- -.. i - . > ' I UCSB LIBRARY CENTENNIAL IN NEW BEDFORD. HISTORICAL ADDRESS HON. WILLIAM W. CRAPO, DELIVERED OK THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION IN NEW BEDFORD FOURTH OP JULY, 1876. TO WHICH ARE ADDED AX ACCOUNT OF THE CELEBRA- TION, AND AN APPENDIX. HT,I.I>IIKI> i;v OI;DKI; OF TIII-: MTY NKW KKDFOUl): I,. 'AN i \\\\ \ BO58, l'i:rvn.i:> i" mi ( in. 1S7G. Centennial in New Bedford, TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE Order of Council, 7 Advertisement of Committee, 8 Introduction, 9 Address, 17 APPENDIX. Deed from Wesamequen and Wamsutta to William Bradford and others, . 59 Order of Incorporation of the Town of Dartmouth, 60 Territorial Limits of Dartmouth, 61 Russell Family, 61 Primitive Whaling, 64 Memoranda in relation to the Whale Fishery and Commerce of New Bedford, by Abraham Shearman, Jr., 67 Memoranda in relation to the Early History of New Bedford, by Abraham Shearman, Jr., 71 The Ten-Acre Lot, 74 The Stars and Stripes in the Thames, 76 Act of Incorporation of the Town of New Bedford, 79 Act of Incorporation of the Town of Fairhaveu, 81 Line between New Bedford and Dartmouth altered, 82 Part of Dartmouth annexed to New Bedford, 83 Part of Acushnet annexed to New Bedford, 84 General Grey's Raid, 85 Town Meeting in 1814, 86 New Hedford in the War of 1812-15, 87 Ship Rebecca, 90 Interesting Town Meeting, 92 New Bedford in 1845, : 96 Whalers Destroyed by the Confederate Cruisers, 112 2 4 TABLE OF COXTEXTS. PAGE New Bedford Free Public Library, 114 New Bedford in the Civil War, 130 Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, . 13"> Roll of Honor, . . ... 137 Public Schools of New Bedford, 149 Public Schools of Xew Bedford in the Centennial, 157 High School House Dedication, 159 Description of the New High School House, 167 Finances and Taxation, 170 Mayors of New Bedford, 173 Government of the City, 1876, 174 Proceedings of the City Council AM) OK THE fits of :JCrfo Ix BOARD ov ALDERMEN, AUGUST 15th, 1870. That the proceedings had upon the occasion of the Munici- pal Celebration of our CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY be published, and that His Honor the Mayor, and the Chairman of the Committee on the FOURTH oi" JULY CELEHRATION, be a committee to carry this order into effect. Adopted in concurrence. The committee of the City Government, charged by the coun- cil's order of August loth with the duty of arranging for publica- tion the proceedings upon the occasion of the Municipal Celebra- tion of our Centennial Anniversary, present herein the result of their labors. A brief introduction precedes the address of the Hon. William W. Crapo ; and in an appendix to his interesting and highly valu- able Historical Discourse, such documents are given connected with the early history and with the growth and progress of our city, as seemed calculated to gratify the desire for further infor- mation upon these subjects so vividly awakened by that admirable contribution to our local annals. In the discharge of our duties we have been materially assisted by our fellow-citizen James B. Congdon, whose large collections and intimate acquaintance with our local history have contributed in no small degree to the value and interest of our centennial volume. ABRAHAM H. HOWLAND, .In. WILLIAM T. SOULE. The Centennial in New Bedford, INTRODUCTORY. The arrangements for the celebration of the Centennial Anni- versary of our National Independence were commenced by the passage of an order, of which the following is a copy. CENTENNIAL IN NEW BEDFORD. Cito of tftfo BeHfori. IN COMMON COUNCIL, April 6th, 1876. onlcred, That a committee of six from this branch, with such as the Aldermen may join, be appointed a committee on Fourth of July celebration. Adopted in concurrence. Committee Aldermen Soule, Ilawes, and Baylies, and Councihnen Taylor, Howland, Denison, Beard, Pitman, and Wilbur. An appropriation of four thousand dollars was made by the Council to meet the expenditures of the committee. It did not need the recommendations of the State and United States governments to lead the committee to give careful attention to that part of their duties that consisted in providing for an ud- div the Massachu- setts Historical Collections was prepared by him, the manuscript of which is in the hands of the compiler. It will be found in the appendix. ADDRESS. 23 with grateful appreciation. Neither should I omit to mention in this list of those who have put in lasting form the record of the past the name of WILLIAM A. WALL, whose artistic genius has illuminated some of the promi- nent pages of our history. His pictures* of the " Land- ing of Gosnold," the "Origin of the Whale Fishery/' and the " View of the Four Corners in 1800," accurate in detail and truthful in the portraits of the leading actors of those times, are of such value in illustrating the earlier periods of our history that they should be placed in the ownership of the city. Before considering the prominent events of the century now closing, I will briefly refer to the earlier history of the settlement of this territory. The original purchase was made of the Indians, Wesamequenf (otherwise known as Massasoit) and his son Wamsutta. The deed bore date at New Plymouth, November 29th, 1652. The tract conveyed embraced all of the shore commencing three miles eastward from the Acushuet river, and ending at a flat rock on the westward side of the harbor of Acoaksett, and extending " from the sea upward to go so high that the English may not be annoyed by the hunting of the Indians in any sort of their cattle." The consideration paid Avas " thirty yards of cloth, eight moose-skins, fif- teen axes, fifteen hoes, fifteen pair of breeches, eight blankets, two kettles, one cloak, 2 in wampan, eight pair stockings, eight pair of shoes, one iron pot, and ten *The first named of these pictures is in tin- possession of Mr. WIU.IAM 1'. S. ( u - \VI:I.L. tin- second of Mr.-. SAKAH HOUMAN MOKCAN. The " Four Corners;* picture ha> been engraved. The original is owned by Hon. JOSKI-H GKINMJU.. f The deed from We.snmec[iien to Bradford will be found in the appendix. 24 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. shillings in another comoditie.'' * "We have no tradition which tells us in what form the last item of ten shillings payable " in another coraoditie" was made. In June, 1664, f by an order of the Plymouth Court, the mother town of .Dartmouth received its simple char- tered organization, which gave to the inhabitants the " liberty to make such orders as may conduce to their common good in town concernments." The first settlers upon this territory were Ralph Russell and his son John Russell, and Anthony Slocum, who built an iron forge at Russell's Mills, and John Cooke, whose home was at the head of the Acushnet river. The Russell's Mills settlers were not original proprie- tors in the deed of 1652, but John Russell purchased the thidy-fourth part or share of Capt. Miles Stan dish, as appears by deed dated March 9th, 1664. John Cooke was an original proprietor. These two persons were the leading men of the town. John Russell was the first rep- resentative to the Old Colony Court, in 1665. The three years following John Cooke was the representative. Then followed John Russell for four years ; and during the first twenty years of our municipal existence these men suc- ceeded each other at Plymouth. In 1667 the court at Plymouth authorized John Cooke to make contracts of *The proprietors of the territory of Dartmouth Ixjcame, under an order of the Plymouth Court, a quasi corporation, which continued in existence for about one hundred and seventy years. Under this authority their lands were conveyed. Their records, which ars very voluminous, have been copied by direction of the County Commissioners under an act of the General Court, and the copy, with a copious index, is deposited in the office of the Register of Deeds, at the Court House in thi* city. The original records, with Benjamin Crane's field-books, are at the Free Pub- lic Library. Abner B. Gifford, of Westport, was the last clerk. t See appendix for the Court Orders granting municipal rights and fixing territorial limits. ADDRESS. 25 marriage in the town of Dartmouth, to administer oaths, to issue warrants in his Majesty's name, to bind over persons to answer to the court at Plymouth, and "to give forth subpomies to warn witnesses." He was also for many years a Baptist minister in Dartmouth.* Two hundred years ago, in 1676, this locality was de- vastated by a cruel Indian war, full of barbarity and atrocity, carried on by King Philip, the younger brother of AVamsutta. The Plymouth Court took into serious consideration " the tremendous dispensations of God to- ward the people of Dartmouth, in suffering the barbarous heathen to spoil and destroy most of their habitations," and it was ordered that in the rebuilding and resettling they live compact together, so that they may be better able both to defend themselves from the assault of an enemy, and to attend the public worship of God. At this time (1676) most of the dwellings in the town had been destroyed, and many of the people killed. Those who remained retired into Russell's house at Appo- nagansett, which was converted into a garrison. f There were other garrisons within the limits of the old town, one of which was on Palmer's Island, and another on the east bank of the Acushnet, near the Isle of Marsh. The Acushnet Great Swamp and the Apponagansett Great Swamp were the convenient lurking places for the Indians, into which the settlers could not safely follow them. Upon the death of King Philip, our fathers were en- * Hackus's Church History, p. 1','>~>. t Haylio Memoir, vol. 2, p. 47. 20 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. abled to rebuild their homes and again devote their ener- gies to subduing the wilderness.* John Russell, who with his father Ralph Russell and Anthony Slocuin operated the iron forge at Russell's Mills, and whose death occurred in 1694, did not reside within the limits of the present city. His son Joseph was born in 1G50, and during the war lived at the Appo- nagausett garrison, where his twin sons Joseph and John were born Xov. 22d, 1679. He moved from the Appo- nagausett river to the Acushnet prior to 1711, and re- sided at what is now the corner of County and South streets. Joseph Russell, born at the garrison, afterwards resided at what is now the corner of County and Bush streets, where in my boyhood stood the "little school- house " in whose yard was the w r ell used by this early settler. The title of the lands of the Russells was con- firmed by her Majest} r 's (Queen Anne's) Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions for the County of Bristol, May 25, 1711. The survey had been made by Benjamin Crane, who, under the " eight hundred acre division,'' established the original boundaries. The son of the last named Joseph Russell, also named Joseph, was born on the 8th October, 1719, and died on the 16th October, 1804, aged 85 years. f We may fairly consider this last named Joseph Russell as the founder of our city. He owned the tract of land bounded on the * Aid was contributed from various snim.vs for the relief of Dartmouth when thti^ desolated; and it is an interesting fact that a lilwral contribution came from Ireland. U'e were but paying au old debt when we sent assistance to the destitute people of that country. f An interesting account of the Russell family, by William T. Russell, a grandson of the founder of our city, is published in the appendix. i ADDRESS. 27 south by laud of his brother Caleb, the division line being midway between the present Bedford and Russell streets, and on the north by land of Manasseh Kempton, whose division line was between the present Elm and William streets, and bounded easterly by the river. His home- stead was on the County road, as it was called, between the present Court House and the residence of Mrs. CHAS. AV. MORGAN. He is described as " a man of great indus- try, prudence, and enterprise, and of strict integrity of character, a large farmer and extensive landowner." He was also engaged in mercantile business, owning several vessels trading at southern ports and the AV r est Indies. He was the first to engage in the whale fishery, and to establish a sperm oil factory in New Bedford. The history of the New England whale fishery is so in- terwoven with the history of New Bedford during the last century that they cannot be separated ; and no record of the growth and business of our town and city can be complete without it. Our wealth, our population and our progress have been the fruits of this industry; and our position and fame among the cities of the world is due to its successful prosecution. The first whaling by New England men was doubtless done by the inhabitants of Cape Cod. In the records of Nantucket, in 1690, it is written, "One Ichabod Paddock came from Cape Cod to instruct the people in the art of killing whales." In Edward Randolph's narrative, writ- ten for the Lords of Trade in October, 167(5, in describ- ing the resources of the Colony of New Plymouth, he says, "And here is made a good quantity of whale oil, 28 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. which fish they take upon the coasts." * The business was then carried on in boats from the shore. As early as 1715 we find the people of Xantucket pursuing the whales upon the ocean in small sloops and schooners, making voyages of a few weeks' duration and bringing the blubber home and trying out the oil on shore. In 1751 there were two or three vessels from Appona- gansett river engaged in this fishery. These vessels were owned by John Wady and Daniel Wood. There were, at this date, one or two vessels in this business from the Acushuet river, owned by Joseph and Caleb Kussell. Up to this time whales were principally taken between George's Bank and the capes of Virginia ; and the voyages continued from four to six weeks. Soon after the whale- men extended their cruising grounds to the eastward of the Newfoundland coast, and the voyages were lengthened to three months. At first, more vessels were fitted from Apponagansett river than from the Acushnet ; but soon the superior ad- vantages of our harbor became apparent, and the Appo- nagansett vessels were fitted here.f Consider for a moment the aspect of our town when these two or three little sloops were fitting for their whal- ing voyages. The present site of the city was a forest. There was a " try-house" near the shore, (at the foot of Centre street,) and a rough cart- way led through the woods to the few farm houses on the County road. The Rev. Paul Coffin, who ten years later (July 21st, *See appendix for an account of some instances of "Primitive Whaling." f Abraham Shearman, Jr., has given some valuable memoranda in relation to tlio early whaling, which are to be found in the appendix. ADDRESS. 29 y 1761) visited the place, thus describes it in his journal: "This day rode to Dartmouth, a spacious town; twenty miles will carry you through it. Rocks and oaks are over the whole town. Whortle bushes and rocks in this and the two former towns are the sad comfort of the weary traveller. At sunset arrived at Rev. AVest's." In 17GO there commenced an immigration to this local- ity which indicated that its future was. to be commercial rather than agricultural.* In this year Joseph Russell sold an acre of land, the first sale made from his " 800 acre " homestead estate, to John Loudon. The spot se- lected was a few rods south of Union street on South Water street, and on it a house was erected. Mr. Lou- don came from Pembroke. lie was a calker by trade, and his purpose in coming here was to engage in ship- building. He was followed by Benjamin Taber, \vho purchased a lot of land on the north of the present Union street, and built a shop for the purpose of carrying on boat-building and block-making, which trades he had learned at Nantucket. The same year John Allen, W 7 ho Avas a house carpenter, bought a lot on the east side of South Water street, extending to the river. Upon this he built a house, which was afterwards sold to Barzillai My rick, a ship carpenter. The next year (1762) Gideon Mosher,f a mechanic, bought a lot on the north side of Union and east side of Abraham Shearman Jr.'s memoranda for some account of New Bedford's early history. * Mo-her took no deed of his purchase. The land was deeded by Joseph Russell directly to Kenjamin Taber. 30 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. North Water, and erected a house thereon. The same year Elnathan Sampson, of Wareham, a blacksmith, pur- chased the lot next north of London's . His lot was bounded on the " north and east on land left for ways or streets." These are now known as Union and Water streets. His north line was eight rods in length, and his east line four rods, and the purchase money was 6 13s. 4d. The early settlement was at the Four Corners, as it Avas known and called for a hundred years. This was the centre of the young town. I have been somewhat minute in this description of the infant settlement, in order that the industrial character of the pioneers might be noticed. The men who came here in 1760 to build up a town were mechanics. Taber, Allen, My rick, Mosher, and Sampson, were industrious and enterprising mechanics, and their descendants, inher- iting their industry and enterprise, have been and are among our worthiest citizens. We may well believe that the earnestness of purpose and the devotion to their trades with which these young mechanics of one hundred years ago sought to improve their condition, affected in no small degree the character of our local institutions. And we look back with satisfaction to the intelligent and in- dustrious character of the skilled and honest artisans under whose wise influence the early settlement of our town was made. But there was one thing wanting to promote the busi- ness of the village. Capital was needed. Joseph Russell had means, which he used in whaling and freighting, and which furnished moderate employment to the villagers. ADDRESS. 31 But his wealth was not large, and his operations were necessarily very limited. The required capital, so necessary for the activity and growth of the village, came in 1705, when Joseph Botch, an enterprising merchant of great experience and knowl- edge in mercantile affairs, selected our harbor as one eligible and advantageous for the prosecution of the whale fishery. This event was of the utmost importance, and this acquisition of capital, accompanied with the ripe ex- perience, clear-headed sagacity and skilled methods of this accomplished merchant, gave an impetus to our infant industry which insured its permanence and success. Mr. Botch purchased from Joseph Bussell, in 1765, ten acres of land in one tract, besides a number of smaller lots in different parts of the town.* The " ten-acre pur- chase " was from the north side of the Bussell farm, and next to the estate of Mauasseh Kempton. It commenced on the shore where is now Hazzard's wharf, and its north line, between William street and Elm street, extended nearly to Pleasant street and Cheapside ; its south line was bounded by the present estate of "Willard Sears. Its river front extended from Central wharf to the north line of Ilazzard's wharf. Up to this time the village had no distinctive name ; f * A copy of the deed from Joseph Kussell to Joseph Rotch will be found in the appendix. t That part of Dartmouth which became New IJedford was known as (lie Acushena country. The village which was afterwards known as Cushnet (the name is spelt in half a dozen difl'erent ways in the old records) formed one of the three territorial divisions of Dartmouth, and was thus recognized for all the purposes of municipal arrangements and taxation. The other t\\o \\ere 1'ona^ansctt (Dartmouth) and Coaksett (Westport.) Ifjfil. " Cushcnatf" was taxed " for the publieke charges of the countrey, as they were ordered by the Court for this yeare. respecting, the officers' watfes and c/turi/f 32 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. it was simply a part of Dartmouth. But now its increas- ing importance rendered necessary a name by which the locality should be known. At the suggestion of Mr. Rotch, and as a compliment to Mr. Russell, although somewhat indirect, the village was called "Bedford." About this time there were other accessions to our busi- ness population. John Rowland had moved into the vil- lage from Apponagansett, and Isaac Ilowland (the senior of that name) had come from Newport, bringing with him considerable capital and business enterprise. The latter gentleman resided in the most elegant and expen- sive house in the town. It was built of brick, the first of that material erected here ; it was situated on Union street, and was torn down when Cheapside was opened. The little village of Bedford prospered. Its industries were successful, its population rapidly increased, and its merchants added largely to their wealth. The whaling voyages had been extended, and new grounds had been discovered. During the ten years from 1765 to 1775 our whaling fleet had increased from two or three vessels to tifty, which were much larger and of more value. The vessels sent out to the Falkland Islands in 1774 were fitted and owned here. It was this example of New Eng- land daring and enterprise which ingfr.red .Burke in the House of Commons to utter that eloquent tribute to our victorious industry which so often has touched the pride and awakened the enthusiasm of the sons of Xew Bedford of tlie mni/i.-'trfitt''* table, 1 10 00." This was the territory in the neighborhood of the Acushnet river. "The farrnes against Road Hand" were also taxed. These " farmes " were upon that part of the territory afterwards called Dartmouth which l>ordered upon the province of Rhode Island. [Old Colony Kec.ords, 1061.] ADDRESS. 33 and Nantucket. " No ocean," says Burke, " but what is vexed with their fisheries ; no climate that is not witness to their toils. Neither the perseverance of Holland, nor the activity of France, nor the dexterous and firm sagacity of English enterprise, ever carried this perilous mode of hardy enterprise to the extent to which it has been pushed by this recent people, a people who are still, as it were, in the gristle, and not yet hardened into the bone of man- hood." The war of the revolution not only checked this growth, but destroyed almost entirely our business. It was use- less to send vessels to sea with the danger of almost cer- tain capture ; and if capture w r ere avoided and a cargo obtained, with no market, since the consumers in Europe could not be reached. Xo town suffered more from the common hazards of the war, nor by direct depredations of the enemy. Joseph Rotch returned to Nantucket, and remained there until the war closed. Joseph Russell lost most of his property, except his real estate ; and the same was true of the other merchants. The great majority of the business men of the village were Quakers, and could not conscientiously engage in the privateering adventures which otherwise, as a seafaring community, they would naturally have undertaken. But the advantages of our harbor were recognized during the war, and it was found to be a convenient port from which to fit out privateers, and a safe refuge for their prizes. There were many, too, of our sailors and citizens, who were quite willing to < engage in this hazardous business, prompted both by its rewards and a desire to cripple the commerce of the en- E 34 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. eray which had destroyed their peaceful employments. Before the open declaration of hostilities between the two countries, as early as May, 1774, exasperated by the cap- ture in Buzzard's Bay of three vessels belonging to Sand- wich, by the British cruiser Falcon, a schooner had been fitted out of this harbor, which recaptured two of the vessels and took as prisoners fifteen British officers and marines. Our harbor became a rendezvous for privateers, and many prizes were brought here, and valuable cargoes landed, either to be stored in our warehouses or forwarded into the interior. It wa<> to punish the people of the town for their of- fences in fitting out and harboring privateers, and to de- stroy the shipping and valuable stores which were col- lected here, that Major-General Grey, under orders from Sir Henry Clinton, made the raid of Sept. 5th and 6th, 1778, which destroyed a large portion of the property of the village, and inflicted a blow which crippled it for years. This event, which is the most prominent one in our local revolutionary history, would demand an ex- tended notice and an elaborate description, were it not that the pen of the historian has already given it a per- manent record. I will therefore at this time only indicate the principal features of the attack. On the afternoon of the 5th day of September, 1778, there landed from the frigate Carysfort and the transports that accompanied her, between four and five thousand British troops. Fearing to come up the river on account of the fort which guarded the harbor, the landing was ADDRESS. 35 made by boats in Clark's Cove. Marching up the County road to the village, they burned houses and wharves, shipping, naval stores and provisions. The total loss of property was estimated at 96,980 ; no small sum for those days, in such an infant settlement. While the work of destruction was going on about the wharves and warehouses, the main body of the troops marched up the County road towards the Head of the, River. Near the present corner of Xorth street they tired upon and killed Abraham liussell, Thomas Cook, and Diah Trafford. This was the first blood shed in the revolution in this neighborhood. There had been stationed here a company of light artillery sent from Boston, under the command of Capt. James Gushing, but a short time previous to the landing of the British it had been ordered to Rowland's Ferry. During the day of the landing James Metcalf, the 1st lieutenant, and William Gordon, the 2d lieuten- ant, had returned with a part of the company and one field piece. They were obliged to retreat as the British advanced, and during the night Lieut. Metcalf was mor- tally wounded at Acushnet. The enemy marched around the head of the river to Sconticut, and after destroying the magazine and burning the barracks at the fort they reembarked, the fleet coming from Clark's Cove to the river to receive them. An attempt WHS made to rally the militia of the neigh- boring country for the defence of the village, and 140 to 150 men were collected. These men rendered efficient service in protecting the property on the Fairhaven shore. Major Israel Fearing was the hero of the occasion, and 36 ( F.NTENNIAL CELEBRATION. displayed great courage ; and the resolute way in which he handled the few raw militiamen won for him the warmest praise. But at last the war was ended. When the news came to this little village that the ship Bedford, * Capt. Wm. Mooers master, had arrived in the Downs, on the 23d day of February, 1783, the very day of the signing of the preliminary treaty of peace, and had straightway proceeded to London with her cargo of 587 barrels of oil, displaying there for the first time the United States flag, with its stars and stripes, then the people of the village believed that peace with its blessings had come, and they were ready to begin again the work of rebuilding the town. This ship Bedford was built by Ichabod Thomas on North river, Pembroke, and delivered to Jo- seph Rotch, at Bedford, January 13th, 1772, as appears by the receipt which is still extant. She was named by the owner for his adopted town, and sailed from this har- bor before the war. It was a remarkable coincidence that the war, which had been precipitated in the destruction of the tea in Boston harbor, thrown overboard from the Dartmouth, a ship owned by Francis Rotch, of this same village, and built in 1767 at the foot of Middle street, should have as- sociated with its close the advent in English waters of the ship Bedford, as the first vessel floating the American flag in any British port. The names of the mother town *See appendix for an account of the arrival of the Bedford in the Thames, and of the excitement occasioned by the event. A letter from William Rotch, Jr., to Heze- kiah Barnard, written in 1S4-J, having relation to that event, will also be found in connection with it. ADDRESS. 37 and of the village are thus made memorable in our revo- lutionary history. Our municipal existence as a separate town occurred in 1787,* when both New Bedford and Westport were by acts of incorporation severed from the old township of Dartmouth. To show how carefully our fathers protected, even in their legislation, the feelings of the minority in matters of domicil and local government, let me quote a sentence from the act: "Provided, nevertheless,. that any of the inhabitants now dwelling on the above-described lands, who are. or may be still desirous of belonging to the town of Dartmouth, shall at any time within two years from the passing of this act, by returning their names into the Secretary's office, and signifying their desire of belonging to said Dartmouth, have that privilege; and shall, with their polls and estates, belong to, and be a part of the said town of Dartmouth." New Bedford was required to pay all its arrears of taxes to Dartmouth, and its proportionate part of the unpaid beef tax, so called, together with its proportion of all other debts. It was provided that the town's stock of powder and other town's property should be estimated and divided ; and that New Bedford should pay to Dart- mouth for the workhouse standing within the line of New Bedford. The population of New Bedford, according to the next * See appendix for the act of the General Court incorporating the town of New Bedford, and for the acts by which Fairhaven was set oft' from New Bedford, the di- viding line between Dartmouth and New Bedford was altered, and a part of Dart- mouth and a part of Actislmet annexed to New 'Bedford. 38 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. census, taken in 1790, was 3313. Dartmouth had 2499, and Westport 24G6. The leading business men of this period were William Kotch, Sr., the wealthiest man of the town, estimated to be worth over $100,000, his son William Kotch, Jr., and his son-in-law Samuel Kodman. Then followed the vari- ous members of tr^e Russell and Rowland families, Thos. Hazzard, Jr., and the Hathaways, who were all " well to do." There were others without the prestige of wealth, but yet of great influence' in the town ; such as Caleb Congdon and Abraham Smith, and, not to be omitted, the Davis family, famous for its Quaker preachers. The wealthy people were models of industry and economy ; actuated by a sense of duty, they thought it necessary to show an example of prudence, diligence, and unostenta- tion to others, and their influence in this regard was of the greatest benefit to the community. Their style of living was plain and rational. In 1795 there was a Congregational meeting-house at the Head of the Kiver, and another in the Bedford village. Dr. West officiated at each on alternate Sundays. At this time there was one doctor, Ebenezer Perry, the son of a physician, and called a "safe doctor," who charged sixpence a visit. There was only one lawyer in the village, Thomas Hammond, rarely found in his office, and concerning whom tradition says that shooting and fishing were his favorite pursuits. There was one school- master, Cornelius Wing, and one schoolmistress, Temper- ance Jennings. Mr. Wing was preceded by William Sawyer Wall, of English birth, a person much beloved, ADDRESS. 39 and who exerted a great influence in the community. He was first and foremost in the educational and scientific efforts of that day, and his name appears as the first Pres- ident of the Dialectic Society, the earliest literary associ- ation of the town, and which did much for its culture, refinement, and scholarship.* At the close of the war of the revolution our people sought to regain their prosperity and commercial impor- tance. Although crippled in resources they were not disheartened, but sought with their old vigor to reestab- lish their fortunes by their former pursuits upon the seas. They looked to the broad oceans, common and free to all men as the air itself, to yield them rich harvests as they had in the past. But there were other difficulties besides the replacement of the vessels which had been burned by the British or ' had rotted in disuse. The British government, as if to distress us even after peace, imposed a heavy alien duty upon oil, which rendered it impossible to realize a profit from the prosecution of the business. Her policy was to force this industry to her own harbors. For a time it seemed successful, and many Nantucket and New Bedford whalemen made their voyages from English and French ports. But the persuasiveness and address of William Kotch, Sr., secured to us, first from France and then * William Sawyer Wall was a Friend, aixl came to this country from England in early life. He was the father of our fellow-eiti/.eii WILLIAM ALLKN WALL, the artist. A few weeks a pro, when Stanley I'umphrey, of Worcester, Knjjland, a minister of the SocieU of Friends, -uas in this city, he was shown a certificate- from the Worcester Monthly Meeting issued to William Sawyer Wall, dated in 1SO-J, and sent to him in New I'.edford, signed by Staiilvy Pumphrey as clerk. Our visitor is prrandson of the signer. August, 1S7H 40 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. from Great Britain, the privilege of sending our oil to those countries free of duty, thereby enabling him as one of his biographers has said to carry on the business with the highest profit and to benefit his neigh- bors. The success which attended the efforts of our citizens may be judged by the statement of vessel tonnage owned and sailing from this harbor in January, 1804. The total number of registered vessels was 59, amounting to 13,- 621 tons; and of enrolled vessels there were 5525 tons; making an aggregate of 19,146 tons. The freighting business was quite important at that time. There were 30 ships and brigs, averaging 200 tons burthen, owned and fitted here, employed in general freighting, making their voyages to Europe, South America, and the West Indies.* But the work of developing this industry of the whale fishery during the early years of the nineteenth century was slow and difficult. The embargo came and ruined many of our merchants; and prior to that, in 1807, in consequence of the Berlin and JNIilan Decrees and the Orders in Council, there were thirty ships laid up in Xcw Bedford on account of the hazards attending them at sea. There was no marked improvement in this business until after the close of the war of 1812. The politics of the inhabitants of New Bedford from the close of the rev- olution to the war of 1812 was Federalist, and they had given bitter, decided and partisan expression to their *Iu the appendix will l>e found a list of Sew Bedford .shipping in 1803, prepared by Abraham Shearman, Jr. ADDRESS. 41 opinions in opposition to this latter war.* This may per- haps have been influenced by the severe reverses experi- enced in business. Many of our ships in the Pacific were captured ; and while a few were recaptured by Porter and Downcs, most of them were destroyed or used as trans- ports by the British. f After the termination of this war, the whale fishery, es- pecially as prosecuted at Xew Bedford, advanced with great rapidity and wonderful success. But before proceeding to the local development of this industry, I desire to sketch briefly, in chronological order, the seas and oceans which had been opened in the pursuit of whales. As early as 1770, Xantucket had sought the " right" whale off Disco, in Greenland, going as high as 81 north latitude. In 1774, Xew Bedford had sent ves- sels to the Falkland Islands. In 1784, we find our Xew England whalemen taking seals and whales around Pata- gonia and in the Southern ocean. In 1789, they are about Madagascar and the Cape of Good Hope. In 1791, the whaleships entered the Pacific ocean. We are told that the vessels were small, poorly fitted, and insufficient- ly prepared for the long and often boisterous passages around Cape Horn. But in one thing they excelled, in the character of the men who engaged in these perilous voyages. History cannot point to an enterprise prosecuted with more vigor and courage, with more hardihood and * A uanscript of tin- proceedings of a town meeting held in New .Bedford .July -!!, 1*1 1. which will be found in the appendix, gives an intere>linfr illustration of (his. fThe names of the men who composed the military companies of New Bedford, which formed a part of the detachment ordered to the defence of the town in 1814, will he found in the appendix. 42 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. intelligence, than that displayed by the pioneers in the Pacific whale fishery. I cannot forbear mentioning the name of one whom you all remember; for his genial, courteous manners, his kind and obliging heart, his clear comprehension and prompt decision endeared him to us who knew him in his old age, and assured us that the commendation bestowed upon him seventy years ago for "his prudence, courage, and fortitude," were richly de- served. The whale fishery has produced many noble men, but none more praiseworthy than that hero and vet- eran of the sea, EDMUND GARDNER.* It is asserted that the ship Rebecca, f of New Bed- ford, owned by Joseph Russell & Sons and Cornelius Rowland, named for Joseph Russell's oldest daughter, the grandmother of our esteemed fellow-citizen Daniel Rick- etson, was the first American whaleship that doubled Cape Horn. She sailed from this port Sept. 28, 1791, under command of Joseph Kersey, and returned with a full cargo of sperm oil obtained on the coast of Chili, on the 23d February, 1793. In 1800, our whalers were cruising on the coast of Peru and around the Galapagos Islands. In 1818, they were on the " Off-shore ground." In 1820, they had captured whales on the coast of Japan. In 1836, our vessels were taking oil on Kodiak, the northwest coast of America ; and in 1848, the bark Superior, of Sag Harbor, Capt. *Capt. Gardner has left in manuscript an autobiography, abounding in interesting incidents, and containing many vivid and thrilling descriptions. It is worthy of publication. f William T. Russell, a grandson of Joseph Russell, has given an interesting ac- count of the Rebecca, which will be found in the appendix. ADDRESS. 43 Roys, passed through Behring Strait, and opened up to us the vast wealth of the Arctic grounds. There are many incidents connected with the earlier voyages which deserve a permanent record, and the nar- rative would prove an entertaining one. I will recall one or two of the " good voyages," as they were called, of forty years as;o. In October, 1838, the ship William Hamilton, of New Redford, owned by I. Rowland, Jr., Co., commanded by William Swain, brought home a cargo of 4060 barrels of sperm oil ; her entire catch during the voyage, including the shipment from the West-, eru Islands on her passage out, being 4181 barrels of sperm oil. Capt. Daniel Wood, remembered by many in this audi- ence, a fine specimen of our whaling masters, whose clear judgment and impartial decisions fitted him, after active service upon the ocean, to act as Port Warden in settle- ments between owners and underwriters, brought to New Bedford, in the year 1833, in the old ship Braganza, nearly 4000 barrels of sperm oil. And George B. Worth, another of those generous, large-hearted old sailors, brought in the Magnolia to her owners 3451 barrels. But in those days of large " catch" there were low prices. In the prosecution of the whale fishery New Bedford has surpassed all other places that have engaged in the business, and her increase in wealth from this cause was rapid and large. From the year 1820 until the year 1857 her prosperity and her accumulation of wealth were con- tinuous almost without exception. 44 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. The limits of this address will not permit the detail of figures showing this wonderful increase of material pros- perity. A few must serve to illustrate our progress. On the 1st day of August, 1835, our tonnage was 73,982 On the 1st day of August, 1845, our tonnage was 116,569 At this last-named date New Bedford was the fourth tonnage district in the United States, Xew York, Bos- ton and New Orleans alone exceeding it. There was more than double the amount of registered tonnage owned in New Bedford that there was in Philadelphia. During the year 1844 there were brought into New Bedford : Sperm oil, . . .' 54,509 barrels. Whale-oil, 102,992 barrels. 157,501 barrels. Whalebone, 978,592 pounds. Which at the prices of that time, low as compared with the present, yielded a total value for the whaling of the year of $3,063,324.15.* About this time our people thought that the population, business and commercial importance of the town entitled it to receive, the municipal organization of a city ; and New Bedford received its city charter in 1847.f The town government had existed sixty years. The popula- tion had increased from 3000 to 15,000. Fail-haven, :{: *Sec the appendix for an account of "Xew Bedford in 1S4.V t The last town meeting, excepting those rendered necessary to complete the change in -the form of municipal government, was held in January, 1846. It was one of the mo~t exciting and interesting ever held in the town. Under a belief that a lirief ac- count of this last municipal meeting under the old form of government would interest the people, a transcript of the town records is given in the appendix. Jin the appendix will lie found the act of the General Court setting off Fairlmven from New Bedford, also the other legislative proceedings by which changes have been made in the territorial limits of J?ew Bedford. ADDEESS. 45 which had been organized as a separate town in 1812 from the territory of New Bedford, had at this date a population exceeding 4000, which swelled the aggregate of population residing upon the original territorial limits to over 19,000. The whaling industry of New Bedford reached its high- est point, in capital, in vessels and tonnage, in 1857. Its fleet, of 329 ships and whaling outfits, was worth more than twelve millions of dollars, and required ten thousand seamen. The largest importations of oil and bone were in 1851 and 1853. The quantities of each, with the prices real- ized from their sale, were as follows : 1851. 99,591 bbls. sperm oil, at $1.27J per gallon, . . $3,991,980.75 328,483 bbls. whale oil, at .45 \ per gallon, . . 4,682,114.56 3,966,500 Ibs. whalebone, at .34i, 1,368,442.50 $10,042,537.81 1853. 103,077 bbls. sperm oil, at $1.241 per gallon, . . $4,050,539 56 260,114 bbls. whale oil, at .58J per gallon, .. 4,762,524.77 5,652,300 Ibs. whalebone, at .34i, 1,950,043.50 $10,763,107.83 I have mentioned the prominent merchants who were identified with the prosecution of the whale fishery in its earlier years. There are other names which should not be omitted, since the men who took the places of the pioneers achieved much of the success. John Avery Parker, George Ilowland, Isaac Rowland, Jr., Humphrey Hathaway, John and James Ilowland, and William C. Nye, Avere men of great business sagacity, financial skill, painstaking industry, and unquestioned integrity. The large fortunes left behind by many of them show how 46 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. fully these qualities had been exercised and how abun- dantly rewarded. From 1824 to 1830, there were new counting rooms opened, representing what was then called the " middling interest," and occupied by Abra- ham Barker, David K. Greene, Joseph Bourne, Alfred Gibbs, and others. These men boldly claimed a share of the whaling business, and aided materially in making its progress continuous and rapid. The active whaling merchants of the present day, possessing the venture- some business enterprise of their predecessors, need not be named. Two events, although comparatively recent, must be mentioned in order to render complete the history of our fishery : the depredations by the rebel cruisers during the war of the rebellion, and the loss of our Arctic fleet in 1871. Early in our civil war the torch of the rebel cruisers carried dismay into our whaling fleets. In the summer of 1862 the confederate steamer Alabama, under com- mand of Admiral Semmes, in the vicinity of the Azores, burned many of our vessels, and during the war the Florida and Sumter added to the destruction. But the great loss occurred in June, 1865, when the Shen- audoah, having recruited at Melbourne for an Arctic cruise, entered into Behring Strait. Here the unsus- pecting whalemen, pursuing their vocation amid the ice and fogs of that frozen region, were suddenly met by a danger which the}' could neither resist nor avoid. This armed steamer, the Shenaudoah, Capt. Waddell, was in their midst, and the work of destruction was rapid ADDRESS. 47 and thorough. Twenty-five ships, most of them of large size, were captured and burned, besides four others cap- tured but bonded by the privateer for the purpose of furnishing transportation, to some friendly port, for the eight hundred sailor prisoners, who with sad hearts, fif- teen thousand miles from home, had seen their burning ships, with the products of their toil and danger and their prospective hopes of success, sinking beneath the waves. Among the incidents of this rebel raid should be men- tioned the praiseworthy action of Capt. EBEXEZER F. XYE, of the Abigail, after the loss of his ship, in sav- ing as far as possible the fleet from destruction. The Milo had been captured and bonded, and had received on board a large number of prisoners. During the fol- lowing night Capt. Xye organized an expedition of two boats, and at early dawn left the Milo. While the Sheu- andoah was pursuing her piratical work, these brave men, following along the fields of ice, pulled north in their open boats 180 miles, and there found a number of de- fenceless whalers, giving them the information which saved them from capture. It was a gallant act, prompted by the humanity and executed with the cool determination of the hardy sailor. Fifty whaling vessels were captured by the rebel cruis- ers, of which forty-six, with outfits and cargoes, were burned. Of this number twenty-eight sailed from and were owned in Xew Bedford. The loss of ships and out- fits belonging here exceeded one million of dollars, and of oil and bone on board four hundred thousand dollars.* * A list of the captured vessels is given in the appendix. 48 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. But the most memorable of all the disasters which have attended this perilous business was that of September, 1871, when in a single day thirty-three ships were aban- doned in the Arctic ocean, hopelessly crushed or envi- roned in the ice. This large fleet of the most costly ships in the service, caught between the jaws of the ice floes, drifted with the westerly gales until the immense fields of ice reached the shore, when they were crushed like egg shells. It was a sad and terrible calamity, not merely in its loss of property, but more in the hard- ship and suffering of twelve hundred shipwrecked men. Hemmed in by the ice w r hich lines the shores of a barren country, where neither food nor fuel could be obtained, these men w r ell knew that if driven upon the beach, ten or eleven dreary winter months must elapse before assist- ance could reach them, and that in the long interval death would come to most of them by starvation or cold. In their peril an expedition of three boats was fitted out under command of Capt. Frazier, of the Florida, to go south over the ice, and if possible find vessels in the open sea. The written appeal for relief which these ship- wrecked captains sent to whoever it might reach, was full of touching, pathetic eloquence. It was the simple appeal of brave men in distress to brave men who could realize the fearful peril. A toilsome and anxious journey of seventy miles be- tween packs of ice brought the little expedition to the open sea south of Icy Cape, and there the sight of ships gladdened their hearts. It needed no appeal for succor, no promise of reward, for the warm hearts of brother- ADDRESS. 49 sailors were ready to save their comrades, although at the heavy loss of an abandonment of their own voyages and the earnings of a year. Capt. Frazier returned to the wrecks oft' Point Belcher with the joyous tidings of relief, and these twelve hundred men, taking with them in boats such provisions as they could carry, made their way over and through the ice fields to the rescuing vessels without the loss of one of their number. Of the thirty-three vessels crushed or abandoned, twenty-two belonged in Xew Bedford, and w r ere valued, with outfits, without the oil and bone on board, at $1,- 090,000. The sketch which I have given of the whale fishery as conducted at New Bedford, is but a mere outline of its history. There are those present who have seen its rise, progress, and decline, and been participants in its labors and perils. It reached its culminating point in 1856 or 1857. Since then it has declined, and now our fleet numbers only about one third of the vessels it once did. There have been disasters in connection with this pursuit. The captures by the English in the war of 1812, the cap- tures by rebel cruisers, and the loss of the Arctic fleet were heavy blows. Natural causes, which need not be mentioned, have led to its depression, almost to its down- fall. But the historical fact which interests us is that New Bedford has been built up by the whale fishery. A large share of the wealth of today comes from this source. It has made our community what it is. The record is one of which any city may be proud. This large accumulation of wealth has been obtained by 50 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. the well directed enterprise and persevering industry of the people of New Bedford, and belongs to the people of New Bedford. The capital of nonresidents has not aided us. It has been drawn from the broad fields of the ocean with. much toil and manifold dangers; with perils from the ice and fogs and storms of frozen regions, and expos- ure and disease under the hot burning sun of the equator. It has been a creation of wealth by the skill of the mer- chant and the hardy daring of the sailor, and not a mere exchange of wealth. Without surveys of the seas and bays which it made its cruising grounds, for our brave seamen went in advance of exploration, without bounties, without aid from government, but contributing largely to it in its consumption of dutiable articles, and overcoming European competition, the people of New Bedford ob- tained the control of the whale fishery, and made their city the great whale oil market of the world. Few par- allels can be found in this or any country of such success- ful enterprise. But long before the decline of the whale fishery it be- came apparent to our citizens that this industry could not furnish a sufficient field for our capital and enterprise, and that New Bedford must look to other employment for growth and progress. Commercial New England was yielding to manufacturing New England, and New Bed- ford, not relinquishing her control of the whale fishery, sought to add the machinery of the manufacturer. The first really efficient move in this direction after the Cord- age Factory, was the establishment of the Wamsutta Mills. This occurred in 1848, with a capital of $160,000, ADDRESS. 51 and 15,000 spindles; increased from time to time until it has reached a capital of $2,500,000, with 153,000 spin- dles, an annual product of twenty millions of yards of cloth, and a disbursement of $650,000 for labor. This manufacturing enterprise has proved a success, as its growth and large dividends attest. The honor and credit attaching to it are largely due to our venerable fellow-citizen, Hon. Joseph Griunell, who through its whole existence has been its president and its guiding spirit. It is his prudent management and business sa- gacity, and also that of Thomas Bennett, for many years the agent, in directing the manufacture of the highest standard of cloth, and their unrelenting and undeviating requirement of perfect work and honest labels, that have given to the product of these mills a world-wide reputation. Other manufacturing enterprises have followed, the Potomska Mill, Gosuold Mills, the Copper "Works, the Morse Twist Drill Works, and many more under the auspices of individual capital and management. But there are other interests connected with our city. As a community, we have been devoted to business, and hence I have dwelt largely upon our industrial pursuits. The great problem of life, however, is not in the accumu- lation of wealth, the fitting of ships, or the building of factories. In the intellectual and moral development of a people we find the highest evidences of greatness. New Bedford points to her public school system, to her Free Public Library * the first ever organized under munici- * The appendix contains .sonic details in relation to our public schools ami lli<> Free Public Library which rcuiM not be Driven in the address 52 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. pal sanction on this continent, to her many organiza- tions of philanthropy and reform, and to her numerous churches well sustained, laboring in a liberal spirit of co- operation for the moral and religious welfare of the peo- ple. The march of a hundred years in these higher duties shows an advance more wonderful than that \vhieh has attended our material growth. I have spoken of the men who have been our leaders in business. There are others whose names ought not to be forgotten. John Brewer, Thomas A. Greene, and John F. Emerson, faithful teachers in mental instruction ; John Mason Williams, the pure-minded jurist ; Thomas Man- dell, whose life was one of practical benevolence ; Timo- thy G. Coffin, Thomas D. Eliot, and John H. Clifford, eminent in the law ; and that long list of divines, Samuel West, ORVILLE DEAVEY, Ephraim Peabody, James Austin Roberts, GEORGE L. PRENTISS, John Girdwood, and MOSES How, who faithfully and tenderly have led this people in the ways of holiness. Beautiful, indeed, for situation, is this city of Xew Bed- ford. Few places are there on this continent, or else- where, which so well unite the institutions, benefits and advantages of the city with the freshness and simplicity and comfort of rural life. Lying between green pastures, on the one hand, and the still waters of the river on the other, fronting upon this bay which is as charming as the Bay of Naples, and rising with the elevation of conscious pride from its- shores, its physical condition and position are delightful beyond exception. We rejoice to observe and remember that those who have shaped its outward ADDRESS. 53 fortunes have been studious to make it attractive and healthful, as the home of a cultured and enlightened peo- ple. Its well made and well kept avenues and streets, shaded by long lines of trees which our fathers have planted ; its complete and cleanly drainage, which the incoming and outgoing tides make perfect and efficient ; its abundant and pure water distributed and available for all the purpose of domestic, mechanical, and protecting use; its trained, alert, and electric fire department; its well diffused system for gas lighting ; its schools, its churches and chapels, and bethel ; its hospital, its home for orphans, its many unions of hearts and hands for good works ; its comfortable and pleasant homes after the best methods of Xew England life, combine to make this municipality worthy of our best affections, and of our constant effort for its prosperity and peace.* We celebrate today the centennial birthday of our in- dependent national existence. The republic was born amid the smoke and fire of battle, and at the cost of the blood of patriots. It achieved its place among the na- tions of the earth through the grim desolation and pro- longed sacrifices of war, and, ordained of God, it entered upon its destiny as a government of liberty and free insti- tutions. It has survived the perils of outward violence, and the wild storms and bloody conflict of internal strife. It has grown from three millions of people to forty-four millions ; from a few T scattered colonies it has become an empire reaching from ocean to ocean, and bounded on the * Sonic interesting statements in relation to the finances of New l',<>df<>rd and its appropriation*, valuation and amount and rate of taxation, will be found in the appendix. 54 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. one haud by perpetual snows, arid on the other by per- petual verdure. We remember with pride the sacrifices and self-denial of the men of Bedford in 1776, and the losses sustained and grevious burdens borne by them in the war of the revolution. A feeling of deep sadness mingles with the pride with which we recall the noble army which Xew Bedford sent to the war of the rebellion, and many of us will carry to our graves a heavy sense of loss and grief for those who never came back to us. The son of Xew Bedford who one hundred years hence may review the history of his city, will with proud satis- faction dwell upon the loyalty of this people and the con- tributions made by them in men and money for the pres- ervation of the Union. The Roll of Honor bears the names of 3200 men furnished by New Bedford to the army and navy, being 1110 more than her quota under all the calls made upon her. Some of those names will never disappear from our history, for they gave their lives in patriotic devotion to their country. RODMAN, HOW- LAND, BROWN, ALMY, and many others,* born and retired * See " Roll of Honor " in the appendix. Gather for the sacred roll! BLAKE, who well his station kept, For the pedestal of fame! Finn his well played guns beside. 1 )cc]i upon the undying' scroll " Yield or die ! " "I never yield " (.rave each dear and honored name. Yielding not, the fearless N\K, Place the noble RODMAN'S name On his country's battle field, High upon the stone ye rear For his country dared t<> die. On the obelisk of fame" WATSON, F&AHCI8, OTTIWKI.I,! Youthful HOAVLAXD follows near. See an honored place lor you ; BKOWN, whose sable brothers wept ALMY, KKMITON, here as well: When their gallant leader died; All to God and country true. Their country's martial garb they wore, Their country's loved commission bore, And through all time the enduring shaft shall tell, They for their country fought, and for their country fell. [From the Ode spoken at Ihe dedication of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, July 4th, ADDRESS. 55 upon our soil, are enrolled among the martyrs who died that our flag might still wave a symbol of freedom and the equal rights of all mankind.* The memory of the heroism and the patriotic devotion of those who struggled for our independence, and of those who gallantly contended for the preservation of the national union, stirs our blood and arouses our emulation. We remember the brave men who would not be trampled on by tyranny, and the loyal men who suffered to perpet- uate free institutions. Vie cannot forget the record, and we ought not to forget it. It inspires us with faith- fulness and determination to meet the needs and require- ments of the coming age ; it stimulates us to labor stren- uously for the highest welfare of our country, believing that America holds in trust the destinies of the world. We are descended from a noble ancestry. We are proud of their achievements, and their history incites us to effort. Our birthright, this inheritance of the principles and sentiments which have made the republic great, im- poses upon us grave responsibilities. * There was appropriated ami expended on account of the war by the municipal authorities 177,000, in addition to $125,41)5.85 expended during the four years by the city for state aid to the families of volunteers, and which latter sum was) afterwards refunded by the Commonwealth. The loyal women of New Bedford met on the 18th day of April, 18(51, six days alter the tiring on Fort Sumter, and the day before the lir-t blood was shed in Baltimore, and orjrani/cd for the work of the relief of those sorrow:, and ..ull'eriiiffs which they knew must come. They donated upwards of $20,000 in money, and $10,000 in cloth, flannel and hospital stores. In addition, " The Society for the Comfort and Helief of our Soldiers in Hospitals" furnished many thousands of dollars in value of supplies for the sick and wounded. In 1*00 our population wa> -2-2,300. In 1865 it was 20,80:!. The assessed valuation of property in 1800 was $24,198,1:58, while in 1805 it had decreased to $20,525,700. Tlioe ih/ures >ln>\v the heavy losses of the war, and the sacrifices made by the men of this generation for the preservation of the Union. The story of " New Bedford in the Kebellion " demands a volume of itself. Some further details are given in the ap- pendix. 56 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. We must preserve the results of the past. But this is not our whole duty. The work of our fathers is not completed. Our honor and safety is in still further achievements of public justice and orderly freedom, and in the advancement of the common welfare. Our mission is a continuous and steady development of conscientious- ness, a moral and religious growth, keeping pace with advancing intelligence, science and liberty. We attain to it by those common virtues which our fathers exercised : honesty, frugality, integrity, and unfaltering devotion to duty. We need but follow the old plain paths, and, un- dazzled by the superficial glitter and pretentious show of ambitious self-seekers, march steadily forward to the at- tainments of a trained and vigorous virtue, to purity, strength, and solidity. Thus will we keep unsoiled our inheritance, and transmit it, beautified and glorified, to those who come after us. We have seen the forest fall before the strong arm of the pioneer ; we have seen the shores lined with masts, and the waters white with sails ; we have seen the tri- umphs of restless, cunning labor ; but not in physical power nor in populous cities, not in factories nor palaces, nor richly laden fleets, are the elements of national great- ness, nor its safety, but in the courage, integrity, self- denial, and temperance of the people, and the spirit of mental enterprise and moral freedom which inspires them. APPENDIX. APPENDIX. i. DEED FROM WESAMEQUEN AND WAMSUTTA TO WILLIAM BRADFORD AND OTHERS. ffiabernour. 1654. A DEED APPOINTED TO BE RECORDED. NEW PLYMOUTH, November the 29th, 1652. Know all men by these presents, that I, Wesamequen, and Wam- sutta my son, have sold unto Mr. William Bradford, Captain Standish, Thomas Southvvorth, John Winslow, John Cooke and their associates, the purchasers or old-comers, all the tract or tracts of land lying three miles eastward from a river called Cushenagg, to a certain harbour called Acoaksett, to a flat rock on the westward side of the said harbour. And whereas the said harbour divideth itself into several branches, the westernmost arme to be the bound, and all the tract or tracts of land from the said westernmost arme to the said river of Cushenagg, three miles eastward of the same, with all the profits and benefits within the said tract, with all the rivers, creeks, meadows, necks and islands that lye in or before the same, and from the sea upward to go so high that the English may not be annoyed by the hunting of the Indians in any sort of their cattle. And I, Wesamequen, and Wamsutta, do promise to remove all the Indians within a year from the date hereof that do live in the said tract. And we, the said Wesamequen and Wam- sutta, have fully bargained and sold unto the aforesaid Mr. William Bradford, Captain Standish, Thomas Southworth, John Winslow, John Cooke, and the rest of their associates, the purchasers or old- comers, to have and to hold for them and their heirs and assigns for- ever. And in consideration hereof, we the above-mentioned are to pay to the said Wesamequeu and Wamsutta as followeth : thirty yards of cloth, eight moose-skins, fifteen axes, fifteen hoes, fifteen pair of s, eight blankets, two kettles, one cloak, 2 in wampan, eight pair 60 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. stockings, eight pair of shoes, one iron pot, and ten shillings in another comoditie. And in witness hereof we have interchangeably set to our hands the day and year above written. In the Presence of JOHN WINSLOW. JONATHAN SHAW. JOHN COOK. SAMUEL EDDY. WAMSUTTA. His MM mark. [The above is a copy of the deed as found in Ricketson's History of New Bedford. It agrees with a copy in the " Proprietors' Records, 1 ' book 4, p. 1.] II. ORDER OF INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF DARTMOUTH. [Extract from the Plymouth Colony Records.] /#&. June 8. Att this* Court, all that tracte of land called and known by the name of Acushena, Ponagansett and Coaksett, is allowed by the Court to bee a townshipe : and the inhabitants thereof have libertie to make such orders as may conduce to theire good in towne consern- ments ; and that the said towne bee heucforth called and knowne by the name of Dartmouth. [Fourth Book Court Orders, page 72.] APPENDIX. 61 III. TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF DARTMOUTH. Dartmouth was thus described in the original grant: " A tract or tracts of land known by the name of Accusheua, alias Aquset, enter- ing in at the western end of Nakata, and to the river Cqokset, alias Ackees, and places adjacent, the bounds of which tract fully extend three miles to the eastward of the most easterly part of the river or bay Accushenah aforesaid, and so along the sea-side to the river called Cookset lying on the west side of Point Pirril, and to the westermost side of any branch of the aforesaid river, and extending eight miles into the woods with all marshes, meadows, rivers, waters, woods, and appurtenances thereto belonging." [Baylies' New Plymouth, part n, p. 231.] IV. THE RUSSELL FAMILY. BY WILLIAM T. RUSSELL. [There are, it is believed, one or two errors in the dates given in this account, but it has been thought best to give it as it was prepared by the writer in 1844.] John Russell was one of the original proprietors of the town of Dartmouth, and the first of the name of whom we have any knowl- edge, that settled in this part of the country. About 1(>50 he removed from Taunton and established an iron foundry at Kussell's Mills in Dartmouth, in company with Anthony Slocuin. In 1G54 John Russell represented the town of Dartmouth at the Old Colony Court in Ply- mouth. There is a record of a confirmatory deed of land to John Russell from William Bradford, governor of the colony, in 1C94. Joseph Russell, Senr., son of the aforementioned John Russell, and great-great-grandfather of the present generation, settled within what is now the limits of the town of New Bedford, at what time is not known, but previous to 1711. His house stood near the site of the 62 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. stone house known as the Tyson house, and now owned by H. G. O. Colby. The original well which belonged to his house is now in the cellar of the Tyson house, and is still in use. Of his birth or death we have no records. Joseph Russell, Jr., son of the aforementioned Joseph Russell, Senr., lived on County street near the little school-house opposite John C. Haskell's. This house was standing within the memory of some of the oldest inhabitants ; and his well is still remaining in the school- house yard. There is a record of a confirmatory title to Joseph Russell, Jr., of this homestead, dated 25th May, 1711, signed by Samuel Hammond, Benjamin Hammond, and Benjamin Crane, surveyor, "her Majesties [Queen Anne's] Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions for the county of Bristol." One of the sons of Joseph Russell, Jr., was the ancestor of the Seth Russell branch of the family of Russell. Joseph Russell, son of the aforementioned Joseph Russell, Jr., and grandfather of the present generation, was born 8th Oct., 1719, and died 16th Oct., 1804. His house stood on the County road, between the court house and Charles W. Morgan's house. He first established the whale fishery in New Bedford. In the earli- est stages of that business, sloops only of 40 or 50 tons were em- ployed. These vessels ventured out to sea in the Summer months only, and no further than the Capes of Virginia and Cape Hatteras, and took especial care to return in port before the equinox gales in September. They were generally successful in taking sperm whales, and brought home the blubber and tried it out on shore. As their experience increased, larger vessels were employed, and they ventured as far as the Bay of Mexico; and finally, during his life, ships ventured round Cape Horn to the Pacific ocean for sperm whales. Joseph Russell first established a sperm oil factory in New Bedford. The building stood on the north side of the square, foot of Centre street. The act of refining spermaceti in those days was known to but few, and kept by them a profound secret. Joseph Russell em- ployed a Mr. Chaffee for a number of years, at a salary of 8500 a year, to do his refining, an enormous sum for those days. While at work, Chaflee was shut up by himself, that no one should steal his wonderful art. Joseph Russell was a shrewd, enterprising man. At one time he carried on quite an extensive mercantile businessr In 1770, in part- nership with his son Barnabas, he owned, in addition to several whal- ing vessels, several vessels trading to southern ports and the West India islands. They kept a store at the foot of Centre street, and imported their goods from London by the way of Boston, and their West India goods in their own vessels, and up to the time of the revolutionary war their APPENDIX. 63 business was in a very prosperous state. The war put an end to their prosperity. Their vessels were taken, and their losses by the depre- ciation of the continental paper money left them, at the close of the war, but little besides their real estate. The Eussells and Kemptous \vere the original proprietors of the land comprising the limits of the town of New Bedford as it is at the present day. Their tract together extended from near Clark's Cove, and running north to somewhere about Smith street, and from the river, west, indefinitely to undivided lands, as appears by a confirma- tory title to Joseph Russell, Jr., by "her Majesties Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions for the County of Bristol," dated May 25th, 1711 ; and a similar title to Maiiasseh Kempton, dated 31st May, 1711. The division line between Joseph Russell, Jr., and Manasseh Kemp- ton, was between William and Elm streets, and running west from the river to undivided lands. Joseph and Caleb Russell, sons of Joseph Russell, Jr., inherited the above described tract of land, extending from the hill north of Clark's Cove on County road, and running north to between William and Elm streets, and from the river, westerly, to about a mile west of County road. Their division line was between Bedford and Russell streets (a part of the division wall is still remaining,) Joseph having the north part and Caleb the south part. Caleb Russell was the grandfather of the present Reuben Russell, and father of the Joseph Russell who settled in Boston and was in business there under the firm of Jeffrey & Rus- sell.* The original proprietors of laud on the west side of the Acushnet river, beginning at Clark's Point and following the County road to the Head of the River, were taken In rotation as follows : First. Benjamin Allen, who owned the whole of Clark's Point, and as far north as the brow of the hill on County road, leading down to Clark's Cove. Second. Joseph Russell, Senr. Third. Joseph Russell, Jr. Father and son, they were both living in 1711. They were at that date proprietors of all that part of New Bedford south of William street, and from the river west. Fourth. Manasseh Kempton. Fifth. Willis. Sixth. Stephen Peckham was a large proprietor. His tract in- cluded Rodman's, CoggeshalPs, Tallman's, and Timothy G. Coffin's farms, as they are at the present day. Seventh. John Hathaway. Star< ami Stripe's in flic Tliamc-." 64 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Eighth. Wrightington, who owned about the Head of the River, including the present village of Acushnet, on both sides of the river. The Swifts purchased of the Wrightingtons. Joseph Rotch, the grandfather of.the present William Rotch, re- moved from Nautucket to New Bedford a few years previous to the revolutionary war, and purchased of Joseph Russell about twenty acres of land, which included the present Rotch's wharf, and running west to Purchase street of an unequal width. He wanted more laud on the shore of the river than Joseph Russell was willing to part with, and made \i\sjirst, purchase of land on the east side of the river, with a view of settling there, but finally acceded to Joseph Russell's terms. A part of that land in Fairhaven is still in possession of the Rotch family. There is a record of the burial of Joseph Rotch, 27th Nov., 1785. Joseph Rotch gave the name of New Bedford to the town, or first proposed it should be called Bedford ; but ascertaining there was al- ready a Bedford in Massachusetts, it was named by way of distinction, New Bedford. December, 1844. V. PRIMITIVE WHALING. [Under the head of " Whaling," I find in Richard A. Pease's valu- able "Historical Sketches of Martha's Vineyard," the following ex- tracts from the records of the town of Edgartown in relation to the primitive methods of whaling.] November 11, 1G52. Thomas Daggett and William Weeks are whale cutters for this year. Voted the day above written. April 13, 1653. Ordered by the town that the whale is to be cut out freely, four men at one time, and four at another, and so every whale, beginning at the east end of the town. April 15, 1690. Voted by the proprietors of the whale that Mr. Sarson and William Vinson are to oversee and order the cutting and- sharing of all whales that shall be cast on shore within the liberty or AITENDIX. . 65 bounds of Edgartow-u : and they to have as much for their care as one cutter. Martha's Vineyard, February 19, 1C92. The proprietors of the drift whale at Edgartown, being met upon occasion of a whale marked on their beach, seized by Benjamin Smith and Mr. Joseph Norton, in their behalf, yet claimed by John Steel, harponeer, on a whale design, as being killed by him ; which occasioned a contract about said whale between said parties, about cutting and securing the said whale; the proprietors accepting of said contract, have and unanimously agree that the contract be ratified and confirmed; and that Richard Sarson, Esq., and Mr. Benjamin Smith, in behalf of the proprietors, take the same into their custody, and preserve the said whale by trying and securing the oyl, and disbursing as they find needful; and that no dis- tribution be made of the said whale, or effects, till after fifteen days are expired after the date hereof, that so such persons who may pre- tend an interest or claim, in the whale, may make their challenge ; and in case such challenge appear sufficient to them, then they may deliver the said whale, or oyl to such challenger; otherwise to give notice to the proprietors, who may do as the matter may require. This agreement was ordered to be entered by them, the day and year above written. Per me, THOMAS TRAPP, Clerk. Martha's Vineyard, 1792-3. The marks of the whales killed by John Butler and Thomas Lothrop. One whale lanced near or over the shoulder blade, near the left shoulder blade only ; another killed with an iron forward in the left side, marked \V. ; and upon the right side, marked with a pocket knife T. L. ; and the other hath an iron-hole over the right shoulder blade, with two lance-holes in the same side, one in belly. These whales were all killed about the middle of Feb- ruary last past; all great whales, betwixt six and seven and eight foot bone, which are all gone from us. A true account given by John But- ler from us and recorded. Per me, THOMAS TRAPP, Clerk. [From the Old Colony Records.] A proposition ordered to be recorded, which was sent vnto the four towns, viz., Sandwich, Yarmouth, Barnstable, and Eastham, by order of the Court held att Plymouth, October the first, 1C61, as followeth, signed by Constant Southworth, Treasurer. Loueing Frinds : Wheras the Generall Court was pleased to make some propositions to you respecting the drift fish or whales ; and in- case you should refuse their proffer, they impowered mee, though vnfitt, to farme out what should belonge vnto them on that account; i 66 CENTENNIAL CELEBKATION. and seeing the time is expired, and it faales [falls] into my hands to dispose of, I doe therefore, with the advise of the court, in answare to youer remonstrance, say, that if you will duely and trewly pay to the country for euery whale that shall come, one hogshead of oyle att Boston, where I shall appoint, and that current and marchautable, without any charge or trouble to the countrey, I say, for peace and quietnes sake, you shall haue it for this present season, leaueing you and the Election Court to seetle it soe as it may bee to satisfaction on both sides; and incase you accept not of this tender, to send it within fourteen days after date heerof ; and if I heare not from you, I shall take it for graunted that you will accept of it, and shall expect the accom- plishment of the same. Youers to vse, f6e/. CONSTANT SOUTHWORTH, 1 October. Treasu. Prence, Gou r . The agents for the towne of Yarmouth appeering att this Court, ac- cording to agreement, to debate and determine a difference between them and others about whales, were desired by the Court to giue in thire result conseruing that matter vnto the Court, as being that wherouto they would stand; who gaue in theire answare as followeth : The sixt of the first month, 61-G2. Right Wor sh : Wee intreat youer worshipes reddily to accept these few lines for a positiue answare, to which wee promise to stand : that the Treasurer shall haue the two barrells of oyle out of each whale, according to his proposition made vnto vs for the yeare past, soe as there may bee a full end of what troubles hath formerly past about it. Witness our hands. ANTHONY THACHER. ?66f-2. ROBERT DENIS. 4 March. THOMAS BOARDMAN. [Prence Gouernor.] RICHARD TAYLOR. In reference vnto a whale brought on shore to Yarmouth from sea, the Court leaues it to the Treasurer to make abatement of what is due to the countrey therof, by law, as hee shall see cause, when hee treated with those that brought it on shore. 1672. 1 July. Prence Gou r . [The reader of these early whaling records will be reminded of that vivid picture of primitive whaling which Walter Scott has given us in his romance of the pirate. The distribution of the rich and APPENDIX. 67 coveted yield of the stranded leviathan upon the shore of the Orkneys was not, however, regulated by the law of the land, but by the law of the strongest. " Pit yoursell forward, man," said the saving sister of the timid Triptolemus, "there's a graip to ye faint heart never wan fair lady, a pint of the creature's ulzic wad be worth siller in the lang dark nights wha kens but what it may eat weel eneugh and spare butter? "J VI. MEMORANDA IN RELATION TO THE WHALE FISH- ERY AND THE COMMERCE OF NEW BEDFORD. BY ARRAHAM SHEARMAN, JUNIOR. The whale fishery appears to have been carried on from Cape, Cod prior to its prosecution from any other part of America. In the year 1680 [1690?] a Mr. Paddock from Cape Cod came to Nan- tucket to instruct the English how to whale in boats from the shore, which business continued good till 1760, when it became poor by the scarcity of whales. In the spring of 1726, there were eighty-six whales caught here. One Mr. Loper previous to this was engaged in the business, but not to any amount worthy of record. [Xantucket In- quirer.] The "Mr. Loper" above referred to was also from Cape Cod, and a copy was recently published of his agreement with the inhabitants of the island to prosecute the business from their shores. This was in the year 1672. In the year 1770 there were employed in the whale fishery from Nautucket, one hundred and twenty-three sail of vessels, sloops, schoon- ers, and brigs, making about ten thousand tons, and navigated by about sixteen hundred men. From Sept. llth to Oct. 25th they all arrived in port, having been absent from four to six months, and landed fourteen thousand and fifty-eight barrels of oil. There are now living [March 28, 1822] ten of the captains that were in said fleet. [Nantucket Inquirer.] The whale fishery was at first carried on in boats from the island. Right whales only were obtained in this way. 68 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. In the year 1759, when S. Paddock first went to Nantucket, (aud for a few years prior to the French war, which commenced in 175G,) voy- ages were made to the eastward of Grand Bank. Vessels generally made two trips to the southward, between George's Bank and the Capes of Virginia, and then went to the Bank. Voyages were afterwards extended to the Western Islands, Cape de Verds, and Coast of Africa. It was not till after the termination of the French war in 17G3, that our vessels made voyages to the Straits of Belle Isle and River Saint Lawrence. Large whale had been seen there by a Nantucket man when on board an English vessel of war, which led to their pursuit in that quarter. Sperm candles were first manufactured at Newport and Providence. LIST OF SQUARE-RIGGED VESSELS BELONGING TO NEW BEDFORD NOVEMBER 7TH, 1803. [This was eight years before Fairhaven was set off from New Bedford.] WHALEMEN. Bedford. Ships. Diana, 281 tons. Barclay, . ' 202 Dolphin, 139 Diana, called the little Diana, . 218 Sarah, 3H Winslow, 222 Jefferson 267 Rover, 213 Hunter, 258 Ann, 288 Hanover, (sealing,) 299 Brigs. Triton, 156 Lucy, 96 Fairhaven, Ships. Exchange, 215 Herald, 262 Brigs. Abby, 109 Commerce, 144 Also schooner Betsey, Bedford, . 75 Susan, Fairhaven, 82 APPENDIX. 69 EMPLOYED IX FREIGHTING OR OTHER MERCHANT BUSINESS. Bedford. Ships. Elizabeth ,. 237 tons. Nancies, 205 Fame, 226 Walker, 281 Ocean, 298 Diligence, 227 Brigs. Joseph, 106 Eunice, 174 George, 172 Almira, 180 Betsey, 155 Regulator, Fairhaven. Ships. Mentor, 280 Kingston, 293 Joseph, 241 Warren, 285 Washington, 331 William & Jane, 210 Juno, 252 President, 294 Minerva, 216 William, Brigs. Cyrus, ) Village of Oxford, that part of Fairhaven (119 Diana, 5 immediately north of the bridge. (. 86 Neptune, 164 Olympus, 169 Bellona, 140 Swift, 137 Ann, 90 Wcstport. Brigs. Hero, 162 Friendship, Dartmouth. Brig. Maries, Snow. Panther, 102 Two new ships at Bedford, owned by Lincoln [Benjamin,] Parker [John Avery,] Coggeshall [John, Jr.] &c. 70 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. RECAPITULATION. Ships at Bedford, 20 " " Fairhaven, J 12 32 Brigs at Bedford, 8 " " Fairhaven, 9 " " Westport, 2 " " Dartmouth, , . . 2 21 Whole number 53 The whole number of tons of registered shipping on the custom- house books, 11 mo. 7, 1803, are 12,101 Tons of enrolled shipping, 5,353 Tonnage of vessels under 20 tons, 172 Whole number of tons, 17,716 Add to the above ships Diligence and William, which are not registered at New Bedford, say 500 18,216 About 30 sail, or nearly 6000 tons, are employed in the freighting business. About 20 sail, or nearly 4000 tons, in whaling. Tonnage as above, 18,216 Add ships America and Mary, of Bedford, say 500 And ship Ophelia and brig Factor, of Fairhaven, say 430 Whole tonnage, 1 mo. 18 [1804,] 19,146 APPENDIX. 71 VII. MEMORANDA IN RELATION TO THE EARLY HIS- TORY OF- NEW BEDFORD. BY ABRAHAM SHEARMAN, JUNIOR. [The following are copied from a manuscript prepared by Abraham Shearman, Junior.] NEW BEDFORD, 11 mo. 30, 1821. To gratify that species of curiosity, which seems naturally to lead the human mind to trace the origin and early incidents of smaller communities as well as of nations, I avail myself of the recollections of an aged and intelligent citizen* now in his 79th year, to record some particulars of the first settlement of New Bedford, in connection with some account of the whale fishery to which it owed its origin, and has been principally indebted for its prosperity. The township of Dartmouth, in its original extent, as purchased of the good old Massasoit in 1652, and as it remained till divided in 1787, embraced an extent of 20 miles of sea-coast, without including the shores of its harbours, of which Accushnet, Aponeganset, and Acoaxet were its principal. In the year 1751, when our informant was nine years of age, there were two or three vessels from Apoueganset river, in the whale fish- ery, the owners of which, John Wady and Daniel Wood, he well rec- ollects; and he thinks there were one or two from Acushnet, the west side of the river, and peihaps one or two from the east side, the former owned by Joseph and Caleb Russell. Whales were then principally taken on what was called the Southern ground, between George's Bank and the Capes of Virginia, and voy- ages were of four to six weeks' continuance ; but the fishery was about this time extended to the Grand Bank of Newfoundland, or rather to the eastward of it, and the voyages lengthened to three months. Previous to the year 1760, more vessels were fitted from Aponegau- * John Ilowland, who gave Mr. Shearman much of the information contained in his .-tatcnient, and who came to Acushnet in 1705, sailed from that part of Dartmouth as early as 1760. He became a shipmaster, and was engaged in both the whaling' and trading branches of commerce. He was owner of the ship Fame contained in Mr. Shearman's list of our merchants' marine in 1803. His journal, which I have re- cently examined, contains very full accounts of his early whaling voyages. The house in which he lived and died is still standing, and is the second on the west r-ide of Water street, south of School. He was much intcrc.-ted in our town aftairs, and highly useful in the transaction of the public business. He was the father of John Ilowland, Jr., and the Hon. James Howlund, 2d, for many years successful mer- chants under the linn of Jno. & -las. Ilowland. At the time of its dissolution it was, I believe, the oldest business lirm among us. The Hon. George Howland, Jr., of this city, is his grandson. 72 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. set than from Accushnct river; but the latter having the advantage of a better and more convenient harbour, now began to attract the atten- tion of men of business. Our informant was early engaged in a sea- faring life from Aponeganset, and mostly in the fishery. The vessel to which he was attached fitted in the year above-mentioned, from what was afterwards called Bedford, on Accushnet river, and he thinks was the first vessel, now owned by persons in its immediate vicinity, that came there to fit out. The present site of the town was then a forest, through which a rough cartway led to the shore, and a try- house was' the only building other than the farm houses on the County road. There were then standing on the County road the houses of Joseph Russell, Caleb Russell, Ephraim Kempton, and Samuel Willis, which are still remaining [1821]; also a house that belonged to Joseph Rus- sell, father of Joseph and Caleb, which stood a little to the south of the house now occupied by William R. Rotch,* near a well which is still in use. The site of a house that belonged to Joseph Russell, father of the last mentioned, may still be traced on the east side of the road, near the former mansion of Caleb Russell. In the winter of 1760, John Loudon f purchased of Joseph Russell an acre of land (the first lot that was sold from his homestead farm) a few rods south of what is now called the Four Corners J ; on which he erected a house in the summer of 1761. His object was to carry on shipbuilding. His own trade was that of a calker. In the spring of the same year, Benjamin Taber purchased a lot *The house named by Mr. Shearman as occupied by William R. Rotch, is now the beautiful residence of Dr. Edward P. Abbe. f John Loudon, the first purchaser of a village lot from Joseph Russell, at one time kept a tavern. His house was burned by the British. He has a granddaughter and great-grandson now residing here. J The FOUR CORNERS (the intersection of Main and Water street*) was for many years the centre of business. The stone post at the northwest corner will be remem- bered by many who will probably read this. Benjamin Taber's first shop and dwelling was a building, situated on a lot north of the residence of Samuel Rodman, Senr., now the bakery of Mr. Snell. It was moved there from the shore of the river, where it had been occupied for some pin- pose connected with the whaling business. He afterwards bought a lot on the north side of Main street, below Water, and another adjoining the east end and north of the first purchase. He was the builder of the first whaleboat in the village ; was a prosperous mechanic, when in 1778 the raid of General Gray laid all his building- in ashes. His son Daniel was the first male child born in what was afterwards called the village of Bedford. Taber's wharf is built out from that part of his purchase under the deed of Joseph Russell, and his descendants own a large part of it. He had five children and a step-child, all but one of whom lived at one time on the north side of Union street, on the property 1 have described. It is a noticeable fact that in the "Account of the Old Men of New Bedford," recently reprinted in the New Bed- ford Mercury from the Boston Herald, are found the names of four of Benjamin Taber's grandchildren, ami the husband of his step-daughter's child. No two of the four are brothers. APPENDIX. 73 of land farther north, and built a shop for the purpose of carrying on the boat-building and block-making business, at which he had served an apprenticeship at Xantucket. The same year, 1761, John Allen, a house-carpenter, purchased a lot of land on the south side of Prospect street,* on which he built a house afterwards sold to Barzillai Myrick, a ship-carpenter. In 1762, Gideon Mosher, who was also a mechanic, purchased a lot of land and built a house on the north side of Prospect street; which he afterwards (1765) sold to Benjamin Taber. John Allen's lot was four rods wide, and extended from the Four Corners to the water, the same on which Pinkham's Inn f and other buildings now stand. Gideon Mosher's lot was of the same width, on the north side of the street. It was sold by him to Benjamin Taber, who at the same time purchased four rods adjoining to it on the north, and extending, with the other, to the water. In December of the same year, 1762, Elnathan Sampson, of Ware- ham, purchased a lot of land bounded south on land previously sold to John Louden, and "north and east on land left for ways or streets." These " ways " or "streets" were what are now called the Main or Union, and Water streets. The lot (the same that is now owned by the widows Patty Hussey J and Ruth Ross) was eight rods in length from east to west, and four rods wide, and was purchased for 6 13 4. Less than one third of its front on Union street was leased the last year on an annual ground rent of ninety dollars. E. Sampson was a blacksmith. Thus was the infant settlement begun by industrious and enterpris- ing mechanics; and it appears from the phraseology of the deed above referred to that it was then expected it would in time assume the character of a town. Capital, however, was still wanting to give activity to business ; but this was soon after supplied to a very considerable extent by the ac- quisition of an enterprising merchant, Joseph Rotch of Nantucket, That part t' rni<>n Direct east of Water. tPinkliam was from Nantucket. The building in which lie kept his tavern be- longed to the Xash family. It had been occupied as a tavern before for many years by .Joshua Crocker. This property was on the southea>t corner. t Patty (Martha) Jlu-si/y was the daughter of Elnathan Sampson. She kept a dry iroods M<>re in her house on the southwcM comer of the " Four Corners," which wa- very popular. Jler daughter, a resident of our city, is, I believe, the owner of this properly. At one time there was no dry goods .More west of Water street. ph Kotch went to Xantucket early in the eighteenth century. He, too, was a mechanic; but he soon became a leading man and merchant of the town of Sherlnirn. T\\<> of his sons are connected with the early history of New I.edford. Francis \\a^ here and in company witli his father. I find "Joseph Itotch & Son" assessed iu ( 'ii-lmet in 177:;, real estate ."i70, personal 030. In 177S Joseph Rotch had returned to Nantucket. His son FraneN remained here J 74 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. who in 1765, after examining several different situations, fixed on this as an eligible port for the prosecution of the whale fishery. He made a purchase of ten acres of land, in one body, besides a number of smaller lots in different parts of the town, and removing hither him- self his business from Nautucket to the Acushnet. To him the village was indebted for its name. The property of the soil being in the Rus- sell family, and that being the family name of the Duke of Bedford, he gave it the name which it has since continued to bear. VIII. THE TEN ACRE LOT. DEED FROM JOSEPH RUSSELL OF DARTMOUTH TO JOSEPH ROTCH OF SHERBURX. Know all Men, That I Joseph Russell of Dartmouth in ye County of Bristol, in ye Province of ye Massachusetts .Bay in Xew England, yeoman, in consideration of Two Hundred and one pound seven sil- lings and sixpence to me in hand paid by Joseph Rotch, of Sherburn in ye County of Nantucket and Province affores'd marchaut; the re- ceipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and myself fully satisfied and paid; have given, granted, bargained and sold; and do by these pres- aml was connected in business with Leonard Jarvi>. From the " Acu-hnet Tax Bill" of that year I find that " Rotch and Jarvis " were taxed, Real estate, 4,100 Personal, 13,000 17,100 By far the larjrest tax paid in Bedford was aecd t" this firm. Jn-eph Rotch returned to New Bedford and died here. Francis ami William went abroad: the latter returning to this country in l~'.<~> and bec.miinjr a re-ident of our town, which had recently been incorporated. Francis re-ided abroad until about 1811, when he too came to New Bedford. These brothers were both remarkable men, and there is much in the history of both to interest and instruct. Francis left no children. His brother, the elder William Rotch, who died here in Is-'S in bis nith year, left many children. From these two, William Rotch. Jr., and Elizabeth Roil- man, have sprung all the descendants <>f .Jo-eph Rotch of Sherburn now resident among us. Seven generations of the family have lived upon the soil of New Bedford, APPENDIX. 75 ents fully and absolutely give, grant, bargain, aliene, enfeof & con- firm unto him ye s'd Joseph Ilotch, his heirs and assigns, a certain piece or parcell of land scituate, lying and being in Dartmouth afores'd and at ye foot of my homestead farm, containing Ten acres and eleven rods by estimation be ye same more or less buted and bounded as followeth that is, Beginning at a stone set in ye ground near the beach a south westerly or elbow bounds of William Maccomber's house lot and from thence East thirty degs. northerly to ye river; then again from ye s'd stone before mentioned and from thence west ten rods and two fifths of a rod to a stone set in ye ground ye southwest corner bound of ye s'd \Villiam Maccombers lot : and from thence North in s'd Macomber's line four rods and seven tenth parts of a rod to ye line of William Kempton's land ; from thence in s'd Kempton's line fifty nine rods to a heap of stones from thence South twenty two rods to a heap of stones a little to ye southward of a little spring brook and from thence east thirty four degrees Northerly two rods to aheap of stones on ye north side of s'd brook ; and from thence east eighty rods and one fifth part of a rod to a stone set into ye ground about one rod west from ye west side of ye Try house and from thence two rods and three quarters of a rod to a ledge of rocks and from thence East to ye river, running into s'd river by ye south side of a great ledge of rocks, this laud bounds Easterly by ye river and ye head of William Macomber's lots Northwardly by s'd Macomber's and said Kemtons land, southwardly and westwardly by my own lands. Also the priveledge of a drift way from ye same to ye open way that goes by my house in Common with ye other people that have bought lots at ye foot of my s'd Homestead. Together with all ye priveledges & appurtenances thereof. To Have and to Hold to ye s'd Joseph Rotch his heirs and assigns as * * * inheritance in fee simple forever. And I the s'd Joseph Kussell, do hereby avouch myself to be the sole lawful owner of ye bargained premises and am lawfully seize4 and that they are free of all incumbrances whatsoever and I also hereby for myself my heirs, exes. & adms., covenant with ye s'd Joseph Rotch his heirs- and assigns, the granted and bargained premises and appurtenances against ye lawful claims and demands of all persons what so ever to warant & forever defend, always excepting and reserving the priveledge of a drift way across ye s'd premises for the s'd William Macomber his heirs and assigns to pass and repass in And Judith Kussell the wife of me, ye s'd Joseph Russell doth by these presents, freely and willingly yield up and surender all her right of dower and power of thirds of, in and unto ye same unto ye s'd Joseph Rotch his heirs and assigns, to hold as afl'ores'd. In Witnss Whereof We the s'd Joseph Russell and Judith Russell 76 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. do hereunto set our Lands and seals this Twenty eight day of May in ye fifth year of ye Reign of King George the Third Anno Domi one thousand seven hundred sixty five. Signed, sealed and delivered JOSEPH RUSSELL [S] in presence of JUDITH RUSSELL [S] SETH RUSSELL BERTH" TABER BRISTOL ss. Dortm 29th May 1765 Personally appeared Joseph Russell and acknowledged the within and above to be his act & deed, Before me ELISHA TOBEY, Justice of the Peace. Rec'd July 22d 17G5 & Recorded per JAMES WILLIAMS, Regr. A true copy from Book 48, Page 8, of Bristol Co. No. Dist. Land Records. Attest : J. E. WILBAR, Register. IX. THE STARS AND STRIPES IN THE THAMES. The ships Bedford, Dartmouth, Rebecca, and Maria, have become historical vessels. Their respective claims to this position are now well settled. For many years it was supposed that to the last, and not the first, belonged the honor of displaying the flag of our country in British waters. The old Maria was long the flag ship ; and in the newspapers and many less fugitive publications the erroneous story was so often repeated that it assumed the position of a fixed fact. It was passing strange, that in the face of evidence patent to the world, not only the newspapers, but Mrs. Farrar, a granddaughter of the elder William Rotch, in her Recollections of Seventy Years, and Mrs. P. A. Hanaford, in her Field, Gunboat, Hospital and Prison, should publish the erroneous statement. " I have often heard the old APPENDIX. 77 gentleman [her grandfather] tell with pride and pleasure that the Maria was the first ship that ever unfurled the flag of the United States in the Thames." When Mrs. Farrar's "Recollections" which con- tained this declaration appeared, the statement was contradicted through the papers, by the publication of the fact that when the flag was displayed in the Thames in February, 1783, the Maria was lying at the wharf at Nantuckct, never having been at sea. The following extract from Barnard's History of England, a rare book, was published at the same time. " The ship Bedford, Capt. Moores, belonging to the Massachusetts, arrived in the Downs on the 3d of February, passed Gravesend on the 3d, and was reported at the custom house on the 6th instant. She was not allowed regular entry until some consultation had taken place between the commissioners of the customs and the lords of council, on account of the many acts of parliament in force against the rebels of America. She was loaded with 487 butts of whale oil, is American built, manned wholly by American seamen, icears the rebel colors, and belongs to the island of Nantucket, in Massachusetts. This is the first vessel which has displayed the thirteen rebellious stripes of Amer- ica in any British port. The vessel is at Horseledour, a little below the Tower, and is intended to return immediately to New England." These two statements showed beyond question that the Maria did not, and that the Bedford did first unfurl the flag of the United States in the waters of Great Britain. In a letter to Hezekiah Barnard, dated at New Bedford 8th mo. 3d, 1842, William Rotch, Jr., thus speaks of the Bedford and her voyage. * * * "In 1781, Admiral Digby granted thirty licenses for our [Xantucket] vessels to go after whales. I was then connected with my father and Samuel Rodman in business. Considerable oil was ob- tained in 1782. In the fall of that year I went to New York and pro- cured from Admiral Digby licenses for the Bedford, William Mooers master, and I think the Industry, John Chadwick master. They loaded. The Bedford sailed first, and arrived in the Downs on the 23d of Feb- ruary, the day of the signing of the preliminary treaty of peace be- tween the United'States, France, and England,* and went up to Lon- don and there displayed for the first time the United States flag. The li>da*try arrived afterwards, and was, I suppose, the second to display it. The widow of George Ilayley, who did much business with New- England, would visit the old Bedford and see the flag displayed. She was the sister of the celebrated John Wilkes." William Rotch, Jr., might have added to his brief notice of Madam Ilayley, that a more intimate connection between that remarkable sister of a still more remarkable man, than a visit to the Botches' ship * Mr. Rotch was mistaken in both these dates. The Bedford arrived on the 3d, and Hie treaty \v;is -itriicil November . SO, 17^2. 78 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Bedford was at one time contemplated, and was prevented only by an accident. This is not the place to give the romantic story of the marriage engagement between Francis Eotch, the owner of the Dart- mouth and the brother of the owner of the Bedford, and Madam Hayley, the widow of Alderman Hayley and sister of John Wilkes, and of its disruption. The lady, however, found a Yankee husband. She married, during a brief visit to Boston, a Mr. Jeffrey, of the firm of Jeffrey & Russell: of that city. Mr. Russell was of the Dartmouth family, and our old people have been frequently heard to speak of the sensation which Madame Jeffrey created on the occasion of a visit she made to the relations of her husband's partner in New Bedford. The ship Maria is more familiar to the people of New Bedford than either of the others. She was built for a privateer at Pembroke, Mas- sachusetts, in 1782. She was purchased by William Rotch and taken to Nantucket. Her first voyage was to London, with a cargo of oil. After that voyage she was employed in the whaling business. She was owned by Samuel Rodman, and the tradition is that she was a bridal present from his father-in-law Rotch on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter to Mr. Rodman. When the removal of the family to New Bedford took place, the Maria became a New Bedford ship, and remained in the family of Mr. Rodman between fifty and sixty years. It is said that in 1859 there was a balance upon the credit side of her account of $250,000. Her first whaling voyage ended on the 26th of September, 1795, and she sailed on her last under our flag on the 29th of September, 1859. In 1863 she was sold at Talcahuana, and passed under the Chilian flag. Her end was uncertain. One ac- count states that she foundered at sea in 1870, and another that she sunk in the harbor of Payta. We would inform the author of " The History of the American Flag." who has given an honorable place to these two historical ships in his interesting volume, that it was Mr. Hardy Hitch, and not Mr. Hardhitrh, who worked upon the sails of the Maria in 1792 and 1856. APPENDIX. 79 X. ACT OF INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NEW BEDFORD. AN ACT FOR INCORPORATING THE EASTERLY PART OF THE TOWN OF DARTMOUTH, IN THE COUNTY OF BRISTOL, INTO A SEPARATE TOWN, BY THE NAME OF NEW BEDFORD. FEBRUARY 23d, 1787. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of -the same : That the lands hereafter described, to wit, beginning at a bridge lying across a stream that runs through the beach by a place called Clark's Cove, thence running northerly as the main branch of the stream runs, till it comes to a little bridge lying across the County road, at the foot of a hill about twenty rods to the eastward of the dwelling-house where James Peckham, deceased, last dwelt; thence northerly on a strait line to Nathaniel Spoouer's saw-mill ; from thence northerly on the west side of Bolton's cedar swamp, till it comes to the dividing line between Dartmouth and Freetown, near the place called Aaron's causeway; thence east twenty-two degrees and one half north, in the dividing line between said towns to a rock known by the name of Peaked Rock; thence southerly by the County road that leads from Dartmouth to Boston, one hundred and eight rods to the south- west corner of Ebenezer Lewis' homestead farm; thence east about three hundred rods in the dividing line between Rochester and Dart- mouth, to a large white pine tree, marked on three sides ; thence south six degrees and one half east, in the dividing line between Dartmouth and Rochester to a heap of stones by the sea; thence westerly to the first mentioned bounds ; with all the islands heretofore known to be a part of Acquishnot village, with the inhabitants dwelling on the lands above described, be, and they are hereby incorporated into a town by the name of New Bedford; and the said town is hereby invested with all the powers, privileges and immunities to which towns within this Commonwealth are or may be entitled, agreeable to the Constitution and laws of said Commonwealth. Provided, nevertheless, ami b<- it further enacted, That any of the in- habitants now dwelling on the above described lands, who are or may be still desirous of belonging to the town of Dartmouth, shall at any time, within two years from the passage of this act, by returning their names into the Secretary's office, and signifying their desire of belong- ing to said Dartmouth, have that privilege; and shall, with their polls 80 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. and estates, belong to and be a part of the said Dartmouth ; they pay- ing their proportion of all taxes, which shall have been laid on the said village of Acquishnot, or town of New Bedford, previously to their thus returning their names, as they would by law have been holden to pay, had they continued and been a part of the town of New Bedford. Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the inhabitants of the said town of New Bedford shall pay all the arears of taxes which have been assessed upon them, and their proportionable part of what re- mains unpaid of the beef tax, so called, together with their proportion of all debts that are now due from the said town of Dartmouth, and shall support their own poor. Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the public lands, and the buildings standing thereon, also the town's stock of powder, and other town's property, shall be estimated and divided in the same pro- portion that each village paid in the last State tax, by committees to be appointed for that purpose, at their annual town meeting in March or April next; and whatever sum shall be found due to the town of Dartmouth in consequence of the work-house, standing within the line of New Bedford, as shall be reported by said committees, the in- habitants of said New Bedford shall pay to the said town of Dart- mouth. And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Elisha May, Esq., be, and he is hereby empowered, to issue his warrant directed to some principal inhabitant, requiring him to warn and give notice to the in- habitants of the said town of New Bedford to assemble and meet at some suitable place in the said town, to choose all such town officers as towns are required to choose at their annual town meetings in the month of March or April annually. APPENDIX. 81 XI. ^CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN. AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN. FEBRUARY 22d, 1812. SEC. 1. The easterly part of New Bedford, in the County of Bristol, as described within the following bounds, with the inhabitants thereon, be, and they are hereby incorporated into a separate town by the name of Fairhaven, viz. : Beginning at the mouth of Acushnet river, thence northerly by said river until it comes to the north side of a bridge at the head of said river; thence westerly by the north side of the high- way to Swift's Corner (so called) ; thence northerly by the easterly side of the highway which leads toRounseville's furnace until it comes to Freetown line ; thence easterly by the line of said Freetown till it comes to Peaked Eock (so called,) in the northeast corner of the town of New Bedford ; thence southerly by llochester line till it comes to Buzzard's Bay ; thence by said bay to the first mentioned bound. And the said town of Fairhaven is hereby vested with all the powers, priv- ileges, rights and immunities, and subject to all the duties and requi- sitions to which other towns are entitled and subjected by the consti- tution and laws of this Commonwealth. SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, that of all State and County taxes which shall be levied and required of said town, previous to a new valuation, the said town of Fairhaven shall pay three tenth parts thereof. SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, that all the expenses arising for the support of the poor of said town of New Bedford, with whom it is now chargeable, together with such poor as have removed out of said town prior to this act of incorporation, but who may hereafter lawfully return to said town for support, shall be divided between the two towns in proportion to the taxes which they are liable to pay respect- ively, according to this act. SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, that John Ilawes, Esquire, be, and he is hereby authorized to issue his warrant, directed to some suitable inhabitant of Fairhaven, requiring him to notify and warn the inhab- itants thereof, qualified to vote for town officers, to meet at such con- venient time and place as shall be expressed in his said warrant, to choose such officers as towns are by law authorized to choose in the mouths of March or April, annually. And that the said John Hawes, Esquire, be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered to preside at said meeting during the election of a moderator, and to exercise all the powers and do all the duties which town clerks by law have and do perform in the election of moderators of town meetings. K 82 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. XII. LINE BETWEEN NEW BEDFORD AND DARTMOUTH ALTERED. AN ACT ALTERING THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN THE TOWNS OF DARTMOUTH AND NEW BEDFORD. FEBRUARY 19th, 1831. From aud after the passing of this act, the dividing line between the towns of Dartmouth and New Bedford shall be as follows, viz. : Be- ginning at the head of Clark's Cove, thence north nine and one half degrees west, six rods to the middle of the bridge in the road leading across said beach : thence on the same course two hundred and forty- six rods to the southeast side of the Aponaganset road, opposite to the bridge ; thence north twenty-six degrees west, two hundred and seventy-six rods to the south side of the road leading from New Bed- ford to Smith's Mills, opposite to the westermost bridge ; thence north, twenty-two degrees west, about one hundred and ninety-four rods to a large peaked rock in the westerly part of Ebene*zer Hath- away's farm ; thence north, twenty-one degrees east, about two hun- dred and sixty rods te the bridge on the old road leading to Smith's Mills; thence north, forty-seven degrees west, about five hundred and eighty-six rods to a marked maple tree on the south side of Philip Allen's mill-dam ; thence north, fifteen degrees east, about one thou- sand and seventy-three rods to the Freetown line : provided, hoicerer, that the lands set from New Bedford to Dartmouth, or from Dartmouth to New Bedford, by the establishment of the line as aforesaid, shall be holden to pay all taxes heretofore assessed upon them, the same as if this act had not been passed. APPENDIX. 83 XIII. PART OF DARTMOUTH ANNEXED TO NEW BED- FORD. AN ACT TO ANNEX A PART OF THE TOWN OF DARTMOUTH TO THE TOWN OF NEW BEDFORD. MARCH 20th, 1845. SECTION 1. So much of the town of Dartmouth, in the county of Bristol, as lies easterly of a line beginning at a point near the north- west corner of Clark's Cove and running five rods east of Charles A. Walker's dwelling-house in a direct line to the west line of the lane next west of Melatiah Hathaway's dwelling-house, and theuce to the stone monument near Allen's Mills, being one of the monuments be- tween the towns of New Bedford and Dartmouth, with all the inhab- itants and estates thereon, is hereby set off from the town of Dart- mouth and annexed to the town of New Bedford. SECTION 2. Said inhabitants and estates so set off shall be liable to pay all taxes that have been legally assessed on them by the town of Dartmouth, in the same manner as if this act had not been passed. SECTION 3. Said town of New Bedford shall pay over to the said town of Dartmouth all such sums of money as shall be levied and col- lected from the inhabitants and estates set off as aforesaid, for their proportion of any state or county tax, until a new valuation of estates shall be made, according to the provisions of the constitution. SF.CTION 4. If any persons who have heretofore gained a legal set- tlement in the town of Dartmouth by reason of residence on the ter- ritory set off as aforesaid, or by having been proprietors thereof, or who may derive such settlement from any such resident or proprietor, shall come to want and stand in need of relief and support, they shall be relieved and supported by the town of New Bedford, in the same manner as if they had gained a legal settlement in that toAvn. 84 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. XIV. A PART OF ACUSHNET ANNEXED TO NEW BED- FORD. AN ACT TO ANNEX A PART OF THE TOWN OF ACUSHNET TO THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD. APKIL 9th, 1875. SECT. 1. All that part of the town of Acushnet, with all the inhab- itants, and estates therein, lying westerly of the following line, to wit: Beginning at the stone post numbered twenty-nine, at Davis Corner, so called, thence running north three degrees west to a stone post, five rods easterly of the house of Benjamin Peckham, and from thence northerly in a straight line to the stone post that marks the boundary line between New Bedford, Freetown and Acushnet, is here- by set off from the town of Acushnet and annexed to the city of New Bedford, and shall constitute a part of the first ward of the city of New Bedford until a new division of wards is made in said city. SECT. 2. All taxes already assessed by the town of Acushnet to the inhabitants of said territory hereby set off and annexed shall be paid by them to said town the same as if this act had not been passed : and all paupers who have gained or derived a settlement in said town, by a settlement gained within said territory, shall be relieved and sup- ported by the city of New Bedford in the same manner as if they had a legal settlement in said city. SECT. 3. The inhabitants residing on the said territory hereby an- nexed to the city of New Bedford, shall continue to be a part of the town of Acushnet for the purpose of electing a representative to the general court until the next apportionment shall be made, and it shall be the duty of the mayor and aldermen of the city of New Bedford to make a true list of all the persons in said territory qualified to vote at said election as required by law, and to deliver the same to the select- men of Acushnet, seven days at least before said election : and the same shall be taken and used by the said selectmen in the same manner as if it had been prepared by themselves. SECT. 4. The city of New Bedford shall annually pay to the town of Acushnet from and after the time when this act takes effect, one twenty-eighth part of all the state and county taxes thereafter required of said town, previous to a new state valuation or new basis for the apportionment of state and county taxes. APPENDIX. 85 XV. GENERAL GRAY'S RAID. [The following interesting article connected with the destruction of Bedford in 1778 by the British forces under General Gray, I find in The Independent Ledger and the American Advertiser, Boston, September 28th, 1778. The paper belongs to the Free Public Library. Attention has been called to it by the librarian.] [From the Providence Gazette.] The following extracts from General Gray's orders, previous to the enemy's disembarkation at Bedford, are sent you for publication. MAJOR-GEXERAL GRAY'S ORDERS. ON BOARD THE CARYSFOUT, September 4, 1778. When the enemy are so posted that they can be got at, the Major- General commands the troops that are ordered to attack them to march vigorously up, and receive their fire, till they come very close, and upon every proper opportunity they are to rush upon the enemy, with their bayonets, immediately after they have thrown their fire, without waiting to load again : in which method of attack, the superior cour- age and strength of the troops must always be crowned with glory and success. The Major-General is Impressed with every assurance, that the officers and men are so thoroughly convinced of the great ad- vantage they have over the enemy in this mode of fighting, and their great zeal for the service, that the present expedition cannot fail of success, but do them honor, and answer the expectations of the com- maiuler-in-chief, whose opinion of these troops cannot be more strongly manifested than by sending them upon this essential service. In case of bad weather, or other accidents, that any of the transports should be separated from the fleet and fall in with a privateer, so as to make an escape impossible, which may not be unlikely, many small ones being lurking about upon the watch, the Major-General desires the commanding officer of each transport would oblige the captain of the ship to bear immediately down upon such privateer, running him directly and without delay on board, the troops being ready at the critical moment to enter and take possession of the vessel. This being properly done, will ever succeed, the enemy not being aware of such au attack, and the troops so superior in every respect to put in exe- cution. The commanding officers are to be answerable that no houses or barns are set on fire by the soldiers, unless by particular orders from Major-General Gray.* * sixty-five years ago, thirty-three years only alter the event, a Quaker lady, whose father hail several buildings burned by Hie ISritish at that time, was heard to say that General Gray did not intend to destroy her lather's houses. That a distillery Mas near, which was first sacked and then burned, affords a double reason why Gen- eral Gray's order in relation to the homes of the villagers was not obeyed. From what is known of General Gray, however, we have reason to suppose that a very slight reason would have been sullicient to have called forth a "particular order." Tin' writer of the Old Dartmouth Centennial Ode describes the raiders as " Crazed by the demon of the still," and in a note he snys, "The distillery was one of the fir.-l buildings destroyed, and 86 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. The publication of these orders (exclusive of the valuable purposes it will answer by preparing our troops and privateers against this mode of attack) will naturally lead us to the following alternative, viz. : That either the British troops, by burning the houses at Bed- ford, have not shown that sacred regard to discipline, and observance of orders, from whence alone they pretend to derive a superiority over us ; or, that the late conflagration was in consequence of orders from General Gray. In either case disgrace must attend the British army. Four thousand chosen men, under the immediate command of the magnanimous General Gray, have effected, with great precaution, what a buccaneer might with safety accomplish at any time. Such daily proofs of judgment in their plans of operation, and the spirit and enterprise with which these plans are put in execution must (I should imagine) soon convince rebellion of the vanity of opposition. XVI. TOWN MEETING IN 1814. VOTES PASSED JULY 21, 1814. Voted, unanimously, as expressive of the sense of the inhabitants of this town, that inasmuch as we have been uniformly disapproved of the impolitic, unnecessary and ruinous war in which the United States are engaged, we have considered it our duty to abstain, and have scrupulously abstained from all interest and concern in sending out private armed vessels to harass the commerce of the enemy, and from all voluntary acts which appeared to us to have a tendency to prolong the duration, encourage the prosecution, or increase the rav- ages of the "unprofitable contest"; that we have seen with disappro- bation several private armed vessels belonging to other ports taking shelter in our peaceful waters, and regret that we have not the au- thority of law wholly to exclude them from our harbour, where they serve to increase our dangers and to excite tumult, disorder, riot and confusion. the excesses of the soldier* were, no doubt, to a great extent, owing to the contents of the YiiN. APPENDIX. 87 Voted, unanimously, as expressive of the sense of this town, that private armed vessels, while cruising in various climates and visiting ships and vessels from every country, are extremely liable to contract and receive on board infectious diseases, and that in all such cases there is reason to suspect that such vessels and the persons, baggage, clothing and goods on board may be infected with some contagious distemper. Voted, unanimously, as expressive of the sense of the inhabitants of this town, that the safety of the inhabitants thereof requires that any private armed vessel or vessels which shall arrive or be bound into the harbour of New Bedford, from any port or place, shall be re- quired to perform quarantine during a term of not less than forty days ; and that the Selectmen and Health Committee of the town be requested to cause all such vessels to perform quarantine at such places as they shall appoint and under such restrictions and regula- tions as they may judge expedient. Voted, That the privateer called the Yankee, now in this port, be ordered by the Selectmen immediately on quarantine ground, to be designated by them, for forty days. Voted, That the town will indemnify the Selectmen from all harm which may accrue to them in the execution of their duties in enforc- ing the quarantine laws, as well in regard to the Yankee privateer as all other vessels. Voted, That the following persons be a committee of safety, whose business will be to advise and direct in measures that may best secure the peace and safety of the town in case of invasion by an enemy. Roger Haskell, Samuel Perry, William Hathaway, Francis llotch, Rowland R. Crocker, James Washburn, Lemuel Williams, Jr., John A. Parker, Lewis Ludlam, Cornelius Grinuell. XVII. NEW BEDFORD IN THE WAR OF 1812-15. The necessary limitations of the address would not allow of details in relation to the second war with Great Britain. A few items are here given. In another part of the appendix will be found 88 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. an account of a ''Town Meeting in 1814," which clearly illustrates the feelings of the people in relation to the war and its privateering aux- iliaries. It was a sad war for our little community ; for the commerce of the country was swept from the ocean, and it was upon the ocean alone that the inhabitants of New Bedford depended for support. The losses were heavy and the suffering was great; and there are some who will read this who still retain a vivid recollection of the deprivations which followed the closing of the ocean highways and cruising grounds to the enterprise and skilful daring of our merchants and sailors. There will be found by the local historian who shall one day look minutely into the events of the three years conflict, many incidents connected with it of which New Bedford and its vicinity was the scene, that will reward his researches and be found interesting to the descendants of the actors then upon the stage. There was, in the summer of 1814, a large detachment of the militia of this part of the state ordered to New Bedford for its defence. There were at that time probably a thousand men under arms in the town, including our own military companies. We publish the names of the members of the two New Bedford mili- tary companies then on active duty. This we have been enabled to do by an examination of the rosters of the several companies com- posing the command of Lieut. -Col. Benjamin Lincoln, which were de- tached for service at New Bedford. The record is very complete. This valuable contribution to our local annals is in the possession of the Free Public Library, to which institution it was presented by Mrs. Caroline Lincoln Whitridge, the daughter of the Lieutenant-Colonel in command, afterwards Major-General Benjamin Lincoln. We find but little of incident in this military record. Several courts- martial were held, for desertion and other grave offences. One poor boy-flfer, who said he did not mean to run away, was sentenced to close confinement during his term of service, and to have his whiskey stopped. Lucky sentence for the boy. One officer deserted at the first alarm, and a private fled beyond the reach of a squad sent for him. OFFICERS OF THE REGIMENT. Benjamin Lincoln, Lieut.-Col. Com- manding; Edward Pope, Major; John Coggeshall, Major of Artillery; Elisha Tobey, Adjt. ; William Kempton, Quartermaster; Samuel Perry, Surgeon; Elijah Wilbur, Qr. Mastr. Segt. ; Levi Peirce, Major; Eben- ezer Hunt, Major; Daniel Lane, Adjt. Artly. All of these were of New Bedford, excepting Tobey, Peirce, Hart, and Lane. In Captain Reuben Swift's company, formed at the "Head of the River," there were the following men from New Bedford. William Swift, 1st Sgt. ; Allen Bowen, 3d do. ; and Nathaniel Spooner, Lemuel Armsby, Elijah Parker, Jr., Oliver Wolcott, Peter APPENDIX. 89 Taber, Cornelius Pope, Samuel Hammond, William Tobey, 3d, Samuel J. Tobey, James Wood, John Freeman, Stephen Wing, 2d, James Davis, Jr., Joshua Spooner, Stillman Washburn, G. Weston, Micah Spooner, Jr., John Williams, Abraham Reynolds, Asa Crapo, Benja- min S. Hathaway, Philip Reynolds, Privates. This company was stationed at Clark's Cove, in New Bedford, for the purpose of forming a regular guard around Clark's Point from the Cove to the Smoking Rocks. The only New Bedford men in Captain William Nye's company from Fairhaven, were the captain, Loum Snow, and James Taber. INFANTRY COMPANY. Roll of Capt. Nathaniel Nelson's company of detached troops sta- tioned at New Bedford, ordered out by Lieut. -Col. Benjamin Lincoln, June, 1814. Officers. Nathaniel Nelson, Captain; Job Gray, Jr. (Fairhaven, sick and did no duty,) Lieut; George Clark, Ensign * * * * ; Benja- min Warren, 1st Sgt. ; Gamaliel Hart, 2d Sgt. ; Nathaniel Perry, 3d Sgt. ; Thomas Riddell, 4th Sgt. ; Charles Hathaway, Drill Sgt. ; David Rowland, Corporal; James Proud, do. ; Robert Tuckerman, do. ; Charles Covel do. ; Alanson Caswell, Drummer; Charles Pratt, Fifer; Abner Soule, Captain's Waiter. Privates. David Allen, Joseph Wilcox, Josiah L. Bliss, William Tuckerman, Edward Gardner, Willet Seabury, Joseph Merrett, Na- thauiel Bassett, Charles Gilbert, Benjamin Hammond, Nye Holmes, Jonathan Jlnn-iund, Jr., Elisha Briggs, William W. Kempton, James Babcock, Samuel Proud, Josiah Winslow, Ivory C. Albert, Uriah Head, Perry Jenkins, Russell Wood, Thomas Kempton, William Lane, Will- iam Cudworth, lleman Cushman, Oliver Price, Jr., A very Parker, 2d, John Sisson, Thomas Durfee, Stephen Hovvland, Elisha Clark, Moses Washburn, Thomas Burrell, Charles Wood, Stanton Burch, Richard Hill, Stephen West, Jr., John Wadkins, Jonathan Haffords, Benjamin Brownell, David Wilber, Felix Filuel, Exra Hathaway, * * * * Warren Mosher, Noel Taber, John Akin, Benjamin B. Covell, William Bliss, Jr., Michael Randall, Elijah Knap, Tillinghast Tompkius, Elihu Mosher, 2d, James Haffords (armorer,) Merill Hathaway, Israel Smith, Henry Frederick, Hampton Peirce, Gardner Chase, Benjamin Douglas. Total, 70; including officers. The preceding company was stationed in New Bedford, ready for service at a moment's warning; did fatigue duty, &c. All the members of this company were of New Bedford excepting Lieut. Gray, who was from Fairhaven, Charles Wood, who was from Dartmouth, and the last six named on the list, who were from Free town. I believe that four* only of the company are living. Charles * Robert Tuckerman, Jonathan Howland, Jr., Thomas Durfee, and John Akin. L 90 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Gilbert was killed by a stupid sentinel, stationed at the guu-house on Spring street, near Sixth. He was going the rounds in the night in- specting the posts, and not answering promptly the first demand for the countersign, he was shot and instantly killed. [August, 187G.] ARTILLERY COMPANY. Return Pay-Roll of Capt. Samuel Stall's company of artillery, of the '2d Brig. 5th Division of Massachusetts Militia, stationed in New Bed- ford, and detached by order of Lieut. -Col. Benjamin Lincoln : Oncers. Samuel Stall, Capt. ; Frederick Mayhew, 1st Lieut. ; Hay- don Coggeshall, 2d Lieut. ; Thomas Earl, Sergt. ; George S. Dunham, do ; Thomas Martfn, do. ; Jesse Haskell, do. ; David Kempton, Corp. ; Thomas Ellis, do. ; Peleg Clarke, do. ; Watson Ellis, do. ; George Cas- well, Drummer: Russell Booth, Fifer; John Wrightington, Matross. Privates. Charles Coggeshall, Nathan Perry, Lloyd Hjidnnd, John Heath, Nash De Cost, Martin Hathaway, Sylvanus Sowle, Ira Caswell, Isaac Kempton, Wing Howland, Josiah Smith, Thomas Maxfleld, Abraham Peirce, Warren Maxfield, James Cannon, Henry Coffin, Bry- ant Macomber, Henry Place, Jonathan Giflbrd, Avery Parker, Smith Stetson, Griffin Barney, Jr., John Reynolds, Barnabas Smith, Ezekiel Tripp, James Howland, 3d, Allen Shearman, Edmund Jackson, Joseph L. Jenney, John P. West, Richard West, Isaac Smith. New Bedford, August, 18 H. But two of this company survive, Lloyd Rowland, a resident of New Bedford, and John Heath, who lives, it is believed, in Brooklyn, N. Y. [August, 187(5.] XVIII. THE SHIP EEBECCA. BY WILLIAM T. RUSSELL. [Prepared December, 1844.] The ship Rebecca was the first ship built in New Bedford. She was launched in the spring of 1785. George Claghorn was the master car- penter, who afterwards built the frigate Constitution, the pride of our navy. APPENDIX. 91 The Rebecca was owned by Joseph Russell and his sons Barnabas and Gilbert Russell. The timber of which she was built was chiefly cut in the southwesterly part of the town, now covered with houses and gardens. She measured 175 67-95 tons, which at that time was considered so immensely large that she was the wonder and the ad- miration of all the country round. People from Taunton, Bridge- water, and all the neighboring towns, came to New Bedford to see the big ship. There was a woman figure-head carved for her, and when it was about being put upon her a number of the Friends' Society re- monstrated against so vain and useless an ornament, and she went to sea without it. The owners of the Rebecca had some difficulty ill finding a man of sufficient experience to trust with the command of so big a ship. Now we have a schooner of larger tonnage running to New York, as a packet; (schooner Richmond is 180 tons.) James Haydon was finally selected for her captain, and Cornelius Griunell chief mate. She sailed on her first voyage to Philadelphia, from thence to Liverpool. The second voyage Cornelius Grinnell was captain, and continued to command her for six years. The Rebecca was the first American whaleship that doubled Cape Horn. She was commanded by Captain Kearsley, and made a success- ful voyage, obtaining a cargo of sperm oil on the coast of Chili, and returning in about twelve mouths. The Rebecca finally made a disastrous end. She sailed from Liver- pool for New York in the autumn of 1798, commanded by Captain Gardner, (the father of the present Captains Gardner,) and has never been heard of from that time to this. NOTE. Capt. Cornelius Rowland and Caleb Greene, the schoolmaster, were owners in the Rebecca when she made her Pacific voyage. Some of the schooners of the present day are nearly four times the size of the Rebecca. She was not the first ship built in Bedford. The building of the Dartmouth has an earlier date, and our late fellow-citi/en Thoma.- Kempton said that a ship culled the Bedford was built on the west .-idc of the Aciislinct as early as 1770. This could not have been the historic Bedford. Frederick ('. San ford, of Nantucket, in his valuable and interesting article in the Naiitucket Inquirer, is."rf, on the Pioneers of the Whale Fishery, says that "in 1791 our ships entered the Pacific. ' This is the year that the Rebecca doubled Cape Horn. Accounts differ as to which took the lead in the adventure, Nantucket or New Bedford. In a letter dated August -JTth, 1S7<>, Mr. Sanlbrd says that " in consequence of the great Micce^s in the Pacific of ships from London and Mr. Rotch's ships from Dunkirk, /./ >hips were in 17!NI fitted for whaling in that ocean from Nantucket. The Beaver sailed lir.-t, August, 17U1." The first start from this country for doubling Cape Horn wa- no doubt from Nantucket. The Itebecra \\ as not lit tc< I for the Pacitic. Information obtained on the voyage induced the captain to try his luck there. Which of the two ships lh>t rounded the Cape does not appear, is not of much importance. The following extracts form a part of the conclusion of Mr. Sanford's interesting article. His description of the vessels and the men employed in this bold enterprise, will apply to the New I'.edford as well as to the Nantiicket pioneers engaged in it. 92 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. No one will question the truth of the portrait he has drawn of the hardy, hold, and enterprising men of Nantucket, who were the world-renowned leaders in this extra- ordinary branch of the world's industrial pursuits. The story of the whalers borders upon the romance of history, and deserves an abler historian than any who have yet attempted to relate it. Who so well qualified as the writer of (lie article from which we have quoted? " In 1791 our ships entered the Pacific in pursuit of their prey. They doubled < 'ape Horn in a class of vessels that would be considered unsafe at this day to perform a summer voyage across the Atlantic, small in size, not exceeding 250 tons in burthen, heavy, dull sailers, without copper on their bottoms, poorly and scantily fitted in- deed, but manned with men of an iron nerve, and an energy that knew no turning, and here again they were successful." "lam fully aware that New Bedford surpasses all other places engaged in the whale fishery, in wealth and prosperity; success has followed exertion in a ratio of one hundred fold, and there are very few places in our country which have arisen to such a height of prosperity in so short a period. It seems almost the work of an enchanter." "Other places have eclipsed Nantucket of late, but the well-earned fame of our sires knows no diminution, but brightens their laurels as time lessens their numbers. Nantucket may with an honest pride look back to a long list of worthies, men filled with interminable perseverance and an energy that defied and overcame all oh.-ta. cles, a list that will bear no unworthy comparison with Samuel Adams and his revo- lutionary companions, as deserving of her pride as the jewels of Cornelia." XIX. INTERESTING TOWN MEETING, JANUARY 4, 1847. THE LAST TOWN MEETING ; THE WATER STREET CONTROVERSY. Vote to accept Water street on condition that bonds are given to save town harmless. and Maxfield Street extension accepted to Hillman street on condi- tion, Jany. 21, 1846. Town-meeting in relation to northerly extention, Jany. 4th, 1847. On memorial of Samuel Kodman he seeks release from the bond for $2000 for damages to George Rowland. James B. Congdon moderator of meeting. Edward Merrill moves that S. Rodman be released from the payment. Sampson Perkins moves that the whole subject be indefinitely post- poned. APPENDIX. 93 Thomas D. Eliot moves reference to committee. meeting adjourned to afternoon. T. D. Eliot's motion withdrawn. motion of postponement negatived. Edward Merrill's motion carried Y. 159, N. 134. S. Rodman to be released and bond cancelled. Another meeting called. Art. 1. accep. of Water to Maxfleld St. discontinuance of Water from North Street to its northern terminus. meeting in relation to, Jan. llth, 1847, James B. Congdon moderator. moderator declares no action can be had in relation to the layout of the streets north to Maxfleld. Thomas Barstow moves the indefinite postponement of the propo- sition to discontinue the street. Communication from George Howland. Note. The following is a copy of the note from George Rowland. "To the citizens of New Bedford in town meeting assembled. I stand ready, whenever the town will discontinue North Water street, from the north side of North street to the north side of contemplated Hillman street or continuance North Water street to contemplated Maxfleld street, to refund to the town the f 2000 paid me for damages for land taken in the extention of said Water street, northerly. Signed GEORGE HOWLAND. Another communication from G. Howland. Note. The following is the second note from George Howland, " George Howland will not encumber the passage now used from North street to Samuel Rodman's wharf for 5 years and at any time during his life he will suffer the town to lay out Water street to Max- field street without cost so far as he is concerned : provided the land owners between North street and Maxfleld street would give the laud over which the street shall pass and permit the street to be continued to Maxfleld street without expense to the town so far as the proprie- tors of the land are concerned. Signed. GEORGE HOWLAND by MATTHEW HOWLAND. remarks made by Sampson Perkins and Tim th y G. Coffin in opposition to postponement : by Rodney French, Benjamin Rodman, and E. M. Robinson in favor of postponement. Meeting adjourned to afternoon. E. M. Robinson continues in favor of posp t . Sampson Perkins, George Randall and A. Barker in opposition. David R. Greene & Rodney French in support of the motion. 94 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Meeting adjourned to Jan. 12 at 9 o'clock. . Adjournment. Motion for indefinite postponement withdrawn. Renewed by David R. Greene. R. French resumed in favor of postponement, followed by E. M. Robinson & D. R. Greene on same side. &by Sampson Perkins & Ab m Barker in opposition. Question decided in the negative Y. 169 N. 183. Sampson Perkins moves that Water street from North street to its northern terminus be discontinued. Pending the motion the meeting adjourned. Adjourned meeting at 2.43 For fire department, 7,000 For new alms-house, 12,000 For incidental and miscellaneous, 4,800 Making an aggregate of $70,730. 4:; To meet this expenditure, and to pay the state tax of 1,510.50, and the county tax of $6,674.90, there has been assessed a tax of seventy- five thousand dollars, just the amount of the state tax voted by the last General Court. 102 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Real estate', $6,132,300 Personal estate, !V>. - 57,000 The property of the town has been valued by the assessors, at $1.,7G9,300 The number of taxables, is 4,141 The number of polls, is (males twenty years of age and upwards) :i.7-l The number of persons who pay a poll tax only, is 2,160 One hundred and seventy-five of the taxables are people of colour. Several of them are large tax-payers. There are above one thousand coloured persons residing in the town. The valuation in the year 1836, was $11,360,350 For 1S14, it was 14,767,000 After making this financial exhibit, it will not be thought necessary to go much into detail as to the condition of the several departments. Liberality of expenditure and a vigilant supervision are evident in every branch of the public affairs of New Bedford. The public schools are, as we have seen, liberally provided for; their condition furnishes unequivocal evidence that the munificent appropriations of the inhab- itants are, and have been, expended under the direction of intelligent and devoted committee men. From the last report of the School Committee, we see that twenty- eight public schools are sustained by the town, and that forty-seven teachers are constantly employed. Of this large number of teachers only four are males. A new brick school-house, for the accommodation of the public high- school, and one or more schools of a lower grade, has just been com- pleted. It has been built at an expense of about twelve thousand dol- lars, and is a beautiful and convenient structure. The number of public school-houses is seventeen. Perhaps, no better evidence of the effective character of the fire de- partment can be given than the fact, that although nearly all the build- ings are of wood, the town has never been visited by an extensive conflagration. This department consists of a board of firewardens, twenty in number, from which three engineers are selected, a hook and ladder company, a company for the protection of property, and ten engine companies. For every engine, ten in number, a convenient house has been provided. The whole number of men belonging to the department is five hundred and twenty-five. Ten dollars a year id allowed to the firemen. The selectmen, in their last annual report, hold the following lan- guage in relation to the department : "The engines and apparatus attached to them, and all the other fire apparatus of the town, are in good order, as are the buildings appro- priated to their use, and the reservoirs, distributed over every part of the village, can, it is believed, afford an ample supply of water for any APPENDIX. , 103 emergency. These gratifying facts, connected with the still more im- portant one, that we have a body of firemen who have not been, and cannot be, surpassed for all those qualities which give vigour and efficiency to the operations of a fire department, and which give cairn- ness and assurance to the inhabitants when alarmed by the cry of fire, are sources of well-founded gratulation, and make valid the claim of our department to an elevated position among similar establishments of our country, and in the estimation of those for whose safety and protection it has been founded and sustained." For the economical and comfortable support of the poor, no place has ever been found, so perfect as that which places them, under proper supervision, upon a farm. This mode was adopted many years ago by New Bedford. A farm of about a hundred acres was pur- chased, the cost of which, with the buildings, which were then erected, was about seven thousand dollars. We have seen the annual outlay. The farm has been increasing in value, and is now computed to be worth ten thousand dollars. A new alms-house is now in process of erection, which will cost about fifteen thousand dollars. A pleasauter and more commanding situation than that occupied by the present building, has been selected, and it will, when completed, not only be a safe and comfortable dwelling for the poor, but an ornament to the town, by whose enlightened liberality it will have been erected. In their care for the living, the inhabitants have not been unmindful of what is due to the dead. A public place of burial, called Oak Grove Cemetery, has been provided, containing eight acres of ground. A part of the cemetery is laid out in lots, the exclusive occupancy of which may be obtained from the authorities for a small consideration. The remainder is devoted to indiscriminate burial. It is a beautiful spot. Nature has been lavish of her gifts, and good taste marks the arrangements which have been made by the officers of the town to adapt the grounds to its sacred purpose. "The funds which have been derived from the lots taken by individuals," say the selectmen in the- report before quoted, "have enabled the authorities to add to the convenience and beauty of the spot which has been selected as a place for the public interment of the dead, and every citizen, whatever may be his designs or wishes, with regard to\himself or his friends, cannot but be gratified that the Common Burying Ground has, by the plan which has been adopted, been saved from that aspect of loathsomeness and abandonment, too often exhibited in such locations." The Rural Cemetery, a private ground, is well laid out ; and although not possessing the natural advantages of the other, the chaste and beautiful monuments, the neat inclosures, and the green shrubbery, give it a pleasing appearance, and speak of the possession, on the part of those who have availed of it as a place of sepulture, of those re- fined and exalted sentiments, which lead to the selection and embel- 104 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. lishrnents of nature's loveliest spots, as a final resting-place for the departed. In this town the curbing and flagging the side-walks, as well as all the other operations upon the streets, are performed at the public ex- pense. To this it is owing that the sum expended upon the highways has been so large. Between fifty and sixty thousand dollars have been expended upon the side-walks alone. Nearly every one of the streets will, at the close of the present year, have one of its side-walks flagged. Some of the more public thoroughfares are paved and have both the side-walks flagged. The Town Hall is a magnificent structure. It is built of granite, and is one hundred feet long and sixty-one feet wide, and three stories in height. The lower story, or basement, is occupied as a public market. This room is spacious and convenient, and its stalls in good order, and all furnished with marble benches for the meats ; and for the most part supplied with an abundance of those articles usually found in the public market. The second story is a hall for public meetings, eighty by sixty feet. In the third story are rooms for the accommodation of the officers of the town. Connected with the office of the Town Clerk, is a large fire-proof apartment, in which the records and papers of the town are deposited. In the hall is suspended a full length portrait of Washington, painted by William A. Wall, a native artist, from Stuart's celebrated picture, and presented to the town by a small number of the citizens. It has been pronounced, by competent judges, to be well and faithfully exe- cuted; and while it reflects credit upon the artist, and upon the public spirit of the individuals who caused it to be executed, it is highly ornamental to the beautiful hall. The edifice, which with the land beneath and around it, cost the town the sum of sixty thousand dollars, has been called by many, the . handsomest building in New England devoted to civic purposes. Having glanced at the principal subjects connected with the town of a public or municipal character, let us for a moment look at what there is worthy of attention in the pursuits of its inhabitants, and the re- sults which have attended the exertions of individuals and corporate bodies. We have already spoken of that pursuit which forms the principal business of the town. A few details are wanting to give a complete idea of its extent, character, and results. The number of vessels belonging to the town, engaged in the whal- ing business, is two hundred and fifty-one. They are all ships but five. Collectively they measure eiyhty-tico thousand one hundred and sixty- tico tons. These ships are navigated and their operations carried on by crews APPENDIX. 105 numbering, on an average, not far from thirty men each. This makes the number on board the fleet above seven thousand, as has already been stated. These vessels, averaging them, have cost the owners more than thirty thousand dollars each. This of course includes the cost of the outfit. At this low estimate, then, the value of the New Bedford whaling fleet is seven million Jive hundred and thirty thousand dollars. Add to this the value of the wharves, and oil, and candle factories, and the coopering, blacksmithing, boat building, warehouses, and other mechanical establishments directly connected with, and depend- ent upon, the whaling operations, and we shall find that the amount of capital engaged in the business of catchiny oil from this town alone, will vary but little from nine millions of dollars. During the year 1844, there was brought into the port by the New Bedford fleet S]H'7-m oil, 54,509 Whale oil, 102,992 Making an aggregate of 157,501 barrels, Or four million nine hundred and sixty-one thousand two hundred and eighty-one and a half gallons. During the same time, nine hundred and seventj'-eight thousand five hundred and ninety-two pounds of whalebone were imported. The value of the importation is ascer- tained as follows : l,717,0:53i galls, sperm oil, at 00 cents, $1,545,330.15 ;;.-JI4,-Jls " whale oil, " 75 cents, 1,175,486.80 !>7S,5!i2 pounds whalebone," 35 cent-, . : !!->, 507.20 Total value of the product of the fishing for the year 1844, $3,003,324.1 j More than three millions of dollars. About one third of this amount is paid to the crews of the ships. Up to the 25th day of July, of the present year, the importations have been Sperm oil, :55,-161 Whale oil, 68,101 103,50-2 barrels, And about seven hundred thousand pounds of whalebone. At the same prices the value of the receipts this year up to the above named date is $2,001,235.2~i, more than two millions of dollars. In the year 1843 the results of the fishery were as follows : Whole number of barrels of oil, Sperm oil, 01,060 Whale oil, W.'.til 101 ,988 barrels. 10G CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. This importation, with the whalebone which was brought in the same year, about 360,000 pounds, was estimated to have been worth two million three hundred thousand dollars. On the first day of January, 1844, the number of ships in the fishery was two hundred and nineteen, measuring 69,703 tons. The number is now two hundred and fifty-one, measuring 82,162 tons, showing an increase in about a year and a half of thirty-two ships, and in the ton- nage 12,459 tons; about 15 per cent, in the number of vessels and 18 per cent, in the amount of tonnage. The district of New Bedford includes the towns of Dartmouth, New Bedford, Fairhaven, and Rochester. There are belonging to the district, one hundred and seventeen thousand five hundred and sixty-nine tons of shipping. This shows it to rank as the fourth tonnage district in the United States : New York, Boston, and New Orleans exceeding it. New Bedford alone has more than double the amount of registered tonnage owned in Philadelphia. In the district the registered tonnage is 108,640 tons. Enrolled tonnage is 8,929 tons. 117,569 tons. In the year 1835, August 1st, the tonnage of the district Avas but 73,982 tons. On the first day of January, of the present year, there were em- ployed in the whale fishery, from the United States, 643 ships, 35 brigs, and 17 schooners and sloops. The tonnage was 218,655 tons. Since that time there has been a considerable increase. The number of ves- sels now engaged in the business is about 720. The manufacture of the products of the fishery forms one important part of the business of the town. Much of the sperm oil imported is prepared for use by the different processes by which spring, summer, fall, and winter oil, (as the different kinds are called, according to the season when the oil is pressed,) are produced, before it finds its way to the various markets of the country : and from the spermaceti, an article exclusively the product of the spermaceti whale, is manufac- tured the spermaceti candle, so universally admired and esteemed for its pleasant light. There are about twenty oil and candle maufac- 'tories in the town, most of which are in operation. A large amount of capital is invested in this branch of business, and several hundred persons find regular and healthful employment in connexion with it. A large portion of the right whale, or, as it is generally called, whale or black oil, is exported to the north of Europe. The manufacture for the purification of this kind of oil is carried on to some extent in the town, and more extensively in the country, the high price of sperm APPENDIX. 107 oil causing it to be much used in lamps as a substitute for the purer and dearer article. Much of the sperm oil is consumed in the various manufactories of this country and England. It is thought, by some, that the time is not far distant when the whole importation of this article will be re- quired for the purposes of oiling machinery. Nothing has yet been found which can be used as a substitute for pure sperm oil upon delicate machinery. It will be readily seen that the prosecution of the business iu which New Bedford is engaged, must necessarily give employment to a large amount of labour not immediately connected with the operations of procuring the oil. Many of the ships belonging to the town have been built there, and no better ships float the ocean than those which have been launched from the ship yards of New Bedford and the neighbouring town of Fairhaven. The business of repairing the ships gives employment to a large number of shipwrights, and before anything is done towards placing on board the whaler the outfit for her voyage, calkers, riggers, sail-makers and painters find a demand for the exercise of their re- spective crafts. But our space will not allow us to enter into the details of the op- eration of fitting out a whale ship. The amount of from two to five thousand barrels or casks are required for each vessel, and while Michigan supplies the staves, and Fall River, Wareham, and Taunton furnish the hoops, New Bedford mechanics supply the labour which puts the raw material into a shape to fit it for the use of the whaler. The thousand whale boats which are now hanging upon the cranes of the gallant ships, or which are driven forward by their hardy crews, in pursuit of the ocean monsters, are all the product of the New Bed- ford workshop. The irons which fasten the whaler to his victim, and the lance which gives the death blow and ends the contest, are wrought by the skill and industry of New Bedford artisans. Largely have the mechanics and labourers of this thriving town shared in the benefits which have crowned the whaling enterprises of the inhabitants. We may be mistaken, but from the observations and inquiries which we have been enabled to make, we have arrived at the conclusion that there is not a town in New England where so large a, proportion of the property is held by what are generally termed the working men, the mechanics and labourers of the place. Take the men on board the ships, who we have seen number over seven thou- sand, and add to them the men, women, and children who, upon the shore, are engaged in some one of the numerous vocations directly connected with the whaleman's operations, and it will be found, that in the New Bedford whaling business and its various branches, daily 108 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. employment is given to more than ten thousand persons. Add to these the great numbers who, in various parts of the world, are fur- nishing the materials which are demanded, and the supplies which are consumed, in the prosecution of the fisheries, and those who find em- ployment in the disposition which is made of the profits of the busi- ness, and the aggregate would present astonishing and gratifying evidence of its magnitude and importance. In connexion with this branch of our subject we would notice the cordage manufactory recently put into operation. The moving force is two steam engines of twenty horse power each. About seventy-five persons are employed, half of whom are females. Not far from four hundred tons of cordage are annually manufactured. Our remarks in relation to the business of the place, have thus far been confined to those pursuits directly appertaining to that branch of industry in which the inhabitants are so generally and so deeply en- gaged. To give a faithful picture of the industrial aspects of the town, we may add a word in relation to other business operations. Steam, as a moving power, is fast increasing here. Two planing machines, a manufactory of looking-glasses and picture frames, two mills for grinding grain, several blacksmithing and carpentering estab- lishments, and a manufactory of Prussian blue, from which a beautiful article is turned out, are to a greater or less extent in operation through the instrumentality of the steam engine. An extensive es- tablishment for the manufacture of linseed oil, by steam, will go into operation in a few weeks. The business of making paper hangings is carried on. Carriage making, to an annual amount of fifty thousand dollars, employs quite a number of mechanics. The products of their industry are all consumed in the town. The large number of livery stables, and the somewhat unusual number of individuals who keep their own carriages, make this branch of business extensive and profitable. The New Bedford Marine Railway and Wharf Company have a cap- ital of fifty thousand dollars, and on a small island owned by them, separated from the busiest part of the town by a narrow channel, and connected with it by a portion of the bridge, one mile in length, which unites New Bedford with the opposite town of Fairhaven, they have, beside wharves, warehouses, dwelling-houses, and mechanics' shops, a marine railway, which affords great facilities for cleaning and repair- ing the smaller class of vessels. The two individuals who compose that company are extensively engaged in dredging operations in vari- ous parts of the country, as well as in their own town. They have machines in operation, several of them moved by steam power, in Canada, and in four different States of the Union. The New Bedford Institution for Savings holds funds to the amount APPENDIX. 109 of four hundred and twelve thousand dollars. The number of depos- itors is nineteen hundred and forty. There are four banks, the united capitals of which amount to thir- teen hundred thousand dollars. These corporations severally own the buildings in which they are kept. That occupied by the Merchants' and Mechanics' Banks, is a line structure of brick, with a front of hewn granite from the Fall River quarry. The pillars and other orna- mental work of the Town Hall are of the same material. This granite has been thought, by some, to be superior to that procured at Quincy. There are now but two insurance offices in the town, both con- ducted on the mutual principle. Four stock offices are now winding up their affairs. One of these, the Merchants', presents an example of successful operation seldom exhibited. In September next, it will be twenty years since it commenced business. Funds for a dividend at that time are now on hand. The company will then have paid out to its stockholders, upon a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, three hundred and eiyhty thousand dollars, or nineteen per cent, per annum, and have its whole capital and a small surplus remaining. It now has but few risks out, all of which are re-insured. The New Bedford and Tauuton Railroad is. twenty miles long. It connects the two places whose names the corporation bears, and WHS constructed at an expense of four hundred thousand dollars. Nearly all the stock is owned in New Bedford, the managers are residents in that town, and so successful has it been in its operations that the stock is uo\v held at twenty-five per cent, advance. A glance at the benevolent, religious, and educational aspects of the place will finish our sketch of this village of the whalers. Among the benevolent undertakings of the inhabitants, the first in importance is that which is sustained by the New Bedford Port Soci- ety. They have built a church, a small, but neat, wooden edifice, where services are every Sunday performed by a minister, who, in addition to his labours on that day, is expected to devote nearly all his time to the promotion of the temporal and spiritual welfare of the sailor. An evening meeting is held once a week. A registry office is connected with the "bethel," and its pages are often the means of giving, to distant friends and relatives, information of those who wander from their homes and seek employment upon the decks of the whale-ship. This society has a lady's branch, which has established a clothing store, where the sailor is sure to find well made articles of apparel, and which have the additional recommendation of being, for the most part, the work of the wives, widows, and daughters of the seaman. For an Orphan's Home, a convenient dwelling has been purchased, where the children reside under the care of a matron and school-mis- tress. This establishment, under the supervision and control of the 110 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. society of females, by whose energy and benevolence it has been es- tablished and sustained, bids fair to be a highly useful institution. The Bible Society is a branch of the American Institution. Its op- erations have been, for the most part, confined to the supply of the destitute sailors, and of such as might be found without the scriptures within the limits of the town. No ship leaves the harbour of New Bedford without a supply of Bibles for all on board. The Benevolent Society, and the Dorcas Society, in a quiet unob- trusive way, seek out and relieve the destitute and the suffering. By far the largest part of the benevolent operations of the town are sus- tained by the efforts of females, and a weekly gathering at the Town Hall, at which the industry and kindness of the New Bedford ladies are exercised for the relief of sickness and privation, presents a sight far more attractive than the crowded drawing-room or festive hall. The only literary societies, are the Xew Bedford Social Library As- sociation, and the New Bedford Lyceum, both incorporated institu- tions. The latter is confined to a provision for a course of lectures during the winter. It has a small amount of funds, the income of which, with the annual payments for tickets, are more than sufficient to compensate the lecturers and provide a room for their accommoda- tion. It has been in operation about seventeen years. The Library Association is a much older institution. From a small beginning, in the infancy of the town, it has "grown with its growth, and strengthened with its strength," until it has arrived at a position of stability and usefulness highly gratifying to its friends and credit- able to the community. Its library contains five thousand four hun- dred volumes, and every year witnesses an increase. The books are allowed to be taken out by the proprietors, and an annual assessment furnishes the means of adding to the number and of paying the ex- penses of the institution. We have already spoken of the public schools. An interesting fact, connected with them, is the establishment of a public library exclu- sively for their use. By the enlightened liberality of the state and the town governments, a fund has been provided for a school library, which already numbers two thousand volumes. By a judicious decis- ion of the school committee, the means placed at their disposal were concentrated in the establishment of one library, instead of being di- vided among the different schools, as has been generally the case in the towns of the state ; and the committee room in the Town Hall, fitted up for the purpose, makes a neat and convenient place of de- posit, and delivery to the children, for whose benefit the books have been purchased. There is one other library in the town. It belongs to the Friends' Academy, and contains two thousand volumes. This academy is an incorporated institution, and, in addition to the use of the books, the APPENDIX. Ill pupils have the advantage of a valuable philosophical apparatus. The academy building is delightfully situated on the rising ground in the west part of the town, and in the centre of a large inclosure beauti- fully set out with ornamental trees. The corporation has a fund which in part supports the institution. The names of the late William Eotch, of this town, and of Samuel Elam, of Newport, are associated with this academy as its early patrons and benefactors. Its pupils are now exclusively females. The adherents of almost every shade of religious belief are to be found in New Bedford. Twenty-one different houses of public worship exist within its limits. The Methodists, including a society of col- oured persons and one of Reformed Methodists, have five, the ortho- dox Congregationalists have four, the Baptists, Friends, Episcopalians, Unitarians, Universalists, Roman Catholics, and Mormons, have each one, and the Christians, so called, have five. Two of the latter are owned and occupied by societies of coloured persons. Last Sunday, (we write August 6,) it is believed that there were twenty-four differ- ent religious gatherings in the town. The Come-outers and Millerites have regular meetings, and there is a small gathering of Friends who harmonize in sentiment with those who are familiarly known as the Hicksite portion of that body. The churches of New Bedford are nearly all built of wood. The Unitarian and one of the Congregational churches are of stone, and the Friends' Meeting House is a large edifice of brick. Several of them are costly buildings, and they are generally neat and kept in good order. We might extend our notice, as there are several subjects of inter- est to which we have not alluded; but we have already extended our article far beyond our original intention. Our object has been to ex- hibit this community in its industrial aspect; to give an example of the growth of a town, and of a large accumulation of capital, by the well-directed enterprise and industry of its inhabitants. Let it be re- membered that the wealth which we have seen, as belonging to the people of New Bedford, has been accumulated by its inhabitants. It has not been the result of foreign labour, or the capital of non-resi- dents invested in the business of the place. In this point of view, it presents us with an example of successful enterprise, which has but few parallels in this, or any other country. And those who read our hasty sketch of the town will agree with us in the opinion, that our people have no reason to be ashamed of the disposition they have made of the means which have been placed at their disposal. 112 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. XXI. WHALERS DESTROYED BY THE CONFEDERATE CRUISERS. Following is a list of whaling vessels destroyed by the Alabama and other rebel cruisers during the rebellion, with the amount of oil on board. All except the first three named were captured by vessels fitted out from the British dominions. 1861. Bbls. Sp. Bbls. Wh. Schooner John Adams, Provincetown, ~\ Schooner Mermaid, " >215 Brig Parana, " ) 215 1862. Ship Benjamin Tucker, New Bedford 350 Bark Eben Dodge, " clean. Bark Elistia Dunbar, " Ship Lev i Starbtfck, " " Bark Virginia, " Ship Ocean Rover, Mattapoisett, 710 50 Schooner Altamaha, Sippican clean. Ship Ocmulgee, Edgartown, . 250 Schooner Courser, Provincetown, clean. Schooner Weather Gage, Proviucetown, " Bark Alert, New London, " 1310 50 1863. Bark Lafayette, New Bedford, . . . 170 Bark Nye, " 350 150 Schooner Kingfisher, Fairhaven, 170 10 Brig Kate Cory, Westport, 155 Schooner Rienzi, Proviucetown, 75 920 160 1864. Bark Edward, New Bedford, 100 Bark Golconda, .... , ...... 1037 650 1037 750 APPENDIX. 113 18G5. Bbls. Sp. Bbls. Wh. Bark Abigail, New Bedford, 30 Ship Brunswick, " 200 Bark Congress, " 360 Ship Euphrates, " 200 Bark Gypsey, " 320 50 Ship Hector, " 275 Ship Hillraan, " 200 Ship Isaac Howland, " 1GO 480 Bark Isabella, " 300 Bark Jireh Swift, " 400 Bark Martha, 2d, " 200 Ship Nassau, " 100 Bark Nimrod, " . . . . 110 Ship Sophia Thornton, " clean. Bark Waverly, " 50 400 Ship Wm. Thompson, " 250 Bark Favorite, Fairhaven, 300 200 "Bark Covington, "Warren, 100 Bark Catherine, New London, 200 Ship General Williams, " . 200 Bark Edward Carey, San Francisco, , , 275 Brig Susan Abigail, " clean. Bark William C. Nye, " 150 Bark Harvest, Honolulu, 300 Bark Pearl, " clean. 1710 4100 25 New Bedford vessels, 2742 4150 2 Fairhaveu vessels, 470 210 1 Mattapoisett vessel, 710 50 1 Sippican vessel, clean. 1 Westport vessel, 155 1 Edgartown vessel, 250 G Provincetown vessels, 290 1 Warren vessel, 100 3 New London vessels, . 400 3 San Francisco vessels, 275 150 2 Honolulu vessels, 300 46 vessels. 5192 5060 No port has suffered as severely during the war as New Bedford, in proportion to the amount of shipping owned. By a rough estimate the value of the vessels destroyed is $1,150,000, o 114 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. and of the oil $500,000; making the whole damage to the whaling interest by the acts of rebel pirates $1,650,000. XXII. THE NEW BEDFORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. [This sketch of the history of the New Bedford Free Public Library was prepared to accompany the volumes of its reports sent to the Centennial Exposition.] The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, recognizing from the earliest period of its history the educational influence of public libraries, gave the assistance of its legislation in the promotion of their establish- ment and management. Early in the present century, laws were enacted giving corporate powers to the proprietors of Social Libraries, many of which had been established in various parts of the Commonwealth; and under the provisions of the law the number was increased, their condition made permanent, and their management rendered convenient and effective. But a few years after the incorporation of the town of New Bed- ford, the want of books and the inability of most of the inhabitants to procure them, led to a combination of effort for that purpose. The early settlers of the village of Bedford were intelligent as well as industrious, frugal and virtuous. They were so far enlightened as to understand the value of books, and they saw clearly that the rem- edy for individual inability to procure them, was such a combination of means and efforts as would render the united ability the property of each. Several such combinations were formed in New Bedford previous to the passage of the act conferring upon them corporate powers. The proprietors of Dobsou's Encyclopaedia were the earliest to form this social and profitable arrangement. For our unlearned and iso- lated people this work was a library in itself. Eagerly and thoroughly were its pages read and consulted ; and the well-worn volumes, now in the Free Public Library, bear testimony to the fact so creditable to the people of the village. APPENDIX. 115 The Library Society followed. This was a more comprehensive ef- fort. The desire for books had outgrown the ability of Dobson to satisfy. New Bedford was fortunate in having among its people, men who could give a profitable direction to that intelligence which needed the assistance of books to supply its craving for gratification and in- crease. In this respect the young and prosperous community was fa- vored beyond the average, in that day, of villages whose population was mainly composed of toilers in the workshop and upon the sea. The Social Library followed. This was a vigorous, well directed, and well managed association. The good sense of all recognized the wisdom of combination, and in the union there was found strength. The three associations were united, and the New Bedford Social Li- brary had a long, prosperous, and profitable career. Its collection of books was never large, never exceeding five thousand volumes; but such was the care and intelligence bestowed upon their selection that it was well and truly said of it, that take those five thousand volumes out of it, the libraries of the world could not supply their place with other books as well adapted to the wants of such a community. When the passage of the State law allowed the proprietors to be- come a body corporate, advantage was taken of its provisions. For nearly half a century, this valuable collection of books was the principal source whence was supplied the desire of the people for knowledge and intellectual recreation. " Library-day " was always a welcome day. There was in attendance generally a large number of intelligent seekers; and the result of that intercourse with books for which this library provided was a marked and most promising and in- teresting feature in the characters of the young men and women of New Bedford. Thus speaks the poet of that early day, which to us of the present may seem the " day of small things " in the intellectual history of our city. I warm to think, ;ts this bright scene I scan, How it lias ended, how it lirst began. Far from this crowd of manhood and of grace, I wander hack o'er half a century's space. The little town, in sombre garb arrayed, Gleams still through flaunting fashion and parade; I see its fathers, prudent still, yet fain To grow in learning as they grow in gain. Happy for us, this simple truth they knew, That cash is {rood, but culture something too. All books were scarce; most books were somewhat dear, Yet how they sowed the far-brought treasure here! True to their time, but truer to ourselves, Think how editions gathered on their shelves! 'T was nobly done, to make the school-house free ! A nobler school-house, fitly founded, see! 116 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Not that all lore from reading can be had, For too much reading sometimes makes us mad; But education, still a life-long friend, Goes on with life, witli that can only end. To join together all that makes refined The wisdom, art and fancy of mankind; To lend to all who hither come to read The utmost help to meet their utmost need ; What ampler work could ample fortune do, To self, to city, to the world more true? A hundred glorious gardens here we find ; Oh, culture still this garden of the mind! Oh, plant and water, dear as wealth unbought, The flower of fancy and the oak of thought ! * It was an easy and natural step from the law granting corporate powers to social libraries, to that by which the towns and cities of the State were allowed to establish municipal libraries, and to raise by taxation the means for their purchase and support. That act had its origin in the fundamental principle, that the Stale should provide for the education of the people. Under the influence of this Harvard College had been established, and the public school system had become an integral part of the public polity. The act by which the several municipalities were allowed to establish free public libraries, had its origin in the idea that this State guardianship and legislation, to be perfected, should be complemented by a provision for the extension of the educational period into adult life. It was seen " That education, still a life-long friend, Goes on with life, with that can only end." The adult school and the free public library are both the offspring of the educational policy of the Commonwealth founded by the Puri- tans. This intimate and complemental connection between the schools and the library was clearly apprehended and stated by the trustees of the New Bedford Free Public Library. Under this point, in their second annual report, they use the following language. " Our library has become one of the institutions of the city. " It has become a valuable, and will soon be considered as an indis- pensable auxiliary in the work of popular education. " It has become incorporated both in idea and in fact, into the cata- logue of subjects demanding the fostering care and annual support of the municipal government. "Its claims for such attention and support are founded upon princi- ples which lie at the foundation of our republican institutions. * Charles Taber Congdon's poem at the laying of the corner stone of the Library Building. APPENDIX. 117 " To train and enlighten the public mind is a work to which a liberal portion of the public wealth must be devoted ; and as being in har- mony with this idea, and as the cap-stone of our system of public ed- ucation, the Public Library has claims upon all whose aim is the pro- motion of the general welfare. " Such was the theory when the work was begun by the state and completed by the city, such is now the fact, demonstrated by our experience and placed beyond the reach of doubt or cavil." The ACT TO AUTHORIZE CITIES AND TOWNS TO ESTABLISH AND MAIN- TAIN PUBLIC LIBRARIES was passed by the General Court of Massa- chusetts, May 24, ]851. The ORDINANCE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND GOVERNMENT OF A FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY, in New Bedford, was passed August 16, 1852. The first movement in the undertaking was an unsuccessful one. It was made in the City Council July 8th, 1851, by Warren Ladd, then a member of the popular branch of that body. The order was only to consider the expediency of the measure. It passed the Common Council without a dissenting voice, but the Aldermen nonconcurred. It will be seen that this movement was but forty-Jive days after the passage of the enabling act. *On the 27th of May, 1852, a large petition, headed by James B. Congdon, was presented to the Council. This movement originated with a society of young men, called the Union Debating Association. This society, at a meeting held April Gth, 1852, in connection with a preamble declaratory of the conviction that a free public library would be of great advantage to the young men of the city, passed the following resolution. " Resolved, That this Association cause petitions to be circulated praying our municipal authorities to establish such an institution." The petition was referred to the Committee on Public Instruction, who reported on the 14th of June. They recommended an appropria- tion of fifteen hundred dollars for the establishment of the library. In their report, the committee attach great importance to the fact that they had been assured that " provided the authorities should, by the passage of the order making the appropriation asked for, establish the principle, that the maintenance of a free city library for the con- tinuous education of the people will be the settled polity of the city," the Jive thousand volumes of the New Bedford Social Library would be transferred to the city. Quoting the words of James B. Congdou, through whom this offer of the proprietors of the library was made, they say, "With such a foundation to build upon, with the appropriation now prayed for to give it a position for immediate and extended usefulness, the library would open to our inhabitants the means of innocent enjoyment and 118 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. of valuable acquisition, and be a source of commendable pride to our citizens." But the Free Public Library had, in fact, been established before the presentation of the report. The appropriation bill for the year which had already passed, contained an item of fifteen hundred dollars for the library. Councilman Pitman,* who was a member of the committee to whom the petition was referred, had anticipated the favorable action of the council, and had introduced and carried an amendment to the bill making the appropriation as above stated. This amendment was made previous to the presentation of the report of the committee. The appropriation bill passed July 20, 1852. The date of the adoption of that amendment is the date of the establishment of the New Bedford Free Public Library. The library was opened for the use of the people and the delivery of books on Thursday, the third day of March, 1853. The ordinance establishing the Boston Public Library was passed October 12th, 1852, and the doors were opened for the delivery of books on the 2d day of May, 1854. The number of volumes at the opening was between five and six thousand. It is an interesting and creditable fact, that the New Bedford Free Public Library is the only public library established under the law of 1851 excepting that in Boston, noticed by Edwards in his elaborate " Memoirs of Libraries " published in London in 1859. The following extract is from the second volume of that able work. After reciting the provisions of the law, the author proceeds as follows : "The first town to take action under this Statute was New Bedford, by whose Council a Free Public Library was established in August, 1852. The proprietors of a Subscription, or ' Social Library ' trans- ferred their collection to the new foundation, which was opened for public use on the 3d of March, 1853, with about 6000 volumes. This number has been, within about three years, increased to 9000; and in their fourth report, the Trustees are enabled to affirm that ' it is un- doubtedly true that no Act of the municipal authorities of New Bed- ford has reached with its recreative an improving operation so large a part of our population, and probably none has ever met so universally and deeply the approbation of the people. A Free Public Library is the crowning glory of the system of public education, which has been from our earliest history the pride of Massachusetts.' In a Report of the preceding year there is a passage bearing on a point which is al- ways interesting in connection with the present subject that of the selection of books : ' While care has been taken,' say the Trustees, 'that no publication injurious to the public morals should find a place *Hon. ROBERT C. PITMAX, one of the judges of the Superior Court of the Com- monwealth. APPENDIX. 119 upon our shelves, we have endeavored to divest ourselves, in our efforts to place before our fellow-citizens the means of a more exten- sive and genial culture, of all narrow and sectarian partialities. In this report we are gratified to be able to state that no difference of opinion has for a single moment interrupted the harmony and unanim- ity of our proceedings.' " The State law and the City ordinance under the authority and direc- tion of which our Free Public Library was established are models of comprehensive brevity. The one contains twenty and the other twenty-seven lines about one printed page. The law gives the power to assess a tax for library purposes, and contains the following impor- tant provision. "Any town or city may receive in its corporate capacity, and hold and manage, any devise, bequest or donation, for the establishment, increase, or maintenance of a public library within the same." The ordinance provides for the election of trustees, and confers upon them all the powers necessary for the establishment and man- agement of the library. The number of trustees was originally six, three ex-officii and three at large, chosen annually. A change has been made by which the number at large is increased to six, two being chosen every year for three years. The ex-officii members of the board remain the same, the Mayor, who is president, the President of the Common Council, and the Chairman of the Joint Standing Committee of the City Council on Public Instruction. Robert C. Ingraham was appointed librarian, and the library has had no other. At first he had no helper. It was soon found necessary to provide an assistant, and he now has two, both ladies. The Rules and Regulations first established are contained in the first Report. They have been twice changed. Those now in force will be found in the twenty-second annual Report. In accordance with their provisions, a superintendent has been added to the officers of the library. From this starting point, it will be interesting to cousider the his- tory and progress of the library, under the more important aspects in which they are presented in the reports and other publications. They may be arranged as follows : The books, their number, character, and rate of increase. The pamphlets and newspapers. The Library building. Donations : books, pamphlets, pictures. Trust funds. Reports. Dartmouth Centennial. Catalogues, bulletins, and advertisements. 120 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. We have seen that the library was opened with about six thousand volumes upon its shelves. Five thousand of these were from the So- cial Library. .It is due to the memory of the enlightened and consci- entious men who were active in the establishment and management of that library again to call attention to the high character of its collec- tion. To those upon whom it devolved to take charge of it after it had become the property of the city, this elevated character of the former managers and of the books which their scrupulous integrity and enlightened zeal had gathered were well known ; and both the men and the books had an important influence in the right direction in the selection of the additions the trustees were called upon to make. The six thousand volumes have, in the twenty-three years which have elapsed since the opening of the library, increased to thirty-four thousand, an average increase of a little more than twelve hundred volumes annually. It is not within the scope of this brief notice of the institution, to enter into such an examination of the works which are found upon its catalogue as will enable the reader to obtain a very decided idea of its distinctive character or relative position. Its managers have always kept in view the fact, that a public library must be a popular library ; and one result of a steady regard to this idea has been, that with the exception of two or three hundred vol- umes the books are all in the English language. This fact should be considered in connection with that of the number of volumes it con- tains. The managers have not felt at liberty to apply the means at their disposal to the purchase of costly publications, costly because rare, or because of the expensive character of their binding, illustration, or ornamentation. The library is not without many such productions, but they have been obtained mainly by the direct or indirect agency of its benefactors. In natural history and periodical literature it is distinctively rich; and it has been, from the beginning, the aim of the managers to de- vote a liberal share of their means to the collection of such works as are valuable to the artist and the artisan in the attainment and practice of their respective occupations. One room is devoted to the public documents of the state and na- tion, in which the collection, although not perfect, is very full. The voluminous issues of the Patent Office are all upon the shelves. The publications of the Smithsonian Institution are all to be found there. The series of the London Art Journal complete, with a large number of illustrated works devoted to a description of art, ancient, medieval, and modern, give evidence that the managers have recognized and acted upon the fact of the educational and elevating influence of the APPKMJIX. 121 beautiful. The income of one of the funds for the increase of the library has been wholly devoted to the purchase of this class of publications. The number of pamphlets is about eight thousand. Most of them are arranged according to their subjects, so as to be conveniently con- sulted. From the opening of the library, constant efforts have been made to collect and arrange the publications of a local character. The publications of the municipal government, both town and city, are complete. The library does not possess an extensive collection of newspapers. Most of those it holds are of a local publication, and some of them are complete and very valuable. The New Bedford Mercury was first published in 1807, only twenty years after the incorporation of the town, and is still issued. Eighty- six bound volumes of this valuable publication were presented by Ben- jamin Liudsey, who was its publisher from 1831 to 1862. For nine- teen years it was published by his father, and five years by the father and sou. The issues since Mr. Lindsey's liberal donation have been added. To Mr. Lindsey the library is also indebted for a volume of the Christian Philanthropist, a weekly paper published in New Bedford about half a century ago, containing all the numbers. The Daily Evening Standard, a valuable and successful newspaper, is among the highly prized possessions of the library. In 1862, eleven bound volumes were presented to the institution by its publisher, Edmund Anthony. It was established by him in 1850, and all the issues are now to be found in the library. The beautiful building now occupied by the New Bedford Free Pub- lic Library was erected in 1856-7. Its cost was about forty thousand dollars. It is built of brick, with granite underpinning and steps and free-stone ornaments. A view of the building accompanies this vol- ume.* The corner stone of the Free Public Library building was laid on the 28th of August, 1856. The published account of the simple but interesting ceremonial makes a part of the collection to which this brief sketch is an introduction. The principal exercises were an introductory address by George Rowland, Jr., Mayor of the City, an address by James B. Cougdon, and a poem by Charles T. Congdon of New York. In the address of Mr. Congdon, as well as in several of the annual reports, the positions are assumed that the Free Public Library of New Bedford was the first established by order or ordinance under the law of 1851 ; the first from which books were issued under said *The volume of report^- P 122 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. law ; that the Library Building was the second whose construction was commenced after its passage ; and that prior to its establishment and the delivery of books therefrom, there had never existed a library established and wholly supported and managed by a municipality, free to all the inhabitants, its books for the use, at the library or at home, of all the people without payment or pledge. Mr. Cougdon in his address brings vividly forward the men who had been active in the earlier efforts to secure to the people the benefits of a library, and makes honorable mention of those whose intelligent activity had been crowned by the establishment by the city of the New Bedford Free Public Library. The author of the poem had been a New Bedford boy, and was able to give a very lively description of the prominent features of the old Social Library. In the appendix to the " Proceedings," and in the notes to Mr. Cong- don's address, there will be found a large amount of valuable infor- mation, and interesting contributions to the local history of New Bedford. Of the Library Building the upper rooms only are occupied by the library. The principal room is neat and tasteful in its architectural features and convenient in its arrangements. It has two tiers of al- coves, one on the floor, and one on the gallery which is carried around the whole room excepting on the north end where the stairs lead to it. An iron railing divides the alcoves from the visitors. Eeading desks outside the railing contain the periodicals, which are accessible to all ; and seated at these desks the visitors are, in addition to these, fur- nished with any books they may wish to consult. The delivery is at a table at the north end. A stand for newspapers occupies a central position in the room. Six other rooms are occupied for library pur- poses, four for books, one for the trustees, and one for the convenience of the librarian and his assistants. The library has had a growth unexpectedly rapid, and at this time the want of more room is severely felt. The want will probably be supplied by removing the public offices and giving the library the whole building, or by enlarging it. The reports all contain lists of the yearly donations of books, pam- phlets, and newspapers, and care has always been taken to notice these accessions and express the obligations of the trustees to their numerous benefactors. Nearly the whole collection of pamphlets and newspapers are dona- tions. The contributions of books amount at this time to not less than two thousand volumes. The most valuable upon the list is a perfect copy of Audubon's Birds APPENDIX. 123 of America. This was the gift of James Arnold. Mr. Arnold and family contributed many other valuable publications. Audubon's Quadrupeds \vas contributed by the family of Andrew Robeson. The care taken to give every donation, whatever its character, its proper place for useful and convenient reference, has led to the pres- ervation and presentation of much reading matter which formerly found its way into the paper-mills. Under the head of donations it may be well to notice the few pic- tures which are found in the library. A landscape by William Allen Wall, an engraving of Bierstadt's celebrated painting of the Rocky Mountains, and a chroino of Bradford's "Wrecked Sealer," are the principal pictures other than the portraits. Two of the portraits are in the main library room, one of George Rowland, Junior, by Wilson, the other of James B. Congdon, by Eaton. The first named was exe- cuted by order of the City Council of New Bedford; the other was a contribution by a large number of the citizens, friends of Mr. Congdon. These portraits are full length and full size, and occupy the north and south ends of the library-room respectively. The other portraits are hung in the trustees' room, to which they constitute appropriate and cherished ornaments. A rude unfinished portrait of William Rotch, by an artist by the name of Hinkley, is a sufficiently correct delineation of the benevolent and expressive features of that great and good man to render it val- uable in the absence of any other. The portraits of James Arnold, Charles W. Morgan, and Thomas A. Greene, are all by William A. Wall. The memory of these men, who have long been numbered with the departed, will ever be cherished in the community which was for a long series of years made better and happier by their presence. An engraved portrait of Captain Rowland 11. Crocker is highly valued. A glance at the index which accompanies this volume, will show that the names of all these men have had hon- orable mention in the publications of the trustees of the library. The Trust Funds established for the benefit of the library are three. The first upon the list is the GEORGE HOWLAND JUNIOR FUND. Its amount is the sum of two years' salary of George Hovvland, Junior, as mayor, sixteen hundred dollars. Mr. Howland, in his note accompanying the donation, expressed the wish that the income might be expended for such works as, from their more expensive character, the trustees might not feel justified in purchasing from the limited city appropriation. The condition has been strictly complied with; and many rare and valuable books are now the property of the library by reason of this timely and liberal benefaction. Under the will of Charles W. Morgan, there was paid to the city by 124 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. William J. Eotch, his executor, the sura of one thousand dollars, which constitutes the CHARLES W. MORGAN FUND. The income of this fund has generally been expended in the manner described in the preceding notice. This bequest, with countless other acts of intelli- gent and warm-hearted benevolence with which the life of this gentle- man was crowned, has endeared his memory to the hearts of all the inhabitants of the city. Under the will of Sylvia Ann Rowland, the city of New Bedford was paid the sum of one hundred thousand dollars. The testament of this excellent lady contained the following interesting item. "I give and bequeath to the city of New Bedford the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ; and direct that this sum shall be invested judiciously, under the direction of the City Council, and the income therefrom shall be expended and used for the promotion and support within the city of liberal education, and the enlargement, from time to time, of the Free Public Library." With the utmost care and deliberation, by the aid of many of the wisest and best minds of our city, an ordinance was framed and adopted by the City Council to carry into effect the provisions of this munificent bequest. In the twentieth report of the trustees of the library all the proceed- ings connected with the enactment of this important ordinance are fully set forth, and in various other reports will be found notices and statements connected with its history and administration. Of this bequest, fifty thousand dollars were set apart for the library, and constituted the SYLVIA ANN ROWLAND FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND. Its income is now the chief dependence of the trustees for the " enlargement " of the library, as the appropriation by the city barely suffices for the salaries and other expenses of the institution. During the delay which attended the litigation upon the will of the deceased, the funds of the estate largely increased, and in addition to the bequest of fifty thousand dollars which constitutes the fund, about ten thousand dollars was paid into the treasury of the city as interest or income and placed to the credit of the library. Under the direction of the trustees of the library a plain white marble tablet commemorating this noble act was placed in the princi- pal room of the institution, which is thus described on the twelfth page of the twenty-second report. "It is surrounded by a frame of tasteful design and of perfect exe- cution. The whole, both in plan and performance, including the site selected for its erection, is one which commends itself to the good sense, the feelings of propriety, and the grateful emotions of the peo- ple of New Bedford. The inscription upon the tablet is as follows : ' This tablet commemorates the enlightened liberality of Sylvia Ann Rowland, who bestowed upon the city of New Bedford the sum of APPENDIX . 125 two hundred thousand dollars : one hundred thousand dollars to aid in supplying the city with pure water; and one hundred thousand as a fund for the promotion of liberal education by the enlargement of the Free Public Library, and by extending to the children and youth of the city the means of a wider and more generous culture.' " It will be seen by this inscription that the whole amount bequeathed to the city of New Bedford by this lady was two hundred thousand dollars. One half the sum was applied to the construction of the New Bedford Water Works ; the other was equally divided, forming the library and educational funds. The amount of the several trust funds established for the benefit of the Free Public Library, which have been severally noticed, is lifty- two thousand six hundred dollars. The annual income is three thousand one hundred and fifty-six dol- lars. This income is a vital element in the existence of the library. We have seen that the ordinary annual appropriation is necessarily ab- sorbed by the expenses of management. It is therefore mainly upon the income of the permanent funds that the trustees depend for the supply of books and periodicals, and for the constant renovation which the active use of the books renders necessary. The simplicity, convenience and effectiveness of the method by which these trust funds are managed, commends it to the approval of every one by whom it has been carefully examined, and has received the sanction of the judicial authority of the Commonwealth. The city is the trustee. No judicial act was necessary to establish this trusteeship. The trust was created by the receipt of the money. The ordinance recognizes the trust obligations, fixes the rate of income, and regu- lates the management. The trustees of the Free Public Library are by the ordinance the agents of the trustee, which is the city. They are held to a rigid conformity to the conditions of the bequest and the requisitions of the ordinance. The routine by which the agents are held to a faithful performance of the trust committed to them, and by which the city authorities are constantly informed, even to the minutest details, of the proceedings of the board of trustees, is a model of order and efficiency. Should a judicial inquiry at anytime be thought desirable, the re- ports of the trustees of the library would furnish all the needful evi- dence as to the manner in which the trust has been administered. It should be remembered that one ordinance regulates the adminis- tration both of the library and educational funds. In the case of the latter, the agency is placed with the school committee. They are held to the same careful administration, and subject to the same severe scrutiny as the library board. 126 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. The annual Reports of the board of trustees are twenty-four in number. These reports, with the " Corner Stone Proceedings," con- stitute the volume to which this brief introduction is attached. They make an aggregate of seven hundred pages. As eighteen of the whole number were prepared by the same hand, the general principles of management are made prominent throughout the series, and the char- acter of the facts stated and the methods of arrangement will be found to be harmonious. The annals of but few public institutions have been for so long a period so faithfully presented. They are ''short" and they are " simple," but they contain a large amount of valu- ble information, practical suggestion, and interesting local history. Through them the citizens of New Bedford have had spread before them the operation and condition of their favorite institution, and in this way their faith in its value has been sustained and strengthened, and their zeal on its behalf kept alive and increased. As the New Bedford public library was the pioneer undertaking, its reports have been widely distributed over the country, and have been found very useful in guiding the efforts of those who have been en- gaged in the establishment of similar institutions. The encourage- ment of our success and the aid extended by our methods have in many cases done much towards insuring a favorable result to the pub- lic library movements in various parts of the country. A novel but in one view a highly valuable feature of these reports, is the brief biographical notices that are to be found in the series. The necrology of the Free Public Library Reports contain many no- tices of the prominent citizens of New Bedford, whose intelligence, integrity, enterprise and benevolence, have endeared their memories to the people and constituted them stirring and influential examples of true Christian manliness of character. The brief memoirs of Thomas A. Greene, James Arnold, Thomas Mandell, Henry H. Crapo, and others, are not only pleasant and tender offerings to the memory of departed worth, but are pregnant with rich lessons for inciting the young into the paths of wisdom and an hon- orable distinction, and for their guidance and protection. We hope that this interesting and valuable feature of these reports will be retained ; aud that these " discourses of the dead " will not be restricted to those who may have been connected with the library. Let a niche be found for all who, like those whose names have already had honorable mention, shall have left behind them a record, the pe- rusal of which shall revive pleasant memories and prompt to noble deeds. The celebration of the Old Dartmouth Centennial in 18G4 was an event, an account of which may here have a brief mention. Its in- APPENDIX. 127 ception was with the trustees of the library, and its arrangements and success were largely the result of their action and efficient cooperation. The fullness of the report that was made of the proceedings on the occasion, renders unnecessary any extended notice. The celebration took place on the 14th of September. Two hun- dred years before, the old town of Dartmouth received from the Gen- eral Court at Plymouth its municipal charter. The then new town covered the territory which now includes the towns of Dartmouth, Westport, Fairhaven, and Acushnet, and the city of New Bedford. The municipal authorities of all these places united in the celebration, and numbers of the people of them were present at the exercises. A few years after the incorporation of the town, and as early as any written record of its public proceedings bears date, King Philip's war laid desolate the new-born municipality. At the close of the first cen- tury another desolating war was raging; and, fired by the torches of General Grey's red-coated regulars, who in their lust for liquor and appetite for destruction rivalled the exploits of the red men of Meta- com, the thriving village of Bedford and seventy sail of vessels in its harbor became a prey to the flames. Another century passes, and when in 1804, on the arrival of the second centennial period, the peo- ple were called together that it might receive an appropriate commem- oration, another war, more mournful in its incidents and results than those in which the red men and the red-coats had participated, was desolating the land. These striking centennial coincidents were used with good effect by the orator and poet, the Honorable William W. Crapo, now member of Congress, and James B. Congdon. The address of Mr. Crapo is a model in its selections, its arrangement, and its pure and eloquent diction. In addition to the incidents of which we have spoken, the speaker presents, in a just and forcible manner, the history of the controversy between the town of Dartmouth and the Plymouth au- thorities in relation to the support of an Orthodox ministry. The conflict was long and bitter, culminating, on this side of the water, in the imprisonment by the Province Rulers of the selectmen who had refused to obey the mandate of the Court. But the Baptists and Quakers of Dartmouth and Tiverton triumphed. An order of the King in council set the prisoners free and nullified the tax. The poem of Mr. Congdon presents in a simple but pleasing manner the three centennial epochs. The presence of Major Andre at the raid upon Bedford, as a member of the staff of General Grey, is an incident which the writer has used witli good effect. The account of the " Old Dartmouth Centennial, September 14, 18G4," makes a volume of one hundred and thirty pages. It contains much matter of local and permanent interest beside that of which we 128 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. have made mention. We have space for the mention of two ouly of the many items of this valuable compilation. The address of Governor Clifford, who was present in the double capacity of citizen and representative of the Massachusetts Historical Society, possesses at this time a peculiar interest as being the last ever made by him at a public meeting of his fellow-citizens. Often in that hall and from that platform had he spoken, with a felicity of dic- tion, a grace of manner, and power of expression seldom equalled in our state or country. But he never came nearer to the hearts of our people than he did on this occasion, when, 'with that beauty of speech and that ease and grace of manner so peculiarly his own, he spoke of the noticeable incidents of our local history. We have never forgot- ten, and we love now more than ever to remember, the outburst of applause which followed this delightful effort of impromptu oratory. The old Borough of Dartmouth, England, the fishing community at the mouth of the Dart, gave our old Dartmouth its name. Many in- cidents connected with its name and history made this ancient borough, whose franchise dates back to the reign of Richard Coeur de Leon, closely associated with the commemorative exercises. An address "To the Mayor, Itecorder and Aldermen of the City of Dartmouth, County of Devon, England," had been prepared, and was read to the meeting. Having been signed by the Mayor, Aldermen, Common Councilmen, and Clerk of the city of New Bedford, and by the Selectmen and Town Clerks of the towns uniting in the celebra- tion, and beautifully engrossed, it was sent to its destination. The time required by its engrossment, and to obtain the large num- ber of necessary signatures of persons dwelling widely apart, brought the end of the year before it could be forwarded. It was not until WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, 1866, that the Mayor of the city received a response to this greeting from the old Dartmouth of America to the old Dartmouth of Great Britain. But when it was received the delay was not cared for or thought of. The reply was dated on the "FOURTH OF JULY," 1865, was signed by the Mayor, lle- corder, Clerk, and Burgesses of the Borough of Clifton Dartmouth Hardness, in the County of Devon, England. One of the councillors bears the significant name of John Bully. It is a well written docu- ment, and its tone is kind and manly. In these respects it fully met the circumstances of the occasion and the wishes and expectations of those to whose greeting it was an answer. But the form in which it appeared was a surprise and a delight. Its elegant chirography upon vellum is a picture in itself; and this, with its beautiful illuminations of border and other chaste ornamentation, give the whole a rare, rich, and attractive appearance. The seal of the city, which occupies a central position upon the parchment, and is one of its chief ornaments, tells most significantly APPENDIX. 129 the story that Richard I of England conferred the franchise upon the borough. Richard's fleet made a rendezvous in the harbor of Dart- mouth as he was about to embark upon his crusade to the Holy Land. Upon the seal, Richard's ship rests upon the waters, and the King with crown and sceptre is the occupant. Two stars, one on each side of the King, may be emblems of the two mighty men who were about to contend for the possession of the Holy Sepulchre or of their respective faiths. Such a missive called for a fitting frame. Our neighbors of Dart- mouth provided a log of well seasoned and finely grained white-oak, and the taste of a New Bedford artist and artisan wrought from it a frame in no way unworthy of this beautiful production of our trans- atlantic brethren. It hangs in the trustees' room of the library, and forms its most attractive ornament. All the documents connected with this pleasant and interesting interchange of courtesies will be found in the fifteenth annual Report. The Catalogue, which embraces all the books of the library up to March, 1874, is in three volumes. The last, which is the second Sup- plement, has just been published. The first was printed in 1858, and contains 355 pages; the first Supplement in 1809,315. The second Supplement just printed has 472, making in all eleven hundred and forty-two pages. The labor of preparing these volumes and carrying them through the press has all been performed by the accomplished librarian, Robert C. Ingraham. They constitute a monument of his zeal, intelligence, and industry. Since January, 1874, eight Quarterly Bulletins have been published, which embrace all the books added to the library from that date to December, is 75. These will be continued. In addition to this, as often as a sufficient number of books is purchased, generally once a month, they are advertised, by a brief title, in the daily newspapers. The following summary statement, which was prepared for publica- tion before the preceding pages were written, will furnish an appro- priate close to our brief history of the New Bedford Free Public Library. NEW BEDFORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. Established by City Council August 9th, 1852, under the law of the Commonwealth enacted May 24th, 1851. Opened for the delivery of books March 3d, 1853. Tree to all inhabitants of the city. Number of volumes when opened, 5,200 Of Social Library, 5,000 Purchased, 200 Q 130 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Library building erected by the city 1856, at a cost of ... $40,000 Annual expenditure, 97,000 Annual appropriations by the city, and expenses paid by same, 3,844 Income from trust funds 3,156 The income from trust funds is all expended for books. Catalogue, 1st vol., 1858; 2d, 1869; 3d, 1876. Quarterly Bulletins of accessions from January 1st, 1874. Accessions published in two newspapers. Number of volumes, January 1, 1876, 33,000 All in the English language but about 200 Number of pamphlets, 6,000 Number of periodicals, 100 Number of newspapers, 18 Volumes taken from the library in 1875, 55,771 Officers : Nine trustees, three ex-officii; six chosen by City Council, each for three years. Superintendent. Librarian, salary, $2,000 Two assistant librarians, (female,) salary of each 400 Open, Sundays and legal holidays excepted, every day, from 9 o'clock A. M. to 9 o'clock p. M., with one interval of two hours and one of one hour. XXIII. NEW BEDFORD IN THE WAR. [From " History of Massachusetts in the Civil War," by "William Schouler, late Adjutant-General of the Commonwealth. This article was written by a -citizen of New Bedford.] NEW BEDFORD. Incorporated as a town Feb. 23, 1787; as a city, March 9, 1847. Population in 1860, 22,300; in 1865, 20,863. Valuation in 1860, $24,196,138; in 1865, 20,525,790.* * This great diminution in valuation was the effect of the war upon the whaling interest. APPENDIX. 131 In 18G1, Isaac C. Taber, mayor; Warren Ladd, James L. Humphrey, Nathan Lewis, John P. Barker, Matthew Howland, William H. Rey- nard, aldermen. In 18C2, Isaac C. Taber, mayor; Warren Ladd, Bethuel Penniman, Jr., Nathan Lewis, John P. Barker, Matthew Howland, William H. Reynard, aldermen. In 18G3, George Howland, Jr., mayor; Warren Ladd, George G. Gif- ford, Ambrose Vincent, John P. Barker, Matthew Howland, John H. Perry, aldermen. In 1864, George Howland, Jr., mayor; Warren Ladd, George G. Gif- ford, Ambrose Vincent, John P. Barker, Matthew Howland, John H. Perry, aldermen. In 1865, George Howland, Jr., mayor; Warren Ladd, George G. Gif- ford, Joseph Knowles, George F. Kingman, Matthew Howland, John H. Perry, aldermen. The city clerk in 1861 and 1862 was Sanford S. Horton; in 1863, 1804, and 1865, Henry T. Leonard. The city treasurer during all the years of the war was James B. Congdon. 1861, April 19th. Five thousand dollars was appropriated for the benefit of the " City Guards," to be expended under the direction of the mayor and a committee of the city council. Ten thousand were appropriated for the formation of a Home and Coast Guard. [See Thomas R. Rodman.] The American flag was ordered to be displayed from the City Hall until otherwise ordered. July 15th. A report was received, showing that Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven, and Fort Taber in New Bedford, mounting eleven guns, had been manned by the Home Guard, and recommending an additional appropriation to maintain the same ; and on the 29th of July five thou- sarrd dollars was appropriated. September 5th. The mayor was authorized to organize one or more companies " for the national army," the bounty to each member not to exceed fifteen dollars. November 20th. Fifteen hundred dollars was appropriated for State aid to soldiers' families. December' 15th. Five thousand dollars was appropriated for the payment of soldiers' bounties. 1862, January 3d. A report was made that three companies of vol- unteers for three years' military service had been organized. January 4th. This being the close of the municipal year, a report and resolution complimentary of the outgoing mayor, Hon. Isaac C. Taber, were unanimously adopted. July 10th. Seven thousand five hundred dollars was appropriated to establish a General Hospital for sick and wounded soldiers, pro- vided the General Government should " decide to locate one in this city." 132 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Voted, To pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to each volunteer who enlists for three years' military service, to the credit of the city. Twenty-six thousand dollars was appropriated to pay the same. The use of the spacious City Alms House, capable of accommodating three hundred sick and wounded soldiers, was offered to the General Gov- ernment, which offer was respectfully declined. August 18th. The bounty to volunteers was increased to two hun- dred and fifty dollars ; and twenty thousand dollars was appropriated to pay the same. August 29th. Voted, To pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to each volunteer for nine months' service. Twenty-five thousand dol- lars was appropriated to pay said bounties. October 21st. A farther appropriation of five thousand dollars was made for the Home and Coast Guard, and twenty thousand for military bounties, which, on the 13th of December, was increased by a loan of twenty-six thousand dollars. 1863, February 26th. The city council adjourned "for the purpose of paying their respects to Governor Andrew and General Wool at the city hall." March 4th. State aid was directed to be paid to the families " of col- ored citizens who shall be mustered into the service of the United States." April 9th. Two hundred dollars was authorized to be expended on the enlistment of a company of heavy artillery, which, on the 21st of May, was increased to one thousand dollars. July 15th. " A watchman was discharged for using seditious lan- guage." July 30th. State aid* was directed to be paid to the families of drafted men. " Ordered, That the bell be rung and a salute fired on the day of the Public Thanksgiving on the 6th of August." September 21st. The treasurer was directed to pay the treasurer of the Commonwealth 15,450.68, " under the laws in relation to the reimbursement of bounties." 1864, November 17th. Voted, That the full taxes of the returned soldiers belonging to New Bedford be remitted. 1865, January 7th. Appropriate resolutions were passed in regard to the death of Hon. Edward Everett, and ex-Gov. John H. Clifford was invited to deliver a eulogy on the life and character of the de- ceased. February 7th. The mayor recommended the ringing of the bells and the firing of one hundred guns in honor of President Lincoln signing the emancipation proclamation. April 10th. A committee was appointed to make arrangements to celebrate the fall of Richmond and the surrender of General Lee. April loth. A message was received from the mayor making an APPENDIX. 133 official announcement of the death of President Lincoln, and a com- mittee was appointed to consider and report upon the proper measures to be taken in regard to it. The committee reported a series of appro- priate resolutions, which were adopted.* June 22. Alderman Gifford presented to the council a rebel flag captured at Charleston, S. C., Feb. 18th, 1865, and sent to him by Captain James W. Grace, of Company C, Fifty-fourth Regiment Mas- sachusetts Volunteers (colored.) New Bedford furnished about thirty-two hundred men for the war, which was a surplus of eleven hundred and ten men over and above all demands. f One hundred and twenty were officers in the military service. We do not know the number who served in the navy. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was one hundred and seventy-seven thousand dollars. The amount of money appropriated and expended by the city during the four years of the war for State aid to the families of volunteers, and which was afterwards refunded by the Commonwealth, was as *The following arc the proceedings of the City Council on the occasion of the death of President Lincoln. As far as is known, the resolutions which follow were the iir,-t adopted by ;;ny municipal body in relation to that mournful event. IN COMMITTKK, April loth, 18i;."j. The committee appointed to consider of and report what action it will be proper for the Council to take in relation to the communication of the Mayor presented at this time, have attended to the duty assigned them, and ask leave "to report the ac- companying Preamble and Resolutions. For the committee. WAKKEX LADD, Chairman. S, It has been permitted in the workings of a mysterious Providence, that Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, should fall by the hand of an as~a>sin ; and WIIKHKAS, The murderer's dagger has struck down William II. Seward, the Sec- retary of State, next to the President the most exalted and important officer of the Government, and we are prepared at any moment to hear that he is no more : there- fore, Resolved, That an agony of sorrow that finds no relief but in the deep conviction that the Lord God Almighty livelh and reigneth, and that he is still the refuge and support of his people, has 'taken possession of our souls and bows us down to the dust with its awful and overwhelming reality. fli-aolri-il. That in view of the exalted virtues and eminent public services of Abraham Lincoln, his wisdom, bis lirmness, his unassuming piety and unswerving adherence to the great principles of universal liberty; the masterly statesmanship and inspiring confidence which he has exhibited during the fearful struggle in which our country has been engaged, and which with the help of God and a devoted people lie had brought so near to a triumphal termination; we deplore with inten-itv of emotion, which finds no language for its adequate expression, the loss of this great and good man, of this faithful and devoted public servant. Jti'Kiiln-i/, That while \ve bow submissively before the Sovereign Disposer of events and seek \\ith tin.-- great calamity upon us for the consolation which flows from the conviction that " he doetb all tilings well "; while we weep manly tears at the lo>s of our greatest public benefactor, of our dearly beloved and venerated chief magistrate, ami are deeplv apprehensive that .-oon the tidings will reach us that the gifted and faithful Seward" lias shared his fate; we will nerve our hearts and our bands to meet the crisis this awful event has brought upon our country, and the per- formance <>f the high and solemn duties which as men and as citi/ens of the United Slates now devolve upon us. f This large surplus was mainly owing to the act of Congress passed July, 18fi4, allowing credits for men serving in the United States Navy. 134 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. follows: In 1861, $5,091.52; in 1862, $25,257.29; in 1863, $40,146.04; in 1864, 36,500; in 1865, $18,500. Total amount in four years, $125,- 495.85. The Ladies' Soldiers' Relief Society donated for the relief of the soldiers upwards of twenty thousand dollars in money; in cotton cloth and flannel, four thousand dollars ; and in hospital stores to the value of six thousand dollars. The following are some of the articles contributed : Condensed milk, preserved fruits, jellies and pickles, farina, maizena, tamarinds, lemons, dried apples, tea, coffee, cocoa; 1116 bottles of wine, consisting of sherry, currant, blackberry, and native wines; 423 bottles of brandy; 1130 bottles of blackberry brandy and syrups ; 345 bottles of Port wine ; large contributions for the Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas trees at Portsmouth Grove Hos- pital, besides bushels of lint and bandages. "The Society for the Comfort and Relief of our Soldiers in Hospitals " furnished, among other things, 5904 flannel shirts, 3887 pairs of drawers, 4573 woollen socks, 1790 towels, 94 coats, 76 vests, 120 collars, 1000 handkerchiefs, 368 cravats, 314 dressing-gowns, 1836 pocket-handkerchiefs, 300 pants, 148 napkins, 678 pairs slippers, 265 woollen mittens, 542 blankets, 515 sheets, 673 pillows, 750 quilts, 988 canes, 1280 woollen undershirts, &c. The contributions named above are certainly remarkable, but we have to add that the ladies of New Bedford began early in the war. They held a meeting on the 18th of April, 1861, and organized for the work. Mrs. Joseph C. Delano was chosen president, Mrs. Lawrence Griunell vice-president, and Mrs. William Eddy secretary and treas- urer. In addition to the above contributions, five hundred dollars were given by a lady to pay soldiers' wives for sewing. They also sent contributions to the St. Louis and Baltimore Soldiers' Fairs, and furnished tables at the New York and Boston Fairs. APPENDIX. 135 XXIV. SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT. The monument erected by the city of New Bedford in memory of her citizens who perished in the rebellion occupies a prominent situ- ation upon the common. It is a beautiful and appropriate structure. Of the many erections of this character that the gratitude of the living has raised to com- memorate the patriotism of the dead, few can be found more taste- ful and appropriate in design, or more perfect in execution. The monument was designed and contracted for by George F. Meacham, of Boston. The inscriptions upon the base are as follows : NORTH SIDE. Navy. EAST SIDE. Erected by the City of New Bedford, as a tribute of gratitude to her sons who fell defending their Country in its struggle with Slavery and Treason. SOUTH SIDE. Army. WEST SIDE. Dedicated July 4th, 1866. The citizens will be interested in the following report of the com- mittee of the City Council charged with the erection of the monu- ment. " Cttjj of Kcto iSctiforU. "Ix COMMITTEE, Jan. 5th, 1867. "The Joint Special Committee to whom was intrusted the duty of superintending the completion of the monument contracted for by the last city government, beg leave to submit the following REPORT. " The corner stone was laid on the 4th of July last, but the work was delayed longer than was anticipated, owing to the difficulties ex- perienced in quarrying suitable stone, and the slow and tedious process of cutting the inscriptions. Subsequently, upon notice from the con- tractor, in conformity with the provisions of the contract, your com- mittee inspected the work at the yard of Mr. Sheldon, the sub-con- tractor, at Concord, N. II., and approved the character and quality of the work so far as it was then completed. The stone is of the linest Concord granite, free from the presence of particles of iron, while the character of the work is much superior to that contracted for and sur- passing our expectations. Aside from the delay in the work, your committee are fully satisfied with the performance of the contract. 136 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. "The laying of the corner stone presented a favorable opportunity for transmitting to posterity in the least perishable form the facts of interest connected with the history of the monument, and the names and portraits of some of those who have become distinguished during the war, together with the names of those of our citizens who have fallen in defence of our free institutions, and sealed their devotion to their country with their lives. " Your committee accordingly caused a sketch to be prepared from the records of the city government, showing its action with reference to the subject, which was deposited in the corner stone with the news- papers of that date, city documents, photographs of our most distin- guished generals, and a complete roll, so far as the same could be obtained, of our patriot dead. 11 In this duty of collecting the names of those whose virtues are commemorated in the sculptured stone, we have been materially as- sisted by the careful research and industry of James B. Congdon, Esq., whose interest has been continuous in every effort to honor valor and patriotic heroism. "These names are the heirlooms of our citizens, and the humblest among them should not be forgotten. A duplicate copy of his ' Roll of Honor ' we herewith transmit, that it may be preserved for future reference. "The appropriations made by the city for the purpose of the monu- ment have been thirteen thousand three hundred dollars. Of this sum there has been paid to George F. Meacham, Esq., according to contract for the monument, $8,919.50, which includes the sum of $354.50 for cutting the inscriptions. The incidental expenses, including removal of flagstaff, excavation and removal of soil, extra foundation, prepara- tion of roll, surveying, and expenses of committee, amount to $357.70. "Your committee have also entered into contracts with George F. Meacham, as follows : For fence of bronze for $1496, and for stone curbing under the same for $1960; and with Charles Taber & Co. for incidentals, $25 ; thus leaving a balance of the appropriation yet unex- pended or subject to contract, the sum of $541.80. " This sum remains to defray the expense of filling around the mon- ument and of grading the walks, and can as well be expended under the direction of the next city government. " The duty assigned to your committee has been as arduous as it has been honorable, but it is with feelings of personal gratification that they deliver into your hands this beautiful monument of the he- roism of our departed soldiers and sailors, and of the taste and mu- nificence of our fellow-citizens, who but feebly express their gratitude in its erection. It speaks through its enduring emblems and its in- scriptions, its utterances of patriotic devotion to our common country, while it recalls the sad tales of the battle, the hospital and the prison. APPENDIX. 137 It reminds us of our duty to the living representatives of those who have gone from the field of strife to their long rest, and imposes upon us the duty of benevolent care for the widow and the orphan of the heroic dead. " Our duty does not terminate with its erection. Those who sur- vive should feePthe gratitude of a generous community, not alone in granite memorials to their comrades, but in such constant recognition of the value of those services as shall encourage patriotism and incul- cate in coming generations the principle instilled into us by our fathers.* " ' Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.' " For the committee. JOSEPH KNOWLES, Chairman." XXV. ROLL OF HONOR. THE NEW BEDFORD ROLL OF HONOR, Containing the names of the Volunteers in the Army and Navy who died in the service of the Country during the Great Rebellion. PREPARED BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL, MAY, 18G9. [This record was prepared under the direction of a Joint Special Committee of the City Council, appointed to consider the subject of a MEMORIAL TABLET for the names of the NEW BEDFORD VOLUNTEERS who died in the service of the country during the GREAT REBELLION.] * At the laying of the corner stone an address was delivered by the Kev. Alonzo II. Quint, and a poem by James ];. Conxion, both of which were printed. The Roll of Honor which follows i.s a copy of the corrected roll prepared in INJII by order of the City Council, the manuscript of which, carefully anil beautifully bound, is deposited in the archives of the city. K 138 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. SOLDIERS. Akin, Charles R., Musician, 4th regiment cavalry, Co. B. Died of dis- ease February 10, 1865, at Fortress Monroe. Akin, James F., 13th battery. Died in Chesapeake Hospital, Hampton, Va., November 12, 1863. Albro, James H., 2d regiment heavy artillery, Co. E. Died of fever in Newbern, N. C., October 8, 1864. Aldrich, Albert J., Corporal, 30th regiment, Co. D. Died in camp opposite Vicksburg, July 19, 1862. Allen, Frederick S., Corporal, 20th regiment, Co. G. Died October 25, 1862, of wounds received at Antietara. Grave at Linden Grove Cemetery, Westport. Andrews, Frank, 18th regiment, Co. A. Died at United States Gen- eral Hospital at Windmill Point, Va., February 10, 1863. Baker, Charles G., 1st regiment cavalry, Co. K. Died at home Sep- tember 4, 1862, two months after being discharged. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Barry, William (of Rochester?) 18th regiment, Co. C. Killed at Rap- pahanuock Station, November 7, 1863. Bartlett, John E., 1st Rhode Island regiment, Co. F. Died at Beau- fort, N. C., June 29, 1862. Bean, John C., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. C. Died at Baton Rouge, La., July 5, 1863. Bearse, Zachariah T., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. I. Died at home, August 9, 1864. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. Bentley, William, 38th regiment, Co. H. Died at New Orleans, La., June 4, 1863. Blain, Samuel J., First Lieutenant, regiment U. S. colored troops. Died at Florence, S. C., about November 1, 1864. Blake, Luthan, 18th regiment, Co. A. Killed at battle of Fredericks- burg, December 13, 1862. Monument in West Cemetery. Blake, Peleg W., First Lieutenant, 5th battery. Killed near Peters- burg, June 18, 1864. Grave in West Cemetery. Blood, Thompson B. (of Chelsea?) 18th regiment, Co. A. Died in rebel prison at Andersonville, March 24, 1864. Ely, Joseph H., 38th regiment, Co. H. Died at Saterlee Hospital, Philadelphia, November 10, 1864, of wounds received at Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. Booth, Charles R., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at Port Hud- son, La., of wounds, Dec. 2, 1863. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. Booth, George F., 18th regiment, Co. A. Died at Hall's Hill, near Washington, January 4, 1862. Booth, John C., 32d regiment, Co. C. Died in prison at Richmond, Va., December 4, 1863. APPENDIX. 139 Borclen, Abraham E., U. S. signal corps. Died on board gunboat Sa- chem, September 8, 1863. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Borden, Daniel W.,-20th regiment, Co. D. Killed December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. Bosworth, Henry L., Jr., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. C. Killed near Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864. Grave in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Boyd, Edward, 18th regiment, Co. A. Died at Audersouville, Novem- ber 14, 1804. Briggs, Augustus D., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died in Camden Street Hospital, Baltimore, November 14, 1864, of wounds received at Cedar Creek. Briggs, Obed N., Corporal, 23d regiment, Co. D. Killed at Cold Har- bor, June 3, 1864. Brockdon (Beckdon on official list,) John F., 5th regiment cavalry, Co. D. Died on board transport J. K. Barnes, Sept. 22, 1865. Brown, Charles A., alias Charles Besse (of Truto?) 20th regiment, Co. A. Died at Danville prison, December 7, 1864. Brown, George H., 32d regiment,- Co. H. Died at Richmond, Va., February 13, 1SC4. Brown, John C., Captain, 73d regiment TJ. S. colored infantry, Co. G. Died on battlefield at Blakely, Ala., of wounds received while as- saulting the .enemy's works, April 10, 1865. Bryant, John, '18th regiment, Co. A. Killed at battle of Fredericks- burg, December 13, 1862. Bryant, William F. (of Rochester?) 38th regiment, Co. H. Died at Baton Rouge, September 30, 1863. Buchanan, James H., Corporal, 54th regiment, Co. C. Killed at Olustee, Fla., February 20, 1864. Burke, Thomas, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. L. Died at Baton Rouge, La., July 2, ISO:',. Campbell, Joseph R., Corporal, 54th regiment, Co. C. Killed at Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863. Canty, John M., 5th battery. Died July 8, 1863, of wounds received at Gettysburg. Buried July 29th, 1863, in Catholic Cemetery. Carroll, Patrick, Corporal, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at Wash- ington, August 6, 1864. Grave in Catholic Cemetery. Cavenaugh, Charles, 23d regiment, Co. D. Died March 26, 1862, of wounds received at Xewbern. Chapman, Thomas W. (of Acushnet?) 29th regiment, Co. D. Died in Kentucky, September 22, 1802. Chase, Ezra D., 20th regiment, Co. G. Killed at Cold Harbor, Va., June 9, 1864. Chase, William T., 3d regiment heavy artillery, Co. F. Died at Fort Wagner, D. C., December 10, 1864. Grave in Rural Cemetery. 140 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Christian, Stephen C., Corporal, 58th regiment, Co. E. Killed before Petersburg, June 17, 1864. Buried November 27, 1864, in Oak Grove Cemetery. Clark, Johnson, Assistant Surgeon, 99th New York regiment. Died December 9, 1861. Clough, James, Corporal, 7th regiment, Co. A. Died in Armory Hos- pital, Washington, June 18, 1863, of wounds received at Fredericks- burg May 3, 1863. Coble, Lewis H., 23d regiment, Co. D. Died at Newbern, X. C., April 14, 1862. Coburn, Harry N., Hospital Steward, 3d regiment cavalry. Died No- vember 4, 1863, at Port Hudson. Cole, Charles B., Musician, 55th regiment, Co. B. Died December 20, 1863, at Folly Island, S. C. Conly, Timothy, 28th regiment, Co. B. Killed at Antietam, September 17, 1862. Coornbs, Erastus M., Corporal, 18th regiment, Co. A. Died at Har- rison's Lauding, July 19, 1862. Corcoran (Corkery in official list,) Timothy, Sergeant, 28th regiment, Co. B. Killed in battle of Chantilly, September 1, 1862. Crane, Charles F., 3d regiment, Co. E. Died at Newbern, Jan. 29, 1863. Crapo, Henry D., 5th battery. Killed at Bottom Bridge, Va., June 8, 1864. Crapo, Stephen E., Corporal, 58th regiment, Co. E. Killed near Spott- sylvania Court House, May 12, 1864. Grave iu Rural Cemetery. Davis, William F. (quota of Lawrence.) Died at Anclersonville, Ga., October 28, 1864. Dennison, John, 9th regiment, Co. C. Died at Mount Pleasant, Wash- ington, D. C., November 7, 1863. Devoll, Charles F., 13th Illinois regiment. Died at Nashville, Tenn., June 2, 1864. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Dixon, Charles, 55th regiment, Co. D. Died at Beaufort, S. C., June 16, 1865. Douglass, Charles B., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Wounded in action, Plane's Store, La., November 29, 1863; died next day. Downing, Patrick, 2d regiment heavy artillery, Co. E. Died at New- bern, N. C., June 6, 1864. Dunham, Amos J., 58th regiment, Co. E. Died at Annapolis, October 28, 1864. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. Dwyer, Timothy, 28th regiment, Co. H. Killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. Eagan (Akin in official list,) Alexander, 20th regiment, Co. D. Killed at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Edson, Lowell M., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at Baton Rouge, July 28, 1803. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. APPENDIX. 141 Elliott, Joseph, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. C. Killed near Alexandria, La., May 1, 1864. Fitzsimmons, Henry (quota of Middleborough,) 58th regiment, Co. K. Died in Baltic, Conn., August, 18G7, of wounds received at Peters- burg, Va., April 2, 1865. Grave in Catholic Cemetery. Flaherty, John, 2d regiment cavalry, Co. B. Died at Fort Ethan Allen, August 30, 18G3. Fleetwood, Lewis A., 54th regiment, Co. C. Wounded at Fort Wag- ner, July 18, 18G3 ; foot amputated ; died in New Bedford after dis- charge. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. Foster, Daniel O., Quartermaster-Sergeant, 4th regiment cavalry, Co. B. Died at Deer Island, April 20, 1864. Garlick, Keuben A. (of Dartmouth:) 3d regiment cavalry, Co. H. Killed September 19, 1864, at battle of Winchester. Gibson, Charles H., Musician, 23d regiment, Co. D. Killed on board steamer Fawn, September 13, 18G4, on Koanoke river. Gifford, William H., 58th regiment, Co. E. Died in Danville prison, August 14, 1864. Grave at South Dartmouth. Oilman, Edward G., 1st regiment Maine heavy artillery. Died before Petersburg, Va., December 15, 18G5. Gooding, James H., Sergeant, 54th regiment, Co. C. Wounded and taken prisoner at Olustee, Fla., February 20, 1864; died at Ander- sonville, July 19, 1864. Gordon, Thomas (quota of Cambridge,) 28th regiment, Co. D. Re- ported missing in action, May 18, 1864. Graham, Edward. Died at Andersonville, October 5, 1864. Gray, Franklin S., 58th regiment, Co. E. Killed at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. Gray, John IT., 99th New York regiment, Co. A. Died at Yorktown, Va., October 2, 1863. Hall, Joseph L., 54th regiment, Co. C. Missing at the assault on Fort Wagner, July 18, 1S63. Hall, Levi, 4th regiment cavalry, Co. C. Killed at St. John's Island, July 17, isci. Handlcy, Herbert, Sergeant, 20th regiment, Co. G. Killed by a horse in Providence, September 8, 1861. Hart, J. B. W., Jr., 6th company heavy artillery. Died at Fort Baker, D. C., September 4, 1864. Harvey, George W., Corporal, 33d regiment, Co. I. Died at Ander- sonville prison, Ga., August 30, 1864. Hathaway, John F., 5th battery. Died July 14, 1863, of wounds re- ceived at Gettysburg. Buried in West Cemetery, August 5, 1863. Ilawes, George E., Corporal, 38th regiment, Co. H. Died December 14, 1862, at Hampton, Va. Grave in Rural Cemetery. 142 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Heilraan, George, 16th regiment, Co. II. Died at Andersonville, Ga., November 3, 1864. Heintz, John H., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at Port Hudson, October 1, 1863. Herron, William H., 3d New Hampshire regiment, Co. K. Died at Nashville, May 24, 1865. Hill, Henry, First Sergeant, 33d regiment, Co. I. Killed at Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864. Hogan, John, 28th regiment, Co. B. Killed at Antietam, September 17, 1862. Holmes, James, 38th regiment, Co. H. Died at Baton Rouge, October 21, 1863. Howard, George H., 6th company heavy artillery. Died in hospital at New Bedford, October 24, 1863. Howard, Hiram B., 20th regiment, Co. D. Killed at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863. Rowland, Charles F., First Sergeant, 41st regiment, Co. A. Died at Baton Rouge, La., Feb. 19, 1863. Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. Rowland, George W., Captain, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at home, June 6, 1865 (discharged April 11, 1865.) Grave in Rural Cemetery. Rowland, Lothrop P., 33d regiment, Co. I. Killed at battle of Wau- hatchie, October 29, 1863. Hussey, Robert B., 58th regiment, Co. E. Died at Nautucket, while on furlough, November 27, 1864. Jackson, William S., 5th regiment cavalry, Co. F. Died at Clarksville, Texas, July 15, 1865. Jenney, Sanford, Jr., Sergeant, 2d regiment heavy artillery, Co. E. Died at Newbern, N. C., May 4, 1864. Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. Johnson, Edward, Sergeant, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. C. Killed in action at Alexandria, La., May 1, 1864. Jones, Charles, Corporal, 18th regiment, Co. H. Died in New Bed- ford, March 31, 1864. Joyner, Robert S., 18th regiment, Co. F. Taken prisoner at battle of the Wilderness, May, 1864; died in rebel prison at Milieu, Ga. Kanuse, Benjamin S., 5th battery. Killed before Petersburg, June 18, 1864. Buried in West Cemetery. Keen, David S., 29th regiment, Co. D. Died at Crab Orchard, Ky., October 19, 1863. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. Kempton, Charles G., 38th regiment, Co. H. Died at University Hos- pital, New Orleans, April 25, 1863. Kenney, Silas C., Corporal, 38th regiment, Co. H. Killed at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863. Killian, Michael, 6th company heavy artillery. Died at Fort Baker, Washington, August 22, 1864. APPENDIX. 143 King, Leprelate, 4th regiment, Co. K. Died at Brashear City, June 11, 1863. Kingmau, Henry C. (quota of Rochester,) 23d regiment, Co. D. Died in Libby prison, Richmond, Va., August G, 1864, of wounds received at Drury's Bluff. Kubler, John F., Sergeant, 3d regiment heavy artillery, Co. B. Died at Sanitary Commission Hospital, Washington, November 13, 1864. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Lally, Michael, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died of wounds at Win- chester, Va., November 7, 1864. Landers, Joseph N., 41st regiment, Co. A. Died at Baton Rouge, La., March 20, 1863. Lawrence, George H., 3d Xew Hampshire regiment, Co. E. Killed at Morris Island, July 27, 1863. Lawton, David, 2d regiment heavy artillery, Co. F. Died November 15, 1864, at Newberu, N. C. Leavens, James H., Sergeant, 18th regiment, Co. A. Killed at Gettys- burg, Pa., July 2, 1863. Lee, John, 4 1st regiment, Co. A. Died at home, June 11, 1863. Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. Leraunyon, Luther W., 26th regiment, Co. G. Died at New Orleans, October 25, 1863. Leonard, Stephen H., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died September 24, 1864, at Winchester, Va., of wounds received September 19. Leonard, Thomas W., 47th regiment, Co. D. Died at Camp Parapet, Carrollton, La., July 15, 1863. Lines, Samuel, 24th regiment, Co. F. Killed at Newbern, N. C., March 14, 1862. Look, Gilbert A., 2d regiment heavy artillery, Co. E. Died in Newark, N. J., June 8, 1864. Louden, Edward (quota of Westport,) 22d regiment, Co. G. Died at Anderson ville, Ga., October 11, 1864. Low, Robert A., 55th regiment, Co. B. Died at Boston, Jan. 5, 1864. Lucas, Charles A., Sergeant, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at Port Hudson, La., Nov. 30, 1863. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. Lucas, George F., 20th regiment, Co. D. Killed at Gettysburg, Pa., July 3, 1863. Luce, Lewis 1'., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. C. Died at Baton Rouge, La., August 20, 1863. Luce, Nathaniel R., Musician, 6th company heavy artillery. Died at New Bedford, February 29, 1864. McDevitt, Hugh, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Killed at Winchester, Va., September 19, 1864. McGowan, John, 2d regiment heavy artillery, Co. H. Died at Ander- sotiville prison, June 25, 1864. 144 'CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Mack, Andrew N., 58th regiment, Co. E. Killed at Cold Harbor, Juue 3, 18G4. Grave in Eural Cemetery. Macy, Charles G., 18th regiment, Co. I. Died at Andersonville, Ga., September 1, 18G4. Manchester, William E., 18th regiment, Co. F. Killed at Bull Run, August 30, 1862. Marcy, Charles, llth regiment, Co. K. Killed May G, 186-1, in the battle of the Wilderness. Marshall, Augustus L., 4th regiment cavalry, Co. E. Died August 21, 1864, at Fortress Monroe. Martin, Thomas (of California?) First Sergeant, 2d regiment cavalry, Co. K. Killed in action, August 27, 1864. Maxim, David, Jr. (quota of Worcester,) 3d regiment heavy artillery, Co. B. Died in Washington, March 18, 1865. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. Maxwell, Luther, 8th Maine regiment, Co. E. Died at Point of Rocks, Md., October 11, 1864. Miller, Luke, 20th regiment, Co. G. Wounded at Gettysburg; died at Andersonville, October 1, 1864. Milliken, Albert F., Corporal, 5th battery. Killed at Gaines Mills, Va., June 27, 1862. Morris, William H., 54th regiment, Co. K. Missing since action of Olustee, Fla., February 20, 1864. Mosher, Philip (of Raynham?) 4th regiment cavalry, Co. B. Prisoner at Gainesville, Fla. Died in hands of the enemy. Noland, Joseph, 25th regiment U. S. colored troops, Co. H. Died at Fort Barrancas, Fla., June 16, 1865. Norton, William S., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at New Orleans, January 29, 1864. Nye, Ephraim B., Second Lieutenant, 14th battery. Killed at Peters- burg, Va., March 25, 1865. Buried at Pocasset. Nye, Franklin, 3d regiment .cavalry, Co. C. Killed at Port Hudson, November 30, 18G3. O'Brien, Daniel (of Boston?) 20th regiment, Co. D. Killed at Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861. Oliver, Charles H., Quartermaster-Sergeant, 4th regiment cavalry, Co. B. Died a prisoner at Albany, Fla., January 6, 1865. Oliver, Horatio G., Jr., Sergeant, 4th regiment cavalry, Co. B. Died in hands of enemy, at Wilmington, N. C., March 4, 18G5. O'Malley, Owen, 7th regiment, Co. If. Died at Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. Ormond, Patrick, 23d regiment, Co. D. Supposed to have died at Andersonville, December, 1864. Orne, George, 3d regiment, Co. F. Died January 30, 1863, at Boston. APPENDIX. 145 Palmer, George S., 18th regiment, Co. II. Died in Farley Hospital, Washington, November 14, 1863, of wounds received at Rappahan- nock Station. Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. Pearson, William, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. B. Killed at Jackson, La., August 3, 18G3. Peuniman, James M., 32d regiment, Co. G. Died at Annapolis, Feb- ruary 2G, 1865. Perry, Oliver H., 157th Pennsylvania regiment. Died June 20, 1865. Place, Henry, veteran reserve corps. Died at Harwood Hospital, Washington, D. C., January 18, 1864. Potter, Walter A., 23d regiment, Co. D. Killed at Newbern, March 14, 1862. Pugh, Sampson, 5th regiment cavalry, Co. D. Died at David's island, N. Y., October 26, 1865. Records, Lemuel S., 33d regiment, Co. I. Died iu hospital at Look- out Valley, Tenn., April 1, 1864. Reed, Isaac, 18th regiment, Co. A. Died at Florence, S. C., Septem- ber, 1864. Reichmann, Edward, Corporal, 47th regiment, Co. D. Died Septem- ber 24, 1863. Richmond, Cyrus A., Corporal, 1st regiment cavalry, Co. K. Died at home, November 1, 1862. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Rodgers, William T., 18th regiment, Co. I. Died September 16, 1863, at Newark, N. J. Rodman, William L., Lieutenant-Colonel, 38th regiment. Killed at Port Hudson, May 27, 1863. Buried in Oak Grove Cemetery. Ryan, James P., 38th regiment, Co. H. Died at University Hospital, New Orleans, June 4, 1863. Sargent, Joseph A., Sergeant, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at Annapolis, March 12, 1865. Scaunell, John, 9th regiment, Co. K. Died of wounds, July 1, 1862. Sears, Charles H., 23d regiment, Co. D. Died at Newbern, January 1, 1863, of wounds received in the battle of Whitehall, December 16, 1862. Grave at South Dartmouth. Sekell, Isaac W., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at Chestnut Street Hospital, Philadelphia, January 12, 1865. Shepherd, Eugene (quota of Chelsea.) Died at Nashville, Tenn., January, 1865. Shepherd, James P., 18th regiment, Co. A. Died at West Philadel- phia, July 18, 1863, of wounds received at Gettysburg. Buried in Rural Cemetery. Sherman, William F., 31st Maine regiment, Co. C. Died at Millen, Ga., October 30, 1864. Simmons, Charles H., 6th company heavy artillery. Died in hospital at Clark's Point, New Bedford, October 19, 1863, S 146 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Simpson, George, 20th regiment, Co. G. Killed at Ball's Blufl', Octo- ber 21, 1861. Smith, James, 20th regiment, Co. D. Died December 20, 1862. Smith, Matthew, 20th regiment, Co. D. Died December 11, 1862, at Falmouth, Va. Smith, Michael, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at Fort Kearney, August 24, 1865. Smith, Octavius C., Sergeant, 33d regiment, Co. I. Killed at battle of Wauhatchie, Tenn., October 29, 1863. Soule, Henry W., 5th battery. Killed at Gettysburg, July 2, Isd.l. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. Spooner, Francis, 18th regiment, Co. A. Died at Andersonville, Ga., August 3, 1864. Stowell, Columbus, 4th regiment cavalry, Co. B. Died in prison at Charleston, S. C., October 15, 1864. Swain, Charles B., 1st regiment cavalry, Co. K. Died at Beaufort, S. C., November 4, 1862. Sweeney, William A., Corporal, 33d regiment, Co. I. Killed at battle of Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864. Taber, Samuel H., 58th regiment, Co. E. Died in Danville prison hospital, August 31, 1864. Thatcher, William H., 6th company heavy artillery. Died at Fort Davis, D. C., June 27, 1864. Thompson, James, 13th battery. Drowned at Hampton Road, Va., February 1, 1863. Tillinghast, Charles F., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Prisoner at battle of Cedar Creek. Died in prison at Salisbury, N. C., June 9, IMH. Monument in Rural Cemetery ; it is not known where his body is laid. Tillinghast, Thomas G., Sergeant. 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at Winchester, Va., October 20, 1864, of wounds received at Cedar Creek. Monument in Rural Cemetery ; it is not known where his remains were laid. Tirrell, Charles F., 7th regiment, Co. I. Killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. Torrence, Abraham P., Corporal, 54th regiment, Co. C. Killed at Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863. Tripp, Ebenezer, 20th regiment, Co. G. Killed at Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861. Tripp, James H., 47th regiment, Co. D. Died June 4, 1863, at Carroll- ton, La. VTripp, Jireh B., 23d regiment, Co. D. Died in Libby prison, Rich- mond, Va., October 14, 1864. Tripp, Leander A., Sergeant, 38th regiment, Co. H. Died June 30, 1864, at Morganza, La. APPENDIX. 147 Tripp, William II., 23d regiment, Co. D. Killed before Petersburg, August 1C, 1864. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Tuckwell, Charles F., 23d regiment, Co. D. Died at Newbern, May 9, 1862. Grave in West Cemetery. Turner, Treadwell, 54th regiment, Co. C. Killed at Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863. Urban. Henry. i'Oth regiment, Co. C. Died January 7, 1865. Viall, George M. (of Providence?) 41st regiment, Co. A. Died at Baton Rouge, May 15, 1863. Watson, Samuel J., Second Lieutenant, 58th regiment, Co. E. Died at home, December 11, 1864, from want and exposure in Danville prison, Va. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Weaver, Norbert V., 33d regiment, Co. D. Mortally wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. Monument in Rural Cemetery. Welsh, Edward G., 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Killed at battle of Cedar Creek, Va., October 19, 1864. Welsh, William II., 3d regiment heavy artillery, Co. D. Died at Gal- lop's Island, Boston Harbor, September 15, 1865. Grave in Catholic Cemetery. Wluilon, Joseph, 18th regiment, Co. B. Died May t], 1862, at York- town, Va. Whitehall, John D., I'd regiment cavalry, Co. I. Died at Gloucester Point, Va., March 31, 1863. Whitman, Ouley A., 7th Rhode Island regiment, Co. I. Died at Balti- more, March 30, 1863. Grave in West Cemetery. Wilcox, Seth A., Sergeant, 3d regiment cavalry, Co. A. Died at home, May 30, 1864. Grave in Oak Grove Cemetery. Wilcox, William S., 5th battery. Died November 28, 1862, at Fal- mouth, Va. Williams, Henry J., 18th regiment, Co. A. Died at Sharpsburg, Md , October 17, 1862. Williams, William (quota of Belrnont,) 55th regiment, Co. K. Died at regimental hospital, Folly Island, S. C., August 19, 1864. Williston, William II., 21st regiment, Co. C. Killed at Newbern, N. C., March 14, 1862. Wing, John A., 33d regiment, Co. D. Missing in action, May 16, 1864. Winn, Hugh (of Fall River?) 4th regiment cavalry, Co. B. Died at Florence, S. C. Wood, Horatio, Quartermaster-Sergeant, 1st regiment cavalry. Died on board steamer Ericsson, June 25, 1862. Wordell, Charles P., 58th regiment, Co. E. Died in Douglas Hos- pital, Washington, August 27, 1864, of wounds received at the assault upon Petersburg, July 30, 1MJ4. Young, Angus W., 18th regiment, Co. D. Killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. 148 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Young, Nathan L., 54th regiment, Co. C. Wounded at Fort Wagner, July 18, 1863; died at Beaufort, S. C., next day. SEAMEN. Almy, Thomas, Acting Master's Mate, steamer Wachusett. Killed at City Point, Va., May 20, 18G2. Andrews, Manuel. Died in Marine Hospital, Chelsea, Sept. 11, 1861. Avila, Elisha N. (quota of Boston,) steamer Benton. Killed at Fort Donaldson, February 14, 1862. Ely, Horatio T., steamer St. Louis. Died of wounds, Oct. 17, 1862. Boakim, Emanuel, Steward. Killed August 5, 1864. Cornell, John M., steamer Mound City. Died March 16, 1864. Coxen, Edward M. Died of wounds, July 24, 1863. Dandridge, Andrew, Cook. Died of disease, March 19, 1802. Francis, Isaac, Jr , Acting Ensign, schooner Matthew Vassar. Died May 18, 1863. Frates, Antone. Killed June 2, 1862. Fuller, James, frigate Congress. Drowned in Hampton Road. Gifford, Charles E. Killed at Brooklyn Navy Yard, June 20, 1862. Gifford, David S. Died of disease, February 14, 1862. Gould, John, steamer Herald. Killed October 25, 1863. Handy, Joshua J., steamer Augusta. Died 1862. Harrington, Jeremiah, steamer Rattler. Died of gunshot wounds, March 19, 1863. Howes, Alphonso S., gunboat Sagamore. Died of disease, September 22, 1865, at Marine Hospital, Baltimore. Hullahan, Thomas (quota of Chelsea.) Died of disease at New Or- leans, July 24, 1862. Jenuey, James T., steamer Twilight. Died of disease, March 20, 1863, at Beaufort, N. C. Grave in West Cemetery. Kempton, Silas W., Acting Master's Mate, steamer Santiago de Cuba. Lost overboard in Chesapeake Bay, March 23, 1865. Louis, John. Died June 12, 1863. Lucius, Juan. Died at Brooklyn, May 19, 1865. McCarty, John. Died of disease, December 8, 1862. Milan, Michael, frigate Congress. Killed in Hampton Road, March 17, 1862. Milliken, Charles E., First Class Boy. Killed in Mobile Bay, August 25, 1864. Mullany, Philip. Died from casualty, January 26, 1864. Nugent, Robert N. Died at Charleston, S. C., December 6, 1863. O'Neil, Cornelius. Lost in steamer Cincinnati, March 27, 1863. Ottiwell, Nathaniel D., Acting Master's Mate, steamer Cambridge. Died off Cape Lookout, September 27, 1861. Buried at sea. Monu- t ment in Rural Cemetery. APPENDIX. 149 Paruell, James E., steamer Romeo. Died August 13, 1863, on board hospital-ship Red Rover. Peirce, John A. Perished on board the Cumberland in Hampton Road, March 8, 1862. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Phillips, Edward. -Died in Marine Hospital, Chelsea, Dec. 19, 1861. Rogers, Reuben G. Died of disease, September 20, 1862. Scott, John. Died of disease, November 20, 1861. Standish, William D., steamer Meteor. Died October 1, 1864. Taber, Daniel G. Blown up in the Tecumseh, in Mobile Bay, August 5, 1864. Taber, John C., First Class Boy, ship Ohio. Died of disease, May 8, 1864. Grave in Rural Cemetery. Thompson, William. Died May 27, 1863. Warren, Alveru S., steamer Santiago de Cuba. Died of wounds at Norfolk, Va., June 18, 1865. West, William A. Died April 15, 1863. Wordell, Gardner R., steamer Southfleld. Drowned April 19, 1864. XXVI. PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NEW BEDFORD. From the incorporation of the town of New Bedford in 1787 to the year 1821, the free school was called the town-school, and was for most of the period a school for the children of the indigent, a branch of the department for the support of the poor. A more just and more elevated idea was, no doubt, attached to the public school, and one more in harmony with its present position, when, on May 28th, 1787, it Avas voted in town meeting "that there be one person employed as a town schoolmaster in this town." From 1787 to 1798 there was annually passed, under an article of the war- rant " to see what number of schoolmasters shall be provided for the ensuing year at the charge of the town," a vote that " the selectmen appoint the schoolmasters of the town, according to law." At the March meeting, 1798, under an article in the warrant " to vote a sum of money for schooling poor children," a vote was adopted 150 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. which wholly changed the principle upon which the public schools were founded. A committee was appointed "to inquire into the number of poor children in said town necessary to send to school at the expense of said town." The committee were William Rotch, Jr., Edward Pope, Lemuel Williams, Joseph Bennett, Alden Spooner, Pardon Cook, Eb- enezer Keen, and John Chaffee. The character of the report, which is not given, may be gathered from the votes at the meeting held May 14th following. " Voted, To accept the report of the committee who were chosen to. report on the expediency of raising a sum of money to school the poor children in this town, and to raise two hundred dollars for that purpose. " Voted, To choose a committee of eight persons to lay out the same sum on those most needy." The same committee, with one exception, was appointed. From 1798 to 1820 this miserable apology for a free school was continued; the annual appropriations varying in amount from $200 to $1000, the average, after the setting off of Fairhaven in 1812, being $470. An attempt was made in 1811 to raise the public school from the slough of pauperism, mismanagement and misgovernmeut into which it had fallen. A committee, upon which were the names of William Rotch, Jr., John Mason Williams, Samuel Rodman, Thomas Hazard, Jr., and nine others, was appointed under a vote "that a plan be reported for regulating schools for the instruction of children, in con- formity to the existing laws of the Commonwealth." For many years the laws had been disregarded, and they were to be ten years more, for nothing came of the effort made at this time to depauperize the school. It was not until 1821 that the people of the town recognized their rights and their obligations in relation to free schools under the laws of the State. The struggle to effect the change was earnest and pro- tracted. Twice after the schools were established, once in relation to the grammar schools and once with reference to the high school, were votes passed by which they were abolished. The first appropriation was 1200. This was in 1821. Ten years after it was $5000. In 1841 it had been increased to $15,400. The last appropriation under the town government was 21,225. The name of JOHN A VERY PARKEK is honorably associated with the successful effort of 1821. He was of the school committee of that year, and its chairman. It would be an act of simple justice to have the "street struck off from the name of the 'Parker Street school,'" that in the name an honorable testimony may be borne to the labors of this friend and pioneer of the free public schools. Above we have given an abstact of the opening pages of our school history. We follow it with the closing. Following this we give ex- A1TENPIX. 151 tracts from the last report of the New Bedford School Committee, a document interesting for its valuable information and for the con- trast it presents to the statements of the early records. KXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1875. STATISTICS OF THE SCHOOLS. I. Population. The population of the city is 25,876 School census, May 1, 1875, 4,002 II. Schools. Training 1 High, 1 Grammar, 3 Primary, 10 Country, G Mill, 1 Farm, 1 Total, 23 ///. School Buildings. Number of buildings owned by the city 23 Number of buildings hired, . . . ' 2 25 IV. Teachers. High school, 8 Grammar schools 32 Primary schools, 42 Mill school, 2 Country schools (including Farm,) 12 Special teachers, 4 Total, 100 V. Scholars. (Fall Term, 1875.) Whole number of all ages, in (iirls. Boys. Training school, 17 High school i;50 97 Grammar schools, 594 643 Primary schools, 890 892 152 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Girls. Boys Country schools 145 159 Mill school, 21 19 Total, 1797 1801 3599 Per cent of attendance : High school, 95 Mill school, 90 Grammar schools, 95 Primary schools, 92 Country schools, 89 Average per cent, of attendance for all the schools except the Training school, 93 CENSUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN. The last legislature relegated to the school committee the duty of taking the census of the school children, requiring an additional range of details to render the service more useful. The whole number of children returned as being between 5 and 15 years of age on the first of May last, is 4002. Of these, 3060 were re- ported to be in the public schools ; 216 in private schools; 296 at work in the two large mills ; 21 at work in places other than the mills. These determinate figures foot up 3593 ; leaving 409 only, or 10 1-5 per cent, as allowance for invalids, for those who are detained at home to aid in the family labors, and for all those occupied through the many other contingencies, that in a city like this inevitably interfere to keep children from school. The number absolutely unaccounted for, among which alone the friendless or neglected, whose lives are running hope- lessly to waste, are to be found, is so small as to excite the liveliest satisfaction. THE EXPENDITURES. The appropriation for teachers' salaries asked for by the committee of expenditures, in behalf of the Board, and granted by the City Coun- cil, was $56,000. This estimate was based on the expenditures of the previous year, and was supposed to be sufficient for the current year. But there has already been paid out to the teachers the sum of $50,- 361.58, leaving a balance of 5,638.42. The remaining pay roll of the year will include six weeks, and will require the sum of $8569. There will therefore be a deficit of $2,930.58, for which an additional grant must be made by the City Council. The appropriation for incidental expenses, including $900 lately granted for the evening schools, was $18,400. The estimates were made on a basis of positive need, and were divided as follows : for salaries, $3050; evening schools, $1900; drawing school, $1500; sweepers' pay rolls, $2500 ; books and printing, $2000; fuel, $3000; APPENDIX. 153 heating apparatus, $1500; cleaning, $800; furniture and fixtures, $800; miscellaneous expenses, $1400. In studying economy for the future, it will not be possible to trench to any great extent on the amount heretofore granted for our inciden- tal expenses. Ten years ago there were only 57 separate seated rooms in use by our public schools; there are now 88; there were only 07 regular teachers ; there are now 96 ; and it is very evident that there must have been a large increase in the amount of supplies necessary to keep these many teachers and rooms in good working condition. Yet by the constant exercise of judicious care on the part of the com- mittee on expenditures in their disbursements, and the close scrutiny of all bills for goods and service rendered, every channel of expense has been kept under so thorough control that the per cent, of outlay has by no means been extended to equal the increased demand. CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS. High School. None of the teachers of this school have been interrupted in their work throughout the year by any contingencies, and they have labored with their usual faithfulness and success. The routine of study, as prescribed by the manual, has been followed witli as much fidelity as circumstances would allow. It sometimes occurs in a school of such a character, that a temporary departure from the dictated order of study will better serve its interests. Three of the masters of the last graduating class have entered Am- herst College, sustaining the examination for admission very creditably. The Grammar Schools. The Fifth Street school was exiled from its school-house during the first term of the last school year, while it was undergoing enlargement and renovation, and through that long interval, scattered about in temporary quarters, was deprived of its usual facilities for its ap- pointed work. It especially suffered in regard to writing and drawing, and such practice in the study of language as depends on written ex- ercises ; all of which were necessarily intermitted. The Parker Street school is now undergoing the experiences to which the Fifth Street school was subjected last year, and for the same grateful cause the enlargement and renovation of its school-house. The alarm sounded by the Chairman of the Board for 1874 in his an- nual report, and again by his Honor the Mayor in his first inaugural address, as to the danger to which the scholars of that school would be subjected in case of fire, was too serious to be disregarded. The incoming City Council took early action in reference to the reconstruc- tion of the house. The influence we had anticipated from the burden- some cost of the new high school house, to preclude for an indefinite T 154 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. period any further expenditure for school accommodations, was not suffered to have weight in this instance. And a satisfactory plan of enlargement having been obtained, a sufficient appropriation was unan- imously voted, and in due time the work was begun. When the house shall at length be transferred to the Board for the uses of the school, it will be so in contrast with its former condition, so ample and con- venient in its school-rooms and corridors, so safe in its three commo- dious stairways, so well appointed in its clothes-rooms for both schol- ars and teachers, and so admirably capacitated to serve the general exercises of the school by its large and sightly hall, that the luxury of possession will far more than compensate for the inconvenience con- sequent on the process of reconstruction. The Primary Schools. There have been more than the average number of changes of teach- ers in the primary schools during the past year. A full quarter of the former corps has given place to beginners in the work ; and almost the entire graduating class of the Training school, numbering 16, has al- ready been absorbed by these schools, and their complements in the country schools. The advantages derived from the Training school have therefore been conspicuously manifest. Had so large a number of new teachers begun their labors without any previous experience, making their scholars for successive months the unfortunate victims of their crude experiments in learning how to govern and how to teach, the average condition of several of the schools of this department would have fallen very low, and it would not have been easy to tone them up to their previous condition. But the most of the graduates of the Train- ing school, familiar with the requirements of discipline as well as with the routine of approved study, promptly and systematically enter upon their duties with effective capacity from the start, and there is neither loss of time nor depravation of character. Country Schools. A slice has been taken from the territory of our Acushnet neighbors and added to the city limits since the beginning of the year, that has materially increased the size of the North school, so that it has been thought expedient to appoint an assistant to the school. The schools of this department, in general, are working to good advantage, and in a satisfactory condition. Mil School. The census of school children, lately taken, has settled not a few vexed questions in reference to the children employed in the mills, and taught us what expectations we are justified in forming in relation to APPENDIX. 155 the Mill school. The School Committee have all along been supposing that a much larger number of children of school age were in the mills than proves to be the case ; and therefore, that the Mill school ought to show a far greater average attendance than it has done. But it seems that in the "Wanisutta mills there are 225 children ; in the Po- tomska only 71. Of the number in the Wamsutta, 103, or nearly fifty per cent., are between 14 and 15 years of age; almost at the limit of our legal hold on them ; and it is scarcely to be expected that this class of the child operatives will be discharged to attend school as univer- sally as those who are younger. Deduct only half of them, for the number allowed to slide beyond the legal limit without discharge for another term of schooling, and we have 174 remaining in all, from which the Mill school is periodically to be replenished. Now the av erage number attending the Mill school is 40, who are nearly all from the "\Vamsutta mills, and who therefore constitute, as is readily seen, nearly a quarter of the whole number in the mills from which recruits may be expected to be derived. And a quarter part is the very utmost we have a right to count upon. Of the 25 per cent, of the children employed in the Potomska mill, numbering 18, who should periodically be discharged to attend school, a few are to be found in the Mill school and more than half are distributed among the regular schools in the south part of the city. It would seem, therefore, that the agents of the mills should be thanked for the much they do towards the education of their child operatives, rather than stigmatized for what they neglect. A few in- stances are brought to light by the census, of children who are in the mills at so tender an age that it is a breach of humanity as well as of law that they should be employed at all. Let us hope that there are circumstances attending these several cases that relieve them of their apparently odious character. The Evening Schools. These schools have had regular sessions for 1 1 weeks, three even- ings of each week. The whole number of different scholars in the Central school has been 1GO; of whom 53 were females, 107 males. The whole number of different scholars in the South school has been 100; of whom 33 were females, 67 males. The average attendance on the Central school has been about 60; on the South school, 48. The corps of each school consists of a male principal and three fe- male assistants, who have labored steadily with interest and success. 15G CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Music and Draining. These two branches, once regarded in the community as only the mere ornaments of a substantial education, now held to be among its indispensable requisites, have been pursued with constant method, and results that give ever increasing satisfaction. In the present attitude of the general public towards these seduc- tive pursuits, an attitude of cordial interest and large expectation, there is a tendency among school authorities and teachers to devote to them much more than their due proportion of time. It is quite certain that in some localities, eager for distinction in these studies, the schools are allowed to follow them to an extent that robs the most important branches of study of the attention they require. This ten- dency the school authorities of New Bedford have firmly resisted. The results in music, even in the limited time devoted to it, are ad- mirable; and though our schools may not be able to present such striking evidences of culture iu drawing as is the boast of those with whom this branch is suffered to be unduly prominent, enough will be accomplished to prove the advantage to be derived from its prosecu- tion, while our minds will not be forced to labor under the painful consciousness that much of what is gained in this direction, is at the expense of loss in another. The Evening Drawing school has had an average attendance this season of between thirty and forty scholars, and one assistant teacher only has been employed, instead of two as heretofore. The character of the school is much the same as for the last two years. There are comparatively few adults seeking to obtain a more scientific and artis- tic knowledge of the trades they may be employed in, the majority being made up of the sons of our citizens not yet old enough to be engaged in business. But they are diligently prosecuting the study in orderly progress, and in the end far better results will accrue from such effort with such material, than could be secured from the super- ficial and irregular undertakings of journeymen mechanics, the most of whom have been found to be indisposed to devote the painstaking labor and study which a good degree of artistic culture demands. APPENDIX. 157 XXVII. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NEW BEDFORD IN THE CENTENNIAL. At a meeting of the City Council, January 20th, 1876, a communica- tion of which a copy follows was laid before that body by the Mayor. "Entcrnattonal Exhibition, 1876. " AGENCY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE, No. 25 PEMBERTON SQUARE, BOSTON, Dec. 9, 1875. " To his Honor the Mayor of New Bedford: "DEAR SIR, At a recent meeting of the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Superintendents of Schools on the Centennial, it was unanimously voted to designate New Bedford as one of the two cities of the Commonwealth to make a collective educational exhibit in the International Exhibition at Philadelphia. To this action I give my cordial approval, as I know very well New Bedford's capability to make a creditable showing, and I trust that the municipal authorities of your city, duly appreciating the honor implied in the selection, will promptly adopt the measures necessary for preparing the proposed exhibit. " Very respectfully yours, JOHN D. PHILBRICK, Agent." This communication was referred; and on the second day of March, upon the recommendation of the Committee on Public Instruction, an appropriation was made " to defray the necessary expenses of the proposed exhibition at Philadelphia by the School Committee." The School Committee, in anticipation of the proceedings of the City Council, had already taken measures looking to an acceptance of the proffer of the State Centennial Commission. At a meeting of the Committee, December 13th, 1875, the subject was introduced ; and the communication to the Mayor dated December 9th, above given, was read. By a unanimous vote, the subject was referred to a special commit- tee, consisting of the Chairman (Mayor Howland) and Messrs. Dunbar, Dews, Borden, and Batchclor. At the meeting held December 30th, the committee reported the following resolutions, Avhich were unanimously adopted. "Resolved, That the Secretary be requested to express to Hon. J. D. Philbrick, the agent of the Massachusetts Centennial Commission for the department of education, the cordial sympathy of this Board in regard to the objects sought to be accomplished by the Commission 158 CENTENNIAL CELEBKATION. in connection with the Centennial Exposition, and our purpose to re- spond to the appeal made to us by interested and active cooperation. " Resolved, That the honorable position assigned to our city is an additional inducement to make exertion in the premises proportioned to our power. " Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Board to have charge of this subject, with power." The same gentlemen who as a committee had drawn up these reso- lutions constituted the new committee, and immediately proceeded to perfect their plans and put them in train for execution. The repre- sentative exhibit specifically called for by the Commission was that of "the text-books, reference and other class books, philosophical appa- ratus, maps, globes, and all other illustrative aids, in use in the ele- mentary departments of a city of the second class in population." The committee determined to prepare their exhibit in the most thor- ough manner, and at the same time to avoid any superficial and unnecessary display. The books were borrowed directly from the shelves of the school-houses, presenting, in their worn and tarnished exteriors, the evidence of actual use; the cases procured to contain them were made in the most simple and substantial manner ; the vol- umes of scholars' work, 70 in number, were honestly composed and inexpensively but conveniently bound ; and all the other articles ex- hibited were in like manner drawn from among the actual collections in the school-houses, constituting a portion of their ordinary furnish- ing. In addition to books, apparatus, and volumes of scholars' work, the exhibit contained, 1. A chart, 3 feet by 4 feet, presenting in a tabulated form, carefully epitomized, the leading facts, historical and practical, respecting the educational position of the city. It includes not only the organization and practical condition of the public schools, but also of Friends' Academy and the private schools, of the Free Public Library and the New Bedford Lyceum. This piece of superior penmanship is the work of Mr. George B. Hathaway, of this city. 2. A perspective view, and elevations of front, side and rear of the new high school house, each 2 feet by 3 feet in size, executed in water color by Mr. Arthur Gumming, teacher of drawing in the schools, and by him presented to the School Committee for this purpose. Also photographs of the Parker Street, Fifth Street, and Merrimac Street school-houses, and of the Free Public Library, executed by Mr. T. E. M. White. 3. A brief history of the Free Public Library, together with the cat- alogues of its books; a brief history of Friends' Academy; and a complete set of the annual reports of the School Committee from 1840 to the present time. These reports and histories, appropriately bound, APPENDIX. 15i) are placed together iu the exhibition, in a case made for the purpose. This New Bedford Exhibit has been pronounced by competent judges to be highly creditable; and as there is nothing false or mer- etricious in its composition, its success is a subject of reasonable pride. XXVIII. HIGH SCHOOL HOUSE DEDICATION. The new High School House was dedicated with appropriate exer- cises September 12th, 187G, in the presence of a crowded audience, numbering over a thousand. The exercises were held in the hall in the third story, and about three hundred seats were reserved for the members of the city council, school committee, and other invited guests, among whom were many who have in past years been identi- fied with the educational interests of the city. J. AUGUSTUS BROWNELL, Chairman of the Joint Standing Committee of the City Council on Public Property, which co'mmittee has had the charge of the construction of the building, presented its report. After a few remarks on the blessings and the necessity of education, Mr. Browuell gave the history of the movement which had finally cul- minated in the erection of this beautiful house. The matter was first brought up in the city government about eleven years ago, though it had been agitated before by some of the citizens. The former high school, now to be occupied by the Middle Street grammar school, was built, he believed, in 184G. In May, 1865, a subcommittee of the School Committee addressed a petition to the City Council for more room. It was referred to the committee on public property, which in November reported reference to the next City Council. In March, 18GG, the committee on public instruction reported estimates for a high school house to cost 50,000, and the report was placed on file and nothing further done. In March, 1SU8, the committee on public property was directed to procure estimates for the expense of enlarging the old high school house, and in June 10,000 was appropriated to pay the cost of enlarg- ing. The enlargement was completed that year. 160 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. ' In 1873 the School Committee passed a resolution to petition the City Council for a new high school. May 20, the petition was referred to the committee on public instruction, which unanimously recom- mended granting the petition. In October, the committee on public property was authorized to expend 812,000 for land for a new high school, and purchased the lot on which the new building stands ; which transaction was reported in November, and the necessary action was taken to meet the expense. In March, 1874, another petition from the School Committee was before the committee on public property, and in May that committee, with the addition of an Alderman and two members of the Common Council, was authorized to procure plans. Plans prepared by Lord & Fuller and H. G. Wadlin, of Boston, were reported in October, and the committee was authorized to procure working plans, and in November to contract for the erection of the building, which was done, and contracts were reported to and ap- proved by the City Council for the masonry, carpentry, heating appa- ratus, and superintendence of construction. The corner stone was laid May 27, 1875, and newspapers of that time contain full reports of the proceedings and a list of the articles placed under it, which it was not necessary now to enumerate. The cost has been as follows : Land, $12,000 Masonry contract, 40,800 Extra work, 1,843 42,643 Carpentry contract, $34,782 Extra work, 4,712 39,494 Heating apparatus, 6,675 Ventilation, . . . . ' 2,825 Fence and curbing, 6,214 Excavation and drainage, 2,482 Furniture, 4,446 Plans and superintendence, 2,400 Brick pavement, 1,350 Incidentals, 5,536 126,065 Mr. Brownell then read from the Standard of August 30th a full de- scription of the building and list of contractors. He went on to state that the committee took great pleasure in commending the care and faithfulness with which the work had been done, and mentioned spec- ially the furniture and ventilation. The latter, by P. Mihan, of Cam- bridge, was on a plan approved everywhere it has been introduced, and favorably tested by the committee in this building. The house has accommodations for 336 scholars, is comfortable and beautiful, well heated and lighted, and the committee, Mr. Brownell thought, had reason to be proud, and to congratulate the citizens on APPENDIX. 101 this important acquisition. But the cause for cougratulation would be greater, if, as he trusted, by its use the character of education is advanced. . Mr. Brownell, at the close of his remarks, placed the keys of the building into the hands of the Mayor, who responded as follows: " Mu. CHAIRMAN, In accepting these keys, the agreeable duty de- volves upon me of extending to you and the committee you represent the thanks and congratulations of the City Council and the citizens of New Bedford, for the great care and attention, untiring zeal and en- ergy, you have given to the construction and completion of this spa- cious and costly structure erected by the bounty of the city, and which we now dedicate to public use, for the promotion of the welfare of the people. "You herewith present to our citizens and School Committee a magniricent structure, situated upon one of the finest building sites in our city, bounded by public avenues upon each side, well drained, and surrounded by spacious grounds. The edifice itself is one of which every citizen may well fell proud, artistic in its architecture, ample in its accommodations, possessing all the modern and most ap- proved requisites so indispensable to the health and comfort of teachers and pupils. " The citizens of New Bedford have here erected a monument of their liberality and interest in the educational and intellectual culture of their children. It is also a fitting recognition of the one hundredth anniversary of the independence of our nation, a memorial of the past, and a monitor of the future. " I would also congratulate the teachers and pupils of this school upon being so highly favored with such school accommodations as these ; and in behalf of the fathers and mothers acknowledge a debt of gratitude for the large and generous views of public policy which have furnished us this excellent building. "As mayor of the city, I accept from you these keys in the same spirit of magnanimity which has prompted your committee and our fellow-citizens in discharging their duty to their children and children's children in the construction and furnishing of this edifice, dedicated to intellectual culture and educational pursuits. "I shdll in due time transfer these symbols to the appropriate rep- resentative of the school committee." At the conclusion of his remarks the Mayor introduced the Hon. ROHERT C. PITMAN, Judge of the Superior Court, as a citizen of New Bedford who was an honor to the city and whom the city delighted to honor. Judge Pitman said as a general thing he deprecated apologies, but as he believed any person who is to speak before an audience of the character here assembled should suitably prepare himself, an apology U 162 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. was due to his hearers. He alluded first to Messrs. James B. Cong- don and John F. Emerson, who were seated beside him; the one who, when he was a scholar forty years ago at Bush street, often in his official capacity as a member of the School Committee, enlivened the. school by his cheering presence and his quick elastic step, and was also reverenced as the chairman of the Selectmen ; the other, before the high school was instituted, had given him valued assistance in his educational progress. The two years he spent in Bush Street school under the tutorship of David Armstrong, he regarded as among the most profitable of his life. Two thoughts he desired to present. First, education involves more than the preparation of accurate and finished scholars ; it produces noble men and women. On this point, special credit was due to Mr. Emerson. Second, he hoped New Bedford would not longer delay to elect some of its intelligent and capable women members of the School Committee. It was incredible that the educational interests of all the schoolgirls of the city should be in- trusted to a board composed entirely of men, when none so well as mothers know how their education should be conducted. JOHN F. EMERSON, the veteran teacher, whose portrait occupies a conspicuous place in the hall, was then introduced by the Mayor, and made the following interesting address. "MR. MAYOR, It was, I believe, at a religious convocation in Can- ada, a few years ago, that a new beatitude was promulgated : ' Blessed is the man that maketh a short speech ; he shall be invited to come again.' I have been invited by the High School and its friends on more than one occasion of interest, and hope to be again ; therefore I shall make a short speech. With your permission, my friends, I shall indulge in a few reminiscences of my school life in New Bedford. "It will be fifty years the 26th day of the coming December since my first arrival in your city. What a contrast between then and now ! But this is not the time or the occasion to enlarge upon that contrast, however interesting it might be. My first engagement here was that of an assistant teacher in the Friends' Academy, under J. H. W. Page, Esq., the principal. That was the commencement of a lifelong friend- ship between us, and his worth and success as a teacher will be at- tested by all those who had the good fortune to be his pupils. I held that position for two terms only, when the first High school was es- tablished, and I was appointed its master. It was kept in what was then called the green schoolhouse, on Charles street. The number of scholars, I think, was limited to forty, and altogether it was a very different establishment from the present school, with its costly and varied surroundings. There may be some in this assembly who were my pupils at that time, and if there are, I call upon them to bear wit- ness that we were a happy company, and that fair progress, at least, was made in school studies. I hope I shall be pardoned if I appear a APPENDIX. 163 little egotistical in speaking of this period. I had had but little expe- rience as a teacher, and was naturally ambitious to make a good school. I had the time-honored Friends' Academy to compete with, presided over by the excellent teacher whom I have already named. I recollect that at the close of one term there was one vacancy, and that the committee spent an entire day in examining candidates who were anxious to secure the place. A large proportion of those first ad- mitted retained their seats, and consequently the number of disap- pointed applicants soon became large. Another cause of complaint, and one that produced a strong feeling of opposition to the school, was that two or three families that were considered abundantly able to pay for the tuition of their children, secured and continued to re- tain an undue proportion of the seats. At the expiration of two years from the establishment of the school, the opposition became so pow- erful that an article was inserted in the warrant for the annual town meeting to see if the town would abolish the High school and appro- priate the same amount expended for its support to one or more infant schools. It was a sad prospect to me, to look forward to the discon- tinuance of the school, as I had no other means of support. I went to the town meeting in a very despondent frame of mind. The cause of the school was advocated most eloquently by the late T. G. Coffin, Esq., and the opposition was led by Dudley Davenport, Esq., whom those who were in active life at the time will remember as a man of strong feelings and indomitable energy, as well as of great personal worth. He had tried repeatedly for the admission of his children to the school, and failed. He then formed the resolution to abolish the school, if possible, and his impassioned appeal produced such an effect that it seemed to me when the vote was taken that every hand in the hall went up in support of his side of the case, and the doom of the school was sealed. Mr. Davenport had no personal feeling against me, as was subsequently shown by his action in retiring from the hall, when he accosted me and said that he had heard I proposed to open a private school; if so, he wished to put his children under my instruc- tion. This he did, and they remained my pupils till they left school. " I began at once what I continued to call the High school, and never had cause to complain of a want of patronage. Many of my pupils then are among the most honored and useful of the citizens of New Bedford, and also of other cities. " I was a member of the School Committee for most of the time that I was a private teacher, and remember with great pleasure my associ- ation on that board with several gentlemen who are doubtless here today, and have always been identified with the cause of education. I should do injustice to my own feelings, as well as disappoint your just anticipations, if I failed to mention in this connection my warm friend and co-laborer in education, THOMAS A. GRKRXK, Esq. You 164 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. all remember his devotion to the schools of the city, and no one had a better opportunity than myself to estimate the obligations of the city to him in this respect. He took so deep an interest in the High school that at last he knew almost every pupil by name. If his life had been continued to the present time, and he could have been with us on this occasion, his heart would have rejoiced in the ceremonies of this ded- ication. "Another name will always be remembered when we speak of the schools, Public Library, and other kindred institutions of the city, JAMES B. CONGDON, Esq. But if I should attempt to enumerate all the friends of good learning that I have labored with in your city, the list would be too long for your patience. "The graduates of the High school for the quarter of a century that it was under my charge, are scattered through the length and breadth of the land. I meet them wherever I go. I never fail to re- ceive a cordial recognition, and I always find them prepared to put a higher value upon my services than I think I deserve. They are found in the learned professions, in the marts of commerce and trade, and some few, at least, have achieved no mean distinction. ALBERT BIKR- STADT, the artist, took his first lessons in drawing in your High school. I doubt not there are some present who have specimens of monochro- matic drawing which they executed under his teaching previous to his visit to Europe. " I cannot fail to remember my young friend and former pupil, Pro- fessor CHARLES F. CHANDLER, of the School of Mines, New York. My ten years residence in Brooklyn has afforded me ample means of knowing his high reputation as a chemist. As President of the Board of Health, he holds a position of great responsibility, and one for the duties of which he seems specially qualified. "Rev. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, the son of your late townsman Capt. Daniel Mackenzie, is a clergyman of great worth and high re- pute for a young man. He is settled over a church in Cambridge, near Harvard College, a position demanding culture and varied learning. I remember him as a most exemplary and painstaking scholar. " I congratulate the city of New Bedford on the possession of this splendid edifice for the accommodation of the High school. It affords ample testimony to the taste and sound judgment of all concerned in its erection. I congratulate the youth of the city, for whose benefit this lavish expenditure has been made, on the increased facilities and ample provisions furnished them for the prosecution of study and the acquisition of sound learning. "I congratulate the worthy principal who has presided over this school for so many years, on the success that has crowned his labors in the past, and the cheering prospect for the future, in the unsur- passed accommodations with which he will now be provided. APPENDIX. 165 "I congratulate the faithful assistant teachers of this school on their good fortune in being called to labor where there are so many omens of success to encourage them in their arduous toils." AHXER J. PIIIFPS, of Mcdford, General Agent of the State Board of Education, was the next speaker. Mr, Phipps was for many years a teacher in New Bedford, aucl at one time Superintendent of the Public Schools. Mr. Phipps said it was 29 years this day (Sept. 12th) since he be- came Principal of the Friend's Academy, and 12 years since he left the position of Superintendent of Schools. He said two of the most prominent facts brought to mind in this year of centennial reflections were the progress in the character of school buildings and the in- creased provision for high schools. In 1838 the valuation of all the public schoolhouses in the State was $550,000, and now it was $20,- 000,000, one schoolhouse being valued at 300,000 and another $200,- 000, and there is quite a number worth over $100,000. In 1838 there were 14 high schools, now over 200. High schools were however es- tablished in a very early period of our history. They were then called grammar schools, and were required to be of a grade suitable to fit scholars for "ye university." Some of the twenty-five dollar school- houses remain, but they are in towns where property is so much re- duced in value that with the utmost economy taxes are very high. Mr. Phipps also extended his congratulations on the character of the building, specially noting the blackboards of real slate. He did not know of a more perfect schoolhouse. Prof. TWEED, of the Board of Supervisors of the schools of Boston, was introduced, and amusingly contrasted the house with the one from which he graduated 50 years ago. There may be those who grumble at the increased expenses of schools, but they only keep pace with the prosperity of the country. It is somewhat doubted whether the methods of teaching keep pace with the houses and appliances, and unfortunately it cannot be very accurately determined. He be- lieved, however, that the modes of teaching had greatly advanced. Mr. JOHN TETLOW, Principal of the Friends' Academy, spoke of the great expenditure for the High school. He did not mean to be un- derstood as opposed to free education, but the public has an immense demand upon the school. The school is in charge of the committee, the teachers, and the public. The committee should select teachers in whom they have confidence, and after general directions should leave them alone. Parents and pupils should consider it is their duty to consider the teacher. Unless this school sends out first class citi- zens it cannot vindicate its own existence. The Mayor then presented to the Hon. ALAJCSON BOKDEX, Chairman of the subcommittee on the High School, the keys of the new building, and spoke as follows : 166 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. "MR. CIIAIRMAX, To you, representing the School Committee of our city, I consign this building, a munificent gift from the citizens of New Bedford to their children. The public authorities have furnishc-d you with a building suited to your wants, and I have no misgivings as to the wisdom which shall govern or the success which will ever at- tend the administration of this school. And now, Mr. Chairman, in the belief that this magnificent structure will be found worthy of the purposes for which it has been constructed, worthy of the enlightened teachers who will impart knowledge to those seeking information here, worthy of the public spirit and progress of the city of New Bedford, I deliver it, by this symbolical passing of keys into your charge, a completed and perfect edifice." In response to the address of the Mayor, Judge Borden remarked that he accepted the keys not with unmixed feelings of pleasure; he felt the full weight of responsibility which they symbolized. Happily for himself, he expected in a few months to lay down that responsi- bility. In view of what is afforded for education in New Bedford, by liberal appropriations and from the Sylvia Ann Rowland bequest, the responsibility was almost too much to bear. The school should be able to fit scholars for college as well or better than any other in the State. He believed it had facilities superior to any other in the State, and hoped to hear of many of its graduates honoring themselves at Yale, Harvard, Tufts, Boston University, Vassar, and Smith's College. The school should be so good that no other of the same grade can exist in the city. A very important thing, something beyond intellec- tual attainments, is intellectual enthusiasm. Judge Borden looked back with grateful remembrance to one teacher who inspired his pupils with such enthusiasm that nearly every one would get up at 4 A. M. in the winter to engage in study. But this school is not all for college ; most of its pupils come here to end their studies, and if they were en- thusiastic here their attainments would not wear out in the future but would scarcely be defaced. If the future School Committees shall so manage the school, the people will be willing to pour out their thou^ sands for its support. Charles P. Rugg, Esq., Principal of the High School, received the keys from Judge Borden. He promised that the earnest efforts of himself and his assistants would be put forth to merit the trust and confidence of the cominuuity. Among the invited guests present were Dr. James M. Aldrich, chair- man of the school committee, and William Conuell, Jr., superintend- ent of schools, of Fall River; A. P. Marble, superintendent of schools in Worcester, and the superintendent of public buildings in the same city, whose name we did not learn. The arrangements were admirably made by the committee on public APPENDIX. 167 property, Messrs. J. Augustus Brownell, William G. Taber, William J. Bowen, Henry C. Denison, and George Nelson. The whole building was charmingly decorated with flowers. A very handsome bouquet on the pianoforte was contributed by William Peirce, and the others were furnished and arranged by the assistant teachers. In the principal's room was a splendid amaryllis with about ninety blossoms, furnished by Mrs. Harry J. Leach. After the dedication, the people inspected all parts of the building, and much gratification was expressed with its appearance. XXIX. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL HOUSE. [From the Evening Standard of August 30th.] This fine building is now nearly completed, and the finishing touches are being put on the painting and furnishings. The building is large enough to meet all the requirements of the High school for a great many years to come, elegant in design, and carefully fitted in every way for its destined use. The Committee of the City Council on Pub- lic Property has the credit from the School Committee of doing every- thing possible to meet the views of the latter body in adapting every detail carefully to its purpose. The building occupies an entire block of land, about three fourths of an acre, bounded by Summer, Mill, Chestnut and North streets, a high and commanding situation, and from a distance it is the most promi- nent object in the city. Collaterally, the view from the tower is ex- tensive and fine. The building is of brick, with Amherst (Ohio) freestone trimmings, and underpinning and basement window sills of Rockport granite. It is three stories high, with a Hat-topped hip roof, the slopes slated and the flat tinned. The front on Summer street is 95 feet, and the width 92 feet. The Summer street entrance is under a projecting portico 21 by 15 feet. Over the centre front are a tower and spire. The brick are laid in black mortar." In the first story, the east vestibule is 15 by 29 feet, and opens into 168 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. a larger vestibule, which, with stairways leading up from entrances at the north and south, cloak-rooms, &c., occupies a space extending the whole length of the building and 25 feet wide. Forty-seven feet length of this, in the centre, is clear and unobstructed. Opening from this main hall-way are two school-rooms at the east 30 by 36 feet, and two at the west 30 by 35 feet, occcupying the corners of the building. The westerly part of the building is 1C9 feet long, projecting both north and south far enough to give the westerly school-rooms each an east- erly window. Between the westerly rooms on the first floor are a library 16 by 26i feet, and a private room for teachers 14 by 2Gi feet. The second story is like the first, except that over the east vestibule is a room for the principal, and over the library an apparatus room. The southwest room is to be devoted to philosophical experiments, and the windows are provided with patent rolling dark shutters. In the third story are two school-rooms in the easterly corners, and between them an ante-room and a stairway leading to the tower. West of these rooms are a range of cloak-rooms, &c., and the westerly part of the third story is appropriated to an assembly hall for the whole school, 43 by 104J feet. The northeast room in this story will be the apartment fbr lessons in drawing, and it has been provided with stools and tables, some of which were formerly used in the public evening drawing schools in Sears Hall. They have been neatly stained and varnished. The adjoining ante-rooms are fitted for the reception of drawing-boards and frames. The basement will have a laboratory under the southeast school- room and a chemical store-room north of it, water-closets under the west rooms, and a boiler-room, janitor's room, and coal-room, under the library and teachers' private room. The laboratory has been fitted up with every possible convenience and the best style of apparatus for the work to be done in the room, on the same plan that was pur- gued in the State Normal School at Bridgewater. The tower is 18i feet wide, projecting two feet, and above the roof is enlarged to 20i feet square. The basement is 1 1 feet high in the clear (5 feet above ground); school-rooms in each story 15 feet; and the assembly hall 17 feet high at the ends and 20 feet high for 50 feet of its length in the centre. The tower room in the fourth story is 27 feet high, and in the fifth 14 feet. The height from the ground to the eaves is 56 feet ; to the top of the roof, 78 feet; to top of tower, 98 feet; to summit of spire, 139 feet. The cloak-rooms in the first and second stories are in double tiers 7 feet high, part of them opening from landings half way up each flight of stairs. The attic, 19 feet high, has only six small dormer windows, and will ALTEMHX. 169 be uuusecl except iu the tower-room and by the raised ceiling of the assembly hall and such space as is occupied by ventilating pipes. The plans for the building were made by Lord & Fuller and H. G. Wacllin, of Boston, and it has been erected under their supervision, and is well and thoroughly constructed in every respect. Mr. Augus- tus A. Greene has been their agent to supervise the work. The prin- cipal contractors were Dearborn Bros. & Co., of Boston, masons; Solomon Chadwick, carpenter; Ingalls & Kendricken, of Boston, steam heating apparatus ; P. Mihan, of Cambridge, ventilation. The heating apparatus is built under Clogston's patents, and has proved to be economical. The piping is arranged so as to obviate the disagreeable snapping sound often heard in steam heating pipes, and the heat is obtained by indirect radiation, all the radiators being placed in air flues in the basement. The ventilation is so planned as to insure a draft in the ventilating flues both from the top and^bottom of each room. This has been long a difficult problem, the tendency being to ventilate only from the top by the levity of the heated air when both registers open into the same flue ; and if different flues are used the result has been no better, or perhaps resulting in a downward draught to the lower register. Mr. Mihan's plan is to conduct a tin pipe from the lower register through the centre of the flue ventilating from the upper register. The warm air in the outer flue heats the air inside the pipe, and thus creates a draught from below. The inside finish is ash, white-filled and shellacked, and the walls of the rooms are painted in delicate grays, drabs, pearls, lavenders, &c., each room a different tint. The school desks, the chairs for four rooms to be occupied by the lower grades of the school, and all the teachers' desks and tables are from the Sterling School Furniture Co., of Sterling, 111. Ninety set- tees in the hall are from the same company, and are made with cast- iron frames, while the seats turn up against the backs like opera seats. There are 100 settees of the common pattern from the Fitchburg Chair Co., and the same concern has furnished cane-seated oak chairs with rubber feet for the scholars of the four upper-grade rooms. The Ster- ling chairs are on bronzed iron frames fastened to the floor. The backs and seats are of cherry slats, and the seats lift up. The teachers' rooms and library are carpeted with drab and red, and the building contains twelve clocks. The lot is surrounded with heavy granite curbing and posts, and is to have a wrought-iron fence. In the belfry at the top of the tower is a heavy fire alarm bell struck by the telegraphic apparatus. V 170 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. XXX. FINANCES AND TAXATION. o H CO CO X APPENDIX. 171 APPROPRIATIONS OF THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 1ST, 1877. Support of public schools, (pay of teachers,) $56,000.00 " " (incidentals,) 17,500.00 Repairs of highways, 10,000 " streets, 33,400 43,400.00 " public property, 8,000.00 Support of the poor, 28,000.00 Fire department, 23,000.00 Lighting the streets, 11,400.00 Salaries, 11,000.00 Police department, 31,000.00 Water works, (by ordinance,) 12,000.00 Free Public Library, 3,300.00 New Bedford Bridge, 2,000.00 City debt, 98,326.00 Discount on taxes, 10,000.00 Rural Cemetery, 1,200.00 Special appropriations, 1875, 53,589.14 Incidental expenses, 14,284.86 $424,000.00 INDEBTEDNESS OF THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD, JANUARY 1ST, 1876. The bonds issued by the city of New Bedford, and now outstanding, amount to 1,198,000.00 Of this sum the water bonds are 700,000.00 Indebtedness other than water bonds, $498,000.00 This amount, $498,000, represents the whole indebtedness of the city for the sums borrowed from time to time for war purposes and for public improvements. The city has no other indebtedness, excepting a temporary loan made in anticipation of the receipts from the taxes in October next. The public property, as appraised by a committee of the City Council, has a valuation of 1,778,413.34 The city's indebtedness, as stated above, is, 1,198,000.00 Balance of property over indebtedness, 580,413.34 The water works alone have had expended upon them, and are valued at, a sum which is but about two hundred thousand dollars short of the whole indebtedness of the city. 11 '2 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. The valuation of the water works is $1,000,000.00 The water bonds amount to 700,000.00 The balance, $300,000.00 has been met from sources which have not increased the indebted- ness of the city. To meet the obligations connected with a bequest to the city, a per- petual annuity of six thousand dollars in aid of the Free Public Library and the Free Public Schools is to be provided for. The debt, independent of the water debt, is $498,000.00 In 1863 the whole debt was 425,000.00 Increase since 18G3, 13 years, $73,000.00 The amount of the debt of the city of New Bedford, and the pay- ments to be annually made thereupon are shown by the following statement. 1876 $20,000 1877, 30,000 1878, ." ' 25,000 1879, 37,000 1880, 27,000 1881, 25,000 1882, 25,000 1883, 35,000 1884, 41,000 1885, 35,000 1886, 35,000 1887, 35,000 1888, 35,000 1889, 35,000 1890, 35,000 1891, 40,000 1892, 40,000 1893, 33,000 1894 30,000 1895, 30,000 1896, 30,000 1897, 30,000 1898, 30,000 1899 30,000 1900, 40,000 1901, 40,000 1902 40,000 1903, 40,000 1904, 40,000 1905, 40.000 APPENDIX. 173 1906, 40,000 1907, 40,000 1908, 40,000 1909, 40,000 1910, 30,000 1,198,000 The valuation of the city for the year 1876, as made by the assessors for the purposes of taxation, is as follows : Keal estate, $12,411,200.00 Personal estate, 11,866,900.00 Bank stock, 2,472,102.00 $26,750,202.00 To this should be added the sum of TWO MILLIONS of dollars of cor- poration property taxed by the State, and the bank stock held by our residents in banks out of the city. The deposits in our savings banks are about TEN MILLIONS of dollars, no part of which is included in the city valuation. XXXI. MAYORS OF NEW BEDFORD. Abraham H. Howland, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851. William J. Rotch, 1852. Rodney French, 1853, 1854. George Howland, Jr., 1855, 1856, 1863, 1864, 1865, aud about three months of 1862. George H. Dunbar, 1857, 1858, 1873. The municipal year was changed in 1857, so that his first term was nine months. Willard Nye, 1859. Isaac C. Taber, 1860, 1861, and to September 29, 1862. John H. Perry, 1866, 1867. Andrew G. Pierce, 1868, 1869. George B. Richmond, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1874. Abraham II. Howland, Jr., 1875, 1876. 174 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. All these gentlemen but three were born in New Bedford. William J. Rotch was born in Philadelphia, Rodney French in Berkley, and Willard Nye in Sandwich. Three arc deceased : Abraham H. Howland, Willard Nye, and Isaac C. Taber. Isaac C. Taber is the only one who has died while holding the office. It is believed that eight of these can trace their ancestry back to the soil of old Dartmouth previous to the American revolution. Our present mayor is the son of the first. George Howland, Jr., has held the office the longest, three months over five years. XXXII. GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD, 1876. MAYOR. ABRAHAM H. HOWLAND, JR. ALDERMEN. Ward 1. JONATHAN C. HAWES. 2. WILLIAM T. SOULE. 3. WILLIAM G. TABER. 4. J. AUGUSTUS BROWNELL. 5. JOHN B. BAYLIES. 6. GEORGE R. STETSON. CITY CLERK AND CLERK OF THE BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN. HENRY T. LEONARD. COMMON COUNCIL. President, Edwin Dews. Ward One, George H. Freeman, John Wing, Henry L. Dunham, Paul S. Hathaway. APPENDIX. 175 Ward Two, James A. Crowell, Luther G. Hewins, Jr., Charles A. Case, Lemuel T. Terry. AVard Three, Charles AV. Coggeshall, William H. Pitman, Augus- tus Swift, James G. Wilson. Ward Four, William A. Beard, Lemuel C. Wilbur, Thomas M. Denham, Frederick S. Potter. Ward Five, Edwin Dews, Antoue L. Sylvia, Jonathan Howlancl, Jr., Henry C. Denison. Ward Six, William J. Bowen, George Nelson, John P. Taylor, Edmund Grinnell. Clerk of the Common Council, William A. Church. SCHOOL COMMITTEE. Abraham H. Howland, Jr., Mayor, ex officio Chairman. Edwin Dews, President of the Common Council, ex officio. Ward One, Alanson Borden, Henry F. Thomas, Joseph H. Cornell. Ward Two, Ivory S. Cornish, Charles R. Price, James W. Hervcy. Ward Three, John Spare, Isaac W. Benjamin, Benjamin S. Batch- elor. Ward Four, Hosca M. Kuowlton, George H. Dunbar, Stephen W. Hayes. Ward Five, Edmund Rodman, Lemuel M. Kollock, James L. Sher- man. Ward Six, Isaac H. Coe, Bartholomew Otheman, Jr., Charles H. Sauford. Secretary of the School Committee, and Superintendent of Schools, Henry F. Harrington. TRUSTEES OF THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY. Abraham II. Howland, Jr., Mayor, ex officio President. Edwin Dews, President of the Common Council, ex officio. John B. Baylies, Chairman Committee on Public Instruction, ex officio. S. Griffltts Morgan, Thomas H. Knowles, George Howland, Jr., George H. Dunbar, Warren Ladd, Oliver A. Roberts. Clerk of the Board, Oliver A. Roberts. Superintendent of the Library, George H. Dunbar. Librarian, Robert C. Ingraham. ACUSHXET WATER BOARD. Abraham H. Howland, Jr., Mayor, ex officio President. Edwin Dews, President of the Common Council, ex officio. George Howlaud, Jr., Henry F. Thomas, Thomas Bennett, Jr. Clerk of the Water Board, James B. Congdon. UCSB LIBKAKY 5