History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann, including the Town of Rockport

Preface

The first suggestion that a History of Gloucester should be written came from the late Dr. Ebenezer Dale, in a lecture delivered before the Gloucester Lyceum about thirty years ago. In a contemporary notice of the lecture, he is reported to have urged the immediate attention of the Lyceum to the subject. His earnest appeal met with a quick response from one of the members of the institution, — the late Hon. William Ferson, — who engaged in the work with so much zeal and intelligence, that a speedy satisfaction of all reasonable wishes seemed about to be realized. But this citizen, who was not often driven by slight causes to abandon a work once begun, was somewhat appalled by the magnitude of the task he had undertaken, and finally felt himself com pelled to relinquish this labor of love for employment that would yield a pecuniary reward.

The collections he had made, consisting chiefly of extracts from the Town and Colony Records, were accordingly laid aside, and remained undisturbed, till, with his usual kindness, he submitted them to my inspection, to aid me in a genealogical research concerning the persons bearing my own PKEFAC'K. family name. In looking over these papers, I first felt the force of Dr. Dale's appeal, and became convinced that it was the duty of some one to gather up such materials for a history of the town as the lapse of time had left accessible, and put our annals in print for the instruction and gratification of the present and future generations of the people of Cape Ann. The task seemed to me an inviting one, and I resolved to under take it ; not, however, without serious misgivings as to several disqualifying circumstances, not the least of which was the large demand of a laborious and responsible business occupation upon my time.

The result of my labor appears in the following pages ; and nothing remains for me to add here but to express my warmest thanks to all who have rendered me assistance in the preparation of the work, and to offer it as a humble memorial of my interest in my native town. J. J. B. CONTENTS. Chapter I. Topographical Description. Harbors. Coves. Soil. Hills. Rocking Stones. The Magnolia. The Cut. Ponds. Islands. Norman's Woe . 1-12 Chapter II. Early Voyages to North America. Gosnold's Voyage. Pring's. Attempt to plant a Colony at Sagadahoc. Voyage of Capt. John Smith in 1614 : he names New England. Other Voyages to the Coast. Plymouth settled. Plymouth Company in England. Further Attempts at Settlement 13-29 Chapter III. _ Attempt at Settlement. Dorchester Company in England attempt to plant a Colony at Cape Ann.

Roger Conant, Governor of the Plantation. Failure of the Attempt, and Removal of the Colonists to Naumkeag. Notice of these First Occupants of Cape Ann 30-45 Chapter IV. Early Settlers. Traditionary Account of First Settlement. Thacher's Shipwreck. Mr. Thomson, of London, encouraged to establish a Fishing Plantation at Cape Ann. Permanent Settlement and Incorporation of the Town. Lists of Settlers to 1701 ; with Notices of these Settlers and their Families 46-186 Chapter V. First Selectmen. Ship built in the Town. First Church. Rev. Richard Blynman : his Ministry, Removal, Death, and Character. First Meeting-house. First Tax. William Perkins, Minister of the Town : his Removal and Death. Mill. Rev. John Emerson settled : his Ministry, Death, and Family. New Meeting-house 187-199 b VI CONTENTS.

Chapter VI. Ship-building. Mill. Cord-wood. Mason's Claim. Indian War of 1675. Sawmill. First General Grant or Division of the Soil. List of Grantees. Andros's Government. Witchcraft. Tax -list, 1693. Ferry. New Meeting-house. Burying-ground. School. Indian Claim. Houses and Furniture of First Settlers. Some of their Customs . . . 200-222 Chapter VII. First Church. Rev. John White : his Settlement, Ministry, and Death ; his Family. School. Commoners. Division of Land. Town -watch. New Settlers 223-247 Chapter VIII. Ship-building. First Schooner. New Settlers 248-261 Chapter IX. Second Parish. Rev. Samuel Tompson : his Ministry and Death. Second-parish Meeting-house. Samuel Pearce, and the Merchants, David Pearce and William Pearce. Losses at Sea. New Settlers . . . 262-274 Chapter X. First Physicians.

Dr. Nicholas Webster. Dr. Edward Tompson. Dr. David Plummer. Workhouse. Province Loan. New Settlers. Sloop taken by Pirates 275-289 Chapter XL Second Parish. Rev. Richard Jaques : his Ministry, Sickness, and Death. Third Parish. Rev. Benjamin Bradstreet : his Ministry, Sickness, and Death 290-295 Chapter Xn. Emigration to Falmouth, Me. New Settlers. Grammar School. New Gloucester, Me. Battery 296-308 Chapter XHI. Fourth Parish. Rev. John Rogers: his Ministry, Death, and Family. Taverns. Expedition to Louisburg. Peg Wesson. People alarmed. New Settlers 309-325 CONTENTS. VII Chapter XIV. First Parish. Rev. Samuel Chandler : his Ministry, Sickness, and Death ; his Family 326-330 Chapter XV. Sandy Bay. First Settlers there. Fifth Parish. Rev. Ebenezer Cleaveland : his Ministry and Death ; his Family 331-343 Chapter XVI.

Excise Act. French War. Population. Taxes and Town Expenses. Schools. Small-pox. Stamp Act 344-354 Chapter XVII. Third Parish. Rev. John Wyeth : his Ministry. Dissensions in the Parish. His Dismission. Disasters by Sea, and Great Loss of Life. Timothy Rogers. Political Troubles. The People patriotic. Second Parish. Rev. Daniel Fuller : his Ministry, Death, and Family. Third Parish. Rev. Obadiah Parsons : his Ministry, Dismission, and Death . 355-366 Chapter XVIU. Town's Powder. Hayscales. Boat and Men Lost. Town Expenses. Political Affairs. Crisis approaching. Patriotic Sentiments of the Town. Action of Boston about the Landing of the Tea nobly sustained by Gloucester. Tea thrown Overboard. Boston Port Bill. Distress in that Town. Gloucester sends Relief. County Convention. Provincial Congress.

Shipwreck. Gloomy Prospect. Military Preparations. Exposed Condition of the Town. Women and Children removed . 367-375 Chapter XIX. Business of the Town before 1775. English Fishing Voyages to New England. First Colonial Fishing. Gloucester not prominent in the Business for many Years. Commencement of Maritime Business. Fishery before the Revolution. Trade with the Southern Colonies. Early Foreign Commerce of the Town. Revenue Laws evaded. Revenue Officers. One of them seized and ill treated. John M'Kean smokes one at the Cut. Commerce and Fishing interrupted by the War 376-387 CONTENTS. Chapter XX. Revolutionary War. The Appeal to Arms. Companies formed. Two of them fight on Bunker Hill. Sloop-of- War " Falcon," Capt. Lindsay, in Ipswich Bay. He comes into Gloucester Harbor. Fires upon the Town.

Attempts to take a Vessel out. Repulsed. Defenceless State of the Town. Forts built. Privateering commenced. Manly's Prize. Poverty of the Town. The Poor relieved by Donations. Committee of Safety. The " Yankee Hero." Supremacy of the People asserted in Official Acts of the Town 388-401 Chapter XXI. First Parish. Rev. Eli Forbes settled. His previous Career. His Ministry in Gloucester. His Death and Character. His Family. His printed Productions 402-407 Chapter XXII. Declaration of Independence. Town consents to a State Constitution. Loan for the Poor. Enlistment. The Privateer " Warren." Other Privateers. State Armed Vessels. Town-meeting. Large Class of Poor. Loss of the Privateer "Gloucester." Dr. Samuel Rogers. Privateer "Speedwell." State Constitution rejected. The Town delinquent. A Company raised.

Small-pox. The Privateer " Starks." Distressed Condition of the Town. Depreciated Currency and Exorbitant Prices. Third Cruise of the " Starks." Notice of other Privateers. Loss of the " Tempest." True History of Revolutionary Privateering a Sad One . . 408^27 Chapter XXIII. Independent Christian Society. Distinguishing Sentiments of Universalists. John Murray, first public Preacher of them in America. His Early Life. Comes to America. Visits Gloucester. Has his Home here. House of Worship built for him. Lawsuit. He visits England. Returns, and is ordained in Gloucester. His Removal to Boston, and his Death. His Character. His Wife and Family. The Society incorporated. Meeting-house 428^39 Chapter XXIV. Loss of Polls. One-sixth of the People living upon Charity. Loan to hire Soldiers. Further Loans.

State Constitution. Town delinquent. Prospect of Peace. Ship "Harriet" cut out of the Harbor by the Enemy. Recaptured by our People. The Town-treasury. Peace . 440-447 CONTENTS. IX Chapter XXV. View of the Town at the Close of the War 448-466 Chapter XXVI. Schools re-opened. Town Grammar-school House. School-district System adopted. Loss of a Dutch Ship-of-VVar off Cape Ann. Men drowned near Chebacco River. Cape Pond stocked with Alewives. Shay's Rebellion.. Federal Constitution adopted. Gloucester Regiment of Militia, and Gloucester Artillery. General Training. Custom-house, Post-office, Census, and Tonnage. Fire-engine. Fort. French from St. Peter's at Sandy Bay. Ship wrecked at Salt Island. Workhouse. Gloucester Bank. Gloucester-road Lottery. Marine Disasters. Library. Sailors enlist for War with France.

Frederick Gilman. Daniel Rogers. Death of Washington noticed by the Town 467^178 Chapter XXVII. Independent Christian Society. Rev. Thomas Jones : his Settlement, Ministry, and Death ; his Character ; his Family. Succession of Pastors to the Present Time. Meeting-house. New Universalist Society : its Ministers, its Dissolution, its Meeting-house. Third Parish. Rev. Ezra Leonard. His Settlement. Conversion of Minister and Parish to Universalism. His Death and Character. His Family. Pastors who have succeeded him. Col. Joseph Foster 479-491 Chapter XXVIII. First Parish. Rev. Perez Lincoln. Rev. Levi Hartshorn. Rev. Hosea Hildreth. Rev. Luther Hamilton. Rev. Josiah K. Waite. Rev. William Mountford. Rev. Robert P. Rogers. First-parish Meeting-houses. Fifth Parish. Rev. David Jewett. Rev. Wakefield Gale.

Death of Prominent Citizens 492-503 Chapter XXIX Political Excitement. Federalists and Republicans. Stormy Town-meeting. Federalists triumphant. Embargo. Marine Disasters. Slow Increase of Population. First Baptist Society : its Ministers and its Meeting-house. War with England. Gloucester opposes the War. County Convention. Military Preparations for Protection of the Town. British Ship " Nymph." The Enemy attempt to take a Vessel at Sandy Bay. Take Vessels in Squam Harbor. Land at Sandy Bay. Alarm at Gallop's Folly. Engine-house torn down by indignant Militia. Commerce under a Neutral Flag. Schooner " Adolph." Gloucester Privateering during the War. Case of Hydrophobia. Peace 504-519 X CONTENTS. Chapter XXX. The Federalists lose Ascendency. The Sea-serpent. Boys drowned. Universal Benevolent Society, and its Ministers.

John Kittredge. Shipwreck of Brig " Rebecca Ann." Dr. Ephraim Davis. First Preaching of Methodism in Town, and Methodist Societies. First Printing-press. " Gloucester Telegraph." Abortive Efforts to establish Religious Journals. Shipwreck of the " Persia." Evangelical Church and Society, and its Ministers. North Orthodox Congregational Church, and its Ministers. Second Baptist Society, and its Ministers. Great Fire. Political Excitement. Democrats and Whigs. The " Gloucester Democrat." Revival of regular Public Worship in the Second Parish. Dr. Ebenezer Dale. Dr. Henry Prentiss. Great Storm. Many Vessels wrecked, and several Lives lost 520-542 Chapter XXXI. The Town of Rockport. Growth of Sandy Bay. Early Fishery. Pier built. Isinglass Factory. Stone Business commenced. Soil improved. Government Breakwater.

Separation from Gloucester attempted. Separation accomplished. Incorporation. Territory of the New Town. Dr. John Manning. Dr. James Goss. Business. Centennial Celebration. New Church. Grog-shops attacked, and Liquor destroyed. Growth and Improvement of the New Town 543-550 Chapter XXXII. Post-office established. Stage to Boston. Public Schools. College Graduates. Most Distinguished Educated Men. Gloucester Lyceum. Death of aged and of prominent Citizens. Catholic Church . . 551-564 Chapter XXXIII. Modern Business of the Town 565-577

Appendix

. I. The Charter 581-584 II. Selectmen, Town-clerks, and Town-treasurers 584-591 Selectmen, Town-treasurers, and Town-clerk of Rockport . 591-592 III. Highways 592-593 IV. Representatives to General Court 593-595 Representatives from Rockport 595 Delegates to State Conventions CONTENTS. XI V. Rolls of Gloucester Companies at the Battle of Bunker Hill 596 VI. List of Vessels belonging to the Town, lost since January, 1829, in which a portion or the whole of the Crew have perished 597 VII. Statistics relating to the Fisheries 598-599 Statement of the Gloucester Fisheries for the Year 1859 . 599-600 VIII. Collectors of the Customs for the District of Gloucester . 600 Postmasters of Gloucester 600 INDEX 603-610

Chapter I. Topographical Description

Harbors. — Coves. — Soil. — Hills. — Rocking Stones. — The Magnolia. — The Cut. — Ponds. — Islands. — Norman's Woe. T I territory of the original town of Gloucester occupies the -*- whole northern promontory of Massachusetts Bay known as Cape Ann, and is bounded on the north by Ipswich Bay, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Massachusetts Bay, and on the west by the towns of Manchester and Essex. It is divided into two nearly equal parts by Annisquam River, an arm of the sea extending from Ipswich Bay, first in a south-westerly and then in a south-easterly direction, about four miles towards Gloucester Harbor, from which it is separated by a short and narrow neck of land. The territory varies but little in length, the greatest being about nine miles ; which is from the corner bounds of .Manchester and Essex, where these join each other, to Straitsmouth, on the easterly side of the Cape.

Its greatest width is from Twopenny Loaf, near the mouth of Chebacco River, to Eastern Point ; and is about six miles. The narrowest part, between Ipswich Bay and Massachusetts Bay, is a little less than four miles. The principal harbor is on the south side of the town, and is formed by Eastern Point, — a strip of unequal width, extending in a south-westerly direction about three miles, with a rock-bound coast that defies the violence of the surging waves dashing almost constantly against it, and affording within its friendly embrace safe shelter and anchorage for a large fleet. In the course of the year, many hundred vessels, mostly of the coasting and fishing classes, find here a refuge from the danger ous easterly gales and storms by which the coast is so often visited ; and in autumn, when a favorable wind and clear weather follow an easterly blow, it is not an uncommon sight to see a fleet of two or three hundred sail working out of the har bor at the same time, and presenting a scene of surpassing inter est and beauty.

Annisquam Harbor is a safe and snug haven at the mouth of Annisquam River, having a bar across its entrance, which ren ders it difficult of access. A current tradition among the people at Annisquam affirms that the name by which their section of the town has always been known is derived from Squam, an Indian word descriptive of the harbor ; and Ann, the name of the cape within whose limits it is situated. The earliest mention of this name is on William Wood's Map of Massachusetts, drawn in 1633, where it is spelled Wonasquam. It also occurs in Winthrop's Journal, under the year 1635 ; and in Josselyn's " Account of Two Voyages to New England," the first of which was commenced in 1638. He spells it Wonasquam; and adds, " a dangerous place to Sail by in stormie weather, by reason of the many Rocks and foaming breakers."

There are several coves on the eastern extremity of the Cape, at some of which harbors have been made, by the construction, at a heavy cost, of massive stone piers and breakwaters. The shores of the town are indented by numerous other coves ; but the only one deserving particular notice here is Trynall Cove, at which a ferry was established in 169-i for the conveyance of passengers over Annisquam River to Biskie Island, from which a causeway extended to the main land on the Chebacco side of the town. So important was this channel of communication, that, in 1759, the project of building a bridge at this place was discussed in town-meeting, but soon abandoned ; and the ferry was made to serve the convenience of travellers till the latter part of the last century, when it was discontinued. The remains of the ancient causeway are still to be seen.

The surface of the town is uneven ; and its peculiar character strikes every beholder, at first sight, with astonishment. Bald, rocky hills, bold and precipitous ledges of rock, with acres of bowlders of various sizes, in many places scattered thickly over the surface, combine to present a rare scene of naked ruggedness and complete sterility. The small tracts and patches of clear land by which this view of barrenness is occasionally relieved are covered with a strong and fertile soil, suited to the growth of most of our New-England agricultural products. Much of their productiveness, however, is derived from the persevering indus try which has removed the rocks from thensurface, and con verted the land into a state fit for cultivation. The highest elevation of land in the town is a hill situated near its western border, called Tompson's Mountain.

It is two hundred and fifty-five feet above the level of the sea, and its summit affords an extensive prospect of land and ocean. On a clear day, there are plainly discernible, at distances varying from twenty to eighty miles, Bunker-hill Monument ; Wachuset Moun tain, in Worcester County ; Monadnock, Gunstock, and other mountain ranges, in New Hampshire ; and Agamenticus, in Maine.* The other hills deserving mention are Governor's, f commanding a fine view of the principal village, harbor, and the two bays whose waters are separated by the Cape ; Rail-cut, next in elevation to Tompson's ; and Pigeon Hill, on the north easterly part of the Cape. The latter is the first, land that salutes the eye of the mariner as he approaches the coast from the east ; and, in order to render it more conspicuous as a land mark, the trees with which its summit was originally covered * These several objects were pointed out to me by a member of a surveying party belonging to the United-States Coast Survey, which was stationed for several months on this hill. t This name was given about the time of the first settlement of the town; but a use to which the hill was put in the Revolutionary War has caused the ancient appellation sometimes to yield to that of Beacon Pole.

April 16, 1776, the General Court resolved that a beacon should be erected at Cape Ann, on Governor's Hill; another, at Marble head; one at Boston, on the usual place; and one on the Blue Hills, in Hilton. The selectmen and two commissioned officers nearest the beacons were to have charge of them, and, when an enemy's fleet was discovered, to fire their alarm-guns, set the bells ringing, and cause the beacons to be fired with all expedition. received for many years the careful attention of the town. Here may be had a near, extensive, and sublime view of the " unbe ginning, endless sea." Besides these hills, there are some elevations that deserve notice on account of their structure and their striking and majes tic forms. Of these, Poles* and Farm Ledge, two large masses of rock, whose precipitous sides and bold outline command the attention of every beholder, are the most conspicuous.

The rocks of Cape Ann are granite, of a beautiful, dark color ; and are easily wrought into blocks of any needed size. Several quarries have been opened in different localities ; but none are now extensively worked, except some valuable ones at the north east part of the Cape. These are truly mines of wealth ; for they yield a sure and ample return to the industry which turns out the useful material they furnish, and which finds every year an increased demand for its products. The time may come when the busy hand of labor will be seen plying its blows at the granite ledges in every part of the town, and extracting there from the means of a more substantial and permanent prosperity than was ever derived from the richest mines of the precious metals. It is not only from a scenic or utilitarian point of view that the rocks of Cape Ann possess an interest : they afford a few natural curiosities, that amply repay the trouble and fatigue of a visit to their several localities.

One of these, Rafe's Crack, which is said to have derived its name from a man named Ralph, who once resided in its vicinity, is a remarkable fissure in a ledge on the seacoast between Norman's Woe and Kettle Cove. Its length forms a right angle with the shore, from which it extends more than two hundred feet. Its width is irregular ; but the greatest is about ten feet. The depth from the highest part of the rock, forming one of its sides to low water mark, is computed at sixty feet. The ledge is one of the most remarkable on the Cape ; being compact, of great size, * I adapt the spelling of this word to its pronunciation. It is of early occurrence in the town-records; where its orthography is such as to authorize a conjecture that it was derived from the name of Powe), an early inhabitant. and presenting, ocean-ward, an aspect of singular boldness and grandeur.

The view of the spot, and the hollow, thundering noise of the sea, as it is dashed back from the rocks at the upper end of the chasm, cause every visitor to feel the presence of a sublime and majestic influence. Another feature in the geological structure of the town is its rocking stones. The one most deserving of notice is that near Bass Rocks. It is situated at the end of a large and high ledge, jutting out into the sea; and is not perceived, without examina tion, to be a detached portion of it. It lies in such juxtaposition to the main rock as to strike against it at evciy oscillation. It is somewhat difficult of access, though the agile and adventurous may obtain a foothold upon it without difficulty. Its shape is so irregular, that its weight is rendered difficult of computation ; but no estimate makes it less than five hundred tons.

It has a rocking motion of about one inch ; but as its vibrations are caused only by the sea, which leaves it at low water, the fre quency and force of these depend upon the time of tide, and the violence with which it is struck by the waves. The best time to visit it is at or near half-tide ; and, if a heavy sea shoidd be then breaking upon the shore, it will exhibit a constant, tremu lous motion, affording a rare illustration of hydro-dynamic power. This rock derives additional interest from the probability that it attracted the notice of a celebrated New-England divine many years since, who thus mentions it in a letter* to a foreign correspondent : — " You may Judge me akin to Johannes de Rupe Scissa by my obtruding upon you another Story of a Rock, after my having trans cribed unto our (Alas ! deceased) Friend an Account of the Rockuing Stone to be seen at the town of Gloucester, in this American Colony.

But tho' the thing be Little above the Quality of a trifle, yett, because there is a little curiousity in it, and some other Things as Trivial have been commemorated among observable Rarities, I will now give you a * This letter, written by Rev. Cotton Mather, is dated " Sept. 24, 1724," and is addressed to Dr. James Jurin. It is in possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Such an exaggerated account of the motion of this rock would hardly be expected, even from such a source. Relation of another Large Rock in the very same Town of Gloucester, the circumstances whereof are a little singular. " There stands on the Shore there, between Low and High Water Mark, a Rock upon a Rock, where it would require many Team of Oxen to draw it from its Basis. The Rock is about 19 or 20 foot long, about 9 or 10 foot wide, but Sidewise, that it faces the Sea.

But when a Storm arises, and the Sea beats tempestuously upon this Rock, the spectators have a sight that a Little Surprises them. They see the Rock, notwithstanding the vast Bulk and Weight of it, move backwards and forwards three or four feet, and, in less than a Minute or two, perform its motion with Continual Repetitions. The Rock whereon it stands is worn into a most Regular Smoothness as far as this motion extends, and a Rock on which ye Back of it is is also thereby worn considerably." The Rocking Stone, of which he had previously written, was probably that situated in a pasture on the north side of the Cape. It is a bowlder, weighing about seventy tons, resting on a rock on a level with the surface of the ground, and may be set in motion by one person; so that, after the withdrawal of the force, about fifteen vibrations may be counted.

The rocky surface of the town, which now presents many large tracts, offering scarcely a tree or bush to relieve the eye, was once covered with a fine growth of various kinds of wood : but the work of levelling it began when the town was first settled, and has been continued with unfaltering perseverance ; till, at length, only in a few places are there any trees to be found. In addition to the wood cut for fuel for domestic consumption, and the timber felled for ship-building and for the construction of tenements in town, quite a brisk business was early carried on in the exportation of the article to Boston. A stray leaf of an old account-book reveals the fact, that in about three weeks, in IT 11, over five hundred cords of wharfwood were shipped to one firm in that place. The botany of Cape Ann is rich in the possession of a rare plant called the Magnolia glauca, whose only native place in Massachusetts is a swamp in the westerly part of the town.

It belongs to a genus named after Magnol, a distinguished French botanist ; and is of a family comprehending many beautiful trees and shrubs very common in the Southern and South-western States. The M. glauca grows to the height of about ten feet, and yields a beautiful, fragrant flower through nearly the whole of the warm season. These are in such request, that large num bers of them are annually carried out of town for sale. Many of the shrubs are taken up every year for transplanting ; and, as little care is exercised for the preservation of the plant in its original locality, it is to be scared that it will soon be completely extirpated. Of those that have been transplanted, few have thrived ; owing in most cases, perhaps, to the change from a wet soil to a dry one. This plant possesses valuable medicinal properties, and is said to have been used with great success in chronic rheumatism and intermittent fever.

The project of a cut, or passage, through the narrow neck of land that, separated the waters of Massachusetts Bay from those of Ipswich Bay, received the early attention of the Colonial Government ; for, as early as 1638, the records of the General Court say, " Mr. Endicott was willed to send three men to view Cape Ann, whether it may be cut through, and how they find it." But it was not probably deemed of sufficient public advantage to be undertaken by the government ; and its execution was left to the individual enterprise of Rev. Richard Blynman, the first minister of the town, who, by a vote of the town, " 26th 5 mo. 16-13," was to " cut the beach through, and to maintain it, and to have the benefit of it to himself and his for ever ; giving the inhabitants of the town free passage." The masonry of this ancient canal was of the lightest and most simple kind ; consisting merely of two parallel walls of small rocks, which approached near each other at the bottom, and thence sloped to the top, where the width was just sufficient to allow the passage of small shallops.

The bridge was so constructed, that, by raising one end slightly from the wall on which it rested, it could be swung round on a pivot fixed into the other. This channel was of great convenience to the early settlers of the town ; but it was cut, undoubtedly, with reference to the accommodation of the coastwise navigation between Massachusetts Bay and the eastern shores, which was carried on in small vessels that, by means of this passage, could avoid the risk and delay of an outside voyage around the Cape. Nothing is preserved on record to show the extent to which it was used. It was kept open without obstruc tion till the winter of 170-1 ; when, by the combined action of a violent storm and remarkably high tide, it was so filled with sand and gravel as to become useless. Just before this event occurred, the town had taken its first action in relation to the Cut since the original grant.

At a meeting, May 15, 170-i, a vote was passed, "that whatever person or persons that passeth through the Cut, and shall leave the bridge open, and shall not turn the bridge over the Cut again, — every such person or persons shall pay, as a fine to ye proprietors of said Cut, six shillings in money for every time they shall leave the said bridge and do not turn it over the Cut again." The ownership of it had passed from Mr. Blyn man to AVilliam Stevens ; but it was now the property of Capt. Nathaniel Coit. On his refusal or neglect to clear it, a memorial was presented to the General Court in behalf of the town, setting forth the inconvenience suffered in consequence of its useless condition, and praying the interference of that body to compel Capt. Coit to put it again in navigable order.

The court ordered him to have it cleared ; and, for his compensation, allowed him to tax every vessel, not belonging to the town, that passed through, twro shillings each time ; and those belonging to Gloucester, seven shillings yearly. After some delay, he com menced work upon it ; but progressed so slowly, that he was at last hurried on by the General Court to complete it in twelve days, or submit to have it done by the town at his expense. No further action appears on record in relation to it at this time ; and it was, without doubt, soon made passable : but only a few years elapsed before it again became the subject of controversy, and of frequent and lengthy debate in town-meetings. In Februaiy, 1723, a remarkably high tide, attended with a storm of unusual violence, again filled this channel with sand.