wholesome and reasonable orders, lawes, statutes and ordinances, +directions and instructions not contrary to the lawes of this our +realme of England, as well for the settling of the formes and +ceremonies of government and magistracie fitt and necessary for the +said plantation and the inhabitants there, and for nameing and styling +of all sorts of officers both superiour and inferiour which they shall +find needful for that government and plantation, and the +distinguishing and setting forth of the severall duties, powers and +limits of every such office and place, and the formes of such oathes +warrantable by the lawes and statutes of this our realme of England as +shall be respectively ministred unto them, for the execution of the +said several offices and places, as also for the disposing and +ordering of the elections of such of the said officers as shall be +annuall, and of such others as shall be to succeed in case of death or +removall, and ministring the said oathes to the new elected officers, +and for imposition of lawfull fynes, mulcts, imprisonment or other +lawfull correction, according to the course of other Corporations in +this our realme of England, and for the directing, ruleing and +disposeing of all other matters and things whereby our said people +inhabiting there may be so religiously, peaceably and civily governed, +as theire good life and orderly conversation may winne and incite the +natives of that country to the knowledge and obedience of the onely +true God and Saviour of mankind and the christian faith, which in our +royall intention and the adventurers free profession is the principal +end of this plantation.”</p></div> + +<p>The charter goes on to give authority to commanders, captains, governors, +and all other officers for the time being, “to correct, punish, pardon, +govern<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> and rule all such the subjects of us, our heires and successors, +as shall from tyme to tyme adventure themselves in any voyage thither or +from thence, or that shall at any tyme hereafter inhabit within the +precincts and parts of New England aforesaid, according to the orders, +lawes, ordinances, instructions and directions aforesaid, not repugnant to +the laws and statutes of our realme of England as aforesaid.” And in order +to make the laws of these officers known, it is provided, as printing +would not be practicable, that they shall be “published in writing under +theire common seale.”</p> + +<p>But it would seem, notwithstanding, that the authority exercised by the +company was at first executive rather than legislative; and Mr. Savage +remarks, that the body of the people “submitted at first to the mild and +equal temporary usurpation of the officers, chosen by themselves, which +was also justified by indisputable necessity.” The first “Court of +Assistants” was held at Charlestown, Aug. 23, 1630; and the first thing +propounded was, “how the ministers shall be maintained,” and it was +determined, of course, at the public charge. Gov. Winthrop, Lieut.-Gov. +Dudley, and the assistants were present; and this body carried on the +government—what there was of it—“in a simply patriarchal manner,” until +“the first General Court or meeting of the whole company at Boston, 19 +October,” 1631, and this was held “for the establishing of the +government.” It was now determined that “the freemen should have the power +of choosing assistants, and from themselves to choose a Governor and +Lieut. Governor, who with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> the assistants should have the power of making +laws and choosing officers to execute the same.” This is the brief history +of the origin of a local government in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, if +it may be so called. It was autocratic for the first year and afterwards, +although fully assented to by a general vote of the people.</p> + +<p>At first, of course, there were no laws; and punishments were adjudged and +inflicted, under the authority of the charter, not only for trivial +matters, as they would be now considered, but for very questionable, if +not ludicrous, matters,—and all this, it would seem, without respect of +persons: for, as early as Nov. 30, 1630, at a court, it was ordered that +one of the assistants be fined five pounds for whipping two persons +without the presence of another assistant, contrary to an act of court +formerly made; so that this very early exercise of authority was not under +a law made after the fact. At the same court another person was sentenced +to be whipped for shooting a fowl on the sabbath day; and this, probably, +was <i>ex post facto</i>. In 1631, a man was fined five pounds for taking upon +himself the cure of scurvy by a water of no value, and selling it at a +dear rate; to be imprisoned until he paid the fine, or whipped. In 1632, +the first thief was sentenced to lose his estate, pay double what he had +stolen, be whipped, bound out for three years, and after that be dealt +with as the court directs. Other offences, or what not, were punished by +“taking life and limb, branding with a hot iron, clipping off ears,” &c. +Indians also were proceeded against, in many cases by fines, penalties, +and punishments.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>John Legge, a servant, was ordered “to be whipt this day [May 3, 1631] at +Boston, and afterwards, so soon as convenient may be, at Salem, for +striking Richard Wright.” Richard Hopkins was ordered to be severely +whipped, and branded with a hot iron on one of his cheeks, for selling +guns, powder, and shot to the Indians. Joyce Bradwick was ordered to pay +Alexander Beck twenty dollars for promising marriage without her friends’ +consent, and now refusing to perform the same. This was in 1632, and is +undoubtedly the first breach-of-promise case that had occurred in the +colony.</p> + +<p>It was ordered if any one deny the Scriptures to be the word of God, to be +fined fifty pounds, or whipped forty stripes; if they recant, to pay ten +pounds, and whipped if they pay not that. A man, who had been punished for +being drunk, was ordered to wear a red D about his neck for a year.</p> + +<p>The case of one Knower, at Boston, 1631, is spoken of as curious, showing +that the court, usurper and tyrant as it was, had no intention of being +slighted, underestimated, or intimidated. “Thomas Knower was set in +bilbows for threatening the Court, that if he should be punished, he would +have it tried in England, whether he was lawfully punished or not.” And +for this he was punished.</p> + +<p>1631.—Philip Radcliffe, for censuring the churches and government, has +his ears cut off, is whipped and banished.</p> + +<p>1636.—If any inhabitants entertained strangers over fourteen days, +without leave “from those yt are appointed to order the Town’s +businesses,” they were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> made liable to be dealt with by the “overseers” +(before there were selectmen) as they thought advisable.</p> + +<p>In 1637, “a law was made that none should be received to inhabit within +the jurisdiction but such as should be allowed by some of the magistrates; +and it was fully understood that differing from the religions generally +received in the country, was as great a disqualification as any political +opinions whatever.” On this subject Judge Minot says, “Whilst they +scrupulously regulated the morals of the inhabitants within the colony, +they neglected not to prevent the contagion of dissimilar habits and +heretical principles from without.... No man could be qualified either to +elect or be elected to office who was not a church member, and no church +could be formed but by a license from a magistrate.”</p> + +<p>In 1640, in the case of Josias Plaistow for stealing four baskets of corn +from the Indians, he was ordered to return eight baskets, “to be fined £5, +and to be called Josias, and not Mr. Josias Plaistow, as he formerly used +to be.”</p> + +<p>A carpenter was employed to make a pair of stocks; and, it being adjudged +that he charged too much for his work, he was sentenced to be put in them +for one hour. A servant, charged with slandering the Church, was whipped, +then deprived of his ears and banished. This punishment was deemed severe, +and excited some remarks upon the subject.</p> + +<p>A Capt. Stone was fined one hundred pounds and prohibited from coming into +Boston without the governor’s leave on pain of death, for calling Justice +Ludlow a “just-ass.” Another party, for being drunk,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> was sentenced to +carry forty turfs to the fort; while another, being in the company of +drunkards, was set in the stocks.</p> + +<p>But finally the Court of Assistants began to make laws, or lay down rules +of some sort. As for example: Every one shall pay a penny sterling for +every time of taking tobacco in any place. In Plymouth Colony the law was +less stringent: there a man was fined five shillings for taking tobacco +while on a jury, before a verdict had been rendered. Absence from church +subjected the delinquent to a fine of ten shillings or imprisonment. Any +one entering into a private conference at a public meeting shall forfeit +twelve pence for public uses. 1642, Mr. Robert Saltonstall is fined five +shillings for presenting his petition on so small and bad a piece of +paper; and this, it seems, was after it had been determined “that a body +of laws should be framed which would be approved of by the General Court +and some of the ministers as a fundamental code.” Notwithstanding this, in +all cases, like the above, where there was no law, one was made, or +inferred, to meet the case; so that, after the establishment of a +“fundamental code,” there was about as much <i>ex post facto</i> law as before. +Among the laws or orders of the “fundamental code” was one, “that no +person, Householder or others, shall spend his time unprofitably under +paine of such punishment as the court shall think meet to inflict;” and +“the constables were ordered to take knowledge of offenders of this kind,” +and, among others, especially tobacco-takers. Another was, “that no person +either man or woman shall make or buy any slashed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> clothes, other than one +slash in each sleeve and another in the back; also all cuttworks, +imbroidered or needle workt caps, bands, vayles, are forbidden hereafter +to be made or worn under said penalty—also all gold or silver girdles, +hatbands, belts, ruffs, beaver hats, are prohibited to be bought or worn +hereafter, under the aforesaid penalty,” &c. The penalty is such +punishment as the Court may think meet to inflict.</p> + +<p>In addition to these, the code went still further in regulating the dress +of women: “4th of 7th month [September, as the year began with March, +until 1752], 1639, Boston. No garments shall be made with short sleeves, +whereby the nakedness of the arm may be discovered in the wearing +thereof;” and, where garments were already made with short sleeves, the +arms to be covered with linen or otherwise. No person was allowed to make +a garment for women with sleeves more than half an ell wide, and “so +proportionate for bigger or smaller persons.”</p> + +<p>In the matter of currency, it was ordered, in 1634, “that musket balls of +a full boar shall pass currently for farthings apiece, provided that no +man be compelled to take above 12 pence at a time in them.”</p> + +<p>It would seem that some of these decisions, or the general character of +the government, had caused some remark, as it was “ordered that Henry Lyn +shall be whipt and banished the Plantation before the 6th day of October +next, for writing into England falsely and maliciously against the +government and execution of Justice here.” “Execution of justice” is good, +we should say.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>Ward, in his “Trip to New England,” a very coarse and abusive paper, +published in London, in 1706, in a book called “London Spy,” says, in +Boston “if you kiss a woman in publick, tho’ offered as a Courteous +Salutation, if any information is given to the Select Members, both shall +be whipt or fined.” He relates, that “a captain of a certain ship, who had +been a long voyage, happen’d to meet his wife, and kist her in the street, +for which he was fined Ten Shillings, and forc’d to pay the Money. Another +inhabitant of the town was fin’d Ten Shillings for kissing his own wife in +his Garden, and obstinately refusing to pay the Money, endur’d Twenty +Lashes at the Gun, who, in Revenge for his Punishment, swore he would +never kiss her again either in Publick or Private.”</p> + +<p>John Dunton, in his famous work, “Dunton’s Life and Errors,” speaks of the +government, when he was in Boston, in 1686. He says, “Let it be enough to +say, The laws in force here, against immorality and prophaneness, are very +severe. Witchcraft is punish’d with death, as ’tis well known; and theft +with restoring fourfold, if the Criminal be sufficient.—An English woman, +admitting some unlawful freedoms from an Indian, was forc’d twelve months +to wear upon her Right arm an Indian cut in red cloath.”</p> + +<p>The “Body of Liberties,” as it was strangely called, contained an hundred +laws, which had been drawn up pursuant to an order of the General Court, +by Nathaniel Ward, pastor of the church at Ipswich, who had been formerly +a practitioner of law in <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>England; and this book was printed by Daye, the +first printer, at Cambridge in 1641. (Thomas, p. 47.)</p> + +<p>There was also published in 1649 a “Book of General Laws and Liberties, +concerning the Inhabitants of Massachusetts.” By these, gaming by +shuffle-board and bowling at houses of entertainment, where there was +“much waste of wine and beer,” were prohibited under pain for every keeper +of such house twenty shillings, and every person playing at said games, +five shillings. For “damnable heresies,” as they were called, banishment +was the appropriate punishment.</p> + +<p>Oldmixon mentions a singular law. He says, “The goodness of the pavement +may compare with most in London: to gallop a horse on it is 3 shillings +and four pence forfeit.” This was more than a hundred years after the +settlement of the town, and less than forty years before the commencement +of the revolutionary war.</p> + +<p>A letter from London, from Edward Howes to his relative, J. Winthrop, +jun., dated April 3, 1632, says, “I have heard divers complaints against +the severity of your government, especially Mr. Endicott’s, and that he +shall be sent for over, about cutting off the lunatick man’s ears and +other grievances” (Savage’s Winthrop, p. 56, vol. 1).</p> + +<p>In respect to the levying of fines, Gov. Winthrop, who was accused of not +demanding their payment in some cases, remarked, “that in his judgment, it +were not fit in the infancy of a Commonwealth to be too strict in levying +fines, though severe in other punishments.”</p> + +<p>It has been well said that “religion and laws were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> closely intertwined in +the Puritan community; the government felt itself bound to expatriate +every disorderly person, as much as the church was bound to excommunicate +him. They were like a household. They had purchased their territory for a +home; it was no <i>El Dorado</i>; it was their Mount of Sion. With immense toil +and unspeakable denials, they had rescued it from the wild woods for the +simple purpose that they might have a place for themselves and their +children to worship God undisturbed. They knew nothing of toleration. +Their right to shut the door against intruders seemed to them as undoubted +and absolute as their right to breathe the air around them.”<a name='fna_2' id='fna_2' href='#f_2'><small>[2]</small></a></p> + +<p>This is the sum and substance of the Puritan government as long as it +lasted. Under the charter, or without the charter, they made such laws as +they pleased, before or after the occasion. They punished every thing +which they thought to be wrong, or which did not conform to their notions +of propriety or their practice, and this, too, without consistency or +discrimination.</p> + +<p>In 1639, Winthrop says, “The people had long desired a body of laws, and +thought their condition very unsafe, while so much power rested in the +discretion of the magistrates. Divers attempts had been made at former +courts, and the matter referred to some of the magistrates and some of the +elders, [the church and state, in such cases, were invariably united,] but +still it came to no effect, for being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> committed to the care of so many, +whatsoever was done by some, was still disliked or neglected by others.” +So that it is doubtful if they ever really had a set of laws that were +relied upon; that limited the discretion of the magistrates, or was ever +reasonably and impartially enforced. If the law failed to be adequate, it +seemed to be proper for the magistrate to make it so; and he not only +supplied the deficiency, but occasionally coined or misconstrued a law for +his purpose. Such a government might well be considered “unsafe.”</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="V" id="V"></a>V.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS.</span></p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">VISIT TO BOSTON.</p> + +<p>The Narragansett Indians were one of the largest, if not the very largest, +tribe in New England, at the time of the arrival of the Puritans; and they +were especially friendly to the settlers. They lived along the coast, from +Stonington to Point Judith, on Narragansett Bay. “They consisted,” says +Hutchinson, “of several lesser principalities, but all united under one +general ruler, called the Chief Sachem, to whom all others owed some kind +of fealty or subjection.” The Nianticks were considered as a branch of the +Narragansetts, having very likely been conquered by them, and brought +under their subjection.</p> + +<p>A letter of Roger Williams, who was intimate with, and a strong friend of, +the Narragansett Indians, says they were “the settlers’ fast friends, had +been true in all the Pequot wars, were the means of the coming in of the +Mohegans, never had shed English blood, and many settlers had had +experience of the love and desire of peace which prevailed among them.”</p> + +<p>In October, 1636, after the murder of Mr. Oldham, Gov. Vane invited their +sachem, Miantonomo, to visit Boston, which he soon after did, bringing +with him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> another sachem, two sons of Canonicus, and about twenty men. The +governor sent twenty musketeers to Roxbury to meet them and escort them +into town. The sachems and their council dined together in the same room +with the governor and his ministers. After dinner a friendly treaty was +made with Miantonomo, and signed by the parties; and, although at this +time the English thought the Indians did not understand it, they kept it +faithfully; but the English, who were afterwards instrumental in the death +of Miantonomo, did not. The Indians were subsequently escorted out of +town, “and dismissed with a volley of shot;” and the famous Roger Williams +was appointed to explain the treaty to the Indians.</p> + +<p>In this treaty, Canonicus, who was the chief sachem of the tribe, and is +said to have been “a just man, and a friend of the English,” was +represented by Miantonomo, his nephew, whom Canonicus, on account of his +age, had caused to assume the government. The deputation that Gov. Vane +sent to the Narragansetts in the matter of the murder of Mr. Oldham, speak +of Canonicus “as a sachem of much state, great command over his men, and +much wisdom in his answers and the carriage of the whole treaty; clearing +himself and his neighbors of the murder, and offering assistance for +revenge of it.” Johnson represents Miantonomo “as a sterne, severe man, of +great stature and a cruel nature, causing all his nobility and such as +were his attendants to tremble at his speech.”</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">INDIAN ART.—CURIOUS MARRIAGE.</p> + +<p>The Narragansetts not only coined money (wampumpeag), but manufactured +pendants and bracelets,—using shells, we presume, for these purposes. +They also made tobacco-pipes, some blue and some white, out of stone, and +furnished earthen vessels and pots for cookery and other domestic +uses,—so that they had several approximations, in these respects, to +civilization and art, not so distinctly manifested by other tribes. They +had, in fact, commercial relations with other people and distant nations, +and, it seems, were sometimes sneered at on account of their +disinclination for war,—preferring other service.</p> + +<p>There is evidence, also, that they considered themselves—in some +respects, at least—superior to other Indians; and this is illustrated by +a very curious piece of history, said to be “the only tradition of any +sort from the ancestors of our first Indians.” It seems that the oldest +Indians among the Narragansetts reported to the English, on their first +arrival, “that they had in former times a sachem called Tashtassuck, who +was incomparably greater than any in the whole land in power and state.” +This great sachem—who, it would seem, had the power to elevate, and, in +some respects, enlighten his race—had only two children, a son and +daughter; and, not being able to match them according to their dignity, he +joined them together in matrimony, and they had four sons, of whom +Canonicus, who was chief sachem when the English arrived, was the eldest. +There is no reason to doubt that the marriage was a happy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> one, agreeable +to the parties, satisfactory to the parent, and certainly famous in its +progeny.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">INTERMARRIAGE AMONG THE EGYPTIANS.</p> + +<p>This probably is the only record of such a marriage in this country. The +form of family marriage, however, it is a matter of history, was common +among the Egyptians, and probably has been practised more or less among +all the savage nations of the earth. Cleopatra, the daughter of Ptolemy +Auletes, on the death of her father, was married, according to his will, +to Ptolemy XII., his eldest son, and ascended the throne; both being +minors, Pompey was appointed their guardian. In the wars which followed, +her husband was drowned, and she then married her second brother, Ptolemy +(Necteros), a child seven years old. Afterwards she became the mistress of +Cæsar, and subsequently poisoned her boy-husband, when at the age of +fourteen, because he claimed his share of the Egyptian crown. So that, in +fact, she made war against her first husband, and poisoned her second,—a +result very different from that recorded of the Narragansett +intermarriage.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">MURDER OF MIANTONOMO.</p> + +<p>In a subsequent Indian war, 1643,—brought about, it is said, by +Connecticut, between the Narragansetts and the Mohegans,—Miantonomo, by +some strange accident, fell into the hands of Uncas, who, for fear of +retaliation, instead of taking his life, sent him to Hartford. The +Connecticut people, in their turn, sent him to Boston, to be judged by the +Commissioners<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> of the United Colonies; and these commissioners, “although +they had no jurisdiction in the case, nor any just ground of complaint +against the sachem,” came to the conclusion “that Uncas would not be safe +if he were suffered to live.” Drake says, “Strange as it may seem, it was +with the advice of the Elders of the Churches” (Winthrop says five of the +most judicious elders) that it was determined Uncas might put Miantonomo +to death,—a piece of barbarism and injustice hardly matched by any +conduct of the Indians. He was taken back to Uncas “with a guard of +English soldiers,” and Uncas readily undertook the execution of his +victim. When he arrived at a place appointed, a brother of Uncas “clave +his head with a hatchet.” “Thus inhumanly and unjustly perished the +greatest Indian chief of whom any account is found in New England’s +annals.” Canonicus, it is said, was greatly affected by the death of his +nephew, in whom he always had the utmost confidence, and regarded him with +the fondness of a father. Canonicus died in 1647. After the death of +Miantonomo, the Narragansetts were never on very good terms with the +English, who had suspected them once or twice unjustly. Hutchinson says, +“The Narragansetts are said to have kept to the treaty until the Pequods +were destroyed, and then they grew insolent and treacherous.” It certainly +appears that they were not well used by the English settlers, and it is +not surprising that they should grow “insolent and treacherous;” for the +treachery appears to have been first against them.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC.</span></p> + + +<p>As a matter of course, some of the early names of places in and around +Massachusetts Bay were Indian names or corruptions, until others were +applied, as Shawmut, Mishawam, Mattapan, Winnisimmet, and others. The name +of Plymouth, of course, the Pilgrims brought with them, as the Puritans +did the name of Salem and of Boston. But just how the name of +Massachusetts originated is not so well known. It was no doubt of Indian +origin; and if derived from the “greatest king of the Indians,” Massasoit, +or, as Hutchinson says, Massasoiet,<a name='fna_3' id='fna_3' href='#f_3'><small>[3]</small></a> it is well that it has been so +preserved and perpetuated. Among the earliest English names, besides these +mentioned, were the names applied to the islands, as Noddle’s Island, +which possibly was given to it by Maverick, and Bird Island, in 1630; +Lovell’s Island, in 1635, and several others. The names of Blackstone, +Maverick, and Walford,<a name='fna_4' id='fna_4' href='#f_4'><small>[4]</small></a> the original settlers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> of Boston, Noddle’s +Island, and Charlestown, have all been preserved in the names of streets, +banks, &c., although two of them (Blackstone and Walford) were driven +away, and the third, though living almost alone on Noddle’s Island, being +an Episcopalian, was rather severely treated in the general persecutions +of the time. Of the Indian names, only a few of them have been preserved, +and are in common use, and among them Shawmut, Mishawam, Winnisimmet, and +possibly one or two others. In the list of nearly two thousand names of +streets, places, &c., only three Indian names are to be found, namely, +Shawmut, Oneida, and Ontario.</p> + +<p>But perhaps the most curious peculiarity prevailed with regard to the +naming of streets, places, taverns, trades, &c., in Boston, before King +Street and Queen Street had been named, and after they had passed away. +King Street gave way to State Street; Queen Street, which at an earlier +date had been called Prison Lane, gave way to Court Street: still some of +the old English names remain. Marlborough, Newbury, and Orange, all +English names, gave way to that of Washington, and this street has now +been extended, under its latest name, from Haymarket Square (Mill Creek) +to Brookline (Muddy Brook). Formerly it extended from the Gate at the Neck +to Dock Square, and bore the name of Orange Street from the Gate to +Eliot’s Corner (Essex Street); Newbury Street from Eliot’s Corner to +Bethune’s Corner (West Street); Marlborough Street from thence to Haugh’s +Corner (School Street); and Cornhill from thence to Dock Square.</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">LANES AND ALLEYS.</p> + +<p>The first mention of any alley is that of Paddy Alley<a name='fna_5' id='fna_5' href='#f_5'><small>[5]</small></a> (after a +resident), running from Ann to Middle Street, 1658, but whether so named +before or after the streets which it connects is not known. Rawson’s Lane, +afterwards Bromfield’s Lane, and now Bromfield Street, 1693; Black Horse +Lane, part of what is now known as Prince Street, 1698; Beer Lane, part of +Richmond Street; Blind Lane, part of Bedford Street; Elbow Alley, which +was in the form of a crescent, from Ann to Cross Street; Pudding Lane, +part of Devonshire Street—all mentioned in 1708, when a list of the names +of the streets, lanes, &c., was prepared and published by the Selectmen. +Among these were Frog Lane, Hog Alley, Sheafe Lane, Blind Lane, Cow Lane, +Flounder Lane, Crab Lane, &c. Probably all these lanes and alleys were +laid out or established, at a much earlier date than that mentioned. Sheep +Lane was first called Hog Lane, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> 1789; Turn-again Alley, at an early +date, was near Hamilton Place.</p> + +<p>The first lanes and possibly alleys, it has been said, were probably +cow-paths or foot-paths, but at the end of seventy-eight years, in 1708, +they had undoubtedly all received names, peculiar as some of them were. +Most of these lanes—not all of them—were named after residents or owners +in the neighborhood. The alleys were each named after some citizen, +excepting where there might be some local name or peculiarity, as Board +Alley, Brick Alley, Crooked Alley; and so of some of the lanes and +streets, as Bog Lane, Marsh Lane, Well Street, Bath Street, Grape Place, +Granite Place, and some others.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">NAMES OF CORNERS.</p> + +<p>One of the most curious collections of names in the list of 1879, is that +of “Corners,” not now recognized, and, we think, never before recorded, +though occasionally used in defining the limits of streets. Over one +hundred corners are named in this list, of which about eighty of them bear +date of 1708 and 1732. All these are named after persons occupying the +corners, and among them are the following: Antram’s Corner, Ballantine’s, +Barrill’s, Bill’s, Bows’, and Bull’s Corners; Dafforne’s, Frary’s, and +Frizzel’s Corners; Gee’s, Meer’s, Melynes’, Powning’s, Ruck’s, and +Winsley’s Corners, and there were five Clark’s Corners in different parts +of the town, in 1708-32. At the present time, as in the early time, the +corners of streets may be spoken of and referred to, but are not +recognized as local names of record.</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">NAMES OF STREETS, ETC.</p> + +<p>Names, of course, of some kind or other, local, personal, or traditionary, +must have been very early used in the settlement, to designate places, +paths, and business, as well as persons and things, and most of these have +been preserved and remembered. In Drake’s collection of local names there +are nearly one thousand, including the names of islands, wharves, streets, +taverns, &c., and of these only about twenty are mentioned by date prior +to 1700, though many of them must have been in use long before that time. +In the collection of names made by the city government in 1879, there are +about eighteen hundred, not including islands, wharves, or taverns. The +earliest dates attached to any of the names is that of the Anchor Tavern, +1661, and of the Alms House on Sentry or Park Street, 1662.</p> + +<p>In the naming of streets, as in the laying of them out, there appears to +have been neither rule, system, or order; but in both matters the action +depended upon local circumstances, or some public or personal influence. +It is believed that the first movement in laying out the road over the +Neck to Roxbury, what is now a portion of Washington Street, was in June, +1636, as follows:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">“It is agreed that there shall be a sufficient foot-way from William +Coleburne’s field-end unto Samuel Wylebore’s field-end next Roxbury, +by the surveyors of highways before the last of the next 5th month” +(July, 1636).</p> + +<p>From this it appears that there were at this early period surveyors of +highways, and that highways, to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> some extent, were foot-ways. The foot-way +in this case, to be laid out in one month, extended as supposed, from the +corner of Boylston Street to the northerly line of Castle Street, that +being the northerly end of Boston Neck; and the road or way laid out after +this time to Roxbury, was on the easterly side of the present Washington +Street, all the way near or on the sea-beach, and probably started from +near Beach Street.</p> + +<p>The next order that we have in relation to the streets, is under date of +1636, 4th, 8 mo., which would be Oct. 4, 1636, and is as follows:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">“At a meeting of the overseers,” it was ordered, that “from this day +there shall be no house at all be built neare unto any streetes or +laynes therein, but with the consent of the overseers, for the +avoyding disorderly building to the inconvenience of streetes and +laynes and for the more comely and commodious ordering of them, upon +the forfeiture of such sume as the overseers shall see fitting.”</p> + +<p>Soon after this, liberty was granted to Deacon Eliot “to set out his barn +six or eight feet into the street, at the direction of Colonel Colbron.”</p> + +<p>On the 17th of the same month, October, 1636, a street and lane were laid +out, but names were not given to them in the record.</p> + +<p>In May, 1708, “at a meeting of the selectmen,” a broad highway was laid +out from the old fortifications at the Neck, near the present Dover +Street, to Deacon Eliot’s house (near Eliot Street), and called Orange +Street, and money was appropriated for paving it, “provided the abuttors +would pave each side of the street.” A hundred years after this time, the +road<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> over Boston Neck to Roxbury, from Waltham Street to Roxbury line, +was very wide, and paved only in the middle portion, so that the travel +for years was chiefly on the sides of the street.</p> + +<p>In naming the streets, as we have said, there were local, personal, and +national considerations. As an illustration of the latter influence, King +and Queen Streets, two of the most important streets of the town, are well +remembered. Possibly before these the Puritan names of Endicott, Winthrop, +Eliot, Leverett, and others, may have been used. The names of +revolutionary patriots were subsequently applied to streets, as Hancock, +Adams, Warren, Franklin; and these were followed by national names, as +Union, Congress, and Federal. There was also a class of local names, as +North, South, Middle, Canal, School, Exchange, Water, Tremont, Beacon, +Margin, Back, Bridge, Pond, High, and Broad, applied at different times. +Then there were Orange, Elm, Chestnut, Walnut, Pine, Cherry, &c., +followed, it may be, by Sun and Moon, Summer, Winter, and Spring. Latterly +the names of towns in the State have been applied to the streets of the +city; among the earliest of these are Salem, Lynn, Cambridge, Brighton; +and after these, Arlington, Berkley, Clarendon, Dartmouth, and many +others.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">LISTS OF STREETS, COURTS, ETC.</p> + +<p>In 1708, a list of the names of streets, places, lanes, alleys, &c., in +Boston proper, was prepared by the Selectmen; and in this list there were +at that time forty-four (44) streets recorded; eighteen (18)<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> alleys; +thirty-three (33) lanes; three squares, Church Square, Dock Square, and +Clark Square; two ways, Old Way and Ferry Way; two hills, Snow Hill and +Corn Hill; five courts, Half Square Court, Corn Court, Minot’s Court, Sun +Court, and Garden Court; one row, Merchants’ Row; and two markets, Corn +Market and Fish Market, making one hundred and ten (110) named places in +the town, in May, 1708.</p> + +<p>In 1732, there was published in “Vade Mecum,” a list of streets at that +time, and in this list are fourteen not in that of 1708, making the number +of streets sixty, lanes forty-one, alleys eighteen, making in all one +hundred and nineteen (119), exclusive of squares, courts, &c.</p> + +<p>In 1817, including lanes, alleys, squares, and streets, there were 231 in +Boston proper, and among them were Berry and Blossom, Chestnut and Walnut, +Poplar and Elm, Myrtle and Vine, and others. There were at this time, +thirty-four wharves. There are now probably five times as many streets in +Boston proper as there were in 1732, a hundred years after the settlement +of the town, without reckoning courts or squares.</p> + +<p>In 1817, Shaw enumerates 229 streets, lanes, &c., and after this time much +attention was given to the subject of new streets, naming old ones not +before accepted, &c., and some of the names were changed.</p> + +<p>In 1879, a complete list of the names of streets, avenues, places, courts, +squares, corners, &c., that have ever been in use, or applied, was +prepared by order of the city government, and has been printed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> This +list, of course, shows a surprising increase in the number of names over +any former record, many of which, we presume, have never before been +recorded, although they may have been to some extent in use. In this list +nearly two thousand names (1795) are printed: of these 554 are streets, of +which some are duplicates. Many of them are second or third names, all of +which are recorded, so that the list does not represent the number of +streets at present in the city proper, but simply the names that have +heretofore been used, or are now applied to them.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">NAMES OF TAVERNS.</p> + +<p>Taverns were early mentioned by names, more or less personal and peculiar: +one of the first mentioned is the State Arms, where the magistrates +usually dieted and drank, in King Street, 1653; Ship Tavern, in Ann +Street, 1666; Bunch of Grapes, in King Street, 1724; King’s Head Tavern, +near Fleet Street, 1755; Queen’s Head, in Lynn Street, 1732; Ship in +Distress, an ancient tavern, opposite Moon Street; and if the +“ordinaries,” spoken of by Cotton Mather, were taverns, they were very +numerous and were known as ale-houses, or, as Mather says, “hell-houses.”</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">BUSINESS NAMES.</p> + +<p>There were numerous curious names in use among the tradespeople, as the +Six Sugar-Loaves, probably a grocer, in Union Street, 1733; Three +Sugar-Loaves and Canister, grocer, in King Street, 1733; two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> bearing the +sign of Two Sugar-Loaves, one in Cornhill and the other in King Street, +1760,—all of these indicating some active competition in the sugar trade. +Noah’s Ark was the sign of a dry-goods store in Marlborough Street, 1769. +There were signs of the Three Crowns, Three Doves, Three Horseshoes, Three +Kings, and Three Nuns and a Comb. Another class embraced the Bible and +Heart, afterwards Heart and Crown, corner of Cornhill and Water Streets, +1748; Blue Dog and Rainbow, sign of a dyer near Bowling Green, now +Cambridge Street, 1729; Blue Glove, a bookstore on Union Street, 1762; +Brazen Head, Cornhill, opposite Williams Court, where the great fire of +1760 commenced, in a dwelling-house occupied by Mrs. Mary Jackson and son, +probably a boarding-house; Buck and Breeches in Ann Street, 1758, near the +Draw Bridge, Joseph Belknap’s sign; Golden Cock, in Ann Street, 1733; +Golden Eagle, Dock Square, 1758; and one of the last things named was the +Whipping Post, in King Street, removed in 1750, only twenty years before +the Boston Massacre.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">NAMES OF PERSONS.</p> + +<p>In regard to the names of persons, as well as places and things, it is +said that there was “a prejudice in favor of the Israelitish custom, and a +fondness arose, or at least was increased, for significant names for +children.” “The three first that were baptized in Boston church were Joy, +Recompence and Pity. The humor spread. The town of Dorchester, in +particular, was remarkable for such names as Faith,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> Hope, Charity, +Deliverance, Dependance, Preserved, Content, Prudent, Patience, Thankful, +Hate-evil, Holdfast,” &c. These are pretty much out of fashion: possibly +the name of “Prudence” may yet be found. It is somewhat strange that this +“prejudice” did not get a more public expression: perhaps Salutation Alley +may be a relic of it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<p>The Hangman’s Gallows, strange to say, was a permanent structure on the +Neck, on the east side and somewhat in the rear of the burying-ground: the +pirates were hung there as late as 1815. The following peculiar historical +names, although well known, may be mentioned: Liberty Pole was in Liberty +Square, at the point of meeting of Water and Kilby Streets. It was not +restored after the Revolutionary War. Liberty Tree, corner of Newbury (now +Washington) and Essex Streets, nearly opposite Boylston Market. It was cut +down by the British in August, 1775. Green Dragon was the sign of a noted +tavern in Union Street, licensed in 1697, and disappeared 1854. The +building which now occupies the spot in Union Street, displays the Green +Dragon on its front. The “Orange Tree” spoken of in the history of Boston, +was on Hanover Street. A private school is spoken of as being in Hanover +Street, “three doors below the Orange Tree,” and an earlier writer speaks +of it as on Queen (Court) Street. It was a tavern on or near the corner of +these streets, probably on the site afterwards occupied by Concert Hall.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>Boston, at the present time, includes South Boston (formerly Dorchester), +East Boston (formerly Noddle’s Island), Dorchester, Roxbury, West Roxbury, +and Charlestown, and within this territory there are now over 2,650 +streets, squares, avenues, places, courts, &c., and 225 wharves, +twenty-nine of which are in Charlestown District. Public halls in Boston, +119, and the number of these is increasing. In 1735, there were twelve +wards in the town; revised in 1805, and now, including the annexations +above named, there are twenty-five wards.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS.</span></p> + + +<p>Notwithstanding the strange judgments, fines, and punishments, made under +the civil law or without law in the colony of Massachusetts, there seems +to have been another sort of government, or perhaps one of the same kind, +in relation to spiritual or religious things, the administration of which +shows such a spirit and system of persecution, and such a degree of +fanaticism, as can hardly be paralleled in history. And it would seem also +that the two kinds of government, both in the hands of the same parties, +might occasionally be found in conflict. In 1655, Hutchinson says, +“However inconsistent it may seem with the professed ecclesiastical +constitution and the freedom of every church, the general court, in +several instances, interposed its authority. They laid a large fine upon +the church at Malden for choosing a minister without the consent and +approbation of the neighboring churches and allowance of the magistrates, +and there were other similar interferences, which, we suppose, were +acceded to, and that the church was, in fact, under the control of the +state.” And the state, it may be added, was to some extent, subordinate to +the church.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>The Episcopalians, Anabaptists, Baptists, and Quakers, were all treated, +or maltreated, with the same spirit, though not proceeded against with the +same degree of persistency and malice. The Episcopalians were mulcted in +heavy fines “for contemptuous and seditious language,” but finally +overcame all difficulties, and became permanently established in 1686, and +built a church in 1688. The Baptists were persecuted in a similar way, but +finally got a meeting-house built in 1679, before the Episcopalians. The +Quakers were persecuted from the first landing of some of their number in +1656 to 1667, and even later; and four of them were hanged on Boston +Common.</p> + +<p>In July, 1656, two Quakers, both women, arrived at the settlement from +Barbadoes, and soon after eight more came from England. In a few days they +were ordered before the Court of Assistants. Some books were found about +them or in their possession, amounting to a hundred volumes; and these +were burned in the market-place, and their owners sent to prison. They +were condemned as Quakers, kept in confinement several weeks, and then +sent away; and yet it is said there was no law at this time against +Quakers. After this, stringent laws were made to keep them out of the +colony. Masters of vessels were subjected to one hundred pounds fine if +they brought a Quaker into the colony, and required to give security to +take him away; and, if a Quaker came into the jurisdiction, he was sent to +the house of correction, and whipped twenty stripes. And the next year, +further laws were made against the <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>Quakers, and against all who +befriended or entertained them: who were to be fined forty shillings an +hour; and, “if he persisted, the offender was to have one of his ears cut +off,” and, if repeated, he was to lose his other ear. If this did not +answer, whipping and boring the tongue with a hot iron, were to be the +consequences.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding these severe proceedings against the Quakers, others came +into the colony, and some who had been banished returned to suffer more +severe punishments. One Myra Clark, wife of a merchant tailor of London, +came to Boston in 1657, to comply with what she conceived to be a +spiritual command, and was whipped in a cruel manner. About the same time, +two men, Christopher Holder and John Copeland, were seized in Salem, and, +after being roughly handled, were “had to Boston.” Holder, it is said, +when he attempted to speak, had his head hauled back by the hair, and his +mouth stuffed with handkerchief and gloves. At Boston they were whipped +with a knotted whip, with all the strength of the hangman. A man named +Shattock was imprisoned and whipped for interfering when Holder was +gagged, and was afterwards banished.</p> + +<p>In the next year, (September, 1658), Holder, Copeland, and another young +man named Rouse, had their right ears cut off in the prison. A number of +women were whipped and imprisoned; and one, Katharine Scott of Providence, +being in Boston, pronounced the above punishment in prison, “a work of +darkness,” and was therefore shamefully treated and abused, although a +mother of children, and “a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> grave, sober, ancient woman.” She was publicly +whipped, and threatened with hanging if found in Boston again.</p> + +<p>Three persons known as Quakers, on their way from Salem to Rhode Island, +to provide a place for themselves and families, were arrested by the +constable at Dedham, and sent to Boston, where Gov. Endicott set them at +liberty, but fined them twelve shillings, as it would seem for the +stupidity of the constable. The constable, no doubt, arrested them for +fear of being fined for neglect of duty.</p> + +<p>In 1658-59, persecutions continued fearfully, and numbers were arrested, +imprisoned, and punished. In the latter year, William Robinson, formerly a +London merchant, Marmaduke Stevenson, and Myra (or Mary) Dyar, having +returned after banishment, were sentenced to be hung; and the two men were +hung, Oct. 20. Myra Dyar was upon the ladder, her arms and legs tied, and +the rope about her neck, when, at the urgent solicitation of her son, she +was spared and sent out of the colony; but she returned again the next +year, impressed with the belief that her death was necessary to the cause +she had espoused,—as fanatical as were the Puritans themselves,—and was +hung in June. The bodies of the men, it is said, were shamefully stripped +and abused, after they were literally cut down, and were thrown into a +hole together.</p> + +<p>In July, 1660, Margaret Brewster, from Barbadoes, and two or three other +women, made an incursion into the Old South Church; she appeared “in +sackcloth, with ashes on her head, barefoot and her face<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> blackened,” with +some purpose of warning the people against the black pox, “if they put in +practice a cruel law against swearing.”</p> + +<p>It is said also “that Deborah Wilson went through the streets of Salem +naked as she came into the world, for which she was well whipped.” Thomas +Newhouse went into a meeting-house in Boston, and smashed two empty +bottles together, with a threat to the people; and, no doubt, other +provoking things were done.</p> + +<p>In March, 1661, persecutions still prevailing, William Leddra, who came +from Barbadoes, was arrested, together with one William Brend; and Drake +says, “The cruelties perpetrated on these poor, misguided men are +altogether of a character too horrid to be related.” It is said that +Leddra would not accept life on any terms, and was therefore hung on the +14th of March; and Capt. Johnson, who led him forth to the gallows, was +afterwards taken “with a distemper which deprived him of his reason and +understanding as a man.”</p> + +<p>These proceedings, outrageous as they certainly were, led to a movement in +England by the Quakers and their friends, which resulted in an order from +the King, Sept. 9, 1661, requiring that a stop should be put to all +capital or corporal punishments. The following are the words of this +remarkable document:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“<span class="smcap">Charles R.</span></p> + +<p>“Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. Having been informed that +several of our subjects amongst you, called Quakers, have been and are +imprisoned by you, whereof some have been executed, and others (as +hath been represented unto<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> us) are in danger to undergo the like: We +have thought fit to signify our pleasure in that behalf for the +future, and do hereby require, that if there be any of those people +now amongst you, now already condemned to suffer death or other +corporal punishment, or that are imprisoned, and obnoxious to the like +condemnation, you are to forbear to proceed any further therein, but +that you forthwith send the said persons, whether condemned or +imprisoned, over into this Our Kingdom of England, together with the +respective crimes or offenses laid to their charge, to the end such +course may be taken with them here as shall be agreeable to our laws +and their demerits; and for so doing these our letters shall be your +sufficient warrant and discharge.</p> + +<p>“Given at Our Court at Whitehall the ninth day of Sept., 1661, in the +thirteenth year of Our Reign.</p> + +<p>“To Our trusty and well-beloved John Endicott, Esquire, &c.</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 8em;">“By his Majesty’s Command,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 14em;">“<span class="smcap">William Morris</span>.”</span></p></div> + +<p>The bearer of this mandate from the King was one of the banished Quakers, +formerly of Salem; and when he appeared at Gov. Endicott’s house, on +Pemberton Square, was admitted to the presence, and ordered to take his +hat off; and on receiving the mandamus the Governor took his own hat off +(which he probably put on to receive his callers). After reading the +document, he went out and bade the two Friends to follow him, and +proceeded to consult, as it appeared, with Lieut.-Gov. Willoughby (not +Bellingham, as some writers have it). His answer was, “We shall obey his +majesty’s command.” So far as hanging was forbidden, the command was +obeyed. The formality of sending Commissioners to England to defend and +justify the measures of the colony was adopted, but never amounted to any +thing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>The laws against the Quakers were afterwards revived to the extent of +whipping, limited to “through three towns only;” and perhaps they did not +choose to regard this display as “capital or corporal punishment.”</p> + +<p>In May, 1664, Edward Wharton, of Salem, being in Boston, a Quaker meeting +was held, when a warrant was issued for his arrest: but the meeting being +over, he was found at a friend’s house; was arrested; the next day +whipped, and sent to the constable at Lynn, to be whipped there, and then +sent to Salem. In one instance, a girl, eleven years of age, allowing +herself to be a Quaker, whether she knew what the word meant or not, was +sent to prison, and afterwards brought before the great and dignified +Court. The Court speak of “the malice of Satan and his instruments,” and +determine that as “Satan is put to his shifts to make use of such a child, +not being of the years of discretion, it is judged meet so far to slight +her as a Quaker, as only to admonish and instruct her according to her +capacity, and so discharge her.” Hutchinson says, “It would have been +horrible, if there had been any further severity.”</p> + +<p>In 1665, additional laws were made, or orders passed, levying a fine of +ten shillings for attending a Quaker meeting, and five pounds for speaking +at one; and, in the same year, the penalty of death was revived against +all Quakers who should return to the colony after they had been banished. +Some persons ventured to express their dissent with regard to some of +these laws, and, probably owing to their respectability, escaped +punishment; but Nicholas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> Upsall, who had shown compassion to some Quakers +while in prison, in 1656-57, was fined and banished, and endured +incredible hardships. Three years later, in 1660, he returned, and was +again thrown into prison, and died in 1666.</p> + +<p>The laws against Quakers and heretics were published in Boston “with beat +of drum through its streets.” We presume they were read after the +town-crier fashion of later days.</p> + +<p>In 1677, when the toleration of the Quakers was thought to be one of the +sins which brought on the Indian war, as a punishment, the Court ordered, +“That every person found at a Quaker’s meeting shall be apprehended ex +officio, by the constable, and, by warrant from a magistrate or +commissioner, shall be committed to the House of Correction, and there +have the discipline of the house applied to them, and be kept to work, +with bread and water, for three days, and then released, or else shall pay +five pounds in money, as a fine to the country, for such offence, and all +constables neglecting their duty, in not faithfully executing this order, +shall incur the penalty of five pounds, upon conviction, one third thereof +to the informer.”</p> + +<p>Upon this remarkable order, Hutchinson declares, “I know of nothing which +can be urged as in anywise tending to excuse the severity of this law, +unless it be human infirmity,” and, he adds, the practices of other +religious sects who are persuaded that the indulgence of any other “was a +toleration of impiety” and brought down the judgments of heaven. This law +cost the colony many friends.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>Soon after this a party was arrested and “whipped at the cart’s tail up +and down the town with twenty lashes.” On the same day, fourteen Quakers +were arrested at a meeting, and twelve of them whipped: the other two had +their fines paid by their friends. At the next meeting, fourteen or +fifteen more, including some strangers, were arrested and whipped. And yet +the Quakers continued their meetings; and, finally, one of them was so +large, that, as it is said, “fearfulness surprised the hypocrites,” and +the meeting was not molested.<a name='fna_6' id='fna_6' href='#f_6'><small>[6]</small></a></p> + +<p>Hutchinson says, “Notwithstanding the great variety of sectaries in +England, there had been no divisions of any consequence in the +Massachusetts; but from 1637 to 1656, they enjoyed, in general, great +quietness in their ecclesiastical affairs, discords in particular churches +being healed and made up by a submission to the arbitrament of neighboring +churches, and sometimes the interposition of the civil power.” But soon +after all this, commencing indeed in 1655, in New England, continues +Hutchinson, “it must be confessed, that bigotry and cruel zeal prevailed, +and to that degree that no opinions but their own could be tolerated. They +were sincere but mistaken in their principles; and absurd as it is, it is +too evident, they believed it to be for the glory of God to take away the +lives of his creatures for maintaining tenets contrary to what they +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>professed themselves.” It is said, however, “that every religion which is +persecuted becomes itself persecuting; for as soon as, by some accidental +turn, it arises from persecution, it attacks the religion which persecuted +it.” Perhaps the Puritans thought they had been persecuted!</p> + +<p>It seems to be understood that the Quakers finally got a standing in +Boston, and a meeting-house, as, in 1667, mention is made of their +“ordinary place of meeting,” though their numbers were small. The +Baptists, however, did not get their meeting-house until 1679; and then, +as a law had been passed against the building of meeting-houses without +permission of the county courts, theirs was built as a private house, and +afterwards purchased by them. But Drake says, “The times had become so +much changed that such a law could not be very well enforced.” By this +time, also, the matter was again brought to the notice of the king, +Charles II.; and he wrote, on July 24, to the authorities of Boston, +“requiring them not to molest people in their worship, who were of the +Protestant faith, and directing that liberty of conscience should be +extended to all such.” This letter, it is said, had some effect on the +rulers, although they regarded it as an interference with their chartered +rights; and, after all, it was rather a development of that common sense +which fanaticism and bigotry had so long obscured, possibly awakened by +the order of the king, rather than controlled by it, that brought about +the change in the spirit of persecution.</p> + +<p>In 1737, a different Christian spirit was manifested<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> towards the Quakers, +and they were exempted from taxes for the support of the clergy, provided +they attended their own meetings. A letter from a Quaker to the King gives +the following statement of the punishments and penalties received by his +brethren: “Twenty-two have been banished on pain of death, three have been +martyred, three have had their right ears cut, one hath been burned in the +hand with the letter H, thirty-one persons have received six hundred and +fifty stripes, ... one thousand and forty-four pounds worth of goods have +been taken from them, and one lieth now in fetters, condemned to die.” The +letter H was probably intended for “heretic,” which would certainly be +giving a judgment against the religion the Quakers professed.</p> + +<p>In 1694, the Quakers owned a lot on Brattle Street, and it is thought +probable had some sort of a meeting-house upon it; but still the years +passed on, we hardly know how, until 1708, when they desired to build a +brick house, but could not get permission to do so. Afterwards they built +a small brick meeting-house in the rear of Congress Street on one side, +and in the rear of Water Street on the other. It ran back to what is now +the line of Exchange Place; in fact, was nearly in the centre of the +square formed by State, Congress, Water, and Devonshire Streets. This +building was partly destroyed by fire in 1760, having been standing more +than fifty years; was then repaired, and finally demolished in 1825, +having been unoccupied for nearly twenty years, the society, in 1808, +having voted to discontinue their meetings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>It is probably true that the treatment of the Quakers in the Massachusetts +Colony, in the years mentioned, from 1600 to 1666-67, is unparalleled in +the history of the human race; and although it may be true, as has been +said, that the people here exiled themselves in order that “they might +maintain and perpetuate what they conceived to be the principles of true +Christianity,” they manifested but little of the spirit of the Saviour of +mankind or the religion he came to teach. Hutchinson concludes what he has +to say of the remarkable persecution of the Quakers and its severity, with +the remark, “May the time never come again, when the government shall +think that by killing men for their religion they do God good service.” +However other denominations of Christians were persecuted by the Puritans, +only Quakers and witches were hung. “These transient persecutions,” as +Bancroft calls them, with all the leniency possible, “begun in +self-defence, were yet no more than a train of mists hovering of an autumn +morning over the channel of a fine river, that diffused freshness and +fertility wherever it wound.” Much of this condition of things, it must be +admitted, resulted from natural causes; namely, the character and +circumstances of the settlers, their peculiar religious belief, and +absolute fanaticism.</p> + +<p>Finally, another writer says, “The Puritans <i>disclaimed</i> the right to sit +in judgment on the opinions of others. They denied that they persecuted +for conscience sake.” These and some other statements seem to show that +they did not practise as they preached, or gave an interpretation to that +practice<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> not in accordance with the understanding and convictions of +mankind. To be sure, they had a law to punish any one who spoke +disrespectfully of the Scriptures, and at the same time fined, punished, +banished, and hung those who entertained and presumed to teach principles, +belief, or doctrines in relation to the Scriptures different from their +own; not, as they allege, because they had the right to sit in judgment +upon them, but because of the dangers of their teaching and practice: in +other words, for their own protection, “self-defence,” as has been said. +Nevertheless, maiming, marring, and taking the lives of God’s creatures, +the equals in every respect of themselves, as Hutchinson puts it, is only +to be apologized for or excused by the infirmities of humanity; indeed, we +should rather say, is not to be excused on any such ground, and their own +doctrine and belief teaches that it was a proceeding to be punished and +repented of. This, at any rate, was always the belief of the Quakers. +Drake says, “The persecuted Quakers were fully persuaded that a day of +wrath would overtake New England, and they did not fail to declare their +belief; and, indeed, it was not long before their predictions were +fulfilled: for the terrible war with the Indians, which followed in a few +years, was viewed by them as the vengeance of heaven for their cruelty to +the Quakers.”</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA.</span></p> + + +<p>It is said that the first newspaper ever issued was at Venice in 1583,<a name='fna_7' id='fna_7' href='#f_7'><small>[7]</small></a> +called “The Gazette,”—and this was in manuscript,—unless (as has been +reported) there was an older paper of some kind issued at Hong-Kong. The +oldest printed newspaper, “The English Mercury,” was issued in England in +1588,<a name='fna_8' id='fna_8' href='#f_8'><small>[8]</small></a> but, it is believed, was not regularly published. In the next +century, from 1624 onward, newspapers multiplied; and among them were “The +Parliament Kite,” and “The Secret Owl,” and some other curious names. +Towards the close of this century, the first American newspaper appeared; +and possibly this had been preceded by what represented a newspaper, in +manuscript, as was the case afterwards in Boston in 1704, when “The +News-Letter” first appeared. The first American newspaper was issued in +Boston in 1690,—only fifty or sixty years after newspapers became common +in England,—if the statements which we have quoted are reliable. But at +this time, as might be reasonably supposed, the people who came to this + +country in order to improve their liberties,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> were not prepared for a free +press, or, one might almost say, for any thing that did not tally with +their religious notions and vague superstitions; so that, after the first +issue, Sept. 25, 1690, the paper was suppressed, as said, by the +“legislative authorities.” Still it was a newspaper, intended to be such, +and intended to be regularly issued once a month, or oftener, if occasion +required.</p> + +<p>It was entitled as follows:—</p> + +<p class="center"><span style="margin-left: -8em;">“Numb. 1.</span><span class="spacer"> </span><span class="spacer"> </span><span class="smcap">Publick</span><br /> +OCCURRENCES,<br /> +<i>Both Foreign and Domestic</i>.<br /> +<span class="smcap">Boston</span>, <i>Thursday, Sept. 25, 1690</i>.”</p> + +<p>It was “printed by R. Pierce, for Benjamin Harris, at the London Coffee +House, 1690.” And it would seem that most of the copies were destroyed, +though probably not many were printed, as only one copy has ever been +found, and that by some unknown chance got into the colonial state-paper +office, in London. It is a small sheet of paper doubled, printed on three +pages, two columns to each; and some years ago, after a good deal of +trouble to find the copy in the London office, the contents of the whole +sheet were copied by Dr. Samuel A. Green, of Boston, and have since been +once or twice reprinted.</p> + +<p>It is said that it was stopped by the “legislative authorities,” who +described it as a “pamphlet,” and as containing “reflections of a very +high nature;” and the order of the Court, passed in 1662 forbade “any +thing in print without license first obtained from those appointed by the +government to grant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> the same:” so that it would seem that there was a law +against printing any thing without a license, and that this sheet, called +a pamphlet, came within its provisions. “In 1644, It is ordered that the +Printers shall have leave to print the Election Sermon with Mr. Mather’s +consent, and the Artillery’s with Mr. Norton’s consent.” This, of course, +meant without their undergoing any inspection.</p> + +<p>With respect to the contents of this first newspaper, the introductory +paragraph is as follows:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">“<i>It is designed that the countrey shall be furnished once a month</i> +(<i>or if any Glut of</i> Occurrences <i>happen oftener</i>,) <i>with an Account +of such considerable things as have arrived unto our Notice.</i>”</p> + +<p>The editor, it is said, will take pains to get a faithful relation of +things, and hopes observers will communicate of such matters as fall under +their notice; and then states what is proposed in an editorial way: first, +that memorable occurrences may not be neglected or forgotten: second, that +people may better understand public affairs; and third, “<i>that something +may be done towards the</i> Curing, <i>or at least the</i> Charming <i>of that</i> +Spirit of Lying, which prevails among us,” &c. This, probably, is one of +the passages referred to by the authorities as “reflections of a very high +nature.” And, in addition to what has been said, “the Publisher of these +Occurrences” proposes to correct false reports, and expose the “First +Raiser” of them, and thinks “<i>none will dislike this Proposal, but such as +intend to be guilty of so villainous a Crime</i>.”</p> + +<p>Then follows the news, or “Occurrences.” <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>Mention is made of a +thanksgiving appointed by the Christian Indians of Plymouth; the +husbandmen find no want of hands, “which is looked upon as a merciful +Providence,” being a favorable season; the Indians have stolen two +children, aged nine and eleven years, from Chelmsford; an old man of +Watertown hung himself in his cow-house, having lately lost his wife, and +thereupon “the devil took advantage of the melancholy which he thereupon +fell into.” Epidemical fevers and agues and small-pox are next spoken of: + +of small-pox, three hundred and twenty had died in Boston, and “children +were born full of the distemper.” A large fire is spoken of near the Mill +Creek,—twenty houses burned; and on the 16th and 17th of this instant +(September, 1690), a fire broke out near the South Meeting-house, which +consumed five or six houses; a young man perished in the flames, and one +of the best printing-presses was lost. Report of a vessel bound to +Virginia, put into Penobscot, where the Indians and French butchered the +master and most of the crew.</p> + +<p>The next is a longer article in relation to the expedition to Canada under +Gen. Winthrop, its failure, and a variety of Indian complications. The +editor says, “’Tis possible we have not so exactly related the +Circumstances of this business, but the Account is as near exactness as +any that could be had, in the midst of many various reports about it.”</p> + +<p>Then follows an account of the massacre of a body of French Indians in the +“East Country.” Two English captives escaped at Passamaquoddy, and got +into Portsmouth. There was terrible butchery<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> among the French, Indians, +and English at this time. Following this is some news from Portsmouth by +an arrival from Barbadoes; a report that the city of Cork had proclaimed +King William, and turned their French landlords out of doors, &c.; more +Indian troubles at Plymouth, Saco, &c., &c. Then follows the imprint at +the end, as already quoted.</p> + +<p>Such was the nature, character, and contents of the first paper ever +published in America; and we doubt if the first paper printed in England, +more than a hundred years before, exceeded this in manner and matter. The +judgment of the present day would be that it was a very good paper for the +time, both in its news and editorial matter, and we fail to see any ground +of offence either against law or religion. Many of the early papers +published in this country, after the failure of this attempt, are not half +as good as this first copy of “Publick Occurrences.” It is creditable to +Benjamin Harris, and its discontinuance not so creditable to the +“legislative authorities,” who either made or perverted a law for its +suppression. But the idea of establishing a newspaper “that something may +be done towards the Curing, or at least the Charming of that Spirit of +Lying, which prevails among us,” is very peculiar.</p> + +<p>In all newspaper nomenclature it is hardly possible to find a more +appropriate name than that selected for this first newspaper of America. +We now have Heralds, Couriers, and Messengers; Records, Chronicles, and +Registers; then all sorts of party names; Banner, and Standard; Crayon, +Scalpel, and Broadaxe; Age, Epoch, Era, Crisis, Times; and finally<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> Sun, +Star, Comet, Planet, Aurora, Galaxy, &c., but among these and thousands of +other names, not one more truthful and expressive than that of “Publick +Occurrences.”</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER.</p> + +<p>The first Boston newspaper which gained a permanency, was published in +1704, and was continued for more than seventy years. It was equally +fortunate in the selection of an appropriate and significant name, the +“Boston News-Letter,” and this was possibly suggested by the fact that it +was preceded by the issue of a news-letter in manuscript which was as +strictly, as the newspaper which followed it, a “News-Letter.” Naturally +enough too, considering the times, it was originated by the postmaster, +who came in contact in his business, not only with the people of Boston, +but generally with those of the whole colony, as we think, there were then +but few post-offices in the colony: the need of a News-Letter for +everybody would, as we have intimated, naturally suggest itself to him, +and be also, as in fact it was, an important aid to his business, though +it is said he did not make much out of it, and soon after lost his +position as postmaster.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">New England.</p> +<p class="center"><i>The</i> BOSTON News-Letter.</p> +<p class="center">From Monday April 17, to Monday April 24, 1704.</p> + +<p class="center">“Boston: Printed by B. Green, and sold by Nicholas Boone, at his shop near the old meeting-house.”</p></div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img2.jpg" alt="" /></div><p> </p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>John Campbell, a Scotchman, bookseller and postmaster, was the proprietor +of the paper. It was printed on a half-sheet, pot paper, and was to be +continued weekly, “Published by authority.” Among the contents was an +article from the “London Flying Post,” containing news from Scotland, +“concerning the present danger of the kingdom and the Protestant +Religion,” “Papists swarm the nation,” &c.; also extracts from the London +papers, and four paragraphs of marine news. Advertisements inserted “at a +reasonable rate from twopence to five shillings.” On the same day that the +paper was issued Judge Sewall notes in his diary that he went over to +Cambridge, and gave Mr. Willard, president of the College, “the first +News-Letter that was ever carried over the river.”</p> + +<p>The second issue of the paper, No. 2, was on a whole sheet of pot paper, +the last page blank.</p> + +<p>In the fifth number Boone’s name was left out, and the paper was sold at +the post-office. To No. 192, the paper was printed on a half-sheet, +excepting the second issue.</p> + +<p>Green printed the paper for Campbell, until Nov. 3, 1707, after which it +was printed by John Allen, in Pudding Lane, near the post-office, and +there to be sold; and Allen printed it four years to No. 390. On the day +that number was published, Oct. 2, 1711, the post-office and +printing-office were burnt; and the following week it was again printed by +Green, in Newbury Street, and he continued to print it until October, +1715. In 1719, Mr. Campbell tried the experiment of printing a whole +sheet, instead of a half<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> sheet, every other week, but this did not pay +very well; and in addition to this difficulty, he lost the office of +postmaster in December of that year. The new postmaster also printed a +paper (Gazette) and this led to the first newspaper war in the country, +but which did not last long, and terminated without much damage.</p> + +<p>In 1721, Campbell got a new idea and printed some copies of the +“News-Letter” on a sheet of writing paper, leaving one page blank, so that +his subscribers could write their letters on that, and send the paper +abroad without extra postage. In the next year, after he had published the +paper eighteen years, he sold to his printer, Bartholomew Green. +“Published by authority” had been omitted by Campbell for two years, and +in 1725 Green restored it. In December, 1726, the title was changed to +“The Weekly News-Letter,” and subsequently, in 1730, to “The Boston Weekly +News-Letter,” and the numberings of the previous issues were added +together, and the total reached 1,396, in October, 1730. No other +alteration took place until the death of Green, when in Jan. 4, 1733, John +Draper, his son-in-law, succeeded him. Draper printed the “News-Letter” +for thirty years, and died November, 1762. His son, Richard Draper, +continued the paper and enlarged the title to “The Boston Weekly +News-Letter and New England Chronicle.” In about a year the title was +again altered to “The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Weekly +News-Letter,” and was decorated with the King’s Arms. Richard took a +kinsman as partner, and the paper now bore this <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>imprint: “Published by +Richard Draper, Printer to the Governor and Council, and by Samuel Draper, +at the printing-office, in Newbury Street.” Richard Draper continued the +paper, and in May, 1768, a singular arrangement took place between the +“Massachusetts Gazette” (or News-Letter) and the “Boston Post Boy and +Advertiser,” and both papers were “Published by authority,” in other words +as government papers. Each paper was one-half “The Massachusetts Gazette, +published by authority,” and the other half bore its own proper name; and +Draper called it the “Adam and Eve paper.” This plan continued until +September, 1769, and then its title “The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston +Weekly News-Letter,” was resumed. In May, 1774, Draper took a partner, and +the next month he died, and his widow, Margaret Draper, continued the +paper in the interest of the loyalists or tories, until the evacuation of +Boston, and then it ceased. She went to Halifax and then to England, and +there obtained a pension. The “News-Letter” was published seventy-two +years. It is a curious fact that the first newspaper established in Boston +should have got into the hands of the tories, and in the last year of its +existence, in the trying times of the revolutionary war, should have been +conducted by a woman.</p> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<p>“The New England Chronicle, or The Evening Gazette,” published at +Cambridge, Sept. 28, 1775, speaks of “Mrs. Draper’s Paper,” in the +following paragraph:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>“The miserable Tools of Tyranny in Boston appear now to be somewhat +conscious of their infamy in Burning Charlestown, and are, with the +assistance of the Father of Liars, devising Methods for clearing up +their characters. One of them, in Mrs. Draper’s paper, asserts that +the Provincials, on the 17th of June, after firing out of Houses upon +the King’s troops, set the Buildings on Fire. This doubtless, is as +true as that the Provincials fired first upon the King’s Troops at +Lexington. Both of them are equally false, and well known to be as +palpable Lies as ever were uttered. The propagation of them are, +however, perfectly consistent with the Perfidy, Cowardice, and +Barbarity of Gage and his detestable understrappers.”</p> + +<p>Some other paragraphs are copied from “Mrs. Draper’s last Boston Paper,” +of which the following is one:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">“We hear a certain Person of Weight among the Rebels hath offered to +return to his Allegiance on Condition of being pardoned and provided +for: What encouragement he has received remains a secret.”</p> + +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +<p>John L. DeWolf, Esq., of Boston, has complete files of “The Boston Weekly +News-Letter,” for the years 1744 and 1745; and we are indebted to him for +the use of them. The following are specimens of some of the advertisements +of the time:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“To be sold, a likely Negro boy about 12 years old: enquire of the +printer.”</p> + +<p>“To be sold by the Province Treasurer: Good Winter Rye, which may be +seen at the Granary, on the Common” [Park street].</p> + +<p>“A fine negro male child to be given away.” [There are numerous +advertisements of slaves and negroes.]</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>“To be sold, a Good Dwelling-House, situate near the Green Dragon, in +the Main street, with a large tract of Land for a Garden, a good Well +in the Cellar and other conveniences. Enquire of Daniel Johonnot, +Distiller.”</p></div> + +<p>Elizabeth Macneal advertises “a likely young negro girl;” “also some +Household goods to be sold.”</p> + +<p>Josiah Jones advertises his man servant, 19 years of age as a runaway, +“having on an old ragged Coat, a good Check’d Shirt and Trowsers, a Pair +of Black Callamanco Breeches, a pair of Gray Yarn Stockings, and a new +Pair of Shoes.”</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“The Gentleman who borrowed a Blue Great Coat at the White Swan, about +three weeks past, is desir’d to return the same forthwith: the Person +whom he borrow’d it of, thinking he has had it long enough.”</p> + +<p>“This is to inform the Publick, That the Cold-Bath in the Bath-Garden, +at the West End of Boston is in Beautiful Order for use. It is a +living Spring of Water, which the coldest Season in Winter never +affects or freezes,” &c.</p> + +<p>“This is to inform the Publick that Edmond Lewis of Boston, +watch-maker, never bought a Watch of, nor ever sold one to any Slave +whatever; and the malicious Report of his having dealt with some +negroes is scandalously false.”</p> + +<p>“Choice Carolina Pork and Beef, to be sold at the Warehouse on the +South side of the Town Dock, adjoining the Impost office.”</p> + +<p>“A negro woman to be sold by the Printer of this paper; the very best +negro woman in town; who has had the small-pox and measles; is as +hearty as a horse, as brisk as a bird, and will work like a Beaver.”</p></div> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">CURIOUS BOSTON LECTURES.</span></p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">BOSTONIAN EBENEZER.</p> + +<p>There was published in Boston, in 1698, a very small thin volume of 82 +pages, 3 × 5 inches, entitled “The Bostonian Ebenezer.” “Some Historical +Remarks on the State of BOSTON, the <i>Chief Town of New England</i> and of the +<i>English</i> AMERICA, with some <i>agreeable methods</i> for Preserving and +Promoting, the <i>Good State</i> of THAT, as well as any <i>other Town</i>, in the +like circumstances.” “Humbly offered by a native of Boston.” Ezk. 48, 35, +“The Name of the City from that day, shall be THE LORD IS THERE.” Boston: +printed by B. Green and F. Allen, for Samuel Phillips, at the Brick Shop, +1698.</p> + +<p>This singular little volume contains two lectures. Preceding the first +lecture at the top of the page are these lines:—</p> + +<p class="center">“THE HISTORY OF BOSTON,<br /> +Related and Improved.<br /> +At <i>Boston</i> Lecture 7<i>d.</i> 2<i>m.</i> 1698.” [April 7, 1698.]</p> + +<p>The remainder of the page is occupied with this preface:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>“Remarkable and memorable, was the Time, when an <i>Army</i> of Terrible +<i>Destroyers</i> was coming against one of the <i>Chief Towns</i> in the Land +of Israel. God Rescued the <i>Town</i> from the Irresistible Fury and +Approach of those Destroyers, by an Immediate Hand of Heaven upon +them. Upon that miraculous Rescue of the <i>Town</i>, and of the whole +Country whose Fate was much enwrapped in it, there follow’d that +Action of the Prophet, SAMUEL, which is this Day, to be, with some +Imitation Repeated, in the midst of thee, O, BOSTON, <i>Thou helped of +the Lord</i>.”</p> + +<p>At the head of the next page we have the text,—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">I SAM. VII. 12.</p> + +<p>“Then SAMUEL took a Stone and Set it up, ... and called the Name of it +EBENEZER, saying, Hitherto the Lord hath Helped us.”</p></div> + +<p>Then follows the exordium, in which the preacher says the Thankful +Servants of God have used sometimes to erect monuments of stone as durable +tokens of their thankfulness:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“Jacob did so; Joshua did so; and Samuel did so.” “The Stone erected +by Samuel, with the name of Ebenezer, which is as much as to say, <i>A +Stone of Help</i>. I know not whether any thing might be <i>Writt</i> upon it; +but I am sure, there is one thing to be now <i>Read</i> upon it, by +ourselves, in the Text where we find it: Namely, this much,</p> + +<p>“<i>That a People whom the God of Heaven hath Remarkably Helped, in +their Distresses ought Greatly and Gratefully to acknowledge, what</i> +<span class="gothic">help</span> <i>of Heaven they have Received.</i></p> + +<p>“Now, ’tis not my Design to lay the Scene of my Discourse, as far off +as <i>Bethcar</i>, the place where Samuel set up his Ebenezer. I am +immediately to Transfer it into the heart of <i>Boston</i>, a place where +the <i>Remarkable Help Received from Heaven</i>, by the People, does loudly +call for an Ebenezer. And I do not ask you,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> to change the Name of the +Town, into that of <span class="gothic">Help stone</span>, as there is a Town in <i>England</i> of that +Name, which may seem the English of <span class="gothic">Ebenezer</span>; but my <i>Sermon</i> shall be +this Day your <i>Ebenezer</i>, if you will with a Favorable and Profitable +Attention Entertain it. May the Lord Jesus Christ, accept me, and +assist me now to <i>Glorify Him</i>, in the <i>Town</i>, where I drew my First +Sinful Breath. A <i>Town</i>, whereto I am under Great Obligations, for the +Precious Opportunities to <i>Glorify Him</i>, which I have quietly enjoy’d +therein, for NEAR EIGHTEEN years together. <i>O my Lord God, Remember +me, I pray thee</i>, and <i>strengthen me this once, to speak from thee</i>, +unto thy People.</p> + +<p>“And now, Sirs, That I may set up an EBENEZER among you, there are +these Things to be inculcated.”</p> + +<p>“1. Let us Thankfully, and Agreeably, and Particularly, acknowledge +what Help we have received from the God of Heaven, in the years that +have rolled over us. While the Blessed Apostle Paul, was as it should +seem, yet short of being <i>Threescore</i> years old, how affectionately +did he set an <i>Ebenezer</i> with the Acknowledgment in Acts 26, 22. +<i>Having obtained Help of God, I continue to this day.</i> Our Town is now +<i>Threescore and Eight</i> years old: and certainly ’tis Time for us, with +all possible affection to set up our <i>Ebenezer</i>, saying, Having +obtained Help from God, the Town is continued, until almost the Age of +Man is passed over it. The Town hath indeed Three Elder Sisters in +this Colony; but it hath wonderfully outgrown them all; and her +Mother, old Boston, in England also; Yea, within a Few Years, after +the first settlement it grew to be, <i>the Metropolis of the whole +English America</i>. Little was <i>this</i> expected, by them that first +settled the town, when, for a while, Boston was proverbially called +<i>Lost Town</i>, for the mean and sad circumstances of it. But, O Boston, +it is because thou hast <i>Obtained help from God</i>.” “There have been +several years wherein the Terrible Famine hath Terribly Stared the +Town in the Face. We have been brought sometimes unto the Last Meal in +the Barrel! But the fear’d Famine has always been kept off.”</p></div> + +<p>The preacher proceeds,—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>“A formidable French squadron +hath not shot one Bomb into the midst of Thee;” our Streets have not run Blood and Gore; devouring-flames have +not raged. “Boston, ’Tis a marvellous Thing, a Plague has not laid +desolate!” “Boston, Thou hast been lifted up to Heaven; there is not a +Town upon Earth, which, on some accounts, has more to answer for.”</p> + +<p>Secondly, we are to acknowledge whose help it is. “This is the voice +of God from Heaven to Boston this day; Thy God hath helped thee!” “Old +Boston, by name, was but Saint <i>Botolphs Town</i>. Whereas Thou, O +Boston, shall have but one Protector in Heaven, and that is Our Lord +Jesus Christ.”</p></div> + +<p>The preacher’s third division is that the help Boston has already had +should lead her people to Hope. “Hope in him for more help hereafter.” +“The motto upon all our Ebenezer’s is Hope in God! Hope in God!” In the +course of this part of his lecture, the preacher says,—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“The Town is at this day full of Widows and Orphans, and a multitude +of them are very helpless creatures. I am astonished how they live! In +that church, whereof I am the servant, I have counted. The Widows make +about a sixth part of our communicants, and no doubt in the whole +town, the proportion differs not very much. Now, stand still my +Friends, and behold the will of God! <i>Were</i> any of these ever starved +yet? No, these widows are every one in some sort provided for.”</p> + +<p>Fourthly, “Let all that bear public office in the town contribute all +the help they can that may continue the help of God in us!” First the +ministers will help, and then he calls upon the Justices of the +Courts, the constables, the school-masters and the townsmen to help: +“Each of the sorts by themselves, may they come together to consider, +What shall we do to save the town?”</p> + +<p>Fifthly, “God help the town to manifest all that piety which a town so +helped of Him, is obliged unto!” And then the town is warned against +all sorts of iniquities: against fortune-tellers, bad houses, drinking +houses, &c.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>“Ah! Boston, Beware, Beware, lest the Sin of Sodom get Footing in +thee!”</p> + +<p>“And, Oh! that the Drinking Houses in the Town, might once come under +a laudable <i>Regulation</i>. The Town has an <i>Enormous Number</i> of them! +Will the <i>Haunters</i> of those <i>Houses</i> hear the Counsels of Heaven? For +<i>you</i> that are the <i>Town Dwellers</i>, to be oft, or long, in your +<i>Visits</i> of the <i>Ordinary</i>, ’twill certainly Expose you to Mischiefs +more than ordinary. I have seen certain <i>Taverns</i> where the Pictures +of horrible Devourers<a name='fna_9' id='fna_9' href='#f_9'><small>[9]</small></a> were hang’d out for the signs; and thought I, +’twere well if such <i>Signs</i> were not sometimes too <i>Significant</i>! +Alas, men have their estates <i>Devoured</i>, their names <i>Devoured</i>, their +Hours <i>Devoured</i>, and their very soul <i>Devoured</i>, when they are so +besotted, that they are not in their <i>Element</i>, except they be in +Tippling at Such Houses. When once a man is Bewitched with the +Ordinary, what usually becomes of him? He is a <i>gone man</i>. And when he +comes to Dy, he’l cry out, as many have done, <i>Ale Houses are Hell +Houses! Ale Houses are Hell Houses! Ale Houses are Hell Houses!</i>” ... +“There was an <i>Inn</i> at <i>Bethlehem</i>, where the Lord Jesus Christ was to +be met withal. Can <i>Boston</i> boast of many such? Alas, Too ordinarily +it may be said, <i>There is no Room for Him in the Inn!</i> My Friends, Let +me beg it of you: Banish <i>the unfruitful works of Darkness</i>, from your +<i>Houses</i>, and then the <i>Sun of Righteousness</i> will shine upon them. +Don’t countenance <i>Drunkenness</i>, <i>Revelling</i> and <i>Mispending</i> of +precious Time in your Houses. Let none have the <i>snares of Death</i> Laid +for them in your <i>Houses</i>.”</p></div> + +<p>The preacher goes on in two or three <i>further divisions</i> with his +declamation against evil and sins, and his conjurations for better things, +in faith, hopes and works, intimating all the evils that exist in Boston, +and warning the people of the danger of them.</p> + +<p>The second sermon is a piece of similar declamation, about what the +preacher calls Household <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>Religion, “at Boston Lecture, 26d. 7m. 1695.” A +short extract will give a sample of this discourse.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">“First, I suppose, we are all sensible, That for us to Loose our +Houses by any Disaster whatsoever, would be a very terrible Calamity: +Oh! it would be a <i>Judgment</i> of God, wherein the <i>Anger</i> of God, would +be seen written with <i>fiery</i> characters. If by an accident, or by an +enemy, our House be laid in desolation, every Roar of the Raging +Flames, every crack of the Tumbling Timbers, every Downfall of the +Undermined walls, and every jingle of the Bells then tolling the +Funeral of those Houses, would loudly utter the voice in Deut., <i>A +Fire is Kindled in the Anger of God</i>.”</p> + +<p>This discourse is very severe upon all “Houses where God is not served,” +and defines them as gaming-houses, drinking-houses, houses where troops +and harlots assemble. “If the Worshipful Justices, and the Constables, and +the Tythingmen, would Invigorate their zeal, to Rout the Villanous Haunts +of those Houses, the whole Town would be vastly the Safer for it.”</p> + +<p>All that can be said of these curious discourses is that they are a +strange medley of declamation, fanaticism, and exhortation, not lacking in +thought perhaps, or devoid of sense, but rather insinuating than direct +and sensible. The author does not print his name, though they purport to +be Boston Lectures, one delivered in 1695 and the other in 1698: it is +understood, however, that they were by the Rev. Cotton Mather.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">REMARKABLE PROCLAMATIONS.</span></p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">FAST DAY.</p> + +<p>The first proclamation, issued on a broadside, that we have seen, is that +of March, 1743, “for a public fast.” It is issued by Gov. Shirley, and +begins, “It being our constant and indispensable duty by prayer and +supplication with thanksgiving to make known our requests to God,” &c. He +then appoints the 12th of April ensuing to be observed as a day of general +fasting and prayer. After acknowledging “all our heinous and aggravated +offences,” the people are required to implore the Divine mercy for “the +following blessings, namely,” the life and health of “Our Sovereign Lord +the King;” the prosperity of his government; that he would direct and +grant success to his Majesty’s arms in the present war, and prevent a +further rupture among the nations; in behalf of the Prince and Princess of +Wales; and that “it would please God to cover and defend the English +plantations, more especially this Province,” &c. Given at the Council +Chamber, signed, &c., and ending “God save the King.”</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">“WAR AGAINST THE FRENCH KING.”</p> + +<p>The next proclamation which we have is not probably much known, and not +such as were issued by the governors of the Provinces or States, but is a +“Declaration of war against the French King.” It purports to be issued +originally from “Our Court at St. James’s, the twenty-ninth day of March, +1744, in the 17th year of our reign.” “God save the King.” “Printed in +London by Thomas Baskett and Robert Baskett, printers to the King’s most +excellent Majesty, 1744.” “Boston, N. E. reprinted by John Draper, Printer +to His Excellency the Governor and Council, 1774.”</p> + +<p>The proclamation rehearses the troubles which have taken place among the +European states, “with a view to overturn the balance of power in Europe, +... in direct violation of the solemn guaranty of the Pragmatick Sanction +given by him [the French King] in 1738, in consideration of the cession of +Lorrain.” It refers to other offensive conduct of the French King, and +then replies to some assertions made in the “French King’s declaration of +war.” “Being therefore indispensably obliged to take up arms,” the King +calls upon all his subjects to assist in prosecuting the same by sea and +land; but no special reference is made to the British colonies in America, +and the governor (Shirley) does not even add his name to the proclamation. +One copy of the remarkable document, at least, has been preserved, and is +in possession of Mr. John L. DeWolf of Boston. It is headed by an +engraving of the King’s arms, as are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> all the proclamations issued by the +governor, including those for Fast and Thanksgiving Days, &c. It is not +probable, though we do not know the fact, that a declaration of war by the +King of England was ever re-issued by the governor of any other colony. +Previously to this, in this colony, in 1672, the proclamation of war, by +the King of England against the Dutch, was publicly read in Boston.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">FAST DAY.</p> + +<p>Following this on the 8th of June, 1744, was issued the “proclamation for +a public fast.” “Whereas it hath pleased God, in his holy, wise and +sovereign Providence, further to involve the British dominions in war, +whereby this Province will be greatly affected,” &c. Therefore the 28th +day of June is appointed to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, +&c., “and all servile labor and recreations are forbidden on that day.” +Signed, W. Shirley. [Troops were raised in Boston at this time, following +the declaration of 29th March, and sent to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, where +they arrived, as Gordon says, in season, and “were the probable means of +saving the country.”]</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">RIOT IN BRISTOL COUNTY.</p> + +<p>Among the lesser proclamations, issued by Gov. Shirley, was one on account +of “an heinous riot in the Town of Bristol, in open defiance of His +Majesty’s authority and Government within this Province.” This was a case +where the six persons named and “a great number of others,” marched to the +county jail,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> and there demanded the release of John Round, jr., and by +force of arms broke open said prison, “rescuing and carrying off the said +John Round and Samuel Borden, another prisoner in said gaol.” The governor +calls upon all officers and people to apprehend and secure the parties, +and “for the encouragement of all persons whatsoever that shall discover +the parties,” a reward of one hundred pounds is offered for several of +them, and fifty pounds each for others. Given at the Council Chamber in +Boston, 18th day of October, 1744. Signed, &c.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">WAR AGAINST THE INDIANS.</p> + +<p>Another remarkable proclamation was issued by “His Excellency, William +Shirley, Esq., Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and over His +Majesty’s Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England.” This is a +“declaration of war against the Cape Sable’s and St. John’s Indians.” It +is stated that whereas some of the Cape Sable Indians, who have formally +by treaty submitted to his Majesty’s government, have, “in the port of +Jedoure, in a treacherous and cruel manner, murdered divers of His +Majesty’s English subjects, belonging to a fishing vessel; and, whereas, +the Cape Sable Indians with the St. John’s tribe, have in a hostile manner +joined with the French King’s subjects in assaulting His Majesty’s fort at +Annapolis-Royal, &c., therefore, said Indians are declared to be rebels, +traitors, and enemies, and His Majesty’s officers and subjects are to +execute all acts of hostility against the said Indians,” &c. This +proclamation is dated at Boston, Oct. 19, 1744.</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">THANKSGIVING.</p> + +<p>On the next day, 20th October, 1744, there was issued the usual +proclamation for thanksgiving: “Forasmuch as, amidst the many rebukes of +Divine Providence with which we are righteously afflicted, more especially +in the present expensive and calamitous war, it has pleased God to favor +us with many great and undeserved mercies in the course of this year,” +particularly in preserving the life and health of the King, the Prince and +Princess of Wales, &c.; in the restraint hitherto given to the Indians +near the frontiers of this Province, &c.: therefore, the twenty-second day +of December is to be observed as a day of thanksgiving throughout the +Province. It will be noticed that nothing is said concerning the season or +the crops in any of these thanksgiving proclamations, and it would seem +that that matter was not thought of any account as compared with the +health of his Majesty the King and the royal princesses.</p> + +<p>[Here are three proclamations issued on the 18th, 19th, and 20th October, +1744, the first in relation to a “heinous riot,” the second a bloody +declaration of war, and the third for a public thanksgiving.]</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">BLOODY PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE INDIANS.</p> + +<p>In two weeks after the thanksgiving proclamation, on the 2d of November, +1744, came forth another proclamation from Gov. Shirley, of a most bloody +character, against the Indians, as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/img3.jpg" alt="" /></div> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">By His Excellency</span></p> + +<p class="center">WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq.;</p> + +<p class="center">Captain-General and Governour-in-Chief, in and over <span class="smcap">His Majesty’s</span> +Province of the <i>Massachusetts-Bay</i> in <span class="smcap">New-England</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">A PROCLAMATION</p> + +<p class="center"><i>For the Encouragement of</i> Voluntiers <i>to prosecute the</i> <span class="smcap">War</span> <i>against +the</i> St. John’s <i>and</i> Cape Sable’s <i>Indians</i>.</p> + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="caps">Whereas</span> the Indians of the <i>Cape-Sable’s</i> and St. <i>John’s</i> Tribes have +by their Violation of their solemn Treaties with His Majesty’s +Governours, and their open Hostilities committed against His Majesty’s +Subjects of this Province and the Province of <i>Nova-Scotia</i>, obliged +me, with the unanimous Advice of His Majesty’s Council, to declare war +against them; In Consequence of which the General Assembly of this +Province have “<i>Voted</i>, That there be granted, to be paid out of the +publick Treasury, to any Company, Party, or Person singly, of His +Majesty’s Subjects, belonging to and residing within this Province, +who shall voluntarily, and at their own proper Cost and Charge, go out +and kill a male Indian of the Age of Twelve Years or upwards, of the +Tribe of St. <i>Johns</i> or <i>Cape-Sables</i>, after the <i>Twenty-sixth</i> Day of +<i>October</i> last past, and before the last Day of <i>June Anno Domini</i>, +One Thousand seven Hundred and forty-five (or for such Part of that +Term as the War shall continue), in any place to the Eastward of a +Line, to be fixed by the Governour and His Majesty’s Council of this +Province, somewhere to the Eastward of <i>Penobscot</i>, and produce his +Scalp in Evidence of his Death, the Sum of <i>one <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>Hundred Pounds</i> in +Bills of Credit of this Province of the new Tenor, and the Sum of <i>one +Hundred & Five Pounds</i> in said Bills for any Male of the like Age who +shall be taken Captive, and delivered to the Order of the +Captain-General, to be at the Disposal and for the Use of the +Government; and the Sum of <i>Fifty Pounds</i>, in said Bills, for women; +and the like Sum for Children under the Age of Twelve Years killed in +Fight; and <i>Fifty-five Pounds</i> for such of them as shall be taken +Prisoners, together with the Plunder: <i>Provided</i> no Payment be made as +aforesaid for killing or taking Captive any of the said Indians, until +Proof thereof be made to the Acceptance of the Governour and Council;”</p> + +<p>AND <i>whereas</i>, since the passing of the said Vote of the General +Assembly, I have with the Advice of His Majesty’s Council determined, +That the Line above mentioned, to the Eastward of which the said +Indians may be slain and taken Prisoners, shall begin on the Sea-Shore +at Three Leagues Distance from Eastermost Part of the Mouth of +<i>Passamaquoddy</i> River, and from thence to run North into the Country +thro’ the Province of <i>Nova-Scotia</i>, to the River of <i>St. Lawrence</i>;</p> + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="caps"><span class="gothic">I</span></span> <span class="gothic">have therefore thought fit, with the Advice of His Majesty’s +Council, to issue this Proclamation for giving public notice of the +Encouragement granted by the General Court of all Persons who may be +disposed to serve their King and Country in the Prosecution of the War +against the said Cape-Sable’s and St. John’s Tribes, in the manner +above-mentioned, upon their own charge; as also to give Notice to the +several Tribes of the Eastern Indians, who are still in Amity with us, +of the Boundary-Line aforesaid; assuring them that this Government +have determined to treat as Enemies all such Indians as live beyond +the said Line.</span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="hang">Given at the Council Chamber in <i>Boston</i>, on Friday the Second Day of +<i>November</i>, 1744. In the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign +Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of <i>Great-Britain</i>, +<i>France</i> and <i>Ireland</i>, KING, Defender of the Faith, &c.</p></div> + +<p class="right">W. SHIRLEY.</p> + +<p><i>By order of the Governour, with</i><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>the Advice of the Council</i>,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">J. Willard</span>, Secr.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;">GOD save the KING.</span></p></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>No mention is made of either of these remarkable proclamations in any +history of Boston, or other work that we have seen; and it can scarcely be +generally known that Massachusetts indorsed the proclamation of the King +of England, declaring war against “the French King,” or that the colony, +without regard to the King and his government, declared war, including the +most desperate and bloody conditions, against the St. John’s and Cape +Sable’s Indians, a hundred years after the settlement of the colony, and +something more than one hundred and fifty years ago. It will be noticed +that the sum of five pounds additional is offered in each case for man, +woman, or child, if brought in alive; but considering the expense, danger, +and trouble of doing so, it could hardly have been expected that any thing +beyond the scalps of the victims, even of children, would be brought in; +and it would seem, if any considerable number were killed or brought in, +that the debt incurred would be likely to become somewhat burdensome upon +the colony. The terms of the proclamation were based upon the votes and +orders of the General Court, authorizing the payment of the rewards +offered, passed on the 26th day of October. The records of Boston show +that in 1756, January, £50 were paid for an Indian scalp, and it is to be +hoped this was the only payment ever made for such a purchase.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">FAST DAY.</p> + +<p>This threatening proclamation was followed by another, on the 18th +February, for a general fast, as at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> this time the expedition to +Louisbourg, which soon followed, was in preparation:—</p> + +<p>“Whereas it has pleased Almighty God, in his holy and sovereign +Providence, to involve His Majesty’s Dominions in War, which, +notwithstanding the many instances of success, which, through Divine +favor, have attended the arms of His Majesty and his allies, ought to be +regarded as an effect of the anger of God against us; and, whereas, this +government have, upon mature consideration, determined by the Divine +permission, to prosecute an expedition against His Majesty’s enemies, upon +the success of which, the prosperity of His Majesty’s subjects in North +America, and more especially in this Province, does under God, much +depend,” &c., &c., therefore the 28th day of February instant, is +appointed for a general fast, to be observed with fervent prayers and +supplications, and all labor and recreation are strictly forbidden. “Given +at the Province House, in Boston, the 18th day of February, 1744.”</p> + +<p>[The expedition sailed soon after, and arrived at Canso, under Col. +Pepperell, on the 4th of April, having 3,250 Massachusetts troops. The +fort and city of Louisbourg were surrendered and given up on the 17th of +June; and two East India ships and one South Sea ship, worth £600,000, +were captured at the mouth of the harbor.]</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">ANOTHER FAST.</p> + +<p>On the 25th of March, 1745, Gov. Shirley issues another proclamation for a +general fast, on Thursday, 4th day of April. The expedition for Cape +Breton<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> had just embarked and “taken their departure from this place,” and +this was deemed, in addition to the usual custom, occasion for a fast. The +favor of Divine Providence was implored for the success of the expedition +which the government had, at “great expense and labor, raised and fitted +out with a large body of troops and a considerable naval force, for an +expedition against the French at Cape Breton,” &c.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">THANKSGIVING REJOICING.</p> + +<p>News of the success of the expedition was received in Boston, on the 2d of +July, 1745, and there were great rejoicings and illuminations in the town +in consequence; and on the 8th, Gov. Shirley issued his proclamation for a +general thanksgiving, it having pleased God, as he elaborately expressed +it, “by a wonderful series of successes to bring this great affair to a +happy issue in the reduction of the city and fortress of Louisbourg.” +There was added, “All servile labor is forbidden on said day,” and the bar +against recreations is omitted; but all persons are called upon to +preserve order.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">GOV. PHIPS’S PROCLAMATIONS.</p> + +<p>In September, 1745, while Gov. Shirley and his lady were absent on a visit +to Louisbourg, the scene of the late success of his expedition, Spencer +Phips, acting governor, issued three proclamations in the following three +months: on the 6th of September, for a public fast, partly on account of +the war with the Indians, and among other things “that His Excellency the +Governor may be directed and <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>succeeded in the important affairs he is +transacting at Louisbourg and returned in safety.” Signed S. Phips. By +order of the honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with the advice of the +Council. J. Willard, Secretary.</p> + +<p>The second was issued on the twenty-second day of November, 1745, on +account of some disorders in Boston, committed by divers officers and +seamen, belonging to His Majesty’s ship “Wager,” and other seamen +belonging to the sloop “Resolution,” late in His Majesty’s service, by +which two persons lost their lives. The constables and authorities of +Boston and Charlestown are called upon to search for them in any justly +suspected houses, &c. By order of the Honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with +the advice of the Council.</p> + +<p>The third proclamation of acting Governor Phips was issued on the 25th of +November, 1745, for a general thanksgiving, in “consideration of the +manifold and remarkable instances of the Divine favor towards our nation +and land in the course of the past year, which (though mixed with various +rebukes of Providence manifesting the righteous discipline of God toward +us for our sins) demand our publick and thankful acknowledgments.” Signed, +S. Phips. By His Honor’s command, with the advice of the Council.</p> + +<p>Besides the above there were two or three other proclamations, calling for +troops and other objects. The first Fast Day held in the Plymouth Colony, +so far as we know, was in the month of July, 1623, and the first in the +Massachusetts Colony, July 30, 1630, soon after Winthrop’s arrival.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">POPULAR PURITAN LITERATURE.</span></p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">AN EARTHQUAKE IN BOSTON.</p> + +<p>On the Lord’s day, June 3, 1744, between ten and eleven o’clock, there was +experienced at Boston, a violent earthquake, “which was felt for above an +hundred of miles.” The matter, naturally somewhat startling and +impressive, called forth from some unknown author, an elaborate poem, the +purpose and spirit of which will be readily understood by a few extracts. +It is printed on a sheet, about 12 by 20 inches, in three columns, and was +“sold by Benjamin Gray, in Milk Street, 1744.” The first portion and some +other parts of the poem are missing from the copy we have. Somewhere near +the middle of the first column our quotations commence:—</p> + +<p class="poem">“Again the Lord did shake the Earth,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">While Christ was in the Tomb,</span><br /> +When from the glorious Heavenly World<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A glorious Angel came.</span><br /> +Behold there was at that same Time<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">An Earthquake strong and great,</span><br /> +Which made the Watchmen at the Tomb<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To tremble, shake and quake.</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>Again when Paul and Silas was<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Once into Prison cast,</span><br /> +And cruelly the Keeper had<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In stocks made their feet fast,</span><br /> +Like the dear Children of the Lord,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">They to their Father sing,</span><br /> +They praises sing unto the Lord<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Till all the Prison did ring.</span><br /> +When lo! immediately there was<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A terrible Earthquake,</span><br /> +Which made the whole foundation of<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Prison-House to shake.</span><br /> +The Doors fly open by its Power<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And now wide open stand,</span><br /> +’Till these dear Prisoners of the Lord<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Are loosed from their Bands.</span><br /> +And thus we see in very Truth,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">This wondrous Work is done,</span><br /> +By none but the eternal God,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And Israel’s holy One.</span><br /> +And that they’re tokens of his Wrath,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">O, let not one gain-say,</span><br /> +For sure the Lord is much provok’d,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When he speaks in this way.</span><br /> +Be then excited, O, dear Friends<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With vigorous accord,</span><br /> +And all the might and strength you have,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To turn unto the Lord.</span><br /> +For lo! on the last Sabbath day,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Lord did plainly shew,</span><br /> +What in a single moment’s time<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He might have done with you.</span><br /> +A solemn warning let it be,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To all with one accord</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>For their Souls precious Life to haste<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Their turning unto God.</span><br /> +<span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><br /> +“Perhaps you’ll think the Danger’s past<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That all is safe and sure</span><br /> +Because the mighty God hath said<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He’ll drown the world no more.</span><br /> +But, oh! consider dearest Friends,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">How vast his judgments are,</span><br /> +And if you are resolv’d to Sin<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To meet your God prepare.</span><br /> +Who hath his Magazines of Fire,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In Heaven and Earth and Seas,</span><br /> +Which always wait on his Command,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And run where’er he please.</span><br /> +If God the awful word but speak,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And bid the Fire run,</span><br /> +The Magazines together meet,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And like a furnace burn.</span><br /> +Above our Head, below our Feet,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">God Treasures hath in Store;</span><br /> +And when he gives out his Command,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Volcano’s will roar.</span><br /> +Amazingly the Earth will quake,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The World a flaming be</span><br /> +When God, the great, the mighty God<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gives forth his just Decree.</span><br /> +<span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><br /> +“That man can’t be prevail’d upon<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tho’ with our strong desire,</span><br /> +To get prepar’d against the Day<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When all the World on Fire</span><br /> +Shall burn and blaze about their Heads,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And they no Shelter have;</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>No Rock to hide their guilty Heads,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">No, nor no watery Grave.</span><br /> +For Rocks will melt like Wax away<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Before the dreadful Heat,</span><br /> +And Earth and Sea and all will flame<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In one consuming Heap.</span><br /> +The Earth beneath abounds with Stores<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of Oils and Sulphurs too,</span><br /> +And Turfs and Coals, which all will Flame,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When God commands the blow.</span><br /> +The flaming Lightning which we see<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Around the Heavens run,</span><br /> +Do livelily now represent<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Conflagration.</span><br /> +Those flaming magazines of God<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Have fire enough in store,</span><br /> +And only wait their Lord’s commands<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To let us feel their power.</span><br /> +When once receiv’d they then will run,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">They’ll run from Pole to Pole,</span><br /> +And all the strength of Earth and Hell<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Cannot their power controle.</span><br /> +Justly may we now stand amaz’d,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">At God’s abundant Grace,</span><br /> +To think so base and vile a World<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Is not all in a Blaze;</span><br /> +When far the greatest part thereof<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Are poor vile Infidels,</span><br /> +Among the Christian part thereof<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Are sins as black as Hell.”</span></p> + +<p>In conclusion, these “precious souls” are entreated to join with one +accord</p> + +<p class="poem">“In praising of the Holy Name,<br /> +Of the Eternal God.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>Earthquakes were at one time rather common in New England, but nothing to +be compared to their frequency in England. It is said that in what is +called the “mobile district,” of Comrie, in Perthshire, during the winter +of 1839 and 1840, they had one hundred and forty earthquakes, being at the +rate of about one shock a day on an average; and it is added, “They seldom +do much harm.”</p> + +<p>The following is a memorandum, probably nearly correct and complete, of +earthquakes experienced in Boston, between the years 1636 and 1817; and it +may be considered fortunate that they were not all commemorated by Puritan +poets.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>1638. June 1. Great earthquake in Boston.</p> + +<p>1639. Jan. 16. Another earthquake.</p> + +<p>1643. March 5. Sunday morning another earthquake.</p> + +<p>1658. A great earthquake.</p> + +<p>1663. Jan. 26. Very great earthquake.</p> + +<p>1669. April 3. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1727. Oct. 29. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1730. April 12. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1732. Sept. 5. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1737. Feb. 6. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1744. June 3. The earthquake commemorated.</p> + +<p>1755. Nov. 18. A very great earthquake. About one hundred chimneys +thrown down, and other damage.</p> + +<p>1757. July 8. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1761. March 12. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1761. Nov. 1. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1782. Nov. 29. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1783. Nov. 29. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1800. March 11. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1810. Nov. 9. An earthquake.</p> + +<p>1817. Sept. 7. An earthquake.</p></div> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">DEBORAH: A BEE.</p> + +<p>Another broadside sheet, some seven by twelve, is entitled as above, and +divided into paragraphs, numbered from one to twenty, in prose. It is a +sort of sermon in which the Christian is compared to the Bee, or perhaps +placed in competition with the industrious and self-supporting insect. Its +positions, omitting most of the applications, are these: The bee is a +laborious, diligent creature; so is the Christian. The bee is a provident +creature; so is the Christian. The bee feeds on the sweetest and choicest +foods; so does the Christian. The bee puts all into the common stock; so +is the Christian of a generous, communicative temper. The bee is always +armed; so is the Christian with respect to his spiritual armor. Bees are a +sort of commonwealth; so Christians are likened to a city that is +compacted together. The bee, as it always has a bag of honey, has also a +bag of rank poison; so has the Christian, with the grace of God, a body of +sin and corruption, &c. Lastly, the bee lies dormant all winter; so the +Christian sometimes slumbers, &c. “Yet the hour is coming when all that +are in the graves shall awake and come forth, they that have done good, +unto the resurrection of life; but alas, they that have done evil, unto +the resurrection of damnation!” Sold by Kneeland & Green, in Queen Street. +Illustrated with a small fanciful engraving of a bee-hive, surrounded with +horns of plenty and decorative carving.</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">PROPOSED POPISH INVASION.</p> + +<p>Every thing which occurred in England, or elsewhere, in fact, having any +reference to Popery, however remote, was sure to interest the Puritans, +and demand their attention; and, it would seem, was sometimes provocative +of poetry. So when the “happy discovery of a cursed plot against the +church of God, Great Britain and her King,” was announced by the King, on +the 15th of February, 1743 (i.e., 1744), a large hand-bill was issued from +the Boston press, to which the printer did not put his name, headed, “Good +news from London, to the rejoicing of every christian heart.” This was the +discovery of the plot “for bringing in a young Popish pretender.” The news +was received by an arrival at Portsmouth, N.H., in twenty-six days from +England, and included the message of the King to Parliament. The hand-bill +contained the message in which the King declares that “having received +undoubted intelligence that the eldest son of the pretender to his crown +is arrived in France, and that preparations are making there to invade +this kingdom, in concert with disaffected persons here,” &c., his Majesty +acquaints the House of the matter in order that measures may be taken, &c.</p> + +<p>This is followed by a long anonymous poem, beginning,—</p> + +<p class="poem">“Behold the French and Spaniards rage,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And people with accord</span><br /> +Combine, to take away the life<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of George, our sovereign lord.</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><br /> +“When George the first came to the throne,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Their rage began to burn,</span><br /> +And now they fain would execute<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The same upon his son.</span><br /> +<br /> +“Their hellish breast being set on fire,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Even with the fire of Hell,</span><br /> +Nor Love, nor charms, nor clemency,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Can their base malice quell.”</span><br /> +<span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span></p> + +<p>And so on through three columns, and then comes the</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">CONCLUSION.</p> + +<p class="poem">“Let all that openly profess,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The ways of Christ our Lord,</span><br /> +Not spare to tell how much such things<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Are by their souls abhor’d.</span><br /> +<br /> +“Let every child of God now cry,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To the eternal one,</span><br /> +That George our sovereign lord and king<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">May ne’er be overcome.</span><br /> +<br /> +“That all his Foes may lick the Dust,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And melt like Wax away,</span><br /> +That joy and peace and righteousness<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">May flourish in his day.”</span></p> + +<p>The proposed expedition, it is well known, never landed in England. The +combined fleet escaped an engagement, and the transports were wrecked and +scattered by a storm in the English Channel.</p> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">THE SCOTTISH REBELLION.</p> + +<p>“A short history of the Grand Rebellion in Scotland, or a brief account of +the rise and progress of Charles Stuart, the young pretender, and his +associates; and his seasonable defeat by His Majesty’s Forces under the +command of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland.”</p> + +<p>This remarkable production is printed on one side of a single sheet of +paper, seven by twelve, in verse, three columns. It begins,—</p> + +<p class="poem">“From Rome the proud Pretender’s come<br /> +Flush’d with conceits of Britain’s Crown,<br /> +Imagining, poor silly Lad,<br /> +Those glorious Kingdoms to have had,<br /> +And all the churches of the Lord,<br /> +They’ve roll’d in seas of Purple Blood;<br /> +His grand commission from the Pope<br /> +Was Fire, Faggot, Sword, and Rope,<br /> +Or Boots, or Scourges, Cord and Whips,<br /> +For all poor vile Hereticks.”</p> + +<p>The poet proceeds with the landing in Scotland, where the Popish priest +demised to him the land; the joining of the disaffected, the robbing of +the people:—</p> + +<p class="poem">“They range about and seek for prey<br /> +Nor spare aught comes in their way;<br /> +They murder, steal, rob and destroy,<br /> +And many a goodly Town annoy.”</p> + +<p>Flushed with victory, they move toward England, “and now to London drive +along.”</p> + +<p class="poem"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +“Which brave Prince William quickly hears<br /> +And without any Dread or Fears,<br /> +Pursues the Rebels in full chase,<br /> +And lo, they fly before his Grace,<br /> +Who still pursues and overtakes,<br /> +And many a Highland captive makes.<br /> +<span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><br /> +The rest now fly, won’t stand to Fight,<br /> +But back to Scotland make their flight.<br /> +And there like Beasts who’ve furious grown<br /> +They range about from Town to Town.<br /> +<span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><br /> +But Heaven beheld these bloody men,<br /> +No longer now would bear with them,<br /> +Inspires the Duke of Cumberland<br /> +To take the work into his hand,<br /> +To scourge this cursed barbarous Brood<br /> +For all their Rapine, Stealth, and Blood.<br /> +Away he goes, post haste he flies,<br /> +To face the raging Enemies,<br /> +To Scotland, where the wretches fled,<br /> +When chas’d from Carlisle, full of dread,<br /> +Where being come, his troops combine,<br /> +And all in lovely Consort join,<br /> +And strong Desires do now express,<br /> +To slay these Sons of Wickedness.<br /> +Great Joy and Gladness now was shown,<br /> +When to the Folk it was made known<br /> +That Cumberland, the brave, was come<br /> +To save them from expected Ruin.”</p> + +<p>The people joining the Duke, the enemy was pursued, when—</p> + +<p class="poem">“A church in which their stores did lay,<br /> +They blow’d up ere they ran away,”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>after they had bid the people enter in, and many “precious souls at one +sad Blast, into eternity are cast.”</p> + +<p class="poem">“But hard beset by British force<br /> +They dare not stay, or they’d do worse;<br /> +Some fly to mountains, some to dales,<br /> +When all their hellish Courage fails.<br /> +<span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><br /> +Flying I leave them, ’till we hear<br /> +The end of this most bloody war.<br /> +<span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><span class="spacer">·</span><br /> +For which the thankful folk proclaim<br /> +Thanksgivings to the Almighty name,<br /> +And may we all now join with them,<br /> +And to their Thanks join our Amen.”</p> + +<p>Sold by B. Gray, near the market. Without date; printed in 1744.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">REVOLUTIONARY PROCLAMATIONS.</span></p> + + +<p>Gen. Gage’s administration of less than a year and a half in the “Province +of Massachusetts Bay,” for he never had any government over the province +other than military, was prolific in proclamations, some of which are +rather curious. On the 1st of June, 1774, by order of Parliament and the +King, Boston Harbor was closed and possessed by ships of the British navy. +Nothing could enter or leave the port: wood as fuel could not be brought +from the islands, or merchandise or lumber removed from wharf to wharf by +water; nothing whatever could be water borne within a circle of sixty +miles, either to arrive or depart. At the same time British troops held +the town; and the government, such as it was, was removed to Salem, where +the General Court reassembled on the 7th of June. At this session, on the +17th, as the result of arrangements made by Samuel Adams and his +fellow-patriots, five delegates were chosen to represent the colony in the +proposed Continental Congress, at Philadelphia. As soon as these +proceedings, while yet in progress, reached Gen. Gage’s ears by a tricky +tory, who got out of the hall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> by feigning a call of nature, he issued his +first proclamation, which Mr. Secretary Flucker, as he found the door +locked and could not get into the chamber, had to read on the stairs, as +follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“Province of <span class="smcap">Massachusetts-Bay</span>.</p> + +<p class="center">By the GOVERNOR.</p> + +<p class="center">“<span class="smcaplc">A PROCLAMATION</span> for dissolving the General-Court.</p> + +<p>“WHEREAS the Proceedings of the House of Representatives, in the +present Session of the General Court, make it necessary, for his +Majesty’s Service, that the said General Court should be dissolved:—</p> + +<p>“I have therefore thought fit to dissolve the said General Court, and +the same is hereby dissolved accordingly, and the Members thereof are +discharged from any further Attendance.</p> + +<p>“GIVEN under my Hand at Salem, the 17th Day of June, 1774, in the +Fourteenth Year of his Majesty’s Reign.</p> + +<table style="margin-left: 4em;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="table"> +<tr><td>By his Excellency’s Command,</td> + <td rowspan="2"><span class="large">}</span></td><td rowspan="2" valign="middle">T. GAGE.</td></tr> +<tr><td><span class="smcap">Tho’s Flucker</span>, Secretary.</td></tr></table> + +<p class="center">“GOD <span class="smcaplc">SAVE THE</span> KING.”</p></div> + +<p>Gen. Gage’s next proclamation was against the existence of the famous +“Committee of Correspondence,” which Samuel Adams had originated, and the +“solemn league and covenant” “to suspend all commercial intercourse with +the island of Great Britain,” &c. And “in tenderness to the inhabitants of +this province,” he issued this proclamation of warning.</p> + +<p>Then, as if to cap the climax of pretension and folly, not to say +hypocrisy, on the 25th of July, while he relied upon the counsels and +efforts of the tory party, issued what may be called a very curious +proclamation, such as possibly, under some circumstances, might have been +issued by Gov. Endicott, in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> early days of New England Puritanism; but +the Puritans had long before this time passed out of power. The following +is the proclamation:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="center">MASSACHUSETTS BAY.</p> + +<p class="center">By the GOVERNOR. A PROCLAMATION.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>For the Encouragement of Piety, and Virtue, and for preventing and +punishing of vice, profanity and immorality.</i></p> + +<p class="dropcap"><span class="caps">In</span> humble imitation of the laudable example of our most gracious +sovereign <i>George</i> the third, who in the first year of his reign was +pleased to issue his Royal proclamation for the encouragement of piety +and virtue, and for preventing of vice and immorality, in which he +declares his royal purpose to punish all persons guilty thereof; and +upon all occasions to bestow marks of his royal favor on persons +distinguished for their piety and virtue:</p> + +<p>“I therefore, by and with the advice of his Majesty’s Council, publish +this proclamation, exhorting all his Majesty’s subjects to avoid all +hypocrisy, sedition, licentiousness, and all other immoralities, and +to have a grateful sense of all God’s mercies, making the divine laws +the rule of their conduct.</p> + +<p>“I therefore command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, and other +Officers, to use their utmost endeavors to enforce the laws for +promoting religion and virtue, and restraining all vice and sedition; +and I earnestly recommend to all ministers of the gospel that they be +vigilant and active in inculcating a due submission to the laws of God +and man; and I exhort all the people of this province, by every means +in their power, to contribute what they can towards a general +reformation of manners, restitution of peace and good order, and a +proper subjection to the laws, as they expect the blessing of Heaven.</p> + +<p>“And I do further declare, that in the disposal of the offices of +honor and trust, within this province, the supporters of true religion +and good government shall be considered as the fittest objects of such +appointments.</p> + +<p>“And I hereby require the Justices of assize, and Justices of the +peace in this province, to give strict charge to the grand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> Jurors for +the prosecution of offenders against the laws: and that, in their +several courts they cause this proclamation to be publickly read +immediately before the charge is given.</p> + +<p>“<i>GIVEN at the Council Chamber in Salem, the 21st day of July, 1774, +in the fourteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the +Third by the Grace of GOD of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, +Defender of the Faith, &c.</i></p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Thomas Gage.</span></p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 4em;">“By his Excellency’s Command,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;"><span class="smcap">Thos. Flucker</span>, Secry.</span></p> + +<p class="center">“GOD <span class="smcaplc">SAVE THE</span> KING.”</p></div> + +<p>The gist of the proclamation, which was specially intended for the people +of Boston, for whose benefit the words “sedition and hypocrisy” were used, +was in the phrase, “submission to the laws of God <i>and man</i>.” This +proclamation was not like the previous one, directed to the sheriffs; nor +was it ordered to be posted in the several towns of the province; nor was +it ordered to be read from the pulpits of the churches; but the justices +of the courts and grand juries were to see to its observance. It was, in +fact, a mere piece of gasconade on the part of the governor, in imitation +of his Majesty very likely; but, like the others, nobody either observed +it or troubled themselves about it; and it has very rarely been spoken of +since, if at all, by any historian. However it may be characterized, it +simply had the effect to exasperate the minds of the people, owing to the +insertion of <i>hypocrisy</i> among the immoralities.<a name='fna_10' id='fna_10' href='#f_10'><small>[10]</small></a> The proclamation +itself, as they thought, was the boldest piece of political hypocrisy the +government had yet perpetrated. It was much like every thing else<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> which +the king, ministry, or governor had done from the time of the stamp-act, +and had a tendency to make matters worse instead of better.</p> + +<p>Gen. Gage’s proclamation of the 12th of June, 1775, offering pardon to all +who shall lay down their arms, &c., is well known. It begins,—</p> + +<p>“Whereas the infatuated multitude who have suffered themselves to be +conducted by certain well-known incendiaries and traitors in a fatal +progression of crimes against the constitutional authority of the state, +have at length proceeded to avowed rebellion,” &c. ... “A number of armed +persons to the amount of many thousands assembled on the 19th of April,” +&c. “In this exigency I avail myself of the last effort,” and thereupon +offers “a full pardon to all who shall lay down their arms, excepting +Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whose offences are of too flagitious a +nature to admit of any other consideration than that of condign +punishment,” &c.</p> + +<p>The proclamation was probably written by Gen. Burgoyne, and so little +attention was paid to it that the army continued intact at Cambridge, and +in exactly one week from its date occurred the battle of Bunker Hill, +which proved so “fatal” to more than a thousand British soldiers. In less +than four months after this time Gen. Gage “laid down his arms” and +returned to England; and a few months later, in March, 1776, the army and +the navy followed his example and left the country, taking the “Port Act” +with them, but leaving for the use of the colony, arms, ammunition, +provisions, and even medical stores.</p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII.</h2> +<p class="center"><span class="large">CURIOSITIES OF THE MARKET.</span></p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" summary="table"> +<tr><td>“The turnpike road to people’s hearts, I find<br /> +Lies through their mouths, or I mistake mankind.”<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 14em;">[Peter Pindar.</span></td></tr></table> + + +<p>After arriving at Mishawam, and voting the church and that the minister +should be supported at the common charge, it became necessary to think of +providing in some way for the sustenance of the party. Although Gov. +Winthrop, when he arrived off the harbor, went up to Salem in a boat, and +was handsomely entertained by Gov. Endicott, whom he came to displace, +with a rich <i>venison paté</i>, such fare was not afterwards found to be very +plenty; and the strawberries, which those he left on board the ships found +on Cape Ann, were not always to be had, nor a very substantial food for +the settlers. Of course, the party had a supply of provisions,—a market +of their own which they brought with them; and, as nobody could become a +freeman or have a vote in public affairs unless he was a member of the +church, it is to be inferred that nobody would be allowed any thing to eat +only on the same condition; and this, if Peter Pindar was right, was a +facile method of conversion and making disciples of the most obdurate. +Hunting and fishing were no doubt readily resorted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> to as rather promising +pursuits, and possibly some thought may have been given to cornfields, +though there was no great anxiety for work. At all events, however +successful the hunting parties were, so much of their supply of provisions +was bartered with the Indians for furs that a scarcity of food was soon +experienced, and then they had to buy corn of them. Matters soon became +serious: for whatever might have been the primary object of the Puritans +in coming to this country, eating was not beyond a secondary +consideration, to say the least of it; and a market of supplies for the +material man became an important consideration then, and has been so ever +since. Dr. Johnson, who loved a good dinner and rarely found it at home, +thought “a tavern was the throne of human felicity;” but, of course, such +a notion as that never entered the minds of the Puritans.</p> + +<p>The first thanksgiving was for the safe arrival of the party, and the next +was for the arrival of the “Lion,” or some other ship, with a supply of +food; and this, it is supposed, was not bartered off for furs. Indian +corn, which was a new thing to the settlers, was for a long time the +principal diet, occasionally modified with fish; but the truth is, how the +settlers managed to live through all this time, in such a climate, up to +the times that we know something about, is a complete mystery.</p> + +<p>Capt. Roger Clapp, who arrived at Hull on the 30th of May, 1630, about a +fortnight before Gov. Winthrop arrived at Salem, and who died in 1690-91, +described the state of things “in those days,” in the following words:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>“It was not accounted +a strange thing in those Days to drink Water, and to eat Samp or Hominie without Butter or Milk. Indeed, it would +have been a strange thing to see a piece of Roast Beef, Mutton or +Veal; though it was not long before there was Roast Goat. After the +first Winter, we were very Healthy; though some of us had no great +Store of Corn. The Indians did sometimes bring Corn, and Truck with us +for Cloathing and Knives; and once I had a Peck of Corn or +thereabouts, for a little Puppy-Dog. Frost-fish, Muscles and Clams +were a Relief to many.”</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND FISHES.</p> + +<p>Wood, in his famous “New England’s Prospect,” gives some particulars about +game and hunting among the early settlers in 1639:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“Having related unto you the pleasant situation of the country, the +healthfulness of the climate, the nature of the soil, with his +vegetatives, and other commodities; it will not be amiss to inform you +of such irrational creatures as are daily bred, and continually +nourished in this country, which do much conduce to the well-being of +the inhabitants, affording not only meat for the belly, but cloathing +for the back. The beasts be as followeth:—</p> + +<p class="poem">“The kingly Lion, and the strong arm’d Bear,<br /> +The large limb’d Mooses, with the tripping Deer;<br /> +Quill-darting Porcupines, and Raccoons be<br /> +Castel’d in the hollow of an aged tree;<br /> +The skipping Squirrel, Rabbet, purblind Hare,<br /> +Immured in the self same castle are,<br /> +Lest red-ey’d Ferret, wily Foxes should<br /> +Them undermine, if rampir’d but with mould;<br /> +The grim-fac’d Ounce, and rav’nous howling Wolf,<br /> +Whose meagre paunch sucks like a swallowing gulf;<br /> +Black glistering Otters, and rich coated Bever,<br /> +The Civet scented Musquash smelling ever.”</p></div> + + +<p> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">WHAT BEFELL A HUNTER.</p> + +<p class="blockquot">“Two men going a fowling, appointed at evening to meet at a certain +pond side, to share equally, and to return home; one of these gunners +having killed a Seal or Sea-calf, brought it to the pond where he was +to meet his comrade, afterwards returning to the sea-side for more +game, and having loaded himself with more Geese and Ducks he repaired +to the pond, where he saw a great Bear feeding on his seal, which +caused him to throw down his load, and give the Bear a salute; which +though it was but with goose-shot, yet tumbled him over and over; +whereupon the man supposing him to be in a manner dead, ran and beat +him with the handle of his gun. The Bear perceiving him to be such a +coward to strike him when he was down, scrambled up, standing at +defiance with him, scratching his legs, tearing his cloaths and face, +who stood it out till his six foot gun was broken in the middle; then +being deprived of his weapon, he ran up to the shoulders into the +pond, where he remained till the Bear was gone, and his mate come in, +who accompanied him home.”</p> + +<p>The author gives a peculiar description of the animals named. Of the lion, +he says he had never seen one; but others “lost in the woods have heard +such terrible roarings as have made them much agast: which must be either +Devils or Lions;” so lions have it. The moose “is as big as an ox, slow of +foot, headed like a Buck, with a broad beam, some being two yards wide in +the head; their flesh is as good as beef, their hides good for cloathing.” +He describes deer, rabbits, squirrels, &c. The small squirrel troubles the +planters so, that they have “to carry their Cats into the corn-fields till +their corn be three weeks old.” “The beasts of offence be Squncks, +Ferrets, Foxes, whose impudence sometimes diverts them to the good Wives +Hen-roost, to fill their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> paunch.” He gives a fearful account of the +wolves, which set on swine, goats, calves, &c., and care nothing for a +dog.</p> + +<p>Equally curious with these are his descriptions of the “beasts living in +the water,” as the otter, musquash, &c., and of “the birds and fowls, both +of land and water.”</p> + +<p class="poem"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">“The princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawk,</span><br /> +Whom in their unknown ways there’s none can chalk;<br /> +The Humbird for some Queen’s rich cage more fit,<br /> +Than in the vacant wilderness to sit;<br /> +The swift-winged Swallow sweeping to and fro,<br /> +As swift as arrows from Tartarian bow;<br /> +When as Aurora’s infant day new springs,<br /> +There th’ morning mounting Lark her sweet lays sings;<br /> +The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle Dove,<br /> +Who to her mate does ever constant prove;<br /> +The Turkey-pheasant, Heathcock, Partridge rare,<br /> +The carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare.”</p> + +<p>The raven, screech-owl, heron, cormorant, and so on to geese, gulls, +mallards, teal, ducks, snipes, and many others. The fish also are +rehearsed in verse:—</p> + +<p class="poem"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">“The king of waters, the sea-shouldering Whale,</span><br /> +The snuffing Grampus, with the oily Seal;<br /> +The storm-presaging Porpus, Herring-Hog,<br /> +Line shearing Shark, the Catfish, and Sea Dog;<br /> +The scale-fenc’d Sturgeon, wry-mouth’d Hollibut,<br /> +The flouncing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut;<br /> +Cole, Haddick, Hake, the Thornback, and the Scate,<br /> +Whose Slimy outside makes him seld’ in date;<br /> +The stately Bass, old Neptune’s fleeting post,<br /> +That tides it out and in from sea to coast;<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>Consorting Herrings, and the bony Shad,<br /> +Big-bellied Alewives, Mackrels richly clad<br /> +With rainbow colour, the Frostfish and the Smelt,<br /> +As good as ever Lady Gustus felt;<br /> +The spotted Lamprons, Eels, the Lamperies,<br /> +That seek fresh-water brooks with Argus eyes;<br /> +These watery villagers, with thousands more,<br /> +Do pass and repass near the verdant shore.”</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">KINDS OF SHELL-FISH.</p> + +<p class="poem"><span style="margin-left: 1em;">“The luscious Lobster, with the Crabfish raw,</span><br /> +The brinish Oyster, Muscle, Perriwig,<br /> +And Tortoise fought by the Indian’s Squaw,<br /> +Which to the flats dance many a winter’s jig,<br /> +To dive for Cockles, and to dig for Clams,<br /> +Whereby her lazy husband’s guts she crams.”</p> + +<p>It was recommended to those who came over after Winthrop, to bring with +them a hogshead and a half of meal, “to keep him until he may receive the +fruit of his own labors, which will be a year and a half after his +arrival, if he land in May or June.” Also, “malt, beef, butter, cheese, +pease, good wines, vinegar, and strong waters;” and in addition, a variety +of clothing, boots, shoes, implements, iron wares, stew-pans, +warming-pans, fish-hooks, and every conceivable thing for use or labor, +being assured that whatever they did not want, could be disposed of at a +profit.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">MARKET SUPPLIES.</p> + +<p>One of the earliest accounts of the market supplies in Boston is that +written by a French refugee in 1687,—almost two hundred years ago. He +says,—</p> + +<p class="blockquot"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>“An ox costs from +twelve to fifteen crowns; a Cow, eight to ten; Horses, from ten to fifty Crowns, and in Plenty. There are even wild +ones in the Woods, which are yours if you can catch them. Foals are +sometimes caught. Beef costs Two pence the Pound; Mutton, Two pence; +Pork, from two to three pence, according to the Season; Flour, +Fourteen shillings the one hundred and twelve Pound, all bolted; Fish +is very cheap, and Vegetables also; Cabbage, Turnips, Onions, and +Carrots abound here. Moreover, there are quantities of Nuts, +Chestnuts, and Hazelnuts wild. These nuts are small, but of wonderful +flavor. I have been told that there are other Sorts, which we shall +see in the Season. I am assured that the Woods are full of +Strawberries in the Season. I have seen Quantities of wild Grapevine, +and eaten Grapes of very good Flavor, kept by one of my friends. There +is no Doubt that the Vine will do well; there is some little planted +in the country which has grown. The Rivers are full of Fish, and we +have so great a Quantity of Sea and River Fish that no Account is made +of them.”</p> + +<p>It is pretty certain that these things have been so ever since.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">FAMILY BILL OF FARE.</p> + +<p>A later account than this, however, and one with which some who are now +living may be more or less familiar, or have heard of, is given as +follows:—</p> + +<p class="blockquot">“The ordinary food of the early settlers here, for both breakfast and +supper, was bean porridge, with bread and butter. On Sunday morning +there was coffee in addition. Brown bread, made of rye and Indian, was +the staff of life, white bread being used only when guests were +present. Raked pumpkins (in their season) and milk composed a dish +said to be luxurious. [This dish is in common use among the country +people at the present time.] For dinner, twice every week, Sundays and +Thursdays, baked beans and baked Indian pudding, the latter being +served first. [This last custom has gone wholly out of practice; but +the Sunday dinner prevails to-day over the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> whole of New England, to a +very large extent.] Saturdays, salt fish; one day in every week, salt +pork and corned beef, and one day, also, when practicable, roasted +meat was the rule.”</p> + +<p>It is surprising how continuously some of these customs have been kept up +and prevail.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">SEARCHING FOR PROVISIONS.</p> + +<p>It is not to be denied that provisions have been scarce in Boston, at +times, since the days of the Puritans, hardly now to be realized. Long +before the Revolutionary period, in 1711, during one of the wars between +France and England, Admiral Sir Hovender Walker, with a fleet of fifteen +men-of-war, and forty transports with upwards of five thousand men, +arrived in the harbor on his way to the St. Lawrence River, for the +protection of Canada. He wanted to victual his ships, and applied to Capt. +Belcher (father of Gov. Jonathan Belcher), a rich and leading man, as +being the only person who could undertake the service, and he declined it. +Next to Mr. Andrew Faneuil, and he undertook it. Provisions were scarce +and the price put up, so that a supply could not be had, and the governor +was compelled to issue an “order for searching for provisions.” The men, +during the stay of the fleet, were in camp at Noddle’s Island, and it is +said that a formidable number of them deserted.</p> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="center">CONCLUSION.</p> + +<p>We have thus travelled over some of the old avenues, ways, customs, and +things, peaceful and warlike, more or less in connection with the early<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +settlement, the mature town, and the gorgeous city, from 1630 to 1880; +from the period of scarcity and deprivation to that of prosperity and +abundance. The task has been delightful, and whatever may be thought of +the ways and doings, and we may almost say the undoings, of the Puritans, +the town which they planted and the principles they promulgated, rather +than the intolerance they practised, have become permanent and sure. Now, +indeed, there is neither intolerance nor scarcity; and however much our +predecessors may have suffered we are now able to supply bread and beef to +millions of people less favorably circumstanced. Perhaps nothing more +distinctly or emphatically marks the character and quality of a people +than their “ways and means” of living. It has been said that Americans are +disposed to revel in big dinners; and, in fact, undertake to accomplish +every thing with a big dinner, or at least celebrate the accomplishment of +it in that way. One writer has said, if we welcome a guest it is done with +a dinner; if we inaugurate a stock company or start a charity, it is +pretty sure to have its relations with the market and the stomach. This +may be partly so. A good dinner, social and liberal, is the reconciler, +the inspiration, the motive power of good works generally; and what it +cannot do, or at least help to do, is pretty sure not to be accomplished. +Of course, all this is understood, and almost sure to be practised, so +that, when any thing comes up, instead of going to bed to sleep on it, we +hurry off to Parker’s or Young’s, or it may be, if the matter is very +staid and respectable, to the old <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>Tremont, and eat on it. The custom is +in us—in the blood; it is Saxon, and comes naturally enough from the +mother country. In England, the great diner-out, Douglas Jerrold, who +knows all about it, says, “If an earthquake were to engulf all England +to-morrow, Englishmen would manage to meet, and dine somewhere among the +rubbish,” as if the occasion needed to be celebrated in that way.</p> + +<p>There have been times, now fortunately more than a hundred years ago, when +our market could not be made to furnish a big dinner; when there was no +market; when the enemy were seizing all the sheep and cattle; when the +people were starving on salt provisions, and, in one instance at least, a +party of gentlemen were invited to dine off a roasted rat in Boston; and +again when a special request was made to the people, in consequence of the +necessities of the times, “not to have more than two dishes of meat on +their tables.” But not long after this, on the 24th of January, 1793, +there was a grand festival in honor of French Liberty and Equality, when +an ox of more than a thousand weight was roasted entire, and drawn on a +car by fifteen horses, followed by other carriages with hogsheads of +punch, loaves of bread, &c., and a large procession of civil, military, +municipal officers, and citizens, through the principal streets to State +Street, where the table was spread and the dinner was served up in high +style. At the present time, it would be an easy matter to roast an ox +every day, and big dinners are regarded as of small account on the score +of rarity. Some philosopher has said, “Eating dinner is a task which, +above all others, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>requires the conscience pure, the mind easy, a reason +undisturbed, the senses critical, and the body and spirit perfectly at +rest.” It may be said that the philosophers of the present day do not deem +eating a good dinner “a task;” and it is pretty certain the mass of the +people do not. It is to be hoped our market will never again be unprepared +to furnish a big dinner, on all reasonable occasions, supply a British +fleet, or meet the requirements of the people at home, or the necessities +of the race abroad.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<div class="verts"> +<p class="center"><span class="huge">LIST OF PUBLICATIONS.</span></p> + +<p class="hang"><span class="large"><strong><i>Siege and Evacuation of Boston and Charlestown</i></strong></span>, with a brief account of +Pre-Revolutionary Buildings. By <span class="smcap">William W. Wheildon</span>. 8vo. pp. 64. 50 +cents.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“In this pamphlet Mr. Wheildon has gathered together, and put in a +compact and readable form, such records as are accessible of the +stirring events of a hundred years ago. Nothing could be more timely; +and whoever wishes to acquaint himself with the events of 17th of +March, 1776, will find what he seeks told in a simple and modest style +between the covers of this pamphlet.”—<i>Boston Journal.</i></p> + +<p>“His account of the Siege and Evacuation of Boston and Charlestown, is +by far the most complete and the best that has been +prepared.”—<i>Index.</i></p> + +<p>“It is the most concise and accurate history of this interesting year +of the Revolution published.”—<i>Herald.</i></p> + +<p>“To those who have read the history of the Battle of Bunker Hill, by +the same author, William W. Wheildon, it is unnecessary to praise this +work which covers a longer period.”—<i>New Haven Palladium.</i></p> + +<p>“It is an interesting story as told by Mr. Wheildon, who gives the +chief credit for the conduct of the military operations, not to +Washington, but to the Massachusetts officers.”—<i>Boston Daily +Advertiser.</i></p></div> + +<p> </p> +<p class="hang"><span class="large"><strong><i>Sentry or Beacon Hill: Its Beacon and Monument</i></strong></span>, 1635 to 1812. By <span class="smcap">William +W. Wheildon</span>. 8vo. pp. 120, with plans, heliotype plates, and engravings. +75 cents and $1.25.</p> + +<p class="center"><small>EXTRACTS FROM SOME PRIVATE LETTERS.</small></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“I am delighted with your new book Beacon Hill, &c. Nothing of the +kind ever pleased me more.”</p> + +<p>“I have read and re-read your exhaustive history of Beacon Hill. It +revives a thousand delightful memories of my boyhood; all its +statements tally with my recollections.”</p> + +<p>“I enjoyed the reading of your book on Beacon Hill very highly. You +have certainly made a careful study of that field, and have given me a +large amount of information. I know much more about ancient Boston +than I did before.”</p></div> + + +<p> </p> +<p class="hang"><span class="large"><strong><i>Paul Revere’s Signal Lanterns</i></strong></span>, +April 18, 1775. By <span class="smcap">William W. Wheildon</span>. 8vo. pp. 50. Concord, 1878.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“Mr. Wheildon considers, one by one, the various statements that have +been made and theories broached concerning the display of lights from +the Old North Church, on the evening of April 18, 1775. The conclusion +to which he arrives seems to be supported by both documentary evidence +and local tradition.”—<i>Transcript.</i></p> + +<p>“An occasional doubt has been thrown on the authenticity of the story; +but the author of this pamphlet has evidently made a patient +investigation, and appears to have established a very satisfactory +case.”—<i>Daily Globe.</i></p> + +<p>“The author introduces many fresh facts having a direct bearing upon +the once disputed position of the lanterns; and in consequence has +produced a work of great historical value, in addition to many others +of a similar nature from his pen.”—<i>Commercial Bulletin.</i></p> + +<p>[Since the publication of this pamphlet, the city committee have +purchased two hundred copies of the work.]</p></div></div> + + + +<p> </p><p> </p> +<hr style="width: 50%;" /> +<p><strong>Footnotes:</strong></p> + +<p><a name='f_1' id='f_1' href='#fna_1'>[1]</a> The Second Volume of the Writings of the Author of the London Spy. +London: 1706.</p> + +<p><a name='f_2' id='f_2' href='#fna_2'>[2]</a> The New England Tragedies in Prose, by Rowland H. Allen.</p> + +<p><a name='f_3' id='f_3' href='#fna_3'>[3]</a> In the first interview between Governor Carver of Plymouth and the +Indian Chief Massasoit, “after salutations, the Governor kissing his hand +and the king kissing him, the Governor entertains him with some +refreshments, and then they agree on a league of friendship.” March 22, +1621.</p> + +<p><a name='f_4' id='f_4' href='#fna_4'>[4]</a> Walford Street, in Charlestown, we believe, has been cut off by the +Eastern Railroad freight tracks and likely to be lost.</p> + +<p><a name='f_5' id='f_5' href='#fna_5'>[5]</a> William Paddy died in 1658, and the alley (now North Centre Street) +bore his name for more than a hundred years. When some changes were made +in the Old State House, in 1830, to accommodate the Boston Post Office, a +stone was dug up which proved to be his grave-stone, though it is a little +difficult to tell how it came there. On one side of it was the +inscription, “Here lyeth the body of Mr. William Paddy, aged 58 years. +Departed this life August—, 1658.” And on the other side,—</p> + +<p class="poem">“Here sleaps that<br /> +Blessed one whose lief<br /> +God help vs all to live<br /> +That so when time shall be<br /> +That we this world must lief<br /> +We ever may be happy<br /> +With blessed William Paddy.”</p> + +<p>It may be concluded, we judge, that Paddy’s Alley was well named.</p> + +<p><a name='f_6' id='f_6' href='#fna_6'>[6]</a> In 1693, an eminent Quaker visited Boston, and afterwards wrote an +account of his visit. He says, being a stranger and traveller, he could +not but observe the barbarous and unchristian welcome he had into Boston. +“Oh, what a pity it was,” said one, “that all your society were not hanged +with the other four!”</p> + +<p><a name='f_7' id='f_7' href='#fna_7'>[7]</a> Faust invented printing, 1450.</p> + +<p><a name='f_8' id='f_8' href='#fna_8'>[8]</a> Printing introduced into England, 1571.</p> + +<p><a name='f_9' id='f_9' href='#fna_9'>[9]</a> The “Lion Tavern,” or possibly the “Green Dragon.”</p> + +<p><a name='f_10' id='f_10' href='#fna_10'>[10]</a> Gordon’s History, Vol. I., p. 253.</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Curiosities of History, by William W. 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Wheildon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Curiosities of History + Boston, September Seventeenth, 1630-1880 + +Author: William W. Wheildon + +Release Date: December 27, 2011 [EBook #38417] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CURIOSITIES OF HISTORY *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive.) + + + + + + + + + + _Curiosities of History:_ + + BOSTON + SEPTEMBER SEVENTEENTH, + 1630-1880. + + + BY WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. + + + _SECOND EDITION._ + + + "Ringing clearly with a will + What she was is Boston still." + --WHITTIER. + + + BOSTON: + LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. + NEW YORK: + CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM. + 1880. + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1880, + BY WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. + + + _Author's Address:_ + BOX 229, CONCORD, MASS. + + + _Franklin Press: + Rand, Avery, & Company, + 117 Franklin Street, + Boston._ + + + + + AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED + _TO MY WIFE_, + JULIET REBECCA WHEILDON, + IN COMMEMORATION OF THE + Fifty-first Year of our Married Life, + _MAY 28, 1880_. + + WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +It seems proper to say in offering this little volume to the public, that +no attempt has been made to exhaust the subjects of which the papers +respectively treat; but rather to enlarge upon matters of historical +interest to Boston, which have been referred to only in a general way by +historians and previous writers.--This idea rather than any determination +to select merely curious topics, has in a large measure influenced the +writer; and the endeavor has been to treat them freely and fairly, and +present what may be new, or comparatively new, concerning them, from such +sources as are now accessible and have been open to the writer. It is not, +however, intended to say that an impulse towards some curious matters of +history has not been indulged, and, indeed, considering the subjects and +materials which presented themselves, could scarcely have been avoided, +which was by no means desirable. Although it has been impertinently said, +that "the most curious thing to be found is a woman not curious," we +submit that curiosity is a quality not to be disparaged by wit or sarcasm, +but is rather the germ and quality of progress in art and science and +history. + +It has been impossible to correct or qualify, or perhaps we might say +avoid, all the errors, mistakes, or contradictions, which have been +encountered in preparing these pages; and very possibly we may have +inadvertently added to the number. At all events, with our best endeavors +against being drawn into or multiplying errors, we lay no claim to +invulnerability in the matter of accuracy, or immaculacy in the way of +opinions; and we very sincerely add, if errors or mistakes have been made +and are found, we shall be glad to be apprised of them. There are errors +in our history which it is scarcely worth the while to attempt to correct, +although they are not to be countenanced and should not be repeated. + +A period of two hundred and fifty years since the settlement of the town +includes and covers a history of no ordinary character, involving progress +and development, not merely of customs, manners and opinions, but of +principles, passions and government. The city is a creation, as it were, +by the art and industry of man; and, with the reverence of Cotton Mather +himself, we add, "With the help of God!" and we venture the comparison +that no change or growth, improvement or embellishment, is to be found in +the settlement or the city, that may not be paralleled in the growth, +advancement and elevation of its people: indeed, we go even farther than +this, the material progress to be seen around us, in all its multifarious +forms and combinations, item by item, small or great, is indicative only +of the advancement of the people, and marks the progress of moral, mental +and intellectual power--of art, science and knowledge. + +We take this opportunity to acknowledge our indebtedness to several +friends for the loan and use of many rare and valuable works in the +preparation of this history, and in particular to Messrs. John A. Lewis +and John L. DeWolf, of Boston, and Mr. J. Ward Dean, of the N. E. His. +Gen. Society. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS: + + + I. Topography of Boston. 13 + The Peninsula. + Two Islands. + Anne Pollard. + Curious Descriptions. + The Mill Creek. + Great South Cove. + The North Cove. + Boston Common. + + II. The Public Ferries. 27 + The Great Ferry. + Order of Court, Nov. 1630. + Lease to Edward Converse. + Ferry to Winnisimmet; + Grant to Harvard College. + Bad "peag," money. + Wampompeague. + Judge Sewall over the Ice. + Charlestown mother of Boston. + Andros Revolution and Fires. + Portsmouth Stage. + Paul Revere crossing. + + III. The Boston Cornfields. 37 + Spragues at Charlestown; + Dividing the Land; + Corn from the Indians; + Fencing the Fields, &c. + The Cornfields and Pastures; + The Granary. + + + IV. Puritan Government. 45 + Authority of the Company. + Ex post facto Laws. + Punished for a pun. + Fines and Ear-cropping. + Whipping through three towns. + Set in his own Stocks. + Regulating the Dress of Women. + The "Body of Liberties." + Ward on Kissing Women. + John Dunton on the Laws. + + + V. Narragansett Indians. 57 + Murder of Mr. Oldham. + Visit of Miantonomo to Gov. Vane, Treaty, &c. + Narragansett Art. + Coining money. + Marriage of Children. + Egyptian Custom. + Marriage of Cleopatra. + + + VI. Names of Places, Streets, &c. 62 + Curious Indian Names; + Names of Streets, Taverns, &c.; + Paddy Alley and William Paddy; + Dates of the Streets and Lanes; + Royal Names, Names of Patriots, Puritans and Union Names; + Names of Taverns and Shops; + Number of Streets and Wharves. + + + VII. Persecution of the Quakers. 74 + Church Government and Civil Government. + Interference of the King. + Arrival of Quakers, 1656. + Execution of Quakers. + Order from the King, 1661. + Hutchinson's Opinion. + Triumph of the Quakers. + Their Meeting House. + Meetings discontinued. + + + VIII. First Newspaper in America. 87 + First ever issued--in writing. + Gazette in Venice, 1583. + English Mercury, 1588. + "Publick Occurrences" 1690. + Legislative Interference. + To cure the 'Spirit of Lying.' + The Christian Indians. + Massacre of French Indians. + General character of the paper and its reading matter. + + + IX. Curious Boston Lectures. 98 + History of Boston; + "Boston's Ebenezer;" + A Stone of Help; + Widows and Orphans; + Hope in God; + Appeal to the Public Officers; + Household Religion; + Fanaticism and Declamation. + + + X. Remarkable Proclamations. 1774-5. 104 + _March 29_, War against France; + _October 18_, On account of a Riot; + _October 19_, War against Indians; + _October 20_, Thanksgiving Day; + _Nov. 2_, Rewards for Indian scalps; + 1745, _March 25_, For a Fast Day; + " _July 8_, Thanksgiving Day; + " _Sept. 6_, For a Fast Day; + " _November 22_, Sailor's Riot; + " _November 25_, Thanksgiving. + + + XI. Popular Puritan Literature. 115 + An Earthquake in Boston; + Deborah; a Bee; + Popish Invasion of England; + The Scotch Rebellion. + + + XII. Revolutionary Proclamations. 126 + Gen. Gage's Administration; + Shutting up of Boston Harbor; + Election of delegates to Congress; + General Gage's Proclamation; + Against non-importation league. + Remarkable Proclamation for the promotion of Piety and Virtue. + Its Character and Observance. + + + XIII. Curiosities of the Market. 131 + Supplies of Gov. Winthrop; + Bartering for Furs; + Scarcity of Provisions; + Hunting, Game, Fish, &c.; + Living in the Olden Time; + Supplies for a British fleet. + + + CONCLUSION. + + + + +[Illustration: Map of DORCHESTER, BOSTON and CHARLESTOWN, the Three +Peninsulas, showing their Bays and Coves, Castle Island, Roxbury and +Cambridge.] + + + + +I. + +TOPOGRAPHY OF BOSTON. + + +THE ORIGINAL PENINSULA. + +There is a line of Cowper to the effect that "God made the country, and +man made the town;" and there is probably no more striking evidence of the +truthfulness of the axiom than is to be found in the history and growth of +Boston, between the years 1630 and 1880, confirming in a remarkable manner +Capt. Wood's prophecy concerning the town, in 1650: viz., "whose +continuall inlargement presages some sumptuous city." The original +territory which has formed the basis, so to speak, of Boston proper, was a +peninsula, and appeared like two islands, or, by the continued operation +of the sea, was likely to become so. Its distinguishing feature was to be +found in its three prominent hills, or, perhaps, its two hills and its +three-peaked mountain. These were her jewels: they have since represented +her fame, her history, her sentiments; for these were all wrapped around +them. The peninsula was a point of land projected into the harbor, with a +narrow neck connecting it with the mainland, and another narrow place in +the vicinity of what is now Dock Square, which was once quite open to the +harbor. In length from the south line at Roxbury, it was something less +than three miles (two and three-fourths and two hundred and thirty-eight +yards). Its width at the widest point, between Wheelwright's wharf +(afterwards Rowe's, and now Foster's) to Barton's Point, Leverett Street, +was something over one mile, and its circumference about four miles. + + +CURIOUS EARLY DESCRIPTIONS. + +The first impression of the "island" which has been recorded is that of +Anne Pollard, who died in Boston, Dec. 6, 1725, at the age of 105 years, +and left over one hundred descendants. She always said that she came over +from Charlestown, in 1630, in the first boat that crossed with Gov. +Winthrop's party, and, being what might now be called a romping girl for +those times, ten years of age, was "the first to jump ashore;" and she +afterwards described the place "as being at that time very uneven, +abounding in small hollows and swamp, and covered with blueberry and other +bushes." We do not think there is any one inclined to dispute this +statement, or question its truthfulness. + +There are several descriptions of early Boston, topographical and +otherwise, which have been quoted by subsequent writers upon the subject, +rather as curious and original than as having any particular merit in +themselves. First among these is that of Capt. Edward Johnson, in his +"Wonder-Working Providence of Sion's Saviour in New England," written +about 1640. He describes it as surrounded by the brinish flood, "saving +one small Istmos which gives free access to the neighbor townes," and +says, "At their first landing the hideous thickets in this place were such +that wolfes and beares nurst up their young from the eyes of all +beholders.... The forme of this Towne is like a hearte, naturally situated +for fortifications, having two hills on the frontice part thereof next the +sea." These were Fort and Mill (Copps') Hills. "Betwixt these two strong +armes lies a large cove or bay, on which the chiefest part of the town is +built, overtopped with a third hill" (Sentry or Beacon Hill). There were +two smaller hills on the Common, on one of which Gen. Gage afterwards +built a battery, when the town was in his military possession, and on the +other a powder-house. + +Another curious description of Boston is given in Wood's "New England's +Prospect:"-- + + "Boston is two miles North-east from Roxberry. His situation is very + pleasant, being a Peninsula hemm'd in on the south side with the Bay + of Roxberry, and on the north side with Charles River, the marshes on + the back side being not half a quarter of a mile over; so that a + little fencing will secure their cattle from the woolves. It being a + Necke and bare of wood, they are not troubled with those great + annoyances, wolves, rattlesnakes and musquetoes.... This Necke of Land + is not above four miles in compasse, in forme almost square, having on + the south side at one corner a great broad hill, whereon is planted a + Fort, which can command any ship as shee sayles into any Harbour + within the still Bay. On the north side is another Hill equall in + bignesse, whereon stands a winde mill. To the north-west is a high + Mountaine, with three little rising Hills on the top of it, wherfore + it is called Tramount.... This town although it be neither the + greatest, nor the richest, yet is the most noted and frequented, + being the Center of the Plantations, where the monthly Courts are + kept. Here likewise dwells the Governor. This place hath very good + land, affording rich Corne-fields, and fruitful gardens, having + likewise sweete and pleasant springs." + +There were two large coves projecting into the peninsula,--one from the +harbor and one from Charles River, nearly opposite to each other, and +producing the narrow portion of the land already spoken of, so that if the +peninsula was not formed of two islands originally, as has been supposed, +the cutting of a creek across this narrow portion, nearly on the line of +Blackstone Street, and uniting the waters of the two coves, had the effect +practically to make it so, at least at such times as the waters of Charles +River and the harbor met across the neck, near Roxbury; so that the +peninsula can hardly be said to have been heart-shaped, much less square. + +But the most curious description of Boston, though it may hardly be called +such, is that given by Edward Ward--a low, but ingenious and scandalous +author, whose book cannot enter a decent presence--in his "Trip to New +England."[1] He says of "Boston and the Inhabitants,"-- + + "On the south-west side of Massachusetts Bay is Boston, whose name is + taken from the Town in Lincolnshire, and is the Metropolis of all New + England. The houses, in some parts, join as in London. The buildings, + like their women, being neat and handsome. And their streets, like the + hearts of the male inhabitants, are paved with pebble. + + "In the chief or High Street there are stately edifices, some of which + have cost the owners two or three thousand pounds the raising, which I + think plainly proves two old adages true, viz., That a fool and his + money is soon parted; and, Set a beggar on horseback he'll ride to the + devil; for the fathers of these men were tinkers and pedlars. + + "To the glory of religion, and the credit of the town, there are four + churches, built with clapboards and shingles, after the fashion of our + meeting houses; which are supply'd by four ministers, to whom some, + very justly, have applied these epithets, one a scholar, the second a + gentleman, the third a dunce, and the fourth a clown." + +These extracts afford no idea of the scandalous character of the book, nor +do even sentences like these: "The women, like the men, are excessive +smokers." "They smoke in bed, smoke as they knead their bread, smoke +whilst they are cooking their victuals, smoke at prayers," &c. "Eating, +drinking, smoking, and sleeping take up four parts in five of their time," +&c. "Rum, alias kill-devil, is as much ador'd by the American English, as +a dram of brandy is by an old billingsgate," &c. We can give our readers +no further idea of the gross and indecent character of the whole volume, +without offending in the way the author has done. + + +THE SOUTH COVE. + +The South Cove extended from what is now Batterymarch Street to near the +North Battery, at the foot of Fleet Street, curving inward as far as Kilby +Street and near the old State House, with creeks extending towards Spring +Lane, Milk and Federal Streets. Dearborn says, "Winthrop's Marsh, +afterwards called Oliver's Dock, was near Kilby Street, and between the +corner and Milk Street, a creek ran up to Spring Lane." An aged citizen +once said he remembered hearing Dr. Chauncy say that he had taken smelts +in Milk Street; and a Mr. Marshall remembered that when a boy they were +caught in Federal Street, near the meeting-house, (Dr. Channing's). +Another aged inhabitant is reported to have said, that, in the great storm +of 1723, "we could sail in boats from the South Battery to the rise of +ground in King Street," near the old State House. Dock Square was at the +head of a small cove, the tide rising nearly to the pump, which was +formerly there, at the foot of Cornhill. The statue of Sam Adams, recently +erected, is directly over the well in which the pump stood. + +A narrow point or tongue of land projected into the cove between the Town +Dock (then near Faneuil Hall) and Mill Creek, and upon this land stood the +celebrated triangular warehouse,--a remarkable building for the time. It +stood opposite the Swing Bridge, and a little north of the dock, measuring +forty-one feet on Roebuck Passage (named after the tavern near it), and +fifty feet on the back side. Near this place, in the small square formed +by the junction of Ann, Union, and Elm Streets, was the Flat Conduit, so +called. Ann Street was originally Conduit Street as far as Cross Street; +and Union Street, in 1732, lead from the conduit to the Mill Pond. + +Around the South Cove, as has been said, in the early time the chiefest +part of the town was built; and from thence it gradually expanded along +the shore to the south and to the west. John Josselyn, in 1638, visited +Boston, and wrote a volume entitled "New England Rarities," in which he +says, "It was then rather a village than a town, there being not above +twenty or thirty houses." + + +THE NORTH COVE. + +The Cove on the north side of the peninsula, Charles River, commenced near +the Charlestown Ferry, curving inwardly nearly to Prince Street, Baldwin +Place, Haymarket Square, nearly on the line of Leverett Street, to +Barton's Point, where the almshouse formerly stood. "The Mill Pond," as it +was afterwards called, says Shurtleff, "was bounded by portions of Prince +and Endicott Streets on the east, and Leverett Street, Tucker's pasture, +and Bowling Green on the west; and on the south it covered the whole space +of Haymarket Square. Most of the estates on what is now Salem Street, ... +and on the west on Hawkins Street and Green Street, extended to the Mill +Pond Cove." The margin of the cove, it is said by another, "passed across +Union, Friend, and Portland Streets, to the bottom of Hawkins Street; +thence westerly, across Pitts and Gouch Streets, to Leverett Street, which +at one time was called Mill Alley. The descent of the land here was very +steep. A street was laid out on the line of Temple Street [Staniford] from +Leverett Street to Beacon Hill, where steps led to the top of the hill, a +hundred and thirty-eight feet above the sea." + + +THE MILL CREEK. + +The Creek, or the Mill Creek, as it was afterwards called, was undoubtedly +prior to the formation of the Mill Pond; and it is doubtful if it was ever +included in it, although Shaw conveys the idea that the North Cove was +simply a piece of salt marsh, and that the creek was used for the purpose +of covering it with water at flood-tide, and thus forming a mill-pond. As +early as the 5th of July, 1631, an order was passed by the Court of +Assistants, "that L30 be levied on the several plantations for clearing a +creek, and opening a passage to the new town,"--the town at this time +being the settlement around the South Cove; so that the "clearing of a +creek" was "a work of industry" on a small scale for such an enterprise. +It was made across the narrow neck of land between the two great coves, +and while it united the waters of Charles River with the harbor, divided +the peninsula into two islands or sections. The creek, whatever its +relations may have been to the Mill Pond in the later years of its +existence, was used by the boats coming from the Middlesex Canal, which +terminated at Charlestown Neck, and furnished to them a shorter way to the +harbor with their freights of wood, lumber, &c. A few extracts from the +town records will afford some further insight into the character and uses +of the creek. + +In 1648, in describing the property of Thomas Marshall, who owned some +land near the Water Mill, Mill Creek, it is stated, "with liberty of +egress and regress in said creek with boats, lighters, and other +vessels;" and it is added, "Thomas Marshall shall not build any nearer the +creek than the now dwelling-house of said Milom, and that he shall not +hinder the mills going by any vessel in the creek." + + 1656, Aug. 25.--Butchers may throw their "garbidge" into the Mill + Creek over the drawbridge, and in no other place. [The drawbridge was + in Ann Street.] + + 1659, Oct. 20.--As the people were returning from the execution of + Robinson and Stevenson [Quakers], the draw of the drawbridge fell upon + a crowd of them, mortally wounding a woman, and severely hurting + several others. + + 1691, August.--A fire broke out on Saturday evening, "consuming about + fourteen houses, besides warehouses and brue houses from the Mill + Bridgh down half way to the Draw Bridgh." + + 1698, Nov. 6.--Mr. James Russell of Charlestown and Mr. John + Ballentine of Boston, or "whoever else may be concerned, or owners of + the bridge over the Mill Creek, are ordered forthwith to repair the + pavement on each side of the bridge, and to move the gutters beside + it, that it might be passable for horse and cart, according to the + grant of the Town, or pay 20_s._ a week till it should be done." + + 1712, March 10.--Ordered to make the draw-bridge (so called) in Ann + Street a fast, firm bridge the width of the street. A committee was + appointed to inquire if any damage be sustained by anybody in making + the bridge in question a "fast bridge." + + +THE MILL POND. + +The Mill Pond was formed by the building of a causeway across the head of +the cove, as the street now runs, where there was, it would seem, a sort +of Indian causeway, or pathway, at some prior time. It is represented by +writers on the subject to have been built from Leverett Street to the +Charlestown Ferry; but as this would include the creek, built some ten or +twelve years before, this seems to be impossible; for if the creek was +connected with the pond, without a gate to shut it off, there could be no +mill-power. The creek, therefore, must have been separated from the pond +by a gate, while there was a gate from the pond into Charles River. + +However, the causeway was built, and the mill-pond and the water-power it +furnished, used for more than a hundred years without any special +publicity or inquiry concerning them. In fact, it would seem as if the +subject, and the large piece of territory involved, had been pretty much +forgotten; so that in 1765, in March, a committee was appointed to inquire +"by what terms the mill-owners held the mill-pond mills." In May +following, this committee reported, that on the 31st of July, 1643, there +was granted to Henry Simons, George Burden, John Hill, and their partners, +all the cove on the north-west side of the causeway leading towards +Charlestown, with all the salt marsh bordering thereupon, not formerly +granted, on these conditions: that within three years they erect thereon +one or more corn-mills, "and maintain the same forever; also make a gate +ten feet wide to open with the flood for the passage of boats into the +cove," &c. This gate was also to be "maintained forever." + +The Mill Pond, it is said, included about fifty acres,--nearly as large as +the north end island,--and, of course, must have furnished during the time +it was available--from an hour or two after full tide until an hour or two +before the next tide, night and day--a very large and extensive +water-power, and was, no doubt, though probably not half used, a very +valuable property. + +It is stated by Drake, as if it were a consequence of the action of the +committee, that, "four years after the above report, a committee took +possession of the premises, as having reverted to the town." These +proceedings, it will be noticed, all refer to the "mill-pond mills," but +may be presumed to include the pond and the whole grant made in 1643; so +that in 1769 the property was in the hands of the town, as appears from +these statements. + +After this time, by some means or other, the Mill Pond Company, or +Corporation, came into possession of the property, as Shaw says, "for the +consideration of five dollars;" and in 1807, the town became a partner in +the matter of tilling it up, the town to have the streets, we presume, and +one-eighth of the lots filled within twenty years. Permission was also +given to use the gravel of Beacon Hill for the purpose. The filling was +completed more than fifty years ago, and the entire space has long been +covered with buildings, and in 1832 included a theatre. The Boston and +Maine Railroad Station stands over the creek; and the large depot +buildings of the Fitchburg, Eastern, and Lowell Railroads are all on land +taken from the river outside the ancient causeway: so that no one of the +great railroad depots in the city stands upon the original land of the +town. + + +CONCLUSION. + +Thus we have seen what were the features and topographical characteristics +of the original peninsula which forms the groundwork, as it were, of the +city proper of to-day. In the steady march of progress and improvements +which have marked its growth for two hundred and fifty years, such changes +and enlargements have been made, that neither its early outlines or its +original shape are any where to be observed. The great coves on either +side of the town have disappeared; and the renowned Tri-mountain, around +which so much of history gathered, and so much of puritanism and +patriotism were enshrined, is shorn of its ancient prestige, although +still, as it were, the summit of State authority; and of "Corne Hill," +whereon the settlers of Boston, Charlestown, Roxbury, and Dorchester, in +1632, built the first fort for the defence of the settlement, not a +vestige now remains. + +Yet, broad and extensive as these improvements and enlargements of the +original peninsula have been, they are at least equalled, if not exceeded, +by what has been accomplished in other parts of the town; so that Boston +proper--at first two islands, or nearly so, and afterwards a +peninsula--has long ceased to be either the one or the other, and must now +be regarded as a portion of the mainland. And this, too, while Charles +River, by encroachments upon its bed on both sides, the numerous wharves +projecting into it, and the bridges, railroads, and other structures +resting upon its bottom, has been reduced in its proportions to one-third +of its original size, and, in fact, has almost ceased to be a river in the +proper sense of that term. So also on the south side of the town: Four +Point Channel, which reached to Dover-street bridge, is now a narrow +stream; and the South Bay, which lay between Roxbury and South Boston, has +been greatly reduced in its proportions, and is crossed by the New England +Railroad. So that it may be said, the city proper to-day stands +consolidated on one side of the ancient neck with Roxbury and Dorchester, +and on the other with Roxbury and Brookline. There still remain, however, +a section of Charles River, forming a bay of itself, between Boston, +Cambridge, and Brookline, and a considerable portion of the South Bay +between Roxbury and South Boston. Brookline--originally Muddy Brook--was +formerly considered as belonging to Boston, and its lands were apportioned +among the early settlers of the town for agricultural purposes and the +keeping of cattle. It is now nearly surrounded by the enlarged city, +Brighton and Roxbury both belonging to Boston. + +There is, however, one feature of Boston which may be said to remain +intact, and that is BOSTON COMMON. When the settlers bought the peninsula +of William Blackstone, or all his interest in it, excepting six acres, +which he reserved for his own occupation, "the town laid out a place for a +training-field, which ever since and now is used for that purpose, and for +the feeding of cattle." This was undoubtedly the origin of Boston Common; +and the date of the transaction, as appears from the town records, was on +"the 10th daye of the 9th month, 1634," which, as the year commenced with +March, would be November, 1634. It has undergone many changes, some +enlargement by filling up the marsh on the river side, and numerous +improvements in its general appearance by laying out its malls and walks, +setting out trees, excluding cattle, walling around Crescent Pond +(formerly Frog Pond), introduction of the Cochituate water and fountains, +and, last, by the erection of the Army and Navy Monument on its highest +elevation, once occupied as a fortification against its rightful owners by +Gen. Gage and Gen. Howe. + +Thus we have seen Boston as it was in 1630 and subsequent +years,--originally one of three prominent peninsulas on the coast of New +England, known by the Indians as Shawmut, Mishawam, and Mattapan, and +afterwards, by the settlers, as Boston, Charlestown, and Dorchester (now +South Boston). Each of these was connected with the mainland by a narrow +neck of its own, and now all three, with the addition of Roxbury, West +Roxbury, Brighton, and Noddle's Island (East Boston), are included in the +present metropolis, while Muddy Brook (Brookline) and Winnisimmet +(Chelsea), which were originally attached to Boston, are not included +within her present limits. The growth and expansion of the town, we judge, +are unparalleled, in some respects, by any other city in the world, with a +character of her own and a position in the history of the country of which +she may well be proud. + + + + +II. + +THE PUBLIC FERRIES. + + +THE GREAT FERRY. + +The first settlers of Charlestown and Boston of course saw an immediate +necessity for the establishment of ferries on both sides of them; so that, +after considerable numbers had arrived, this became imperative, especially +that across Charles River,--"the great ferry," as it was afterwards +called. This may be called the first public enterprise undertaken by the +colonists. There was, no doubt, from the first, means of crossing the +river furnished by individuals before any public action had taken place, +just as was done by Samuel Maverick at Noddle's Island, who was disposed +and prepared to accommodate everybody that came along. Measures were taken +for the establishment of the Charlestown Ferry soon after the arrival of +Gov. Winthrop's party at Charlestown. At a meeting of the Court of +Assistants, holden at Boston, Nov. 19, 1630,--present the governor, +deputy-governor, Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Ludlowe, Capt. Endicott, Mr. +Coddington, Mr. Pinchon, and Mr. Bradstreet,--"It is further ordered, That +whosoever shall first give in his name to Mr. Governor that he will +undertake to set up a ferry betwixt Boston and Charlestown, and shall +begin the same at such time as Mr. Governor shall appoint, shall have +1_d._ for every person and 1_d._ for every 100 weight of goods he shall +transport." + +The ferry was no doubt undertaken at this time by Edward Converse; and, +probably as it did not then pay very well, in June 14, 1631, an order was +passed, "That Edward Converse, who had undertaken to set up a ferry +between Boston and Charlestown, be allowed 2_d._ for every single person, +and 1_d._ apiece, if there be two or more." + +The lease to Mr. Converse, in 1631, was renewed Nov. 9, 1636, in form as +follows: "The Governor and treasurer, by order of the general court, did +demise to Edward Converse the ferry between Boston and Charlestown, to +have the sole transporting of passengers and cattle from one side to the +other, for three years from the first day of the next month, for the +yearly rent of forty pounds to be paid quarterly to the treasurer: +Provided, that he see it be well attended and furnished with sufficient +boats; and that so soon as may be in the next spring he set up a +convenient house on Boston side, and keep a boat there as need shall +require. And he is allowed to take his wonted fees, viz., 2_d._ for a +single person, and pence apiece, if there be more than one, as well on +lecture days as at other times; and for every horse and cow with the man +which goeth with them 6_d._, and for a goat 1_d._, and a swine 2_d._ And +if any shall desire to pass before it be light in the morning, or after it +is dark in the evening, he may take recompence answerable to the season +and his pains and hazard, so as it be not excessive." + +The ferry was a great accommodation, of course, and could not be dispensed +with. Johnson mentions it quite early in his "Wonder-Working Providence." +In speaking of Charlestown, the "neighbor of Boston, being in the same +fashion, with her bare neck," he says "there is kept a ferry-boat to +convey passengers over Charles River, which, between the two towns, is a +quarter of a mile over, being a very deep channel." But at times, no +doubt, the ferry proved troublesome and annoying. So that in the month of +October, 1632, Mr. Winthrop records that "about a fortnight before this, +those of Charlestown, who had formerly been joined to Boston congregation, +now, in regard of the difficulty of passage in the winter, and having +opportunity of a pastor, one Mr. [Edward] James, who came over at this +time, were dismissed from the congregation of Boston." This, it was said, +was after a rather boisterous summer on the bay and harbor. + + +WINNISIMMET FERRY. + +At a General Court, holden at Boston, the 18th of May, 1631, there were +present Mr. Winthrop, governor; Mr. Dudley, deputy-governor; Mr. Ludlowe, +Capt. Endicott, Mr. Nowell, Mr. Pinchon, Mr. Bradford, assistants (at +which the governor and lieutenant-governor were chosen),--"Thomas Willins +[Drake gives the name as Williams] hath undertook to sett up a ferry +between Winnisimmet and Charlestown, for which he is to have after three +pence a person and from Winnisimmet to Boston four pence a person." Mr. +Savage, in a note to Winthrop's journal, speaking of Samuel Maverick at +Noddle's Island, says, "Winisemet Ferry, both to Charlestown and Boston, +was also granted to him forever." He certainly did conduct a ferry on one +or both these routes for a time. + +Jan. 23, 1635.--"Thomas Marshall was chosen by general consent for ye +keeping of a ferry from Milne Point [Copps' Hill] vnto Charlestowne, and +to Wynnyseemitt, and to take for his ferrying vnto Charlestowne, as ye +ferryman there hath, and vnto Wynnyseemitt for a single psn six pence; and +for every one above ye number of two, two pence apiece." It is not +probable that this ferry was continued for many years. + +In December, 1637, Edward Bendall was "to keepe a sufficient ferryboate to +carry to Noddle's Island and to the shippes ryding before the Town: taking +for a single person ij_d._ and for two 3_d._" + + +GRANT TO HARVARD COLLEGE. + +In 1640, the Charlestown Ferry was granted to Harvard College, to the +support of which the town had been annually contributing, and had received +from the ferry fifty pounds for the year previous, 1639. This grant was +continued, and, for nearly one hundred and fifty years before the bridge +was built, it was a source of very handsome income to the institution. In +1644, it appears by the records of the town, William Bridge was appointed +to keep the ferry in place of Mr. Converse, and "to have a penny a person +for each that goes over, except they agree with him by the year, and two +pence a person for each that goes over unseasonably." When the bridge was +built in 1785, the gratuity to the college was continued by the terms of +the Act authorizing it; and the sum of two hundred pounds per year was +paid to it in commutation of its claim to the ferry. + +Johnson, in his "Wonder-Working Providence," describes Boston as +surrounded by the brinish floods, and as having, on the north-west and +north-east, "two constant Faires, kept for traffique thereunto." A ferry +to Cambridge is spoken of in 1652; and in the fall of that year Mr. Cotton +took cold in crossing it, and died soon after. + + +COMPLAINTS OF THE FERRYMEN. + +In 1648, "the ferrymen, Francis Hudson and James Heyden, state in a +petition to the General Court, that the ferry never was less productive: +that contrary to law disorderly passengers would press into the boats, and +on leaving refuse to pay their fare; that some pleaded they had nothing to +pay, and others that they were in the country's service. And they further +state, that the payment generally tendered was 'usually in such refuse, +unwrought, broken, unstringed and unmerchantable peag' (wampum), at six a +penny, that they lost two pence a shilling, being forced to take peag at +six a penny and pay it at seven. They petition that if the Court intend +'all soldiers with their horses and military furniture be fare-free,' that +they might be paid for it by the colony: that strangers, not able to pay, +may be ordered to give in their names: that the 'peag hereafter to us paid +may be so suitably in known parcels handsomely stringed, and their value +assigned, that it may henceforth be a general, current and more agreeable +pay.'" + +At a session of the General Court, at Boston, the 10th of the eight month, +1648, "For preventing ferry men's Damage by Persons not paying, &c., it +shall be lawful for any Ferry man to demand and Receive his due before his +Boat put off from the Shore, nor shall he be bound to pass over any that +shall not give satisfaction, & any Ferry Man may refuse any wampum not +stringed or Unmerchantable and such persons whether Horse or Foot which +are passage free by Order of the Court must show something sufficient for +their Discharge, or else pay as others do, except Magistrates and +Deputies, &c., who are generally known to be free." + +And again, Oct. 18, the Court ordered that "all 'payable peag' should be +'entire without breaches, both the white and the black, suitably strung in +eight known parcels, 1_d._, 3_d._, 12_d._, 5_s._, in white; and 2_d._, +6_d._, 2-6_d._, and 10_s._, in black.' The Court also ordered that for +transporting officers in the colony service, the ferrymen should be +allowed L4 per annum for the past, and L6 per annum for the time to come." + + +PEAG, OR INDIAN MONEY. + +"Peag," or "wampum," or "wampumpeag," simply means stringed shells of a +peculiar kind, or Indian money; and this, it seems, came early into use, +as Hubbard says, "The people of New Plymouth, in the year 1627, began +trade with the Dutch at Manhados, and there they had the first knowledge +of Wampumpeag, and their acquaintance therewith occasioned the Indians of +those parts to learn to make it." Hutchinson thinks the New England +Indians, prior to this time, had not "any instrument of commerce;" and +speaks of the Narragansetts as coining money, making pendants and +bracelets, and also tobacco pipes. There seems, however, to have been +among the Massachusetts settlers some other kinds of money in use, as, in +1635, the court ordered that brass farthings shall be discontinued, and +that musket-balls shall pass for farthings. + + +PENNY FERRY. + +Penny Ferry, across the Mystic River, where the Malden Bridge now is, was +established by the town in April, 1640, when it was voted, "That Philip +Drinker should keep a ferry at the Neck of Land, with a sufficient boat, +and to have 2_d._ a single person, and a penny a piece when there go any +more." It was not a source of any profit to the town for many years. + +In 1651, the Penny Ferry was granted for a year to Philip Knight, who +appears to have had the income of it for taking care of it, he agreeing +"to attend the ferry carefully, and not to neglect it, that there be no +just complaint." + +In 1698, Judge Sewall makes the following entry in his diary: "February +19, I go over the ice and visit Mr. Morton, who keeps his bed. 21st, I +rode over to Charlestown on the ice, then over to Stower's (Chelsea), so +to Mr. Wigglesworth. The snow was so deep that I had a hard journey--could +go but a foot pace on Mystic river, the snow was so deep. 26th, a +considerable quantity of ice went away last night, so that now there is a +glade of water along Governor's island, about as far as Bird island. 28th, +a guard is set upon Charles River to prevent persons from venturing over +on the ice for fear of drowning; and the ferrymen are put upon cutting and +clearing the ice, which they do so happily, that I think the boat passeth +once a day." + + +CHARLESTOWN FERRY. + +The use of the ferry was confined to foot-passengers entirely at first; +and afterwards, when larger boats were built, chaises were allowed, as the +common riding or travelling vehicle of the time. It would seem that double +tolls had been demanded on certain days; and in 1783, when the names of +the ferrymen were presented to the town for approval, it was agreed, on +their not taking double ferriage on those days, and their faithful promise +to the same, to approbate them. It seems almost wonderful--but it is a +fact--that this ferry was kept up as the sole means of communication, +excepting the journey around through Roxbury and Cambridge, for more than +one hundred and fifty years. It was over this ferry that the people came +to Boston to assist in the fortification upon Corne Hill (Fort Hill) in +May, 1632, and at other times for similar purposes. It was over this ferry +also, on the 18th of April, 1689, that the troops came, in the time of the +Andros Rebellion, to assist in maintaining the rights of the people at +this early period in the history of the town. There were twenty companies +in Boston, and it was said about fifteen hundred men at Charlestown that +could not get over. Andros was imprisoned, the first charter of the colony +dissolved, and Thomas Danforth came in as deputy-governor. On many other +occasions during the long period of its continuance, and in cases of fire +in Boston, the ferry had large duties to perform; and it is wonderful how +it was ever made to answer its purposes for so long a time. + +1741.--Oldmixon, in his "History of the British Empire in America" ("The +History of New England," as a part of it is called), says, "Charlestown, +the mother of Boston, is much more populous than Cambridge, and exceeds it +much in respect of trade, being situated between two rivers, Mystic River +and Charles River, and parted from Boston only by the latter, over which +there is a ferry so well tended that a bridge would not be much more +convenient, except in winter, when the ice will neither bear nor suffer a +boat to move through it. Though the river is much broader about the town, +it is not wider in the ferry passage than the Thames between London and +Southwark. The profits of this ferry belong to Harvard College in +Cambridge, and are considerable. The town is so large as to take up all +the space between the two rivers." + +In 1763, April, the running of a stage-coach was commenced between Boston +and Portsmouth, N.H., once a week,--out on Friday, and return on Tuesday. +It is said, that, "owing to the trouble of ferrying the stage and horses +over Charles River, they were kept at Charlestown, at the sign of the +Three Cranes." The practice with this, and very likely other stage-lines, +probably continued until the bridge was built. + +The memorable night, April 18, 1775, when Paul Revere crossed Charles +River, near the ferry, is of course well remembered. During the occupation +of Boston Harbor by the British navy, the boats of the ferry were drawn up +alongside the men-of-war every night at nine o'clock, and there was no +passing after that hour; but it seems that Revere kept a boat of his own +at the north end, and employed two men to row him across, "a little to the +eastward where the 'Somerset' man-of-war lay." He landed at Charlestown +below the ferry, and says, "I told them what was acting, and went to get +me a horse," and then pursued his momentous ride to Lexington. + +Imagine the continuance of this ferry, as the usual means of crossing the +river between Boston and Charlestown, for a period of more than one +hundred and fifty years! and all this time probably without the use of +sails, as the stream at this point was very narrow and the currents very +strong, and certainly without the power of steam, now so generally applied +to ferries all over the country. There was, no doubt, in the winter +season, a good deal of passing on the ice. The Winnisimmet Ferry, for many +years prior to the introduction of steam, was operated by the use of large +sail-boats for foot-passengers only. + +It is said that the Indian name of Charles River was Quimobequin, and that +on Capt. Smith's map of 1614, it is called Massachusetts; and Hutchinson +says, "Prince Charles gave the name of Charles river to what had been +before called Massachusetts river." Smith himself says he called it +Charles River; still Hutchinson may be right. + + + + +III. + +THE BOSTON CORNFIELDS. + + +It will hardly be realized at the present time that Boston, or the +peninsula which originally comprised the town, was ever occupied by +cornfields, or, as one may almost say, was a cornfield. If there were +cornfields, as we assume there were, the curious thing about them is, that +we know so little of them; for it can scarcely be said that they hold a +place in history. There are, in fact, no definite statements about them; +and a mystery seems to hang over them as to where they were, who owned +them, who cultivated them, and what was done with the harvest. Were they +private property or public property? We have not been able to find in +contemporary or subsequent history any account of the Boston cornfields +that will enable us with certainty to answer this question. The fair +inference from statements made, however, is, that they were to some extent +both public and private property. Perhaps the first allusion to them to be +found in any record is that in 1632,--and there could have been no corn +planted in Boston earlier than 1631, unless by Blackstone,--and this +allusion is in the name of "Corne Hill." In 1632, May 24, "it was agreed +to build a fort in that part of Boston called Corne Hill," meaning what +thereafter was called Fort Hill; and one historical writer, quoting the +record, says a fortification was begun on "_the_ corn hill;" and that was +probably the only Corn Hill at that time. The question naturally arises, +Why was it called Corn Hill? and the almost necessary answer to the +question is, Because it was where corn was grown. + +There can be no doubt that it became necessary, as early as possible, for +the settlers to seek means for their future subsistence. The stock and +supply of provisions brought over were, no doubt, for a time and under +certain regulations, a common stock; and possibly some of Gov. Winthrop's +party had supplies of their own in addition thereto. But, at all events, +prudence and self-preservation required immediate attention to the +cultivation of the soil and the raising of corn and other grains. + +In 1628 (1629), before the arrival of Gov. Winthrop and his company at +Charlestown, the place had been occupied by the Spragues, from Salem, +under the direction of Mr. Graves, an agent of the company; and one of the +first things they did was "to model and lay out the form of the town, with +streets about the hill," which was approved by Gov. Endicott. They next +"jointly agreed and concluded that each inhabitant have a two acre lot to +plant upon and all to fence in common." The same year Mr. Graves wrote to +England, "The increase of corne is here farre beyond expectation," showing +that it had been grown, and most probably in the common cornfield; for it +is afterwards said that Thomas Walford "lived on the south end of the +westermost hill of the East Field." Another vote was passed the next year, +1630,--probably before the arrival of Gov. Winthrop,--that each person +"dwelling within the neck, shall have two acres of land for a house plot, +and two acres for every male that is able to plant." + +In the months of June and July, 1630, Gov. Winthrop and his party arrived +at Charlestown, after a passage by some of the ships of seventeen or +eighteen weeks, many of them sick of the scurvy. "The multitude set up +cottages, booths and tents about the Town Hill;" and it is said +"provisions were exceedingly wasted, and no supplies could now be expected +by planting; besides, there was miserable damage and spoil of provisions +at sea." Many of the party died,--some two hundred before December,--and +others started out for other locations; and finally in September, 1630, by +the invitation of Mr. Blackstone, the larger part of Gov. Winthrop's party +crossed the river to Boston. This year there was a scarcity of corn, as +will be seen by the following extract from Hutchinson's history:-- + + "In August, 1724, John Quttamug, a Nipmug Indian, came to Boston, + above 112 years of age. He affirmed that in 1630, upon a message that + the English were in want of corn, soon after their arrival, he went to + Boston with his father, and carried a bushel and a half of corn all + the way on his back; that there was only one cellar began in town, and + that somewhere near the _Common_." + +Wood, in speaking of Boston in 1639, says, "This place hath very good +land, affording rich cornfields and fruitful gardens," which, no doubt, +were in existence years before he wrote his book. In 1635, it was voted, +"Each able man is allowed two acres, and each able youth one acre to +plant." Provision of some sort on the subject was no doubt made before +this time, and gradually reached the regulation here recorded. In 1633, +great scarcity of corn is mentioned by Winthrop, as he says, "By reason of +the spoil of our hogs, there being no acorns, yet the people lived well +with fish and the fruit of their gardens." + +Almost as a natural consequence of what has now been said, in March, 1636, +we find that provision was made "for having sufficient fences to the +Cornfielde before the 14th of the next second month (April); that for +every defective rod then found, five shillings penalty;" and it was +further provided, "The field toward Rocksberry to be looked into by Jacob +Elyott and Jonathan Negoose; the Fort Hill, by James Penn and Richard +Gridley; the Mylne field, by John Button and Edward Bendall, and the New +Field by John Audley and Thomas Faireweather." + +Thus it will be seen, if the rule adopted was carried out, that there were +four or more large cornfields in Boston, and that the principal work of +the people for a time was the raising of corn. At a later period parcels +of corn were occasionally presented or sent to the governor by the +Indians, who had their cornfields before the English people arrived. In +fact, it is recorded in the next month after the arrival of Winthrop, that +so much provision had been sold to the Indians for beaver, that food +became scarce; and in October, 1630, a vessel was sent to the +Narragansetts to trade, and brought home one hundred bushels of corn. In +May, 1631, corn in Boston was ten shillings a bushel, as probably much was +required for planting at this time. In August, 1633, a great scarcity of +corn was reported; and in November, the next year, a vessel arrived from +Narragansett with five hundred bushels of Indian corn. It is very clear +that corn was very early, and for some time, the great dependence of the +settlers. + +In Plymouth Colony, in 1630, the salary of the messenger of the General +Court was thirty bushels of corn. In 1685, the secretary's wages was +fifteen pounds a year, payable in corn at two shillings per bushel. In +1690, "one third the Governor's salary ordered to be paid in money, the +rest in corne." + +In 1637, April 16, "all the fences and gates to be made up. Sargeant +Hutchinson and Richard Gridley to look after the Fort Field; John Button, +James Everett and Isaac Grosse, in the Mill Field; Wm Colburn and Jacob +Elyott on the Field next Roxburie." Again, in 1640, March 30, "To look to +the fences: Richard Fairbanks and William Salter the field towards +Roxbury; Benj. Gillam and Edmd. Jacklyn, the Fort Field; Wm. Hudson and +Edward Bendall the New Field; Mr. Valentine Hill and John Button, the Mill +Field." + +Dr. Shurtleff, in his "Topographical and Historical Description of +Boston," enumerates five fields as follows, and speaks of them as +ungranted lands: "The land around Copps' Hill, was known as the Mylne +Field, or Mill Field; that around Fort Hill, the Fort Field; that at the +Neck, the Neck Field, or the Field towards Roxbury; that where Beacon Hill +Place now is, Centry Hill Field, and that west of Lynde Street, and north +of Cambridge, the New Mill Field, or the New Field." And to show that +these were not waste lands or pastures, the writer enumerates the various +pastures for cattle, besides the privileges at Muddy Brook and +Winnisimmet, as follows: "Besides the fields there were many pastures, so +called: Christopher Stanley's was at the North End, covering the region of +North Bennet Street, between Hanover and Salem Streets; Buttolph's was +south of Cambridge Street; Tucker's, in the neighborhood of Lyman Street; +Rowe's, east of Rowe Street; Wheeler's, where the southerly end of Chauncy +Street is; Atkinson's, where Atkinson Street was a few years ago, and +where Congress Street now is." And besides these he names Leverett's on +Leverett Street; Middlecott's on Bowdoin Street; another on Winter and +Tremont Streets, and, as he says, "a very large number of other great +lots." + +And strange to say, in all this history, contemporary or modern, in only a +single instance, so far as we know, are these fields or any one of them +spoken of as a "cornfielde," and that is in the order of 1636, above +quoted. There is, however, one other reference to them made, in 1657, in +the body of instructions prepared for the selectmen to guide them in the +discharge of their duties: "Relying on your wisdom and care in seeking the +good of the town, we recommend that you cause to be executed all the +orders of the town which you have on the records," &c., "as found in the +printed laws under the titles Townships, Freeman, Highways, Small Causes, +Indians, Cornfields," &c., which would assuredly show that there were +cornfields in the town, distinct from pastures or waste lands, undoubtedly +laid out and divided among the people, as already indicated, for their +special cultivation. + +If, as we believe, the "fields" enumerated were cornfields, and cultivated +in the manner suggested,--at first one field, and year by year, as +necessity should require, a new field added,--there would naturally +become, among a people situated as they were, a necessity for a granary +for the storing and preservation of their crops. Consequently, in the +enumeration of public buildings in Boston at a later period, we find +mentioned "a public granary." The burying-ground on Tremont Street, known +as the Granary Burying-Ground, was laid out on land taken from the Common +in 1660, and, of course, took its name from the granary, which was built +soon after on what was afterwards Centry Street, and now Park Street. +Shurtleff says the land was first taken for the purpose, and "then, when +the need came, a building, eighty feet by thirty feet, for a public +granary, was erected, and subsequently, in 1737, removed to the corner, +its end fronting on the principal street (Tremont). It stood until 1809, +when it gave place to Park Street Church." So that, though latterly for +some years used for another purpose, the granary stood in Boston for more +than one hundred and forty years. It is described as a long wooden +building, and was calculated to hold twelve thousand bushels of corn. + +In 1733, it would seem that corn or other grain continued to be grown in +Boston, as in October of that year it was determined to erect a granary at +the North End, "not to exceed L100" in cost. In the records of the +selectmen, it is called a meal-house, and John Jeffries, Esq., and Mr. +David Colson, two of the selectmen, were to contract for the work on a +piece of land near the North Mill, belonging to the town. + +So that at what time the cultivation of corn ceased in Boston, it is +impossible to tell; but it would seem, from the necessity for a new +granary in 1733, that it must have continued for considerably more than a +hundred years after the settlement of the town. + + + + +IV. + +PURITAN GOVERNMENT. + + +The early government of the Puritans in Boston was a sort of extemporary +government, or, as it has been described, "temporary usurpation,"--a +government of opinions and prejudices, and in small sense a government of +law. It had some of the features of a family government, without system or +order. If the inhabitant offended, or did any thing which was not thought +proper by the Church, the assistants, or anybody else, fine or punishment +was pretty sure to follow. To be sure there was the Massachusetts Colony +Charter somewhere; but it is singular that the copy of it found among +Hutchinson's papers, and since printed, is certified to be a "true copy of +such letters patents under the great seal of England," by John Winthrop, +Governor, dated "this 19th day of the month called March, 1613-1644." This +verbose and peculiar document gives authority to the company in the matter +of government in the following elaborate form:-- + + "And wee do of our further grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion + give and grant to the said Governor and Company and their successors, + that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Governour or deputy + Governor and such of the Assistants and Freemen of the said Company + for the tyme being as shall be assembled in any of their generall + courts aforesaid, or in any other courts to be specially summoned and + assembled for that purpose, or the greater part of them (whereof the + Governour or deputy Governor and sixe of the Assistants to be always + seven) from tyme to tyme to make, ordaine and establish all manner of + wholesome and reasonable orders, lawes, statutes and ordinances, + directions and instructions not contrary to the lawes of this our + realme of England, as well for the settling of the formes and + ceremonies of government and magistracie fitt and necessary for the + said plantation and the inhabitants there, and for nameing and styling + of all sorts of officers both superiour and inferiour which they shall + find needful for that government and plantation, and the + distinguishing and setting forth of the severall duties, powers and + limits of every such office and place, and the formes of such oathes + warrantable by the lawes and statutes of this our realme of England as + shall be respectively ministred unto them, for the execution of the + said several offices and places, as also for the disposing and + ordering of the elections of such of the said officers as shall be + annuall, and of such others as shall be to succeed in case of death or + removall, and ministring the said oathes to the new elected officers, + and for imposition of lawfull fynes, mulcts, imprisonment or other + lawfull correction, according to the course of other Corporations in + this our realme of England, and for the directing, ruleing and + disposeing of all other matters and things whereby our said people + inhabiting there may be so religiously, peaceably and civily governed, + as theire good life and orderly conversation may winne and incite the + natives of that country to the knowledge and obedience of the onely + true God and Saviour of mankind and the christian faith, which in our + royall intention and the adventurers free profession is the principal + end of this plantation." + +The charter goes on to give authority to commanders, captains, governors, +and all other officers for the time being, "to correct, punish, pardon, +govern and rule all such the subjects of us, our heires and successors, +as shall from tyme to tyme adventure themselves in any voyage thither or +from thence, or that shall at any tyme hereafter inhabit within the +precincts and parts of New England aforesaid, according to the orders, +lawes, ordinances, instructions and directions aforesaid, not repugnant to +the laws and statutes of our realme of England as aforesaid." And in order +to make the laws of these officers known, it is provided, as printing +would not be practicable, that they shall be "published in writing under +theire common seale." + +But it would seem, notwithstanding, that the authority exercised by the +company was at first executive rather than legislative; and Mr. Savage +remarks, that the body of the people "submitted at first to the mild and +equal temporary usurpation of the officers, chosen by themselves, which +was also justified by indisputable necessity." The first "Court of +Assistants" was held at Charlestown, Aug. 23, 1630; and the first thing +propounded was, "how the ministers shall be maintained," and it was +determined, of course, at the public charge. Gov. Winthrop, Lieut.-Gov. +Dudley, and the assistants were present; and this body carried on the +government--what there was of it--"in a simply patriarchal manner," until +"the first General Court or meeting of the whole company at Boston, 19 +October," 1631, and this was held "for the establishing of the +government." It was now determined that "the freemen should have the power +of choosing assistants, and from themselves to choose a Governor and +Lieut. Governor, who with the assistants should have the power of making +laws and choosing officers to execute the same." This is the brief history +of the origin of a local government in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, if +it may be so called. It was autocratic for the first year and afterwards, +although fully assented to by a general vote of the people. + +At first, of course, there were no laws; and punishments were adjudged and +inflicted, under the authority of the charter, not only for trivial +matters, as they would be now considered, but for very questionable, if +not ludicrous, matters,--and all this, it would seem, without respect of +persons: for, as early as Nov. 30, 1630, at a court, it was ordered that +one of the assistants be fined five pounds for whipping two persons +without the presence of another assistant, contrary to an act of court +formerly made; so that this very early exercise of authority was not under +a law made after the fact. At the same court another person was sentenced +to be whipped for shooting a fowl on the sabbath day; and this, probably, +was _ex post facto_. In 1631, a man was fined five pounds for taking upon +himself the cure of scurvy by a water of no value, and selling it at a +dear rate; to be imprisoned until he paid the fine, or whipped. In 1632, +the first thief was sentenced to lose his estate, pay double what he had +stolen, be whipped, bound out for three years, and after that be dealt +with as the court directs. Other offences, or what not, were punished by +"taking life and limb, branding with a hot iron, clipping off ears," &c. +Indians also were proceeded against, in many cases by fines, penalties, +and punishments. + +John Legge, a servant, was ordered "to be whipt this day [May 3, 1631] at +Boston, and afterwards, so soon as convenient may be, at Salem, for +striking Richard Wright." Richard Hopkins was ordered to be severely +whipped, and branded with a hot iron on one of his cheeks, for selling +guns, powder, and shot to the Indians. Joyce Bradwick was ordered to pay +Alexander Beck twenty dollars for promising marriage without her friends' +consent, and now refusing to perform the same. This was in 1632, and is +undoubtedly the first breach-of-promise case that had occurred in the +colony. + +It was ordered if any one deny the Scriptures to be the word of God, to be +fined fifty pounds, or whipped forty stripes; if they recant, to pay ten +pounds, and whipped if they pay not that. A man, who had been punished for +being drunk, was ordered to wear a red D about his neck for a year. + +The case of one Knower, at Boston, 1631, is spoken of as curious, showing +that the court, usurper and tyrant as it was, had no intention of being +slighted, underestimated, or intimidated. "Thomas Knower was set in +bilbows for threatening the Court, that if he should be punished, he would +have it tried in England, whether he was lawfully punished or not." And +for this he was punished. + +1631.--Philip Radcliffe, for censuring the churches and government, has +his ears cut off, is whipped and banished. + +1636.--If any inhabitants entertained strangers over fourteen days, +without leave "from those yt are appointed to order the Town's +businesses," they were made liable to be dealt with by the "overseers" +(before there were selectmen) as they thought advisable. + +In 1637, "a law was made that none should be received to inhabit within +the jurisdiction but such as should be allowed by some of the magistrates; +and it was fully understood that differing from the religions generally +received in the country, was as great a disqualification as any political +opinions whatever." On this subject Judge Minot says, "Whilst they +scrupulously regulated the morals of the inhabitants within the colony, +they neglected not to prevent the contagion of dissimilar habits and +heretical principles from without.... No man could be qualified either to +elect or be elected to office who was not a church member, and no church +could be formed but by a license from a magistrate." + +In 1640, in the case of Josias Plaistow for stealing four baskets of corn +from the Indians, he was ordered to return eight baskets, "to be fined L5, +and to be called Josias, and not Mr. Josias Plaistow, as he formerly used +to be." + +A carpenter was employed to make a pair of stocks; and, it being adjudged +that he charged too much for his work, he was sentenced to be put in them +for one hour. A servant, charged with slandering the Church, was whipped, +then deprived of his ears and banished. This punishment was deemed severe, +and excited some remarks upon the subject. + +A Capt. Stone was fined one hundred pounds and prohibited from coming into +Boston without the governor's leave on pain of death, for calling Justice +Ludlow a "just-ass." Another party, for being drunk, was sentenced to +carry forty turfs to the fort; while another, being in the company of +drunkards, was set in the stocks. + +But finally the Court of Assistants began to make laws, or lay down rules +of some sort. As for example: Every one shall pay a penny sterling for +every time of taking tobacco in any place. In Plymouth Colony the law was +less stringent: there a man was fined five shillings for taking tobacco +while on a jury, before a verdict had been rendered. Absence from church +subjected the delinquent to a fine of ten shillings or imprisonment. Any +one entering into a private conference at a public meeting shall forfeit +twelve pence for public uses. 1642, Mr. Robert Saltonstall is fined five +shillings for presenting his petition on so small and bad a piece of +paper; and this, it seems, was after it had been determined "that a body +of laws should be framed which would be approved of by the General Court +and some of the ministers as a fundamental code." Notwithstanding this, in +all cases, like the above, where there was no law, one was made, or +inferred, to meet the case; so that, after the establishment of a +"fundamental code," there was about as much _ex post facto_ law as before. +Among the laws or orders of the "fundamental code" was one, "that no +person, Householder or others, shall spend his time unprofitably under +paine of such punishment as the court shall think meet to inflict;" and +"the constables were ordered to take knowledge of offenders of this kind," +and, among others, especially tobacco-takers. Another was, "that no person +either man or woman shall make or buy any slashed clothes, other than one +slash in each sleeve and another in the back; also all cuttworks, +imbroidered or needle workt caps, bands, vayles, are forbidden hereafter +to be made or worn under said penalty--also all gold or silver girdles, +hatbands, belts, ruffs, beaver hats, are prohibited to be bought or worn +hereafter, under the aforesaid penalty," &c. The penalty is such +punishment as the Court may think meet to inflict. + +In addition to these, the code went still further in regulating the dress +of women: "4th of 7th month [September, as the year began with March, +until 1752], 1639, Boston. No garments shall be made with short sleeves, +whereby the nakedness of the arm may be discovered in the wearing +thereof;" and, where garments were already made with short sleeves, the +arms to be covered with linen or otherwise. No person was allowed to make +a garment for women with sleeves more than half an ell wide, and "so +proportionate for bigger or smaller persons." + +In the matter of currency, it was ordered, in 1634, "that musket balls of +a full boar shall pass currently for farthings apiece, provided that no +man be compelled to take above 12 pence at a time in them." + +It would seem that some of these decisions, or the general character of +the government, had caused some remark, as it was "ordered that Henry Lyn +shall be whipt and banished the Plantation before the 6th day of October +next, for writing into England falsely and maliciously against the +government and execution of Justice here." "Execution of justice" is good, +we should say. + +Ward, in his "Trip to New England," a very coarse and abusive paper, +published in London, in 1706, in a book called "London Spy," says, in +Boston "if you kiss a woman in publick, tho' offered as a Courteous +Salutation, if any information is given to the Select Members, both shall +be whipt or fined." He relates, that "a captain of a certain ship, who had +been a long voyage, happen'd to meet his wife, and kist her in the street, +for which he was fined Ten Shillings, and forc'd to pay the Money. Another +inhabitant of the town was fin'd Ten Shillings for kissing his own wife in +his Garden, and obstinately refusing to pay the Money, endur'd Twenty +Lashes at the Gun, who, in Revenge for his Punishment, swore he would +never kiss her again either in Publick or Private." + +John Dunton, in his famous work, "Dunton's Life and Errors," speaks of the +government, when he was in Boston, in 1686. He says, "Let it be enough to +say, The laws in force here, against immorality and prophaneness, are very +severe. Witchcraft is punish'd with death, as 'tis well known; and theft +with restoring fourfold, if the Criminal be sufficient.--An English woman, +admitting some unlawful freedoms from an Indian, was forc'd twelve months +to wear upon her Right arm an Indian cut in red cloath." + +The "Body of Liberties," as it was strangely called, contained an hundred +laws, which had been drawn up pursuant to an order of the General Court, +by Nathaniel Ward, pastor of the church at Ipswich, who had been formerly +a practitioner of law in England; and this book was printed by Daye, the +first printer, at Cambridge in 1641. (Thomas, p. 47.) + +There was also published in 1649 a "Book of General Laws and Liberties, +concerning the Inhabitants of Massachusetts." By these, gaming by +shuffle-board and bowling at houses of entertainment, where there was +"much waste of wine and beer," were prohibited under pain for every keeper +of such house twenty shillings, and every person playing at said games, +five shillings. For "damnable heresies," as they were called, banishment +was the appropriate punishment. + +Oldmixon mentions a singular law. He says, "The goodness of the pavement +may compare with most in London: to gallop a horse on it is 3 shillings +and four pence forfeit." This was more than a hundred years after the +settlement of the town, and less than forty years before the commencement +of the revolutionary war. + +A letter from London, from Edward Howes to his relative, J. Winthrop, +jun., dated April 3, 1632, says, "I have heard divers complaints against +the severity of your government, especially Mr. Endicott's, and that he +shall be sent for over, about cutting off the lunatick man's ears and +other grievances" (Savage's Winthrop, p. 56, vol. 1). + +In respect to the levying of fines, Gov. Winthrop, who was accused of not +demanding their payment in some cases, remarked, "that in his judgment, it +were not fit in the infancy of a Commonwealth to be too strict in levying +fines, though severe in other punishments." + +It has been well said that "religion and laws were closely intertwined in +the Puritan community; the government felt itself bound to expatriate +every disorderly person, as much as the church was bound to excommunicate +him. They were like a household. They had purchased their territory for a +home; it was no _El Dorado_; it was their Mount of Sion. With immense toil +and unspeakable denials, they had rescued it from the wild woods for the +simple purpose that they might have a place for themselves and their +children to worship God undisturbed. They knew nothing of toleration. +Their right to shut the door against intruders seemed to them as undoubted +and absolute as their right to breathe the air around them."[2] + +This is the sum and substance of the Puritan government as long as it +lasted. Under the charter, or without the charter, they made such laws as +they pleased, before or after the occasion. They punished every thing +which they thought to be wrong, or which did not conform to their notions +of propriety or their practice, and this, too, without consistency or +discrimination. + +In 1639, Winthrop says, "The people had long desired a body of laws, and +thought their condition very unsafe, while so much power rested in the +discretion of the magistrates. Divers attempts had been made at former +courts, and the matter referred to some of the magistrates and some of the +elders, [the church and state, in such cases, were invariably united,] but +still it came to no effect, for being committed to the care of so many, +whatsoever was done by some, was still disliked or neglected by others." +So that it is doubtful if they ever really had a set of laws that were +relied upon; that limited the discretion of the magistrates, or was ever +reasonably and impartially enforced. If the law failed to be adequate, it +seemed to be proper for the magistrate to make it so; and he not only +supplied the deficiency, but occasionally coined or misconstrued a law for +his purpose. Such a government might well be considered "unsafe." + + + + +V. + +THE NARRAGANSETT INDIANS. + + +VISIT TO BOSTON. + +The Narragansett Indians were one of the largest, if not the very largest, +tribe in New England, at the time of the arrival of the Puritans; and they +were especially friendly to the settlers. They lived along the coast, from +Stonington to Point Judith, on Narragansett Bay. "They consisted," says +Hutchinson, "of several lesser principalities, but all united under one +general ruler, called the Chief Sachem, to whom all others owed some kind +of fealty or subjection." The Nianticks were considered as a branch of the +Narragansetts, having very likely been conquered by them, and brought +under their subjection. + +A letter of Roger Williams, who was intimate with, and a strong friend of, +the Narragansett Indians, says they were "the settlers' fast friends, had +been true in all the Pequot wars, were the means of the coming in of the +Mohegans, never had shed English blood, and many settlers had had +experience of the love and desire of peace which prevailed among them." + +In October, 1636, after the murder of Mr. Oldham, Gov. Vane invited their +sachem, Miantonomo, to visit Boston, which he soon after did, bringing +with him another sachem, two sons of Canonicus, and about twenty men. The +governor sent twenty musketeers to Roxbury to meet them and escort them +into town. The sachems and their council dined together in the same room +with the governor and his ministers. After dinner a friendly treaty was +made with Miantonomo, and signed by the parties; and, although at this +time the English thought the Indians did not understand it, they kept it +faithfully; but the English, who were afterwards instrumental in the death +of Miantonomo, did not. The Indians were subsequently escorted out of +town, "and dismissed with a volley of shot;" and the famous Roger Williams +was appointed to explain the treaty to the Indians. + +In this treaty, Canonicus, who was the chief sachem of the tribe, and is +said to have been "a just man, and a friend of the English," was +represented by Miantonomo, his nephew, whom Canonicus, on account of his +age, had caused to assume the government. The deputation that Gov. Vane +sent to the Narragansetts in the matter of the murder of Mr. Oldham, speak +of Canonicus "as a sachem of much state, great command over his men, and +much wisdom in his answers and the carriage of the whole treaty; clearing +himself and his neighbors of the murder, and offering assistance for +revenge of it." Johnson represents Miantonomo "as a sterne, severe man, of +great stature and a cruel nature, causing all his nobility and such as +were his attendants to tremble at his speech." + + +INDIAN ART.--CURIOUS MARRIAGE. + +The Narragansetts not only coined money (wampumpeag), but manufactured +pendants and bracelets,--using shells, we presume, for these purposes. +They also made tobacco-pipes, some blue and some white, out of stone, and +furnished earthen vessels and pots for cookery and other domestic +uses,--so that they had several approximations, in these respects, to +civilization and art, not so distinctly manifested by other tribes. They +had, in fact, commercial relations with other people and distant nations, +and, it seems, were sometimes sneered at on account of their +disinclination for war,--preferring other service. + +There is evidence, also, that they considered themselves--in some +respects, at least--superior to other Indians; and this is illustrated by +a very curious piece of history, said to be "the only tradition of any +sort from the ancestors of our first Indians." It seems that the oldest +Indians among the Narragansetts reported to the English, on their first +arrival, "that they had in former times a sachem called Tashtassuck, who +was incomparably greater than any in the whole land in power and state." +This great sachem--who, it would seem, had the power to elevate, and, in +some respects, enlighten his race--had only two children, a son and +daughter; and, not being able to match them according to their dignity, he +joined them together in matrimony, and they had four sons, of whom +Canonicus, who was chief sachem when the English arrived, was the eldest. +There is no reason to doubt that the marriage was a happy one, agreeable +to the parties, satisfactory to the parent, and certainly famous in its +progeny. + + +INTERMARRIAGE AMONG THE EGYPTIANS. + +This probably is the only record of such a marriage in this country. The +form of family marriage, however, it is a matter of history, was common +among the Egyptians, and probably has been practised more or less among +all the savage nations of the earth. Cleopatra, the daughter of Ptolemy +Auletes, on the death of her father, was married, according to his will, +to Ptolemy XII., his eldest son, and ascended the throne; both being +minors, Pompey was appointed their guardian. In the wars which followed, +her husband was drowned, and she then married her second brother, Ptolemy +(Necteros), a child seven years old. Afterwards she became the mistress of +Caesar, and subsequently poisoned her boy-husband, when at the age of +fourteen, because he claimed his share of the Egyptian crown. So that, in +fact, she made war against her first husband, and poisoned her second,--a +result very different from that recorded of the Narragansett +intermarriage. + + +MURDER OF MIANTONOMO. + +In a subsequent Indian war, 1643,--brought about, it is said, by +Connecticut, between the Narragansetts and the Mohegans,--Miantonomo, by +some strange accident, fell into the hands of Uncas, who, for fear of +retaliation, instead of taking his life, sent him to Hartford. The +Connecticut people, in their turn, sent him to Boston, to be judged by the +Commissioners of the United Colonies; and these commissioners, "although +they had no jurisdiction in the case, nor any just ground of complaint +against the sachem," came to the conclusion "that Uncas would not be safe +if he were suffered to live." Drake says, "Strange as it may seem, it was +with the advice of the Elders of the Churches" (Winthrop says five of the +most judicious elders) that it was determined Uncas might put Miantonomo +to death,--a piece of barbarism and injustice hardly matched by any +conduct of the Indians. He was taken back to Uncas "with a guard of +English soldiers," and Uncas readily undertook the execution of his +victim. When he arrived at a place appointed, a brother of Uncas "clave +his head with a hatchet." "Thus inhumanly and unjustly perished the +greatest Indian chief of whom any account is found in New England's +annals." Canonicus, it is said, was greatly affected by the death of his +nephew, in whom he always had the utmost confidence, and regarded him with +the fondness of a father. Canonicus died in 1647. After the death of +Miantonomo, the Narragansetts were never on very good terms with the +English, who had suspected them once or twice unjustly. Hutchinson says, +"The Narragansetts are said to have kept to the treaty until the Pequods +were destroyed, and then they grew insolent and treacherous." It certainly +appears that they were not well used by the English settlers, and it is +not surprising that they should grow "insolent and treacherous;" for the +treachery appears to have been first against them. + + + + +VI. + +NAMES OF PLACES, STREETS, ETC. + + +As a matter of course, some of the early names of places in and around +Massachusetts Bay were Indian names or corruptions, until others were +applied, as Shawmut, Mishawam, Mattapan, Winnisimmet, and others. The name +of Plymouth, of course, the Pilgrims brought with them, as the Puritans +did the name of Salem and of Boston. But just how the name of +Massachusetts originated is not so well known. It was no doubt of Indian +origin; and if derived from the "greatest king of the Indians," Massasoit, +or, as Hutchinson says, Massasoiet,[3] it is well that it has been so +preserved and perpetuated. Among the earliest English names, besides these +mentioned, were the names applied to the islands, as Noddle's Island, +which possibly was given to it by Maverick, and Bird Island, in 1630; +Lovell's Island, in 1635, and several others. The names of Blackstone, +Maverick, and Walford,[4] the original settlers of Boston, Noddle's +Island, and Charlestown, have all been preserved in the names of streets, +banks, &c., although two of them (Blackstone and Walford) were driven +away, and the third, though living almost alone on Noddle's Island, being +an Episcopalian, was rather severely treated in the general persecutions +of the time. Of the Indian names, only a few of them have been preserved, +and are in common use, and among them Shawmut, Mishawam, Winnisimmet, and +possibly one or two others. In the list of nearly two thousand names of +streets, places, &c., only three Indian names are to be found, namely, +Shawmut, Oneida, and Ontario. + +But perhaps the most curious peculiarity prevailed with regard to the +naming of streets, places, taverns, trades, &c., in Boston, before King +Street and Queen Street had been named, and after they had passed away. +King Street gave way to State Street; Queen Street, which at an earlier +date had been called Prison Lane, gave way to Court Street: still some of +the old English names remain. Marlborough, Newbury, and Orange, all +English names, gave way to that of Washington, and this street has now +been extended, under its latest name, from Haymarket Square (Mill Creek) +to Brookline (Muddy Brook). Formerly it extended from the Gate at the Neck +to Dock Square, and bore the name of Orange Street from the Gate to +Eliot's Corner (Essex Street); Newbury Street from Eliot's Corner to +Bethune's Corner (West Street); Marlborough Street from thence to Haugh's +Corner (School Street); and Cornhill from thence to Dock Square. + + +LANES AND ALLEYS. + +The first mention of any alley is that of Paddy Alley[5] (after a +resident), running from Ann to Middle Street, 1658, but whether so named +before or after the streets which it connects is not known. Rawson's Lane, +afterwards Bromfield's Lane, and now Bromfield Street, 1693; Black Horse +Lane, part of what is now known as Prince Street, 1698; Beer Lane, part of +Richmond Street; Blind Lane, part of Bedford Street; Elbow Alley, which +was in the form of a crescent, from Ann to Cross Street; Pudding Lane, +part of Devonshire Street--all mentioned in 1708, when a list of the names +of the streets, lanes, &c., was prepared and published by the Selectmen. +Among these were Frog Lane, Hog Alley, Sheafe Lane, Blind Lane, Cow Lane, +Flounder Lane, Crab Lane, &c. Probably all these lanes and alleys were +laid out or established, at a much earlier date than that mentioned. Sheep +Lane was first called Hog Lane, in 1789; Turn-again Alley, at an early +date, was near Hamilton Place. + +The first lanes and possibly alleys, it has been said, were probably +cow-paths or foot-paths, but at the end of seventy-eight years, in 1708, +they had undoubtedly all received names, peculiar as some of them were. +Most of these lanes--not all of them--were named after residents or owners +in the neighborhood. The alleys were each named after some citizen, +excepting where there might be some local name or peculiarity, as Board +Alley, Brick Alley, Crooked Alley; and so of some of the lanes and +streets, as Bog Lane, Marsh Lane, Well Street, Bath Street, Grape Place, +Granite Place, and some others. + + +NAMES OF CORNERS. + +One of the most curious collections of names in the list of 1879, is that +of "Corners," not now recognized, and, we think, never before recorded, +though occasionally used in defining the limits of streets. Over one +hundred corners are named in this list, of which about eighty of them bear +date of 1708 and 1732. All these are named after persons occupying the +corners, and among them are the following: Antram's Corner, Ballantine's, +Barrill's, Bill's, Bows', and Bull's Corners; Dafforne's, Frary's, and +Frizzel's Corners; Gee's, Meer's, Melynes', Powning's, Ruck's, and +Winsley's Corners, and there were five Clark's Corners in different parts +of the town, in 1708-32. At the present time, as in the early time, the +corners of streets may be spoken of and referred to, but are not +recognized as local names of record. + + +NAMES OF STREETS, ETC. + +Names, of course, of some kind or other, local, personal, or traditionary, +must have been very early used in the settlement, to designate places, +paths, and business, as well as persons and things, and most of these have +been preserved and remembered. In Drake's collection of local names there +are nearly one thousand, including the names of islands, wharves, streets, +taverns, &c., and of these only about twenty are mentioned by date prior +to 1700, though many of them must have been in use long before that time. +In the collection of names made by the city government in 1879, there are +about eighteen hundred, not including islands, wharves, or taverns. The +earliest dates attached to any of the names is that of the Anchor Tavern, +1661, and of the Alms House on Sentry or Park Street, 1662. + +In the naming of streets, as in the laying of them out, there appears to +have been neither rule, system, or order; but in both matters the action +depended upon local circumstances, or some public or personal influence. +It is believed that the first movement in laying out the road over the +Neck to Roxbury, what is now a portion of Washington Street, was in June, +1636, as follows:-- + + "It is agreed that there shall be a sufficient foot-way from William + Coleburne's field-end unto Samuel Wylebore's field-end next Roxbury, + by the surveyors of highways before the last of the next 5th month" + (July, 1636). + +From this it appears that there were at this early period surveyors of +highways, and that highways, to some extent, were foot-ways. The foot-way +in this case, to be laid out in one month, extended as supposed, from the +corner of Boylston Street to the northerly line of Castle Street, that +being the northerly end of Boston Neck; and the road or way laid out after +this time to Roxbury, was on the easterly side of the present Washington +Street, all the way near or on the sea-beach, and probably started from +near Beach Street. + +The next order that we have in relation to the streets, is under date of +1636, 4th, 8 mo., which would be Oct. 4, 1636, and is as follows:-- + + "At a meeting of the overseers," it was ordered, that "from this day + there shall be no house at all be built neare unto any streetes or + laynes therein, but with the consent of the overseers, for the + avoyding disorderly building to the inconvenience of streetes and + laynes and for the more comely and commodious ordering of them, upon + the forfeiture of such sume as the overseers shall see fitting." + +Soon after this, liberty was granted to Deacon Eliot "to set out his barn +six or eight feet into the street, at the direction of Colonel Colbron." + +On the 17th of the same month, October, 1636, a street and lane were laid +out, but names were not given to them in the record. + +In May, 1708, "at a meeting of the selectmen," a broad highway was laid +out from the old fortifications at the Neck, near the present Dover +Street, to Deacon Eliot's house (near Eliot Street), and called Orange +Street, and money was appropriated for paving it, "provided the abuttors +would pave each side of the street." A hundred years after this time, the +road over Boston Neck to Roxbury, from Waltham Street to Roxbury line, +was very wide, and paved only in the middle portion, so that the travel +for years was chiefly on the sides of the street. + +In naming the streets, as we have said, there were local, personal, and +national considerations. As an illustration of the latter influence, King +and Queen Streets, two of the most important streets of the town, are well +remembered. Possibly before these the Puritan names of Endicott, Winthrop, +Eliot, Leverett, and others, may have been used. The names of +revolutionary patriots were subsequently applied to streets, as Hancock, +Adams, Warren, Franklin; and these were followed by national names, as +Union, Congress, and Federal. There was also a class of local names, as +North, South, Middle, Canal, School, Exchange, Water, Tremont, Beacon, +Margin, Back, Bridge, Pond, High, and Broad, applied at different times. +Then there were Orange, Elm, Chestnut, Walnut, Pine, Cherry, &c., +followed, it may be, by Sun and Moon, Summer, Winter, and Spring. Latterly +the names of towns in the State have been applied to the streets of the +city; among the earliest of these are Salem, Lynn, Cambridge, Brighton; +and after these, Arlington, Berkley, Clarendon, Dartmouth, and many +others. + + +LISTS OF STREETS, COURTS, ETC. + +In 1708, a list of the names of streets, places, lanes, alleys, &c., in +Boston proper, was prepared by the Selectmen; and in this list there were +at that time forty-four (44) streets recorded; eighteen (18) alleys; +thirty-three (33) lanes; three squares, Church Square, Dock Square, and +Clark Square; two ways, Old Way and Ferry Way; two hills, Snow Hill and +Corn Hill; five courts, Half Square Court, Corn Court, Minot's Court, Sun +Court, and Garden Court; one row, Merchants' Row; and two markets, Corn +Market and Fish Market, making one hundred and ten (110) named places in +the town, in May, 1708. + +In 1732, there was published in "Vade Mecum," a list of streets at that +time, and in this list are fourteen not in that of 1708, making the number +of streets sixty, lanes forty-one, alleys eighteen, making in all one +hundred and nineteen (119), exclusive of squares, courts, &c. + +In 1817, including lanes, alleys, squares, and streets, there were 231 in +Boston proper, and among them were Berry and Blossom, Chestnut and Walnut, +Poplar and Elm, Myrtle and Vine, and others. There were at this time, +thirty-four wharves. There are now probably five times as many streets in +Boston proper as there were in 1732, a hundred years after the settlement +of the town, without reckoning courts or squares. + +In 1817, Shaw enumerates 229 streets, lanes, &c., and after this time much +attention was given to the subject of new streets, naming old ones not +before accepted, &c., and some of the names were changed. + +In 1879, a complete list of the names of streets, avenues, places, courts, +squares, corners, &c., that have ever been in use, or applied, was +prepared by order of the city government, and has been printed. This +list, of course, shows a surprising increase in the number of names over +any former record, many of which, we presume, have never before been +recorded, although they may have been to some extent in use. In this list +nearly two thousand names (1795) are printed: of these 554 are streets, of +which some are duplicates. Many of them are second or third names, all of +which are recorded, so that the list does not represent the number of +streets at present in the city proper, but simply the names that have +heretofore been used, or are now applied to them. + + +NAMES OF TAVERNS. + +Taverns were early mentioned by names, more or less personal and peculiar: +one of the first mentioned is the State Arms, where the magistrates +usually dieted and drank, in King Street, 1653; Ship Tavern, in Ann +Street, 1666; Bunch of Grapes, in King Street, 1724; King's Head Tavern, +near Fleet Street, 1755; Queen's Head, in Lynn Street, 1732; Ship in +Distress, an ancient tavern, opposite Moon Street; and if the +"ordinaries," spoken of by Cotton Mather, were taverns, they were very +numerous and were known as ale-houses, or, as Mather says, "hell-houses." + + +BUSINESS NAMES. + +There were numerous curious names in use among the tradespeople, as the +Six Sugar-Loaves, probably a grocer, in Union Street, 1733; Three +Sugar-Loaves and Canister, grocer, in King Street, 1733; two bearing the +sign of Two Sugar-Loaves, one in Cornhill and the other in King Street, +1760,--all of these indicating some active competition in the sugar trade. +Noah's Ark was the sign of a dry-goods store in Marlborough Street, 1769. +There were signs of the Three Crowns, Three Doves, Three Horseshoes, Three +Kings, and Three Nuns and a Comb. Another class embraced the Bible and +Heart, afterwards Heart and Crown, corner of Cornhill and Water Streets, +1748; Blue Dog and Rainbow, sign of a dyer near Bowling Green, now +Cambridge Street, 1729; Blue Glove, a bookstore on Union Street, 1762; +Brazen Head, Cornhill, opposite Williams Court, where the great fire of +1760 commenced, in a dwelling-house occupied by Mrs. Mary Jackson and son, +probably a boarding-house; Buck and Breeches in Ann Street, 1758, near the +Draw Bridge, Joseph Belknap's sign; Golden Cock, in Ann Street, 1733; +Golden Eagle, Dock Square, 1758; and one of the last things named was the +Whipping Post, in King Street, removed in 1750, only twenty years before +the Boston Massacre. + + +NAMES OF PERSONS. + +In regard to the names of persons, as well as places and things, it is +said that there was "a prejudice in favor of the Israelitish custom, and a +fondness arose, or at least was increased, for significant names for +children." "The three first that were baptized in Boston church were Joy, +Recompence and Pity. The humor spread. The town of Dorchester, in +particular, was remarkable for such names as Faith, Hope, Charity, +Deliverance, Dependance, Preserved, Content, Prudent, Patience, Thankful, +Hate-evil, Holdfast," &c. These are pretty much out of fashion: possibly +the name of "Prudence" may yet be found. It is somewhat strange that this +"prejudice" did not get a more public expression: perhaps Salutation Alley +may be a relic of it. + + * * * * * + +The Hangman's Gallows, strange to say, was a permanent structure on the +Neck, on the east side and somewhat in the rear of the burying-ground: the +pirates were hung there as late as 1815. The following peculiar historical +names, although well known, may be mentioned: Liberty Pole was in Liberty +Square, at the point of meeting of Water and Kilby Streets. It was not +restored after the Revolutionary War. Liberty Tree, corner of Newbury (now +Washington) and Essex Streets, nearly opposite Boylston Market. It was cut +down by the British in August, 1775. Green Dragon was the sign of a noted +tavern in Union Street, licensed in 1697, and disappeared 1854. The +building which now occupies the spot in Union Street, displays the Green +Dragon on its front. The "Orange Tree" spoken of in the history of Boston, +was on Hanover Street. A private school is spoken of as being in Hanover +Street, "three doors below the Orange Tree," and an earlier writer speaks +of it as on Queen (Court) Street. It was a tavern on or near the corner of +these streets, probably on the site afterwards occupied by Concert Hall. + +Boston, at the present time, includes South Boston (formerly Dorchester), +East Boston (formerly Noddle's Island), Dorchester, Roxbury, West Roxbury, +and Charlestown, and within this territory there are now over 2,650 +streets, squares, avenues, places, courts, &c., and 225 wharves, +twenty-nine of which are in Charlestown District. Public halls in Boston, +119, and the number of these is increasing. In 1735, there were twelve +wards in the town; revised in 1805, and now, including the annexations +above named, there are twenty-five wards. + + + + +VII. + +PERSECUTION OF THE QUAKERS. + + +Notwithstanding the strange judgments, fines, and punishments, made under +the civil law or without law in the colony of Massachusetts, there seems +to have been another sort of government, or perhaps one of the same kind, +in relation to spiritual or religious things, the administration of which +shows such a spirit and system of persecution, and such a degree of +fanaticism, as can hardly be paralleled in history. And it would seem also +that the two kinds of government, both in the hands of the same parties, +might occasionally be found in conflict. In 1655, Hutchinson says, +"However inconsistent it may seem with the professed ecclesiastical +constitution and the freedom of every church, the general court, in +several instances, interposed its authority. They laid a large fine upon +the church at Malden for choosing a minister without the consent and +approbation of the neighboring churches and allowance of the magistrates, +and there were other similar interferences, which, we suppose, were +acceded to, and that the church was, in fact, under the control of the +state." And the state, it may be added, was to some extent, subordinate to +the church. + +The Episcopalians, Anabaptists, Baptists, and Quakers, were all treated, +or maltreated, with the same spirit, though not proceeded against with the +same degree of persistency and malice. The Episcopalians were mulcted in +heavy fines "for contemptuous and seditious language," but finally +overcame all difficulties, and became permanently established in 1686, and +built a church in 1688. The Baptists were persecuted in a similar way, but +finally got a meeting-house built in 1679, before the Episcopalians. The +Quakers were persecuted from the first landing of some of their number in +1656 to 1667, and even later; and four of them were hanged on Boston +Common. + +In July, 1656, two Quakers, both women, arrived at the settlement from +Barbadoes, and soon after eight more came from England. In a few days they +were ordered before the Court of Assistants. Some books were found about +them or in their possession, amounting to a hundred volumes; and these +were burned in the market-place, and their owners sent to prison. They +were condemned as Quakers, kept in confinement several weeks, and then +sent away; and yet it is said there was no law at this time against +Quakers. After this, stringent laws were made to keep them out of the +colony. Masters of vessels were subjected to one hundred pounds fine if +they brought a Quaker into the colony, and required to give security to +take him away; and, if a Quaker came into the jurisdiction, he was sent to +the house of correction, and whipped twenty stripes. And the next year, +further laws were made against the Quakers, and against all who +befriended or entertained them: who were to be fined forty shillings an +hour; and, "if he persisted, the offender was to have one of his ears cut +off," and, if repeated, he was to lose his other ear. If this did not +answer, whipping and boring the tongue with a hot iron, were to be the +consequences. + +Notwithstanding these severe proceedings against the Quakers, others came +into the colony, and some who had been banished returned to suffer more +severe punishments. One Myra Clark, wife of a merchant tailor of London, +came to Boston in 1657, to comply with what she conceived to be a +spiritual command, and was whipped in a cruel manner. About the same time, +two men, Christopher Holder and John Copeland, were seized in Salem, and, +after being roughly handled, were "had to Boston." Holder, it is said, +when he attempted to speak, had his head hauled back by the hair, and his +mouth stuffed with handkerchief and gloves. At Boston they were whipped +with a knotted whip, with all the strength of the hangman. A man named +Shattock was imprisoned and whipped for interfering when Holder was +gagged, and was afterwards banished. + +In the next year, (September, 1658), Holder, Copeland, and another young +man named Rouse, had their right ears cut off in the prison. A number of +women were whipped and imprisoned; and one, Katharine Scott of Providence, +being in Boston, pronounced the above punishment in prison, "a work of +darkness," and was therefore shamefully treated and abused, although a +mother of children, and "a grave, sober, ancient woman." She was publicly +whipped, and threatened with hanging if found in Boston again. + +Three persons known as Quakers, on their way from Salem to Rhode Island, +to provide a place for themselves and families, were arrested by the +constable at Dedham, and sent to Boston, where Gov. Endicott set them at +liberty, but fined them twelve shillings, as it would seem for the +stupidity of the constable. The constable, no doubt, arrested them for +fear of being fined for neglect of duty. + +In 1658-59, persecutions continued fearfully, and numbers were arrested, +imprisoned, and punished. In the latter year, William Robinson, formerly a +London merchant, Marmaduke Stevenson, and Myra (or Mary) Dyar, having +returned after banishment, were sentenced to be hung; and the two men were +hung, Oct. 20. Myra Dyar was upon the ladder, her arms and legs tied, and +the rope about her neck, when, at the urgent solicitation of her son, she +was spared and sent out of the colony; but she returned again the next +year, impressed with the belief that her death was necessary to the cause +she had espoused,--as fanatical as were the Puritans themselves,--and was +hung in June. The bodies of the men, it is said, were shamefully stripped +and abused, after they were literally cut down, and were thrown into a +hole together. + +In July, 1660, Margaret Brewster, from Barbadoes, and two or three other +women, made an incursion into the Old South Church; she appeared "in +sackcloth, with ashes on her head, barefoot and her face blackened," with +some purpose of warning the people against the black pox, "if they put in +practice a cruel law against swearing." + +It is said also "that Deborah Wilson went through the streets of Salem +naked as she came into the world, for which she was well whipped." Thomas +Newhouse went into a meeting-house in Boston, and smashed two empty +bottles together, with a threat to the people; and, no doubt, other +provoking things were done. + +In March, 1661, persecutions still prevailing, William Leddra, who came +from Barbadoes, was arrested, together with one William Brend; and Drake +says, "The cruelties perpetrated on these poor, misguided men are +altogether of a character too horrid to be related." It is said that +Leddra would not accept life on any terms, and was therefore hung on the +14th of March; and Capt. Johnson, who led him forth to the gallows, was +afterwards taken "with a distemper which deprived him of his reason and +understanding as a man." + +These proceedings, outrageous as they certainly were, led to a movement in +England by the Quakers and their friends, which resulted in an order from +the King, Sept. 9, 1661, requiring that a stop should be put to all +capital or corporal punishments. The following are the words of this +remarkable document:-- + + "CHARLES R. + + "Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. Having been informed that + several of our subjects amongst you, called Quakers, have been and are + imprisoned by you, whereof some have been executed, and others (as + hath been represented unto us) are in danger to undergo the like: We + have thought fit to signify our pleasure in that behalf for the + future, and do hereby require, that if there be any of those people + now amongst you, now already condemned to suffer death or other + corporal punishment, or that are imprisoned, and obnoxious to the like + condemnation, you are to forbear to proceed any further therein, but + that you forthwith send the said persons, whether condemned or + imprisoned, over into this Our Kingdom of England, together with the + respective crimes or offenses laid to their charge, to the end such + course may be taken with them here as shall be agreeable to our laws + and their demerits; and for so doing these our letters shall be your + sufficient warrant and discharge. + + "Given at Our Court at Whitehall the ninth day of Sept., 1661, in the + thirteenth year of Our Reign. + + "To Our trusty and well-beloved John Endicott, Esquire, &c. + + "By his Majesty's Command, + "WILLIAM MORRIS." + +The bearer of this mandate from the King was one of the banished Quakers, +formerly of Salem; and when he appeared at Gov. Endicott's house, on +Pemberton Square, was admitted to the presence, and ordered to take his +hat off; and on receiving the mandamus the Governor took his own hat off +(which he probably put on to receive his callers). After reading the +document, he went out and bade the two Friends to follow him, and +proceeded to consult, as it appeared, with Lieut.-Gov. Willoughby (not +Bellingham, as some writers have it). His answer was, "We shall obey his +majesty's command." So far as hanging was forbidden, the command was +obeyed. The formality of sending Commissioners to England to defend and +justify the measures of the colony was adopted, but never amounted to any +thing. + +The laws against the Quakers were afterwards revived to the extent of +whipping, limited to "through three towns only;" and perhaps they did not +choose to regard this display as "capital or corporal punishment." + +In May, 1664, Edward Wharton, of Salem, being in Boston, a Quaker meeting +was held, when a warrant was issued for his arrest: but the meeting being +over, he was found at a friend's house; was arrested; the next day +whipped, and sent to the constable at Lynn, to be whipped there, and then +sent to Salem. In one instance, a girl, eleven years of age, allowing +herself to be a Quaker, whether she knew what the word meant or not, was +sent to prison, and afterwards brought before the great and dignified +Court. The Court speak of "the malice of Satan and his instruments," and +determine that as "Satan is put to his shifts to make use of such a child, +not being of the years of discretion, it is judged meet so far to slight +her as a Quaker, as only to admonish and instruct her according to her +capacity, and so discharge her." Hutchinson says, "It would have been +horrible, if there had been any further severity." + +In 1665, additional laws were made, or orders passed, levying a fine of +ten shillings for attending a Quaker meeting, and five pounds for speaking +at one; and, in the same year, the penalty of death was revived against +all Quakers who should return to the colony after they had been banished. +Some persons ventured to express their dissent with regard to some of +these laws, and, probably owing to their respectability, escaped +punishment; but Nicholas Upsall, who had shown compassion to some Quakers +while in prison, in 1656-57, was fined and banished, and endured +incredible hardships. Three years later, in 1660, he returned, and was +again thrown into prison, and died in 1666. + +The laws against Quakers and heretics were published in Boston "with beat +of drum through its streets." We presume they were read after the +town-crier fashion of later days. + +In 1677, when the toleration of the Quakers was thought to be one of the +sins which brought on the Indian war, as a punishment, the Court ordered, +"That every person found at a Quaker's meeting shall be apprehended ex +officio, by the constable, and, by warrant from a magistrate or +commissioner, shall be committed to the House of Correction, and there +have the discipline of the house applied to them, and be kept to work, +with bread and water, for three days, and then released, or else shall pay +five pounds in money, as a fine to the country, for such offence, and all +constables neglecting their duty, in not faithfully executing this order, +shall incur the penalty of five pounds, upon conviction, one third thereof +to the informer." + +Upon this remarkable order, Hutchinson declares, "I know of nothing which +can be urged as in anywise tending to excuse the severity of this law, +unless it be human infirmity," and, he adds, the practices of other +religious sects who are persuaded that the indulgence of any other "was a +toleration of impiety" and brought down the judgments of heaven. This law +cost the colony many friends. + +Soon after this a party was arrested and "whipped at the cart's tail up +and down the town with twenty lashes." On the same day, fourteen Quakers +were arrested at a meeting, and twelve of them whipped: the other two had +their fines paid by their friends. At the next meeting, fourteen or +fifteen more, including some strangers, were arrested and whipped. And yet +the Quakers continued their meetings; and, finally, one of them was so +large, that, as it is said, "fearfulness surprised the hypocrites," and +the meeting was not molested.[6] + +Hutchinson says, "Notwithstanding the great variety of sectaries in +England, there had been no divisions of any consequence in the +Massachusetts; but from 1637 to 1656, they enjoyed, in general, great +quietness in their ecclesiastical affairs, discords in particular churches +being healed and made up by a submission to the arbitrament of neighboring +churches, and sometimes the interposition of the civil power." But soon +after all this, commencing indeed in 1655, in New England, continues +Hutchinson, "it must be confessed, that bigotry and cruel zeal prevailed, +and to that degree that no opinions but their own could be tolerated. They +were sincere but mistaken in their principles; and absurd as it is, it is +too evident, they believed it to be for the glory of God to take away the +lives of his creatures for maintaining tenets contrary to what they +professed themselves." It is said, however, "that every religion which is +persecuted becomes itself persecuting; for as soon as, by some accidental +turn, it arises from persecution, it attacks the religion which persecuted +it." Perhaps the Puritans thought they had been persecuted! + +It seems to be understood that the Quakers finally got a standing in +Boston, and a meeting-house, as, in 1667, mention is made of their +"ordinary place of meeting," though their numbers were small. The +Baptists, however, did not get their meeting-house until 1679; and then, +as a law had been passed against the building of meeting-houses without +permission of the county courts, theirs was built as a private house, and +afterwards purchased by them. But Drake says, "The times had become so +much changed that such a law could not be very well enforced." By this +time, also, the matter was again brought to the notice of the king, +Charles II.; and he wrote, on July 24, to the authorities of Boston, +"requiring them not to molest people in their worship, who were of the +Protestant faith, and directing that liberty of conscience should be +extended to all such." This letter, it is said, had some effect on the +rulers, although they regarded it as an interference with their chartered +rights; and, after all, it was rather a development of that common sense +which fanaticism and bigotry had so long obscured, possibly awakened by +the order of the king, rather than controlled by it, that brought about +the change in the spirit of persecution. + +In 1737, a different Christian spirit was manifested towards the Quakers, +and they were exempted from taxes for the support of the clergy, provided +they attended their own meetings. A letter from a Quaker to the King gives +the following statement of the punishments and penalties received by his +brethren: "Twenty-two have been banished on pain of death, three have been +martyred, three have had their right ears cut, one hath been burned in the +hand with the letter H, thirty-one persons have received six hundred and +fifty stripes, ... one thousand and forty-four pounds worth of goods have +been taken from them, and one lieth now in fetters, condemned to die." The +letter H was probably intended for "heretic," which would certainly be +giving a judgment against the religion the Quakers professed. + +In 1694, the Quakers owned a lot on Brattle Street, and it is thought +probable had some sort of a meeting-house upon it; but still the years +passed on, we hardly know how, until 1708, when they desired to build a +brick house, but could not get permission to do so. Afterwards they built +a small brick meeting-house in the rear of Congress Street on one side, +and in the rear of Water Street on the other. It ran back to what is now +the line of Exchange Place; in fact, was nearly in the centre of the +square formed by State, Congress, Water, and Devonshire Streets. This +building was partly destroyed by fire in 1760, having been standing more +than fifty years; was then repaired, and finally demolished in 1825, +having been unoccupied for nearly twenty years, the society, in 1808, +having voted to discontinue their meetings. + +It is probably true that the treatment of the Quakers in the Massachusetts +Colony, in the years mentioned, from 1600 to 1666-67, is unparalleled in +the history of the human race; and although it may be true, as has been +said, that the people here exiled themselves in order that "they might +maintain and perpetuate what they conceived to be the principles of true +Christianity," they manifested but little of the spirit of the Saviour of +mankind or the religion he came to teach. Hutchinson concludes what he has +to say of the remarkable persecution of the Quakers and its severity, with +the remark, "May the time never come again, when the government shall +think that by killing men for their religion they do God good service." +However other denominations of Christians were persecuted by the Puritans, +only Quakers and witches were hung. "These transient persecutions," as +Bancroft calls them, with all the leniency possible, "begun in +self-defence, were yet no more than a train of mists hovering of an autumn +morning over the channel of a fine river, that diffused freshness and +fertility wherever it wound." Much of this condition of things, it must be +admitted, resulted from natural causes; namely, the character and +circumstances of the settlers, their peculiar religious belief, and +absolute fanaticism. + +Finally, another writer says, "The Puritans _disclaimed_ the right to sit +in judgment on the opinions of others. They denied that they persecuted +for conscience sake." These and some other statements seem to show that +they did not practise as they preached, or gave an interpretation to that +practice not in accordance with the understanding and convictions of +mankind. To be sure, they had a law to punish any one who spoke +disrespectfully of the Scriptures, and at the same time fined, punished, +banished, and hung those who entertained and presumed to teach principles, +belief, or doctrines in relation to the Scriptures different from their +own; not, as they allege, because they had the right to sit in judgment +upon them, but because of the dangers of their teaching and practice: in +other words, for their own protection, "self-defence," as has been said. +Nevertheless, maiming, marring, and taking the lives of God's creatures, +the equals in every respect of themselves, as Hutchinson puts it, is only +to be apologized for or excused by the infirmities of humanity; indeed, we +should rather say, is not to be excused on any such ground, and their own +doctrine and belief teaches that it was a proceeding to be punished and +repented of. This, at any rate, was always the belief of the Quakers. +Drake says, "The persecuted Quakers were fully persuaded that a day of +wrath would overtake New England, and they did not fail to declare their +belief; and, indeed, it was not long before their predictions were +fulfilled: for the terrible war with the Indians, which followed in a few +years, was viewed by them as the vengeance of heaven for their cruelty to +the Quakers." + + + + +VIII. + +FIRST NEWSPAPER IN AMERICA. + + +It is said that the first newspaper ever issued was at Venice in 1583,[7] +called "The Gazette,"--and this was in manuscript,--unless (as has been +reported) there was an older paper of some kind issued at Hong-Kong. The +oldest printed newspaper, "The English Mercury," was issued in England in +1588,[8] but, it is believed, was not regularly published. In the next +century, from 1624 onward, newspapers multiplied; and among them were "The +Parliament Kite," and "The Secret Owl," and some other curious names. +Towards the close of this century, the first American newspaper appeared; +and possibly this had been preceded by what represented a newspaper, in +manuscript, as was the case afterwards in Boston in 1704, when "The +News-Letter" first appeared. The first American newspaper was issued in +Boston in 1690,--only fifty or sixty years after newspapers became common +in England,--if the statements which we have quoted are reliable. But at +this time, as might be reasonably supposed, the people who came to this +country in order to improve their liberties, were not prepared for a free +press, or, one might almost say, for any thing that did not tally with +their religious notions and vague superstitions; so that, after the first +issue, Sept. 25, 1690, the paper was suppressed, as said, by the +"legislative authorities." Still it was a newspaper, intended to be such, +and intended to be regularly issued once a month, or oftener, if occasion +required. + +It was entitled as follows:-- + + "Numb. 1. PUBLICK + OCCURRENCES, + _Both Foreign and Domestic_. + BOSTON, _Thursday, Sept. 25, 1690_." + +It was "printed by R. Pierce, for Benjamin Harris, at the London Coffee +House, 1690." And it would seem that most of the copies were destroyed, +though probably not many were printed, as only one copy has ever been +found, and that by some unknown chance got into the colonial state-paper +office, in London. It is a small sheet of paper doubled, printed on three +pages, two columns to each; and some years ago, after a good deal of +trouble to find the copy in the London office, the contents of the whole +sheet were copied by Dr. Samuel A. Green, of Boston, and have since been +once or twice reprinted. + +It is said that it was stopped by the "legislative authorities," who +described it as a "pamphlet," and as containing "reflections of a very +high nature;" and the order of the Court, passed in 1662 forbade "any +thing in print without license first obtained from those appointed by the +government to grant the same:" so that it would seem that there was a law +against printing any thing without a license, and that this sheet, called +a pamphlet, came within its provisions. "In 1644, It is ordered that the +Printers shall have leave to print the Election Sermon with Mr. Mather's +consent, and the Artillery's with Mr. Norton's consent." This, of course, +meant without their undergoing any inspection. + +With respect to the contents of this first newspaper, the introductory +paragraph is as follows:-- + + "_It is designed that the countrey shall be furnished once a month_ + (_or if any Glut of_ Occurrences _happen oftener_,) _with an Account + of such considerable things as have arrived unto our Notice._" + +The editor, it is said, will take pains to get a faithful relation of +things, and hopes observers will communicate of such matters as fall under +their notice; and then states what is proposed in an editorial way: first, +that memorable occurrences may not be neglected or forgotten: second, that +people may better understand public affairs; and third, "_that something +may be done towards the_ Curing, _or at least the_ Charming _of that_ +Spirit of Lying, which prevails among us," &c. This, probably, is one of +the passages referred to by the authorities as "reflections of a very high +nature." And, in addition to what has been said, "the Publisher of these +Occurrences" proposes to correct false reports, and expose the "First +Raiser" of them, and thinks "_none will dislike this Proposal, but such as +intend to be guilty of so villainous a Crime_." + +Then follows the news, or "Occurrences." Mention is made of a +thanksgiving appointed by the Christian Indians of Plymouth; the +husbandmen find no want of hands, "which is looked upon as a merciful +Providence," being a favorable season; the Indians have stolen two +children, aged nine and eleven years, from Chelmsford; an old man of +Watertown hung himself in his cow-house, having lately lost his wife, and +thereupon "the devil took advantage of the melancholy which he thereupon +fell into." Epidemical fevers and agues and small-pox are next spoken of: +of small-pox, three hundred and twenty had died in Boston, and "children +were born full of the distemper." A large fire is spoken of near the Mill +Creek,--twenty houses burned; and on the 16th and 17th of this instant +(September, 1690), a fire broke out near the South Meeting-house, which +consumed five or six houses; a young man perished in the flames, and one +of the best printing-presses was lost. Report of a vessel bound to +Virginia, put into Penobscot, where the Indians and French butchered the +master and most of the crew. + +The next is a longer article in relation to the expedition to Canada under +Gen. Winthrop, its failure, and a variety of Indian complications. The +editor says, "'Tis possible we have not so exactly related the +Circumstances of this business, but the Account is as near exactness as +any that could be had, in the midst of many various reports about it." + +Then follows an account of the massacre of a body of French Indians in the +"East Country." Two English captives escaped at Passamaquoddy, and got +into Portsmouth. There was terrible butchery among the French, Indians, +and English at this time. Following this is some news from Portsmouth by +an arrival from Barbadoes; a report that the city of Cork had proclaimed +King William, and turned their French landlords out of doors, &c.; more +Indian troubles at Plymouth, Saco, &c., &c. Then follows the imprint at +the end, as already quoted. + +Such was the nature, character, and contents of the first paper ever +published in America; and we doubt if the first paper printed in England, +more than a hundred years before, exceeded this in manner and matter. The +judgment of the present day would be that it was a very good paper for the +time, both in its news and editorial matter, and we fail to see any ground +of offence either against law or religion. Many of the early papers +published in this country, after the failure of this attempt, are not half +as good as this first copy of "Publick Occurrences." It is creditable to +Benjamin Harris, and its discontinuance not so creditable to the +"legislative authorities," who either made or perverted a law for its +suppression. But the idea of establishing a newspaper "that something may +be done towards the Curing, or at least the Charming of that Spirit of +Lying, which prevails among us," is very peculiar. + +In all newspaper nomenclature it is hardly possible to find a more +appropriate name than that selected for this first newspaper of America. +We now have Heralds, Couriers, and Messengers; Records, Chronicles, and +Registers; then all sorts of party names; Banner, and Standard; Crayon, +Scalpel, and Broadaxe; Age, Epoch, Era, Crisis, Times; and finally Sun, +Star, Comet, Planet, Aurora, Galaxy, &c., but among these and thousands of +other names, not one more truthful and expressive than that of "Publick +Occurrences." + + +THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER. + +The first Boston newspaper which gained a permanency, was published in +1704, and was continued for more than seventy years. It was equally +fortunate in the selection of an appropriate and significant name, the +"Boston News-Letter," and this was possibly suggested by the fact that it +was preceded by the issue of a news-letter in manuscript which was as +strictly, as the newspaper which followed it, a "News-Letter." Naturally +enough too, considering the times, it was originated by the postmaster, +who came in contact in his business, not only with the people of Boston, +but generally with those of the whole colony, as we think, there were then +but few post-offices in the colony: the need of a News-Letter for +everybody would, as we have intimated, naturally suggest itself to him, +and be also, as in fact it was, an important aid to his business, though +it is said he did not make much out of it, and soon after lost his +position as postmaster. + + New England. + + _The_ BOSTON News-Letter. + + From Monday April 17, to Monday April 24, 1704. + + "Boston: Printed by B. Green, and sold by Nicholas Boone, at his shop + near the old meeting-house." + +[Illustration: The Boston News-Letter.] + +John Campbell, a Scotchman, bookseller and postmaster, was the proprietor +of the paper. It was printed on a half-sheet, pot paper, and was to be +continued weekly, "Published by authority." Among the contents was an +article from the "London Flying Post," containing news from Scotland, +"concerning the present danger of the kingdom and the Protestant +Religion," "Papists swarm the nation," &c.; also extracts from the London +papers, and four paragraphs of marine news. Advertisements inserted "at a +reasonable rate from twopence to five shillings." On the same day that the +paper was issued Judge Sewall notes in his diary that he went over to +Cambridge, and gave Mr. Willard, president of the College, "the first +News-Letter that was ever carried over the river." + +The second issue of the paper, No. 2, was on a whole sheet of pot paper, +the last page blank. + +In the fifth number Boone's name was left out, and the paper was sold at +the post-office. To No. 192, the paper was printed on a half-sheet, +excepting the second issue. + +Green printed the paper for Campbell, until Nov. 3, 1707, after which it +was printed by John Allen, in Pudding Lane, near the post-office, and +there to be sold; and Allen printed it four years to No. 390. On the day +that number was published, Oct. 2, 1711, the post-office and +printing-office were burnt; and the following week it was again printed by +Green, in Newbury Street, and he continued to print it until October, +1715. In 1719, Mr. Campbell tried the experiment of printing a whole +sheet, instead of a half sheet, every other week, but this did not pay +very well; and in addition to this difficulty, he lost the office of +postmaster in December of that year. The new postmaster also printed a +paper (Gazette) and this led to the first newspaper war in the country, +but which did not last long, and terminated without much damage. + +In 1721, Campbell got a new idea and printed some copies of the +"News-Letter" on a sheet of writing paper, leaving one page blank, so that +his subscribers could write their letters on that, and send the paper +abroad without extra postage. In the next year, after he had published the +paper eighteen years, he sold to his printer, Bartholomew Green. +"Published by authority" had been omitted by Campbell for two years, and +in 1725 Green restored it. In December, 1726, the title was changed to +"The Weekly News-Letter," and subsequently, in 1730, to "The Boston Weekly +News-Letter," and the numberings of the previous issues were added +together, and the total reached 1,396, in October, 1730. No other +alteration took place until the death of Green, when in Jan. 4, 1733, John +Draper, his son-in-law, succeeded him. Draper printed the "News-Letter" +for thirty years, and died November, 1762. His son, Richard Draper, +continued the paper and enlarged the title to "The Boston Weekly +News-Letter and New England Chronicle." In about a year the title was +again altered to "The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Weekly +News-Letter," and was decorated with the King's Arms. Richard took a +kinsman as partner, and the paper now bore this imprint: "Published by +Richard Draper, Printer to the Governor and Council, and by Samuel Draper, +at the printing-office, in Newbury Street." Richard Draper continued the +paper, and in May, 1768, a singular arrangement took place between the +"Massachusetts Gazette" (or News-Letter) and the "Boston Post Boy and +Advertiser," and both papers were "Published by authority," in other words +as government papers. Each paper was one-half "The Massachusetts Gazette, +published by authority," and the other half bore its own proper name; and +Draper called it the "Adam and Eve paper." This plan continued until +September, 1769, and then its title "The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston +Weekly News-Letter," was resumed. In May, 1774, Draper took a partner, and +the next month he died, and his widow, Margaret Draper, continued the +paper in the interest of the loyalists or tories, until the evacuation of +Boston, and then it ceased. She went to Halifax and then to England, and +there obtained a pension. The "News-Letter" was published seventy-two +years. It is a curious fact that the first newspaper established in Boston +should have got into the hands of the tories, and in the last year of its +existence, in the trying times of the revolutionary war, should have been +conducted by a woman. + + * * * * * + +"The New England Chronicle, or The Evening Gazette," published at +Cambridge, Sept. 28, 1775, speaks of "Mrs. Draper's Paper," in the +following paragraph:-- + + "The miserable Tools of Tyranny in Boston appear now to be somewhat + conscious of their infamy in Burning Charlestown, and are, with the + assistance of the Father of Liars, devising Methods for clearing up + their characters. One of them, in Mrs. Draper's paper, asserts that + the Provincials, on the 17th of June, after firing out of Houses upon + the King's troops, set the Buildings on Fire. This doubtless, is as + true as that the Provincials fired first upon the King's Troops at + Lexington. Both of them are equally false, and well known to be as + palpable Lies as ever were uttered. The propagation of them are, + however, perfectly consistent with the Perfidy, Cowardice, and + Barbarity of Gage and his detestable understrappers." + +Some other paragraphs are copied from "Mrs. Draper's last Boston Paper," +of which the following is one:-- + + "We hear a certain Person of Weight among the Rebels hath offered to + return to his Allegiance on Condition of being pardoned and provided + for: What encouragement he has received remains a secret." + + * * * * * + +John L. DeWolf, Esq., of Boston, has complete files of "The Boston Weekly +News-Letter," for the years 1744 and 1745; and we are indebted to him for +the use of them. The following are specimens of some of the advertisements +of the time:-- + + "To be sold, a likely Negro boy about 12 years old: enquire of the + printer." + + "To be sold by the Province Treasurer: Good Winter Rye, which may be + seen at the Granary, on the Common" [Park street]. + + "A fine negro male child to be given away." [There are numerous + advertisements of slaves and negroes.] + + "To be sold, a Good Dwelling-House, situate near the Green Dragon, in + the Main street, with a large tract of Land for a Garden, a good Well + in the Cellar and other conveniences. Enquire of Daniel Johonnot, + Distiller." + +Elizabeth Macneal advertises "a likely young negro girl;" "also some +Household goods to be sold." + +Josiah Jones advertises his man servant, 19 years of age as a runaway, +"having on an old ragged Coat, a good Check'd Shirt and Trowsers, a Pair +of Black Callamanco Breeches, a pair of Gray Yarn Stockings, and a new +Pair of Shoes." + + "The Gentleman who borrowed a Blue Great Coat at the White Swan, about + three weeks past, is desir'd to return the same forthwith: the Person + whom he borrow'd it of, thinking he has had it long enough." + + "This is to inform the Publick, That the Cold-Bath in the Bath-Garden, + at the West End of Boston is in Beautiful Order for use. It is a + living Spring of Water, which the coldest Season in Winter never + affects or freezes," &c. + + "This is to inform the Publick that Edmond Lewis of Boston, + watch-maker, never bought a Watch of, nor ever sold one to any Slave + whatever; and the malicious Report of his having dealt with some + negroes is scandalously false." + + "Choice Carolina Pork and Beef, to be sold at the Warehouse on the + South side of the Town Dock, adjoining the Impost office." + + "A negro woman to be sold by the Printer of this paper; the very best + negro woman in town; who has had the small-pox and measles; is as + hearty as a horse, as brisk as a bird, and will work like a Beaver." + + + + +IX. + +CURIOUS BOSTON LECTURES. + + +BOSTONIAN EBENEZER. + +There was published in Boston, in 1698, a very small thin volume of 82 +pages, 3 x 5 inches, entitled "The Bostonian Ebenezer." "Some Historical +Remarks on the State of BOSTON, the _Chief Town of New England_ and of the +_English_ AMERICA, with some _agreeable methods_ for Preserving and +Promoting, the _Good State_ of THAT, as well as any _other Town_, in the +like circumstances." "Humbly offered by a native of Boston." Ezk. 48, 35, +"The Name of the City from that day, shall be THE LORD IS THERE." Boston: +printed by B. Green and F. Allen, for Samuel Phillips, at the Brick Shop, +1698. + +This singular little volume contains two lectures. Preceding the first +lecture at the top of the page are these lines:-- + + "THE HISTORY OF BOSTON, + Related and Improved. + At _Boston_ Lecture 7_d._ 2_m._ 1698." [April 7, 1698.] + +The remainder of the page is occupied with this preface:-- + + "Remarkable and memorable, was the Time, when an _Army_ of Terrible + _Destroyers_ was coming against one of the _Chief Towns_ in the Land + of Israel. God Rescued the _Town_ from the Irresistible Fury and + Approach of those Destroyers, by an Immediate Hand of Heaven upon + them. Upon that miraculous Rescue of the _Town_, and of the whole + Country whose Fate was much enwrapped in it, there follow'd that + Action of the Prophet, SAMUEL, which is this Day, to be, with some + Imitation Repeated, in the midst of thee, O, BOSTON, _Thou helped of + the Lord_." + +At the head of the next page we have the text,-- + + I SAM. VII. 12. + + "Then SAMUEL took a Stone and Set it up, ... and called the Name of it + EBENEZER, saying, Hitherto the Lord hath Helped us." + +Then follows the exordium, in which the preacher says the Thankful +Servants of God have used sometimes to erect monuments of stone as durable +tokens of their thankfulness:-- + + "Jacob did so; Joshua did so; and Samuel did so." "The Stone erected + by Samuel, with the name of Ebenezer, which is as much as to say, _A + Stone of Help_. I know not whether any thing might be _Writt_ upon it; + but I am sure, there is one thing to be now _Read_ upon it, by + ourselves, in the Text where we find it: Namely, this much, + + "_That a People whom the God of Heaven hath Remarkably Helped, in + their Distresses ought Greatly and Gratefully to acknowledge, what_ + =help= _of Heaven they have Received._ + + "Now, 'tis not my Design to lay the Scene of my Discourse, as far off + as _Bethcar_, the place where Samuel set up his Ebenezer. I am + immediately to Transfer it into the heart of _Boston_, a place where + the _Remarkable Help Received from Heaven_, by the People, does loudly + call for an Ebenezer. And I do not ask you, to change the Name of the + Town, into that of =Help stone=, as there is a Town in _England_ of + that Name, which may seem the English of =Ebenezer=; but my _Sermon_ + shall be this Day your _Ebenezer_, if you will with a Favorable and + Profitable Attention Entertain it. May the Lord Jesus Christ, accept + me, and assist me now to _Glorify Him_, in the _Town_, where I drew my + First Sinful Breath. A _Town_, whereto I am under Great Obligations, + for the Precious Opportunities to _Glorify Him_, which I have quietly + enjoy'd therein, for NEAR EIGHTEEN years together. _O my Lord God, + Remember me, I pray thee_, and _strengthen me this once, to speak from + thee_, unto thy People. + + "And now, Sirs, That I may set up an EBENEZER among you, there are + these Things to be inculcated." + + "1. Let us Thankfully, and Agreeably, and Particularly, acknowledge + what Help we have received from the God of Heaven, in the years that + have rolled over us. While the Blessed Apostle Paul, was as it should + seem, yet short of being _Threescore_ years old, how affectionately + did he set an _Ebenezer_ with the Acknowledgment in Acts 26, 22. + _Having obtained Help of God, I continue to this day._ Our Town is now + _Threescore and Eight_ years old: and certainly 'tis Time for us, with + all possible affection to set up our _Ebenezer_, saying, Having + obtained Help from God, the Town is continued, until almost the Age of + Man is passed over it. The Town hath indeed Three Elder Sisters in + this Colony; but it hath wonderfully outgrown them all; and her + Mother, old Boston, in England also; Yea, within a Few Years, after + the first settlement it grew to be, _the Metropolis of the whole + English America_. Little was _this_ expected, by them that first + settled the town, when, for a while, Boston was proverbially called + _Lost Town_, for the mean and sad circumstances of it. But, O Boston, + it is because thou hast _Obtained help from God_." "There have been + several years wherein the Terrible Famine hath Terribly Stared the + Town in the Face. We have been brought sometimes unto the Last Meal in + the Barrel! But the fear'd Famine has always been kept off." + +The preacher proceeds,-- + + "A formidable French squadron hath not shot one Bomb into the midst of + Thee;" our Streets have not run Blood and Gore; devouring-flames have + not raged. "Boston, 'Tis a marvellous Thing, a Plague has not laid + desolate!" "Boston, Thou hast been lifted up to Heaven; there is not a + Town upon Earth, which, on some accounts, has more to answer for." + + Secondly, we are to acknowledge whose help it is. "This is the voice + of God from Heaven to Boston this day; Thy God hath helped thee!" "Old + Boston, by name, was but Saint _Botolphs Town_. Whereas Thou, O + Boston, shall have but one Protector in Heaven, and that is Our Lord + Jesus Christ." + +The preacher's third division is that the help Boston has already had +should lead her people to Hope. "Hope in him for more help hereafter." +"The motto upon all our Ebenezer's is Hope in God! Hope in God!" In the +course of this part of his lecture, the preacher says,-- + + "The Town is at this day full of Widows and Orphans, and a multitude + of them are very helpless creatures. I am astonished how they live! In + that church, whereof I am the servant, I have counted. The Widows make + about a sixth part of our communicants, and no doubt in the whole + town, the proportion differs not very much. Now, stand still my + Friends, and behold the will of God! _Were_ any of these ever starved + yet? No, these widows are every one in some sort provided for." + + Fourthly, "Let all that bear public office in the town contribute all + the help they can that may continue the help of God in us!" First the + ministers will help, and then he calls upon the Justices of the + Courts, the constables, the school-masters and the townsmen to help: + "Each of the sorts by themselves, may they come together to consider, + What shall we do to save the town?" + + Fifthly, "God help the town to manifest all that piety which a town so + helped of Him, is obliged unto!" And then the town is warned against + all sorts of iniquities: against fortune-tellers, bad houses, drinking + houses, &c. + + "Ah! Boston, Beware, Beware, lest the Sin of Sodom get Footing in + thee!" + + "And, Oh! that the Drinking Houses in the Town, might once come under + a laudable _Regulation_. The Town has an _Enormous Number_ of them! + Will the _Haunters_ of those _Houses_ hear the Counsels of Heaven? For + _you_ that are the _Town Dwellers_, to be oft, or long, in your + _Visits_ of the _Ordinary_, 'twill certainly Expose you to Mischiefs + more than ordinary. I have seen certain _Taverns_ where the Pictures + of horrible Devourers[9] were hang'd out for the signs; and thought I, + 'twere well if such _Signs_ were not sometimes too _Significant_! + Alas, men have their estates _Devoured_, their names _Devoured_, their + Hours _Devoured_, and their very soul _Devoured_, when they are so + besotted, that they are not in their _Element_, except they be in + Tippling at Such Houses. When once a man is Bewitched with the + Ordinary, what usually becomes of him? He is a _gone man_. And when he + comes to Dy, he'l cry out, as many have done, _Ale Houses are Hell + Houses! Ale Houses are Hell Houses! Ale Houses are Hell Houses!_" ... + "There was an _Inn_ at _Bethlehem_, where the Lord Jesus Christ was to + be met withal. Can _Boston_ boast of many such? Alas, Too ordinarily + it may be said, _There is no Room for Him in the Inn!_ My Friends, Let + me beg it of you: Banish _the unfruitful works of Darkness_, from your + _Houses_, and then the _Sun of Righteousness_ will shine upon them. + Don't countenance _Drunkenness_, _Revelling_ and _Mispending_ of + precious Time in your Houses. Let none have the _snares of Death_ Laid + for them in your _Houses_." + +The preacher goes on in two or three _further divisions_ with his +declamation against evil and sins, and his conjurations for better things, +in faith, hopes and works, intimating all the evils that exist in Boston, +and warning the people of the danger of them. + +The second sermon is a piece of similar declamation, about what the +preacher calls Household Religion, "at Boston Lecture, 26d. 7m. 1695." A +short extract will give a sample of this discourse. + + "First, I suppose, we are all sensible, That for us to Loose our + Houses by any Disaster whatsoever, would be a very terrible Calamity: + Oh! it would be a _Judgment_ of God, wherein the _Anger_ of God, would + be seen written with _fiery_ characters. If by an accident, or by an + enemy, our House be laid in desolation, every Roar of the Raging + Flames, every crack of the Tumbling Timbers, every Downfall of the + Undermined walls, and every jingle of the Bells then tolling the + Funeral of those Houses, would loudly utter the voice in Deut., _A + Fire is Kindled in the Anger of God_." + +This discourse is very severe upon all "Houses where God is not served," +and defines them as gaming-houses, drinking-houses, houses where troops +and harlots assemble. "If the Worshipful Justices, and the Constables, and +the Tythingmen, would Invigorate their zeal, to Rout the Villanous Haunts +of those Houses, the whole Town would be vastly the Safer for it." + +All that can be said of these curious discourses is that they are a +strange medley of declamation, fanaticism, and exhortation, not lacking in +thought perhaps, or devoid of sense, but rather insinuating than direct +and sensible. The author does not print his name, though they purport to +be Boston Lectures, one delivered in 1695 and the other in 1698: it is +understood, however, that they were by the Rev. Cotton Mather. + + + + +X. + +REMARKABLE PROCLAMATIONS. + + +FAST DAY. + +The first proclamation, issued on a broadside, that we have seen, is that +of March, 1743, "for a public fast." It is issued by Gov. Shirley, and +begins, "It being our constant and indispensable duty by prayer and +supplication with thanksgiving to make known our requests to God," &c. He +then appoints the 12th of April ensuing to be observed as a day of general +fasting and prayer. After acknowledging "all our heinous and aggravated +offences," the people are required to implore the Divine mercy for "the +following blessings, namely," the life and health of "Our Sovereign Lord +the King;" the prosperity of his government; that he would direct and +grant success to his Majesty's arms in the present war, and prevent a +further rupture among the nations; in behalf of the Prince and Princess of +Wales; and that "it would please God to cover and defend the English +plantations, more especially this Province," &c. Given at the Council +Chamber, signed, &c., and ending "God save the King." + + +"WAR AGAINST THE FRENCH KING." + +The next proclamation which we have is not probably much known, and not +such as were issued by the governors of the Provinces or States, but is a +"Declaration of war against the French King." It purports to be issued +originally from "Our Court at St. James's, the twenty-ninth day of March, +1744, in the 17th year of our reign." "God save the King." "Printed in +London by Thomas Baskett and Robert Baskett, printers to the King's most +excellent Majesty, 1744." "Boston, N. E. reprinted by John Draper, Printer +to His Excellency the Governor and Council, 1774." + +The proclamation rehearses the troubles which have taken place among the +European states, "with a view to overturn the balance of power in Europe, +... in direct violation of the solemn guaranty of the Pragmatick Sanction +given by him [the French King] in 1738, in consideration of the cession of +Lorrain." It refers to other offensive conduct of the French King, and +then replies to some assertions made in the "French King's declaration of +war." "Being therefore indispensably obliged to take up arms," the King +calls upon all his subjects to assist in prosecuting the same by sea and +land; but no special reference is made to the British colonies in America, +and the governor (Shirley) does not even add his name to the proclamation. +One copy of the remarkable document, at least, has been preserved, and is +in possession of Mr. John L. DeWolf of Boston. It is headed by an +engraving of the King's arms, as are all the proclamations issued by the +governor, including those for Fast and Thanksgiving Days, &c. It is not +probable, though we do not know the fact, that a declaration of war by the +King of England was ever re-issued by the governor of any other colony. +Previously to this, in this colony, in 1672, the proclamation of war, by +the King of England against the Dutch, was publicly read in Boston. + + +FAST DAY. + +Following this on the 8th of June, 1744, was issued the "proclamation for +a public fast." "Whereas it hath pleased God, in his holy, wise and +sovereign Providence, further to involve the British dominions in war, +whereby this Province will be greatly affected," &c. Therefore the 28th +day of June is appointed to be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, +&c., "and all servile labor and recreations are forbidden on that day." +Signed, W. Shirley. [Troops were raised in Boston at this time, following +the declaration of 29th March, and sent to Annapolis, Nova Scotia, where +they arrived, as Gordon says, in season, and "were the probable means of +saving the country."] + + +RIOT IN BRISTOL COUNTY. + +Among the lesser proclamations, issued by Gov. Shirley, was one on account +of "an heinous riot in the Town of Bristol, in open defiance of His +Majesty's authority and Government within this Province." This was a case +where the six persons named and "a great number of others," marched to the +county jail, and there demanded the release of John Round, jr., and by +force of arms broke open said prison, "rescuing and carrying off the said +John Round and Samuel Borden, another prisoner in said gaol." The governor +calls upon all officers and people to apprehend and secure the parties, +and "for the encouragement of all persons whatsoever that shall discover +the parties," a reward of one hundred pounds is offered for several of +them, and fifty pounds each for others. Given at the Council Chamber in +Boston, 18th day of October, 1744. Signed, &c. + + +WAR AGAINST THE INDIANS. + +Another remarkable proclamation was issued by "His Excellency, William +Shirley, Esq., Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief in and over His +Majesty's Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England." This is a +"declaration of war against the Cape Sable's and St. John's Indians." It +is stated that whereas some of the Cape Sable Indians, who have formally +by treaty submitted to his Majesty's government, have, "in the port of +Jedoure, in a treacherous and cruel manner, murdered divers of His +Majesty's English subjects, belonging to a fishing vessel; and, whereas, +the Cape Sable Indians with the St. John's tribe, have in a hostile manner +joined with the French King's subjects in assaulting His Majesty's fort at +Annapolis-Royal, &c., therefore, said Indians are declared to be rebels, +traitors, and enemies, and His Majesty's officers and subjects are to +execute all acts of hostility against the said Indians," &c. This +proclamation is dated at Boston, Oct. 19, 1744. + + +THANKSGIVING. + +On the next day, 20th October, 1744, there was issued the usual +proclamation for thanksgiving: "Forasmuch as, amidst the many rebukes of +Divine Providence with which we are righteously afflicted, more especially +in the present expensive and calamitous war, it has pleased God to favor +us with many great and undeserved mercies in the course of this year," +particularly in preserving the life and health of the King, the Prince and +Princess of Wales, &c.; in the restraint hitherto given to the Indians +near the frontiers of this Province, &c.: therefore, the twenty-second day +of December is to be observed as a day of thanksgiving throughout the +Province. It will be noticed that nothing is said concerning the season or +the crops in any of these thanksgiving proclamations, and it would seem +that that matter was not thought of any account as compared with the +health of his Majesty the King and the royal princesses. + +[Here are three proclamations issued on the 18th, 19th, and 20th October, +1744, the first in relation to a "heinous riot," the second a bloody +declaration of war, and the third for a public thanksgiving.] + + +BLOODY PROCLAMATION AGAINST THE INDIANS. + +In two weeks after the thanksgiving proclamation, on the 2d of November, +1744, came forth another proclamation from Gov. Shirley, of a most bloody +character, against the Indians, as follows:-- + + [Illustration] + + BY HIS EXCELLENCY + + WILLIAM SHIRLEY, Esq.; + + Captain-General and Governour-in-Chief, in and over HIS MAJESTY'S + Province of the _Massachusetts-Bay_ in NEW-ENGLAND. + + A PROCLAMATION + + _For the Encouragement of_ Voluntiers _to prosecute the_ WAR _against + the_ St. John's _and_ Cape Sable's _Indians_. + + Whereas the Indians of the _Cape-Sable's_ and St. _John's_ Tribes have + by their Violation of their solemn Treaties with His Majesty's + Governours, and their open Hostilities committed against His Majesty's + Subjects of this Province and the Province of _Nova-Scotia_, obliged + me, with the unanimous Advice of His Majesty's Council, to declare war + against them; In Consequence of which the General Assembly of this + Province have "_Voted_, That there be granted, to be paid out of the + publick Treasury, to any Company, Party, or Person singly, of His + Majesty's Subjects, belonging to and residing within this Province, + who shall voluntarily, and at their own proper Cost and Charge, go out + and kill a male Indian of the Age of Twelve Years or upwards, of the + Tribe of St. _Johns_ or _Cape-Sables_, after the _Twenty-sixth_ Day of + _October_ last past, and before the last Day of _June Anno Domini_, + One Thousand seven Hundred and forty-five (or for such Part of that + Term as the War shall continue), in any place to the Eastward of a + Line, to be fixed by the Governour and His Majesty's Council of this + Province, somewhere to the Eastward of _Penobscot_, and produce his + Scalp in Evidence of his Death, the Sum of _one Hundred Pounds_ in + Bills of Credit of this Province of the new Tenor, and the Sum of _one + Hundred & Five Pounds_ in said Bills for any Male of the like Age who + shall be taken Captive, and delivered to the Order of the + Captain-General, to be at the Disposal and for the Use of the + Government; and the Sum of _Fifty Pounds_, in said Bills, for women; + and the like Sum for Children under the Age of Twelve Years killed in + Fight; and _Fifty-five Pounds_ for such of them as shall be taken + Prisoners, together with the Plunder: _Provided_ no Payment be made as + aforesaid for killing or taking Captive any of the said Indians, until + Proof thereof be made to the Acceptance of the Governour and Council;" + + AND _whereas_, since the passing of the said Vote of the General + Assembly, I have with the Advice of His Majesty's Council determined, + That the Line above mentioned, to the Eastward of which the said + Indians may be slain and taken Prisoners, shall begin on the Sea-Shore + at Three Leagues Distance from Eastermost Part of the Mouth of + _Passamaquoddy_ River, and from thence to run North into the Country + thro' the Province of _Nova-Scotia_, to the River of _St. Lawrence_; + + =I have therefore thought fit, with the Advice of His Majesty's + Council, to issue this Proclamation for giving public notice of the + Encouragement granted by the General Court of all Persons who may be + disposed to serve their King and Country in the Prosecution of the War + against the said Cape-Sable's and St. John's Tribes, in the manner + above-mentioned, upon their own charge; as also to give Notice to the + several Tribes of the Eastern Indians, who are still in Amity with us, + of the Boundary-Line aforesaid; assuring them that this Government + have determined to treat as Enemies all such Indians as live beyond + the said Line.= + + Given at the Council Chamber in _Boston_, on Friday the Second Day + of _November_, 1744. In the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of Our + Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by the Grace of GOD of + _Great-Britain_, _France_ and _Ireland_, KING, Defender of the + Faith, &c. + + W. SHIRLEY. + + _By order of the Governour, with + the Advice of the Council_, + J. WILLARD, Secr. + + GOD save the KING. + +No mention is made of either of these remarkable proclamations in any +history of Boston, or other work that we have seen; and it can scarcely be +generally known that Massachusetts indorsed the proclamation of the King +of England, declaring war against "the French King," or that the colony, +without regard to the King and his government, declared war, including the +most desperate and bloody conditions, against the St. John's and Cape +Sable's Indians, a hundred years after the settlement of the colony, and +something more than one hundred and fifty years ago. It will be noticed +that the sum of five pounds additional is offered in each case for man, +woman, or child, if brought in alive; but considering the expense, danger, +and trouble of doing so, it could hardly have been expected that any thing +beyond the scalps of the victims, even of children, would be brought in; +and it would seem, if any considerable number were killed or brought in, +that the debt incurred would be likely to become somewhat burdensome upon +the colony. The terms of the proclamation were based upon the votes and +orders of the General Court, authorizing the payment of the rewards +offered, passed on the 26th day of October. The records of Boston show +that in 1756, January, L50 were paid for an Indian scalp, and it is to be +hoped this was the only payment ever made for such a purchase. + + +FAST DAY. + +This threatening proclamation was followed by another, on the 18th +February, for a general fast, as at this time the expedition to +Louisbourg, which soon followed, was in preparation:-- + +"Whereas it has pleased Almighty God, in his holy and sovereign +Providence, to involve His Majesty's Dominions in War, which, +notwithstanding the many instances of success, which, through Divine +favor, have attended the arms of His Majesty and his allies, ought to be +regarded as an effect of the anger of God against us; and, whereas, this +government have, upon mature consideration, determined by the Divine +permission, to prosecute an expedition against His Majesty's enemies, upon +the success of which, the prosperity of His Majesty's subjects in North +America, and more especially in this Province, does under God, much +depend," &c., &c., therefore the 28th day of February instant, is +appointed for a general fast, to be observed with fervent prayers and +supplications, and all labor and recreation are strictly forbidden. "Given +at the Province House, in Boston, the 18th day of February, 1744." + +[The expedition sailed soon after, and arrived at Canso, under Col. +Pepperell, on the 4th of April, having 3,250 Massachusetts troops. The +fort and city of Louisbourg were surrendered and given up on the 17th of +June; and two East India ships and one South Sea ship, worth L600,000, +were captured at the mouth of the harbor.] + + +ANOTHER FAST. + +On the 25th of March, 1745, Gov. Shirley issues another proclamation for a +general fast, on Thursday, 4th day of April. The expedition for Cape +Breton had just embarked and "taken their departure from this place," and +this was deemed, in addition to the usual custom, occasion for a fast. The +favor of Divine Providence was implored for the success of the expedition +which the government had, at "great expense and labor, raised and fitted +out with a large body of troops and a considerable naval force, for an +expedition against the French at Cape Breton," &c. + + +THANKSGIVING REJOICING. + +News of the success of the expedition was received in Boston, on the 2d of +July, 1745, and there were great rejoicings and illuminations in the town +in consequence; and on the 8th, Gov. Shirley issued his proclamation for a +general thanksgiving, it having pleased God, as he elaborately expressed +it, "by a wonderful series of successes to bring this great affair to a +happy issue in the reduction of the city and fortress of Louisbourg." +There was added, "All servile labor is forbidden on said day," and the bar +against recreations is omitted; but all persons are called upon to +preserve order. + + +GOV. PHIPS'S PROCLAMATIONS. + +In September, 1745, while Gov. Shirley and his lady were absent on a visit +to Louisbourg, the scene of the late success of his expedition, Spencer +Phips, acting governor, issued three proclamations in the following three +months: on the 6th of September, for a public fast, partly on account of +the war with the Indians, and among other things "that His Excellency the +Governor may be directed and succeeded in the important affairs he is +transacting at Louisbourg and returned in safety." Signed S. Phips. By +order of the honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with the advice of the +Council. J. Willard, Secretary. + +The second was issued on the twenty-second day of November, 1745, on +account of some disorders in Boston, committed by divers officers and +seamen, belonging to His Majesty's ship "Wager," and other seamen +belonging to the sloop "Resolution," late in His Majesty's service, by +which two persons lost their lives. The constables and authorities of +Boston and Charlestown are called upon to search for them in any justly +suspected houses, &c. By order of the Honorable the Lieut.-Governor, with +the advice of the Council. + +The third proclamation of acting Governor Phips was issued on the 25th of +November, 1745, for a general thanksgiving, in "consideration of the +manifold and remarkable instances of the Divine favor towards our nation +and land in the course of the past year, which (though mixed with various +rebukes of Providence manifesting the righteous discipline of God toward +us for our sins) demand our publick and thankful acknowledgments." Signed, +S. Phips. By His Honor's command, with the advice of the Council. + +Besides the above there were two or three other proclamations, calling for +troops and other objects. The first Fast Day held in the Plymouth Colony, +so far as we know, was in the month of July, 1623, and the first in the +Massachusetts Colony, July 30, 1630, soon after Winthrop's arrival. + + + + +XI. + +POPULAR PURITAN LITERATURE. + + +AN EARTHQUAKE IN BOSTON. + +On the Lord's day, June 3, 1744, between ten and eleven o'clock, there was +experienced at Boston, a violent earthquake, "which was felt for above an +hundred of miles." The matter, naturally somewhat startling and +impressive, called forth from some unknown author, an elaborate poem, the +purpose and spirit of which will be readily understood by a few extracts. +It is printed on a sheet, about 12 by 20 inches, in three columns, and was +"sold by Benjamin Gray, in Milk Street, 1744." The first portion and some +other parts of the poem are missing from the copy we have. Somewhere near +the middle of the first column our quotations commence:-- + + "Again the Lord did shake the Earth, + While Christ was in the Tomb, + When from the glorious Heavenly World + A glorious Angel came. + Behold there was at that same Time + An Earthquake strong and great, + Which made the Watchmen at the Tomb + To tremble, shake and quake. + Again when Paul and Silas was + Once into Prison cast, + And cruelly the Keeper had + In stocks made their feet fast, + Like the dear Children of the Lord, + They to their Father sing, + They praises sing unto the Lord + Till all the Prison did ring. + When lo! immediately there was + A terrible Earthquake, + Which made the whole foundation of + The Prison-House to shake. + The Doors fly open by its Power + And now wide open stand, + 'Till these dear Prisoners of the Lord + Are loosed from their Bands. + And thus we see in very Truth, + This wondrous Work is done, + By none but the eternal God, + And Israel's holy One. + And that they're tokens of his Wrath, + O, let not one gain-say, + For sure the Lord is much provok'd, + When he speaks in this way. + Be then excited, O, dear Friends + With vigorous accord, + And all the might and strength you have, + To turn unto the Lord. + For lo! on the last Sabbath day, + The Lord did plainly shew, + What in a single moment's time + He might have done with you. + A solemn warning let it be, + To all with one accord + For their Souls precious Life to haste + Their turning unto God. + + * * * * * + + "Perhaps you'll think the Danger's past + That all is safe and sure + Because the mighty God hath said + He'll drown the world no more. + But, oh! consider dearest Friends, + How vast his judgments are, + And if you are resolv'd to Sin + To meet your God prepare. + Who hath his Magazines of Fire, + In Heaven and Earth and Seas, + Which always wait on his Command, + And run where'er he please. + If God the awful word but speak, + And bid the Fire run, + The Magazines together meet, + And like a furnace burn. + Above our Head, below our Feet, + God Treasures hath in Store; + And when he gives out his Command, + The Volcano's will roar. + Amazingly the Earth will quake, + The World a flaming be + When God, the great, the mighty God + Gives forth his just Decree. + + * * * * * + + "That man can't be prevail'd upon + Tho' with our strong desire, + To get prepar'd against the Day + When all the World on Fire + Shall burn and blaze about their Heads, + And they no Shelter have; + No Rock to hide their guilty Heads, + No, nor no watery Grave. + For Rocks will melt like Wax away + Before the dreadful Heat, + And Earth and Sea and all will flame + In one consuming Heap. + The Earth beneath abounds with Stores + Of Oils and Sulphurs too, + And Turfs and Coals, which all will Flame, + When God commands the blow. + The flaming Lightning which we see + Around the Heavens run, + Do livelily now represent + The Conflagration. + Those flaming magazines of God + Have fire enough in store, + And only wait their Lord's commands + To let us feel their power. + When once receiv'd they then will run, + They'll run from Pole to Pole, + And all the strength of Earth and Hell + Cannot their power controle. + Justly may we now stand amaz'd, + At God's abundant Grace, + To think so base and vile a World + Is not all in a Blaze; + When far the greatest part thereof + Are poor vile Infidels, + Among the Christian part thereof + Are sins as black as Hell." + +In conclusion, these "precious souls" are entreated to join with one +accord + + "In praising of the Holy Name, + Of the Eternal God." + +Earthquakes were at one time rather common in New England, but nothing to +be compared to their frequency in England. It is said that in what is +called the "mobile district," of Comrie, in Perthshire, during the winter +of 1839 and 1840, they had one hundred and forty earthquakes, being at the +rate of about one shock a day on an average; and it is added, "They seldom +do much harm." + +The following is a memorandum, probably nearly correct and complete, of +earthquakes experienced in Boston, between the years 1636 and 1817; and it +may be considered fortunate that they were not all commemorated by Puritan +poets. + + 1638. June 1. Great earthquake in Boston. + + 1639. Jan. 16. Another earthquake. + + 1643. March 5. Sunday morning another earthquake. + + 1658. A great earthquake. + + 1663. Jan. 26. Very great earthquake. + + 1669. April 3. An earthquake. + + 1727. Oct. 29. An earthquake. + + 1730. April 12. An earthquake. + + 1732. Sept. 5. An earthquake. + + 1737. Feb. 6. An earthquake. + + 1744. June 3. The earthquake commemorated. + + 1755. Nov. 18. A very great earthquake. About one hundred chimneys + thrown down, and other damage. + + 1757. July 8. An earthquake. + + 1761. March 12. An earthquake. + + 1761. Nov. 1. An earthquake. + + 1782. Nov. 29. An earthquake. + + 1783. Nov. 29. An earthquake. + + 1800. March 11. An earthquake. + + 1810. Nov. 9. An earthquake. + + 1817. Sept. 7. An earthquake. + + +DEBORAH: A BEE. + +Another broadside sheet, some seven by twelve, is entitled as above, and +divided into paragraphs, numbered from one to twenty, in prose. It is a +sort of sermon in which the Christian is compared to the Bee, or perhaps +placed in competition with the industrious and self-supporting insect. Its +positions, omitting most of the applications, are these: The bee is a +laborious, diligent creature; so is the Christian. The bee is a provident +creature; so is the Christian. The bee feeds on the sweetest and choicest +foods; so does the Christian. The bee puts all into the common stock; so +is the Christian of a generous, communicative temper. The bee is always +armed; so is the Christian with respect to his spiritual armor. Bees are a +sort of commonwealth; so Christians are likened to a city that is +compacted together. The bee, as it always has a bag of honey, has also a +bag of rank poison; so has the Christian, with the grace of God, a body of +sin and corruption, &c. Lastly, the bee lies dormant all winter; so the +Christian sometimes slumbers, &c. "Yet the hour is coming when all that +are in the graves shall awake and come forth, they that have done good, +unto the resurrection of life; but alas, they that have done evil, unto +the resurrection of damnation!" Sold by Kneeland & Green, in Queen Street. +Illustrated with a small fanciful engraving of a bee-hive, surrounded with +horns of plenty and decorative carving. + + +PROPOSED POPISH INVASION. + +Every thing which occurred in England, or elsewhere, in fact, having any +reference to Popery, however remote, was sure to interest the Puritans, +and demand their attention; and, it would seem, was sometimes provocative +of poetry. So when the "happy discovery of a cursed plot against the +church of God, Great Britain and her King," was announced by the King, on +the 15th of February, 1743 (i.e., 1744), a large hand-bill was issued from +the Boston press, to which the printer did not put his name, headed, "Good +news from London, to the rejoicing of every christian heart." This was the +discovery of the plot "for bringing in a young Popish pretender." The news +was received by an arrival at Portsmouth, N.H., in twenty-six days from +England, and included the message of the King to Parliament. The hand-bill +contained the message in which the King declares that "having received +undoubted intelligence that the eldest son of the pretender to his crown +is arrived in France, and that preparations are making there to invade +this kingdom, in concert with disaffected persons here," &c., his Majesty +acquaints the House of the matter in order that measures may be taken, &c. + +This is followed by a long anonymous poem, beginning,-- + + "Behold the French and Spaniards rage, + And people with accord + Combine, to take away the life + Of George, our sovereign lord. + + * * * * * + + "When George the first came to the throne, + Their rage began to burn, + And now they fain would execute + The same upon his son. + + "Their hellish breast being set on fire, + Even with the fire of Hell, + Nor Love, nor charms, nor clemency, + Can their base malice quell." + + * * * * * + +And so on through three columns, and then comes the + + +CONCLUSION. + + "Let all that openly profess, + The ways of Christ our Lord, + Not spare to tell how much such things + Are by their souls abhor'd. + + "Let every child of God now cry, + To the eternal one, + That George our sovereign lord and king + May ne'er be overcome. + + "That all his Foes may lick the Dust, + And melt like Wax away, + That joy and peace and righteousness + May flourish in his day." + +The proposed expedition, it is well known, never landed in England. The +combined fleet escaped an engagement, and the transports were wrecked and +scattered by a storm in the English Channel. + + +THE SCOTTISH REBELLION. + +"A short history of the Grand Rebellion in Scotland, or a brief account of +the rise and progress of Charles Stuart, the young pretender, and his +associates; and his seasonable defeat by His Majesty's Forces under the +command of His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland." + +This remarkable production is printed on one side of a single sheet of +paper, seven by twelve, in verse, three columns. It begins,-- + + "From Rome the proud Pretender's come + Flush'd with conceits of Britain's Crown, + Imagining, poor silly Lad, + Those glorious Kingdoms to have had, + And all the churches of the Lord, + They've roll'd in seas of Purple Blood; + His grand commission from the Pope + Was Fire, Faggot, Sword, and Rope, + Or Boots, or Scourges, Cord and Whips, + For all poor vile Hereticks." + +The poet proceeds with the landing in Scotland, where the Popish priest +demised to him the land; the joining of the disaffected, the robbing of +the people:-- + + "They range about and seek for prey + Nor spare aught comes in their way; + They murder, steal, rob and destroy, + And many a goodly Town annoy." + +Flushed with victory, they move toward England, "and now to London drive +along." + + "Which brave Prince William quickly hears + And without any Dread or Fears, + Pursues the Rebels in full chase, + And lo, they fly before his Grace, + Who still pursues and overtakes, + And many a Highland captive makes. + + * * * * * + + The rest now fly, won't stand to Fight, + But back to Scotland make their flight. + And there like Beasts who've furious grown + They range about from Town to Town. + + * * * * * + + But Heaven beheld these bloody men, + No longer now would bear with them, + Inspires the Duke of Cumberland + To take the work into his hand, + To scourge this cursed barbarous Brood + For all their Rapine, Stealth, and Blood. + Away he goes, post haste he flies, + To face the raging Enemies, + To Scotland, where the wretches fled, + When chas'd from Carlisle, full of dread, + Where being come, his troops combine, + And all in lovely Consort join, + And strong Desires do now express, + To slay these Sons of Wickedness. + Great Joy and Gladness now was shown, + When to the Folk it was made known + That Cumberland, the brave, was come + To save them from expected Ruin." + +The people joining the Duke, the enemy was pursued, when-- + + "A church in which their stores did lay, + They blow'd up ere they ran away," + +after they had bid the people enter in, and many "precious souls at one +sad Blast, into eternity are cast." + + "But hard beset by British force + They dare not stay, or they'd do worse; + Some fly to mountains, some to dales, + When all their hellish Courage fails. + + * * * * * + + Flying I leave them, 'till we hear + The end of this most bloody war. + + * * * * * + + For which the thankful folk proclaim + Thanksgivings to the Almighty name, + And may we all now join with them, + And to their Thanks join our Amen." + +Sold by B. Gray, near the market. Without date; printed in 1744. + + + + +XII. + +REVOLUTIONARY PROCLAMATIONS. + + +Gen. Gage's administration of less than a year and a half in the "Province +of Massachusetts Bay," for he never had any government over the province +other than military, was prolific in proclamations, some of which are +rather curious. On the 1st of June, 1774, by order of Parliament and the +King, Boston Harbor was closed and possessed by ships of the British navy. +Nothing could enter or leave the port: wood as fuel could not be brought +from the islands, or merchandise or lumber removed from wharf to wharf by +water; nothing whatever could be water borne within a circle of sixty +miles, either to arrive or depart. At the same time British troops held +the town; and the government, such as it was, was removed to Salem, where +the General Court reassembled on the 7th of June. At this session, on the +17th, as the result of arrangements made by Samuel Adams and his +fellow-patriots, five delegates were chosen to represent the colony in the +proposed Continental Congress, at Philadelphia. As soon as these +proceedings, while yet in progress, reached Gen. Gage's ears by a tricky +tory, who got out of the hall by feigning a call of nature, he issued his +first proclamation, which Mr. Secretary Flucker, as he found the door +locked and could not get into the chamber, had to read on the stairs, as +follows:-- + + "Province of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY. + + By the GOVERNOR. + + "A PROCLAMATION for dissolving the General-Court. + + "WHEREAS the Proceedings of the House of Representatives, in the + present Session of the General Court, make it necessary, for his + Majesty's Service, that the said General Court should be dissolved:-- + + "I have therefore thought fit to dissolve the said General Court, and + the same is hereby dissolved accordingly, and the Members thereof are + discharged from any further Attendance. + + "GIVEN under my Hand at Salem, the 17th Day of June, 1774, in the + Fourteenth Year of his Majesty's Reign. + + By his Excellency's Command,} + } T. GAGE. + THO'S FLUCKER, Secretary. } + + "GOD SAVE THE KING." + +Gen. Gage's next proclamation was against the existence of the famous +"Committee of Correspondence," which Samuel Adams had originated, and the +"solemn league and covenant" "to suspend all commercial intercourse with +the island of Great Britain," &c. And "in tenderness to the inhabitants of +this province," he issued this proclamation of warning. + +Then, as if to cap the climax of pretension and folly, not to say +hypocrisy, on the 25th of July, while he relied upon the counsels and +efforts of the tory party, issued what may be called a very curious +proclamation, such as possibly, under some circumstances, might have been +issued by Gov. Endicott, in the early days of New England Puritanism; but +the Puritans had long before this time passed out of power. The following +is the proclamation:-- + + MASSACHUSETTS BAY. + + By the GOVERNOR. A PROCLAMATION. + + _For the Encouragement of Piety, and Virtue, and for preventing and + punishing of vice, profanity and immorality._ + + In humble imitation of the laudable example of our most gracious + sovereign _George_ the third, who in the first year of his reign was + pleased to issue his Royal proclamation for the encouragement of piety + and virtue, and for preventing of vice and immorality, in which he + declares his royal purpose to punish all persons guilty thereof; and + upon all occasions to bestow marks of his royal favor on persons + distinguished for their piety and virtue: + + "I therefore, by and with the advice of his Majesty's Council, publish + this proclamation, exhorting all his Majesty's subjects to avoid all + hypocrisy, sedition, licentiousness, and all other immoralities, and + to have a grateful sense of all God's mercies, making the divine laws + the rule of their conduct. + + "I therefore command all Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, and other + Officers, to use their utmost endeavors to enforce the laws for + promoting religion and virtue, and restraining all vice and sedition; + and I earnestly recommend to all ministers of the gospel that they be + vigilant and active in inculcating a due submission to the laws of God + and man; and I exhort all the people of this province, by every means + in their power, to contribute what they can towards a general + reformation of manners, restitution of peace and good order, and a + proper subjection to the laws, as they expect the blessing of Heaven. + + "And I do further declare, that in the disposal of the offices of + honor and trust, within this province, the supporters of true religion + and good government shall be considered as the fittest objects of such + appointments. + + "And I hereby require the Justices of assize, and Justices of the + peace in this province, to give strict charge to the grand Jurors for + the prosecution of offenders against the laws: and that, in their + several courts they cause this proclamation to be publickly read + immediately before the charge is given. + + "_GIVEN at the Council Chamber in Salem, the 21st day of July, 1774, + in the fourteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the + Third by the Grace of GOD of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, + Defender of the Faith, &c._ + + "THOMAS GAGE. + + "By his Excellency's Command, + THOS. FLUCKER, Secry. + + "GOD SAVE THE KING." + +The gist of the proclamation, which was specially intended for the people +of Boston, for whose benefit the words "sedition and hypocrisy" were used, +was in the phrase, "submission to the laws of God _and man_." This +proclamation was not like the previous one, directed to the sheriffs; nor +was it ordered to be posted in the several towns of the province; nor was +it ordered to be read from the pulpits of the churches; but the justices +of the courts and grand juries were to see to its observance. It was, in +fact, a mere piece of gasconade on the part of the governor, in imitation +of his Majesty very likely; but, like the others, nobody either observed +it or troubled themselves about it; and it has very rarely been spoken of +since, if at all, by any historian. However it may be characterized, it +simply had the effect to exasperate the minds of the people, owing to the +insertion of _hypocrisy_ among the immoralities.[10] The proclamation +itself, as they thought, was the boldest piece of political hypocrisy the +government had yet perpetrated. It was much like every thing else which +the king, ministry, or governor had done from the time of the stamp-act, +and had a tendency to make matters worse instead of better. + +Gen. Gage's proclamation of the 12th of June, 1775, offering pardon to all +who shall lay down their arms, &c., is well known. It begins,-- + +"Whereas the infatuated multitude who have suffered themselves to be +conducted by certain well-known incendiaries and traitors in a fatal +progression of crimes against the constitutional authority of the state, +have at length proceeded to avowed rebellion," &c. ... "A number of armed +persons to the amount of many thousands assembled on the 19th of April," +&c. "In this exigency I avail myself of the last effort," and thereupon +offers "a full pardon to all who shall lay down their arms, excepting +Samuel Adams and John Hancock, whose offences are of too flagitious a +nature to admit of any other consideration than that of condign +punishment," &c. + +The proclamation was probably written by Gen. Burgoyne, and so little +attention was paid to it that the army continued intact at Cambridge, and +in exactly one week from its date occurred the battle of Bunker Hill, +which proved so "fatal" to more than a thousand British soldiers. In less +than four months after this time Gen. Gage "laid down his arms" and +returned to England; and a few months later, in March, 1776, the army and +the navy followed his example and left the country, taking the "Port Act" +with them, but leaving for the use of the colony, arms, ammunition, +provisions, and even medical stores. + + + + +XIII. + +CURIOSITIES OF THE MARKET. + + "The turnpike road to people's hearts, I find + Lies through their mouths, or I mistake mankind." + [Peter Pindar. + + +After arriving at Mishawam, and voting the church and that the minister +should be supported at the common charge, it became necessary to think of +providing in some way for the sustenance of the party. Although Gov. +Winthrop, when he arrived off the harbor, went up to Salem in a boat, and +was handsomely entertained by Gov. Endicott, whom he came to displace, +with a rich _venison pate_, such fare was not afterwards found to be very +plenty; and the strawberries, which those he left on board the ships found +on Cape Ann, were not always to be had, nor a very substantial food for +the settlers. Of course, the party had a supply of provisions,--a market +of their own which they brought with them; and, as nobody could become a +freeman or have a vote in public affairs unless he was a member of the +church, it is to be inferred that nobody would be allowed any thing to eat +only on the same condition; and this, if Peter Pindar was right, was a +facile method of conversion and making disciples of the most obdurate. +Hunting and fishing were no doubt readily resorted to as rather promising +pursuits, and possibly some thought may have been given to cornfields, +though there was no great anxiety for work. At all events, however +successful the hunting parties were, so much of their supply of provisions +was bartered with the Indians for furs that a scarcity of food was soon +experienced, and then they had to buy corn of them. Matters soon became +serious: for whatever might have been the primary object of the Puritans +in coming to this country, eating was not beyond a secondary +consideration, to say the least of it; and a market of supplies for the +material man became an important consideration then, and has been so ever +since. Dr. Johnson, who loved a good dinner and rarely found it at home, +thought "a tavern was the throne of human felicity;" but, of course, such +a notion as that never entered the minds of the Puritans. + +The first thanksgiving was for the safe arrival of the party, and the next +was for the arrival of the "Lion," or some other ship, with a supply of +food; and this, it is supposed, was not bartered off for furs. Indian +corn, which was a new thing to the settlers, was for a long time the +principal diet, occasionally modified with fish; but the truth is, how the +settlers managed to live through all this time, in such a climate, up to +the times that we know something about, is a complete mystery. + +Capt. Roger Clapp, who arrived at Hull on the 30th of May, 1630, about a +fortnight before Gov. Winthrop arrived at Salem, and who died in 1690-91, +described the state of things "in those days," in the following words:-- + + "It was not accounted a strange thing in those Days to drink Water, + and to eat Samp or Hominie without Butter or Milk. Indeed, it would + have been a strange thing to see a piece of Roast Beef, Mutton or + Veal; though it was not long before there was Roast Goat. After the + first Winter, we were very Healthy; though some of us had no great + Store of Corn. The Indians did sometimes bring Corn, and Truck with us + for Cloathing and Knives; and once I had a Peck of Corn or + thereabouts, for a little Puppy-Dog. Frost-fish, Muscles and Clams + were a Relief to many." + + +ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND FISHES. + +Wood, in his famous "New England's Prospect," gives some particulars about +game and hunting among the early settlers in 1639:-- + + "Having related unto you the pleasant situation of the country, the + healthfulness of the climate, the nature of the soil, with his + vegetatives, and other commodities; it will not be amiss to inform you + of such irrational creatures as are daily bred, and continually + nourished in this country, which do much conduce to the well-being of + the inhabitants, affording not only meat for the belly, but cloathing + for the back. The beasts be as followeth:-- + + "The kingly Lion, and the strong arm'd Bear, + The large limb'd Mooses, with the tripping Deer; + Quill-darting Porcupines, and Raccoons be + Castel'd in the hollow of an aged tree; + The skipping Squirrel, Rabbet, purblind Hare, + Immured in the self same castle are, + Lest red-ey'd Ferret, wily Foxes should + Them undermine, if rampir'd but with mould; + The grim-fac'd Ounce, and rav'nous howling Wolf, + Whose meagre paunch sucks like a swallowing gulf; + Black glistering Otters, and rich coated Bever, + The Civet scented Musquash smelling ever." + + +WHAT BEFELL A HUNTER. + + "Two men going a fowling, appointed at evening to meet at a certain + pond side, to share equally, and to return home; one of these gunners + having killed a Seal or Sea-calf, brought it to the pond where he was + to meet his comrade, afterwards returning to the sea-side for more + game, and having loaded himself with more Geese and Ducks he repaired + to the pond, where he saw a great Bear feeding on his seal, which + caused him to throw down his load, and give the Bear a salute; which + though it was but with goose-shot, yet tumbled him over and over; + whereupon the man supposing him to be in a manner dead, ran and beat + him with the handle of his gun. The Bear perceiving him to be such a + coward to strike him when he was down, scrambled up, standing at + defiance with him, scratching his legs, tearing his cloaths and face, + who stood it out till his six foot gun was broken in the middle; then + being deprived of his weapon, he ran up to the shoulders into the + pond, where he remained till the Bear was gone, and his mate come in, + who accompanied him home." + +The author gives a peculiar description of the animals named. Of the lion, +he says he had never seen one; but others "lost in the woods have heard +such terrible roarings as have made them much agast: which must be either +Devils or Lions;" so lions have it. The moose "is as big as an ox, slow of +foot, headed like a Buck, with a broad beam, some being two yards wide in +the head; their flesh is as good as beef, their hides good for cloathing." +He describes deer, rabbits, squirrels, &c. The small squirrel troubles the +planters so, that they have "to carry their Cats into the corn-fields till +their corn be three weeks old." "The beasts of offence be Squncks, +Ferrets, Foxes, whose impudence sometimes diverts them to the good Wives +Hen-roost, to fill their paunch." He gives a fearful account of the +wolves, which set on swine, goats, calves, &c., and care nothing for a +dog. + +Equally curious with these are his descriptions of the "beasts living in +the water," as the otter, musquash, &c., and of "the birds and fowls, both +of land and water." + + "The princely Eagle, and the soaring Hawk, + Whom in their unknown ways there's none can chalk; + The Humbird for some Queen's rich cage more fit, + Than in the vacant wilderness to sit; + The swift-winged Swallow sweeping to and fro, + As swift as arrows from Tartarian bow; + When as Aurora's infant day new springs, + There th' morning mounting Lark her sweet lays sings; + The harmonious Thrush, swift Pigeon, Turtle Dove, + Who to her mate does ever constant prove; + The Turkey-pheasant, Heathcock, Partridge rare, + The carrion-tearing Crow, and hurtful Stare." + +The raven, screech-owl, heron, cormorant, and so on to geese, gulls, +mallards, teal, ducks, snipes, and many others. The fish also are +rehearsed in verse:-- + + "The king of waters, the sea-shouldering Whale, + The snuffing Grampus, with the oily Seal; + The storm-presaging Porpus, Herring-Hog, + Line shearing Shark, the Catfish, and Sea Dog; + The scale-fenc'd Sturgeon, wry-mouth'd Hollibut, + The flouncing Salmon, Codfish, Greedigut; + Cole, Haddick, Hake, the Thornback, and the Scate, + Whose Slimy outside makes him seld' in date; + The stately Bass, old Neptune's fleeting post, + That tides it out and in from sea to coast; + Consorting Herrings, and the bony Shad, + Big-bellied Alewives, Mackrels richly clad + With rainbow colour, the Frostfish and the Smelt, + As good as ever Lady Gustus felt; + The spotted Lamprons, Eels, the Lamperies, + That seek fresh-water brooks with Argus eyes; + These watery villagers, with thousands more, + Do pass and repass near the verdant shore." + + +KINDS OF SHELL-FISH. + + "The luscious Lobster, with the Crabfish raw, + The brinish Oyster, Muscle, Perriwig, + And Tortoise fought by the Indian's Squaw, + Which to the flats dance many a winter's jig, + To dive for Cockles, and to dig for Clams, + Whereby her lazy husband's guts she crams." + +It was recommended to those who came over after Winthrop, to bring with +them a hogshead and a half of meal, "to keep him until he may receive the +fruit of his own labors, which will be a year and a half after his +arrival, if he land in May or June." Also, "malt, beef, butter, cheese, +pease, good wines, vinegar, and strong waters;" and in addition, a variety +of clothing, boots, shoes, implements, iron wares, stew-pans, +warming-pans, fish-hooks, and every conceivable thing for use or labor, +being assured that whatever they did not want, could be disposed of at a +profit. + + +MARKET SUPPLIES. + +One of the earliest accounts of the market supplies in Boston is that +written by a French refugee in 1687,--almost two hundred years ago. He +says,-- + + "An ox costs from twelve to fifteen crowns; a Cow, eight to ten; + Horses, from ten to fifty Crowns, and in Plenty. There are even wild + ones in the Woods, which are yours if you can catch them. Foals are + sometimes caught. Beef costs Two pence the Pound; Mutton, Two pence; + Pork, from two to three pence, according to the Season; Flour, + Fourteen shillings the one hundred and twelve Pound, all bolted; Fish + is very cheap, and Vegetables also; Cabbage, Turnips, Onions, and + Carrots abound here. Moreover, there are quantities of Nuts, + Chestnuts, and Hazelnuts wild. These nuts are small, but of wonderful + flavor. I have been told that there are other Sorts, which we shall + see in the Season. I am assured that the Woods are full of + Strawberries in the Season. I have seen Quantities of wild Grapevine, + and eaten Grapes of very good Flavor, kept by one of my friends. There + is no Doubt that the Vine will do well; there is some little planted + in the country which has grown. The Rivers are full of Fish, and we + have so great a Quantity of Sea and River Fish that no Account is made + of them." + +It is pretty certain that these things have been so ever since. + + +FAMILY BILL OF FARE. + +A later account than this, however, and one with which some who are now +living may be more or less familiar, or have heard of, is given as +follows:-- + + "The ordinary food of the early settlers here, for both breakfast and + supper, was bean porridge, with bread and butter. On Sunday morning + there was coffee in addition. Brown bread, made of rye and Indian, was + the staff of life, white bread being used only when guests were + present. Raked pumpkins (in their season) and milk composed a dish + said to be luxurious. [This dish is in common use among the country + people at the present time.] For dinner, twice every week, Sundays and + Thursdays, baked beans and baked Indian pudding, the latter being + served first. [This last custom has gone wholly out of practice; but + the Sunday dinner prevails to-day over the whole of New England, to a + very large extent.] Saturdays, salt fish; one day in every week, salt + pork and corned beef, and one day, also, when practicable, roasted + meat was the rule." + +It is surprising how continuously some of these customs have been kept up +and prevail. + + +SEARCHING FOR PROVISIONS. + +It is not to be denied that provisions have been scarce in Boston, at +times, since the days of the Puritans, hardly now to be realized. Long +before the Revolutionary period, in 1711, during one of the wars between +France and England, Admiral Sir Hovender Walker, with a fleet of fifteen +men-of-war, and forty transports with upwards of five thousand men, +arrived in the harbor on his way to the St. Lawrence River, for the +protection of Canada. He wanted to victual his ships, and applied to Capt. +Belcher (father of Gov. Jonathan Belcher), a rich and leading man, as +being the only person who could undertake the service, and he declined it. +Next to Mr. Andrew Faneuil, and he undertook it. Provisions were scarce +and the price put up, so that a supply could not be had, and the governor +was compelled to issue an "order for searching for provisions." The men, +during the stay of the fleet, were in camp at Noddle's Island, and it is +said that a formidable number of them deserted. + + +CONCLUSION. + +We have thus travelled over some of the old avenues, ways, customs, and +things, peaceful and warlike, more or less in connection with the early +settlement, the mature town, and the gorgeous city, from 1630 to 1880; +from the period of scarcity and deprivation to that of prosperity and +abundance. The task has been delightful, and whatever may be thought of +the ways and doings, and we may almost say the undoings, of the Puritans, +the town which they planted and the principles they promulgated, rather +than the intolerance they practised, have become permanent and sure. Now, +indeed, there is neither intolerance nor scarcity; and however much our +predecessors may have suffered we are now able to supply bread and beef to +millions of people less favorably circumstanced. Perhaps nothing more +distinctly or emphatically marks the character and quality of a people +than their "ways and means" of living. It has been said that Americans are +disposed to revel in big dinners; and, in fact, undertake to accomplish +every thing with a big dinner, or at least celebrate the accomplishment of +it in that way. One writer has said, if we welcome a guest it is done with +a dinner; if we inaugurate a stock company or start a charity, it is +pretty sure to have its relations with the market and the stomach. This +may be partly so. A good dinner, social and liberal, is the reconciler, +the inspiration, the motive power of good works generally; and what it +cannot do, or at least help to do, is pretty sure not to be accomplished. +Of course, all this is understood, and almost sure to be practised, so +that, when any thing comes up, instead of going to bed to sleep on it, we +hurry off to Parker's or Young's, or it may be, if the matter is very +staid and respectable, to the old Tremont, and eat on it. The custom is +in us--in the blood; it is Saxon, and comes naturally enough from the +mother country. In England, the great diner-out, Douglas Jerrold, who +knows all about it, says, "If an earthquake were to engulf all England +to-morrow, Englishmen would manage to meet, and dine somewhere among the +rubbish," as if the occasion needed to be celebrated in that way. + +There have been times, now fortunately more than a hundred years ago, when +our market could not be made to furnish a big dinner; when there was no +market; when the enemy were seizing all the sheep and cattle; when the +people were starving on salt provisions, and, in one instance at least, a +party of gentlemen were invited to dine off a roasted rat in Boston; and +again when a special request was made to the people, in consequence of the +necessities of the times, "not to have more than two dishes of meat on +their tables." But not long after this, on the 24th of January, 1793, +there was a grand festival in honor of French Liberty and Equality, when +an ox of more than a thousand weight was roasted entire, and drawn on a +car by fifteen horses, followed by other carriages with hogsheads of +punch, loaves of bread, &c., and a large procession of civil, military, +municipal officers, and citizens, through the principal streets to State +Street, where the table was spread and the dinner was served up in high +style. At the present time, it would be an easy matter to roast an ox +every day, and big dinners are regarded as of small account on the score +of rarity. Some philosopher has said, "Eating dinner is a task which, +above all others, requires the conscience pure, the mind easy, a reason +undisturbed, the senses critical, and the body and spirit perfectly at +rest." It may be said that the philosophers of the present day do not deem +eating a good dinner "a task;" and it is pretty certain the mass of the +people do not. It is to be hoped our market will never again be unprepared +to furnish a big dinner, on all reasonable occasions, supply a British +fleet, or meet the requirements of the people at home, or the necessities +of the race abroad. + + + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] The Second Volume of the Writings of the Author of the London Spy. +London: 1706. + +[2] The New England Tragedies in Prose, by Rowland H. Allen. + +[3] In the first interview between Governor Carver of Plymouth and the +Indian Chief Massasoit, "after salutations, the Governor kissing his hand +and the king kissing him, the Governor entertains him with some +refreshments, and then they agree on a league of friendship." March 22, +1621. + +[4] Walford Street, in Charlestown, we believe, has been cut off by the +Eastern Railroad freight tracks and likely to be lost. + +[5] William Paddy died in 1658, and the alley (now North Centre Street) +bore his name for more than a hundred years. When some changes were made +in the Old State House, in 1830, to accommodate the Boston Post Office, a +stone was dug up which proved to be his grave-stone, though it is a little +difficult to tell how it came there. On one side of it was the +inscription, "Here lyeth the body of Mr. William Paddy, aged 58 years. +Departed this life August--, 1658." And on the other side,-- + + "Here sleaps that + Blessed one whose lief + God help vs all to live + That so when time shall be + That we this world must lief + We ever may be happy + With blessed William Paddy." + +It may be concluded, we judge, that Paddy's Alley was well named. + +[6] In 1693, an eminent Quaker visited Boston, and afterwards wrote an +account of his visit. He says, being a stranger and traveller, he could +not but observe the barbarous and unchristian welcome he had into Boston. +"Oh, what a pity it was," said one, "that all your society were not hanged +with the other four!" + +[7] Faust invented printing, 1450. + +[8] Printing introduced into England, 1571. + +[9] The "Lion Tavern," or possibly the "Green Dragon." + +[10] Gordon's History, Vol. I., p. 253. + + + + +LIST OF PUBLICATIONS. + + +_Siege and Evacuation of Boston and Charlestown_, with a brief account of +Pre-Revolutionary Buildings. By WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. 8vo. pp. 64. 50 +cents. + + "In this pamphlet Mr. Wheildon has gathered together, and put in a + compact and readable form, such records as are accessible of the + stirring events of a hundred years ago. Nothing could be more timely; + and whoever wishes to acquaint himself with the events of 17th of + March, 1776, will find what he seeks told in a simple and modest style + between the covers of this pamphlet."--_Boston Journal._ + + "His account of the Siege and Evacuation of Boston and Charlestown, is + by far the most complete and the best that has been + prepared."--_Index._ + + "It is the most concise and accurate history of this interesting year + of the Revolution published."--_Herald._ + + "To those who have read the history of the Battle of Bunker Hill, by + the same author, William W. Wheildon, it is unnecessary to praise this + work which covers a longer period."--_New Haven Palladium._ + + "It is an interesting story as told by Mr. Wheildon, who gives the + chief credit for the conduct of the military operations, not to + Washington, but to the Massachusetts officers."--_Boston Daily + Advertiser._ + + +_Sentry or Beacon Hill: Its Beacon and Monument_, 1635 to 1812. By WILLIAM +W. WHEILDON. 8vo. pp. 120, with plans, heliotype plates, and engravings. +75 cents and $1.25. + +EXTRACTS FROM SOME PRIVATE LETTERS. + + "I am delighted with your new book Beacon Hill, &c. Nothing of the + kind ever pleased me more." + + "I have read and re-read your exhaustive history of Beacon Hill. It + revives a thousand delightful memories of my boyhood; all its + statements tally with my recollections." + + "I enjoyed the reading of your book on Beacon Hill very highly. You + have certainly made a careful study of that field, and have given me a + large amount of information. I know much more about ancient Boston + than I did before." + + +_Paul Revere's Signal Lanterns_, April 18, 1775. By WILLIAM W. WHEILDON. +8vo. pp. 50. Concord, 1878. + + "Mr. Wheildon considers, one by one, the various statements that have + been made and theories broached concerning the display of lights from + the Old North Church, on the evening of April 18, 1775. The conclusion + to which he arrives seems to be supported by both documentary evidence + and local tradition."--_Transcript._ + + "An occasional doubt has been thrown on the authenticity of the story; + but the author of this pamphlet has evidently made a patient + investigation, and appears to have established a very satisfactory + case."--_Daily Globe._ + + "The author introduces many fresh facts having a direct bearing upon + the once disputed position of the lanterns; and in consequence has + produced a work of great historical value, in addition to many others + of a similar nature from his pen."--_Commercial Bulletin._ + + [Since the publication of this pamphlet, the city committee have + purchased two hundred copies of the work.] + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Passages in italics are indicated by _italics_. + +Passages in Blackleter font are indicated by =Blackleter=. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Curiosities of History, by William W. 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