Chapter 2

--At Plainfield, Mr. Hezekiah Spalding, a batchelor of large fortune, aged 68, to the amiable Miss Mary Williams, aged 22!

1790.

* * * * *

MARRIED]--At Cambridge, Dr. J. JENNISON, to the amiable Miss BELCHER, daughter of his late Excellency Governour _Belcher_, of Nova Scotia, and grand daughter of his Excellency _Jonathan Belcher_, Esq. deceased, formerly Governour of the then provinces of Massachusetts Bay and New-Hampshire.

Aug. 31, 1790.

* * * * *

--At Newbury-Port, Mr. WILLIAM YOUNG, of Boston, to the amiable Miss JUDITH WILLIAMS, of that town.

June 7, 1788.

* * * * *

NEWPORT, Nov. 24.

The 16th Instant, Mr. WILLIAM CHECKLEY, Son of the Rev. Mr. SAMUEL CHECKLEY of Boston, was married to Miss POLLY CRANSTON, a young Lady of genteel Acquirements, and of a most amiable Disposition.

Dec. 19, 1766.

* * * * *

BOSTON, January 12 [1767].

Last Thursday Evening DUNCAN STEWART, Esq; Collector of His Majesty's Customs for the Port of New-London, was married to Miss NANCY ERVING, youngest Daughter of the Hon. JOHN ERVING, Esq; of this Town; a most amiable and agreeable young Lady.

* * * * *

Thursday last was married, at Newport, JOHN COFFIN JONES, Esq. of Boston, merchant, to the truly amiable and accomplished Miss ABIGAIL GRANT, daughter of the late ALEXANDER GRANT, Esq. a Lady of real merit, and highly qualified to render the connubial state desirable and supremely happy.

May 22, 1786.

* * * * *

--By the Rev. Dr. STILLMAN, Mr. CALEB LORING, distiller, to the agreeable Miss POLLY SELSBRY.

May 25, 1792.

* * * * *

MARRIED]--At _Billerica_, Mr. JAMES BREED, to the amiable Miss ELIZABETH PARKER.--At _Newtown_, Mr. JOHN WALTER, A.B., to the agreeable Miss POLLY BULLARD.

March 24, 1792.

* * * * *

Married,

At Topsfield, by the Rev. Mr. Huntington, Mr. JOSEPH AVERELL, to the accomplished Miss EUNICE LAMSON.

_Salem Register,_ 1801.

* * * * *

Editors were formerly very fond of curious matter for their lists of marriages and deaths. In the "Massachusetts Centinel" for 1789 the marriage of Pork and Hogg has a doubtful look, although it used to be supposed that everything in the paper was true.

MARRIED]--Lately in Delaware, Mr. ROBERT PORK, merchant, to Miss CATHARINE HOGG.--At Pepperell, Mr. GILES RICHARDS, of this town, to the amiable Miss SALLY ADAMS, youngest daughter of the late Rev. Mr. ADAMS, of Roxbury.--At Hull, Mr. SPENCER BINNEY, to Miss POLLY JONES, daughter of Mr. THOMAS JONES, of that place.

* * * * *

A Boston paper of 1795 prints the following:--

_MARRIAGES._

At Concord, Ebenezer Woodwrod, A.B., Citizen Bachelor, of Hanover, N.H., to the amiable Miss ---- Robinson. At Longmeadow, Mr. John M. Dunham, Citizen Bachelor and Printer, as aforesaid, to the amiable Miss EMILY BURT.

The promptness and decision which the said Citizens have shown----

"In all the fond intrigues of Love,"

is highly worthy of imitation; and the success that has so richly crowned their courage and enterprize, must be an invincible inducement to the fading phalanx of our remaining Bachelors, to make a vigorous attack on some fortress of female beauty, with a determined resolution,

----"Ne'er to quit the glorious strife," 'Till, drest in all her charms, some blooming fair Herself shall yield, the prize of conquering love!

In the "Salem Mercury," June 17, 1788, we find the following announcement, which reminds us of "Solomon Grundy, who died on Monday."

DIED--At Rehoboth, Mr. HENRY BOWEN. He went to a wedding, well, on Thursday, taken sick on Friday, died on Saturday, buried on Sunday.

* * * * *

"Virtuous and amiable" were terms used frequently in the lists of deaths.

--At Portsmouth, Mrs. Jane Hill, the virtuous and amiable Consort of Mr. Elisha Hill. [1790]

* * * * *

The following is a list of marriages and deaths at various dates, taken from Boston and Salem papers:--

"Salem Gazette," July 19, 1811.

......_MARRIAGES_......

In Williamsborough (N.C.), Major SMITH, of Prince Edwards (Va.), to Miss CHARLOTTE B. BRODIE.--This match, consummated only a few days since, was agreed upon thirty-one years ago at Camden (S.C.), when he was captured at the battle of Camden; and being separated by the war, &c., each had supposed the other dead, until a few months since, when they accidentally met, and neither plead any statute of limitation in bar of the old bargain.

* * * * *

"Salem Mercury," Oct. 21, 1788.

MARRIED--In England, Mr. Matthew Rousby, aged 21, to Mrs. Ann Taylor, aged 89. The lady's grandson was at this equal union, and was 5 years older than his grandfather.

* * * * *

"Salem Gazette," 1817.

MARRIED,

In this town, Mr. Schuyler Lawrence, to Mrs. Chloe Minns, Mistress of the African School in Salem, and who has deserved well of the town and of the African race.

* * * * *

"Salem Register."

_MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1827._

MARRIED

At New-York, by Rev. Mr. Hart, M.M. NOAH, senior editor of the Enquirer, to Miss Rebecca, only daughter of Mr. Daniel Jackson, of that city. The junior editor of the Enquirer was on the same day killed in a duel. An old Bachelor at our elbow thinks the fate of the surviving editor most deserving of commiseration!

* * * * *

"Salem Gazette," 1811.

......DEATHS......

A short time ago, at the romantic village of Laughton-en-le-Morthen, in Yorkshire, England, Farmer PAUL PARNELL, late of the Ewes Farm House, age 76 years, who during his life, drank out of one silver pint cup with two handles, upwards of 2000l. sterling worth of nut-brown Yorkshire stingo (good old ale), being much attached to stingo tipple, of the best double stout, home-brewed quality. N.B. This calculation took at 2_d._ each cupfull.

* * * * *

"Essex Register," Feb. 5, 1824.

_MARRIAGES._

In Solon, by Rev. Moses French, Josiah French, Esq., aged 48, to Miss Betsey Jackman, aged 40, being his _fifth wife._

* * * * *

"Salem Gazette," Oct. 17, 1825.

At Rochester, N.Y., Capt. Samuel Currier to Miss Sally Clough--_his sixth wife_!

* * * * *

"Independent Chronicle," Nov. 23, 1797.

At Gloucester (R.I.), Mr. ELISHA HERRENDEN, Æt. 83, to Mrs. ELENOR LUSHURE, Æt. 88, being his _eighth_ wife!

* * * * *

"Salem Gazette," 1829.

By Rev Mr Upham, Mr Lewis Plum, of Newark, N.J., to Miss Eliza P. Lemon, of this town.

* * * * *

"Essex Register," Dec., 1820.

At Beverly, on Wednesday evening last, by the Rev. Mr. Oliphant, Mr. Larkin Moore, travelling preacher, physician, poet, trader, &c., to Mrs. Nancy Cook.

* * * * *

"Salem Gazette," 1790.

_Died_]--At Horseley, in Derbyshire, England, a venerable matron, named _Frances Burton_, aged 107. She had practised midwifery upwards of 80 years. The husband of the above old lady was sexton of the parish church 70 years; and this ancient pair frequently boasted, that she had _brought into the world_, and he had _buried_, the parish twice over!

* * * * *

1807.

......_DIED_......

Near Gloucester, Virg., _Elizabeth Wagner_, aged 107. She never took medicine of any kind in her life.

* * * * *

From "Salem Gazette," 1811. Appropriate name for a rope-maker.

Mr. WILLIAM TARRING, rope-maker, 38.

* * * * *

"Massachusetts Mercury," Dec. 27, 1799.

Died,

At _Hamilton, Essex_ County, PLATO WHIPPLE, aged 103, one of God's images in ebony.

* * * * *

"Salem Gazette," 1811.

Mr. JACK DALAND, a very worthy black man, aged 65. He was brought from Africa to the West Indies at about 11 years of age; but instead of being _eaten_, as he expected, by the white men, he was transferred by purchase to a happy asylum in this place, where he has spent upwards of 50 years of his life, respected by the whole town, as a faithful, industrious, pleasant-tempered, intelligent man. His honest industry was rewarded by the acquisition of a comfortable property, which he has left for the enjoyment of his family. The long train of white people who followed his remains to the grave, testify to the esteem in which he was held.

* * * * *

The following is a notice of a "distinguished merchant" and "literary" character of Newburyport, Mass. In the appendix to "Lord" Dexter's great production--where all the stops are placed together on the last page, so that "people can salt and pepper as they please"--we find these lines:

"All men inquire, but few can tell How thou in Science doth excel!"

TIMOTHY DEXTER. The subject of the present sketch, according to his own account, was born in Malden, Massachusetts. "I was born," says he (in his celebrated work, "A Pickle for the knowing ones"), "1747, Jan. 22; on this day in the morning, a great snow storm in the signs of the seventh house; whilst Mars came forward Jupiter stood by to hold the candle. I was to be a great man."

Lord Dexter, after having served an apprenticeship to a Leather dresser, commenced business in Newburyport, where he married a widow who owned a house and a small piece of land, part of which, soon after the nuptials, were converted into a shop and tanyard.

By application to his business his property increased, and the purchase of a large tract of land near Penobscot, together with an interest which he bought in the Ohio Company's purchase, afforded him so much profit, as to induce him to buy up Publick Securities at forty cents on the pound, which securities soon after became worth twenty shillings on the pound.

His Lordship at one time shipped a large quantity of _warming pans_ to the _West Indies_ where they were sold at a great advance on prime cost, and used for molasses ladles. At another time, he purchased a large quantity of _whalebone_ for _ship's stays_; the article rose in value upon his hands, and he sold it to great advantage.

Property now was no longer the object of his pursuit; but popularity became the god of his idolatry. He was charitable to the poor, gave large donations to religious societies, and rewarded those who wrote in his praise.

His lordship about this time acquired his peculiar taste for style and splendour; and to enhance his own importance in the world, set up an elegant equipage, and at great cost adorned the front of his house with numerous figures of illustrious personages.

By his order, a tomb was dug under the summer house in his garden, during his life; which he mentions in 'A Pickle for the knowing ones,' in the following ludicrous style:--

"Heare will lie in box the first Lord in Americake the first Lord Dexter made by the voice of hampsher state my brave fellows Affirmed it they give me the titel and so Let it goue for as much as it will fetch it wonte give me Any breade but take from me the Contrary fourder I have a grand toume in my garding at one of the grasses and the tempel of Reason over the toume nand my coffen made and all Ready I emy house painted with white Lead an side and outside touched with green and bras trimmings Eight handels and a good Lock, I have had one mock founrel it was so solmon and there was so much Criing about 3000 spectators I say my house is Euqal to any mansion house in twelve hundred miles and now for sale for seven hundred pounds weight of Dollars by me

TIMOTHY DEXTER."

Lord Dexter believed in transmigration sometimes; at others he was a deist. He died on the 22d day of Oct. 1806, in the 60th year of his age.

_Salem Observer,_ Dec. 17, 1825.

From what we have heard and read of Mr. Dexter, it is a matter of surprise to us how such eccentricities could have attracted the attention they evidently did. It is doubtful if so much folly and conceit could now interest many people for any length of time.

* * * * *

Curious old almanacs.

AN OLD ALMANACK. A friend has handed us an almanack one hundred and fifty years old, which is quite a curiosity in its line. The following is the title:

"The New-England Almanack for the Year of our Lord MDCCIII. Being Third after Leap-year, and from the Creation, 5652. Discovery of America by Columbus, 211. Reign of our Gracious Queen Anne, (which began March 8, 1702,) the 2 year. Wherein is contained, Things necessary, and common in such a Composure. As the Quarters of the Moon, Aspects of the Planets and Weather set down Exactly according to the Aspects, Courts, Spring Tides, Rising and Setting of the Sun, Sun and Moons place, time of Full Sea at Boston, the Eclipses, High Ways, &c., with several other Curiosities. Calculated for the Meridian of Boston, the Metropolis of New-England, Lat. 42, 24, but may serve any part of the Country, (even as far as New-York,) without sensible Error. By Samuel Clough.

The Heavens to us, God's Glory do make known, By th' Firmament, his handy work is shown.

Licensed by His Excellency the Governour. Boston: Printed by B. Green and J. Allen, for the Booksellers, and are to be Sold at their Shops. 1703."

Then follows a short address "To the Readers" of the Almanack. The figure of "Man's Body" with the "Twelve Signs of the Zodiack," is headed with the following lines:

The Anotomy must still be in, Else th' Almanack's not worth a pin: For Country-men regard the Sign As though 'Twere Oracle Divine. But do not mind that altogether, Have some respect to Wind and Weather.

The months of the year are introduced as follows:

_January._

Cold Weather now 'gins to be fierce, And Norwest Winds our bodys pierce.

_February._

The Weather still continues cold, Therefore warm cloaths are good we hold.

_March._

'T is the best Month of all the year, Wherein to brew good napping Beer.

_April._

Now Leaves on Trees begin to spring, And Birds on Hedges sit and sing.

_May._

To walk Five Miles in his own Farm, Will do a Husbandman no harm.

_June._

Now Countrymen each Sun shine day, Mow down their Grass, and make it hay.

_July._

If Mildew now blasts English Grain, 'Twill make poor Husbandmen complain.

_August._

But if from Blasting it be free, The Farmers then should thankful be.

_September._

The Leaves from Trees now fall away, And sweetest Flowers do decay.

_October._

If Barns are full, though Fields be empty, It doth prognosticate a plenty.

_November._

One day this Month each Fruitful year, Give thanks to GOD, and Eat good chear.

_December._

The Weather now 'gins to be cold, Which makes to shrink both young and old.

* * * * *

SATURDAY, DEC'R 24, 1853.

The Salem Observer.

ANOTHER OLD ALMANACK. In our last we gave an account of an old Almanack for the year 1703. Since then we have seen another some sixteen years older, printed for the year 1687. It was bound in with an old account book that formerly belonged to the Rev. Thomas Barnard, a minister of Andover, from 1682 to 1718,--the great-grandfather of the Rev. Thomas Barnard, D.D., the first minister of the North Church in this city, who died Oct. 1, 1814, in the sixty-seventh year of his age, also an ancestor of Capt. Edward Barnard, of this city. We insert the title page and other extracts therefrom, which we trust will impart the same interest to our readers as we derived from its perusal.

It is prefaced by the following:

Novemb. 24th, 1686. I have Perused the Copy of an Almanack for the Ensuing Year, Composed by John Tulley, and find nothing in it contrary to His Majesties Laws, and therefore Allow it to be Printed, and Published by Benjamin Harris, Book-Seller in Boston.

EDWARD RANDOLPH, Secr.

The following is the title:

Tully 1687. An Almanack for the Year of Our Lord MDCLXXXVII. Being the third after Leap-year, and from the Creation 5636. The Vulgar Notes of which are Prime 16--Epact 26--Circle of the [Symbol: Sun] 16--Domin: Letter B. Unto which is annexed a Weather Glass, whereby the Change of the Weather may be foreseen. Calculated for and fitted to the Meridian of Boston in New-England, where the North Pole is elevated 42 gr. 30 m. By John Tulley. Boston, Printed by S. Green for Benjamin Harris; and are to be Sold at his Shop, by the Town Pump near the Change. 1687.

Then follows "A Table of Kings," from William the Conqueror, 1066, to James 2d, 1685, closing with the lines--

Now may we look on Monarchy and sing, In health and peace long live great JAMES our King.

And concluding with the "Weather Glass," &c., &c., which follow:

_Prognostica Georgica_: Or the Country-man's Weather-Glass.

Prognosticks of Tempests. The obscuring of the smaller stars is a certain sign of Tempests approaching, the oft changing of the Winds is always a forerunner of a storm.

Of Winds. The resounding of the Sea upon the shore, and murmuring of the Winds in the Woods without apparent Wind, shew wind to follow; shooting of stars (as they call it) is an usual sign of wind from that quarter the star came from, Redness of the Skie in the morning is a token of Winds, or Rain, or both: if the circles that appear about the Sun, be red and broken, they portend wind: if thick and dark, Winds, Snow, or Rain: The like may be said of the Circles about the Moon.

Of Rain. If two Rainbows appear, they are a sign of Rain: If the Sun or Moon look pale, look for Rain: if a dark Cloud be at Sun-rising, in which the Sun soon after is hid, it will dissolve it, and Rain will follow: if the Sun seem greater in the East than commonly, it is a sign of Rain, if in the West about Sun-setting there appear a black Cloud, you may expect Rain that night, or the day following, if in the winter time thick white Clouds appear in the South-east near the Horizon at Sun rising, they portend Snow, a day or two after: If black Clouds appear there, it is a sign of Rain.

Of Fair Weather. If the Moon look bright and fair, look for Fair Weather. Also the appearing of one Rainbow after a storm, is a known sign of Fair Weather. If Mists come down from the Hills, or descend from the heavens, and settle in the valleys, they promise fair hot weather: Mists in the Evening shew a fair, hot day on the morrow: The like when mists rise from the waters in the evening. Much more might be added, but I would not tire the reader.

It appears by the following that the first form of government, under the King, was accepted by the people in 1686.

May 14, 1686. Arrived from England, His Majesty's Commission to divers worthy Gentlemen, to be a President and Council for the management of his Majesty's Government here, and accordingly on the 25th of May, '86, the President and Council being assembled in Boston, the exemplification of the Judgment against the Charter of the Late Governour and Company of the Massachusetts-Bay in N E together with His Majesty's Commission of Government were publickly read, and received by persons of all conditions with general Acceptance.

It will appear by the following advertisement that a market was then first appointed by authority to be kept in Boston.

Advertisement. There is Appointed by Authority a Market to be kept in Boston, and a Committee is ordered to meet and state the place, and days, and other circumstances relating to the good settling thereof: Of which a more particular Account may be speedily expected.

This Almanack was published only 67 years from the settlement at Plymouth, and 59 from that of Salem.

In the eyes of the old New England people the almanac stood next to the Bible in importance. Almost the only knowledge we have of many events of those early days has been obtained from diaries kept in interleaved almanacs. It is true, important facts are often found recorded in connection with trifling or quite unimportant matters.

* * * * *

The venerable Dr. Holyoke, of Salem, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, who died in March, 1829, at the age of one hundred years and eight months, wrote a letter, a few months before his death, in answer to a request that he would furnish some particulars of his mode of living. Dr. Holyoke was through life noted for being remarkably temperate in all things. After his death it was reported that some physician said (perhaps in fun) that if Dr. H. had not been in the habit of using intoxicating liquors he might have lived to a _good old age._

We give here a copy of this interesting letter.

Salem.

SATURDAY MORNING, AUGUST 1, 1829.

DR. HOLYOKE. The Medical Society of this District have rendered an appropriate tribute of respect for the memory of their venerated associate, the late Dr. E.A. HOLYOKE, by publishing an elegant little volume, containing a memoir of the deceased, prepared by a Committee of the Society, and a few of his writings. We have selected from the latter the following articles, which will interest the reader. The first is an account of Dr. Holyoke's habits of life, diet, &c., furnished by him in a letter to one of his friends; the others are a historical memorandum and a fragment of the Doctor's poetical effusions.

_To ---- ---- ---- Williamsville, Person County, North Carolina._

SALEM, Oct'r--1828.

SIR,--I received yours of the 20th ult. on ye 30th, wherein you wish me to give you some Account of my Mode of Life, &c.--In answer to which I would first mention that I was providentially blessed with an excellent Constitution--that I never injured this constitution by Intemperance of any kind--but invigorated it by constant Exercise, having from my 30th to my 80th Year walked on foot (in the Practice of my Profession)--probably as many as 5 or 6 miles every day, amounting to more than a _million_[A] of miles, and tho' sometimes much fatigued, the next Night's refreshing Sleep, always completely restored me. In early life, between 20 and 30, I used to ride on Horse back, but being often pestered by my Horses slipping their Bridles I found it more convenient to walk.