Old landmarks and historic personages of Boston

Preface

THE author has had a twofold object in presenting this work for the acceptance of the public.

Besides the preservation of the old landmarks, now so rapidly disappearing before the era of improvement, there is a very general desire to know where the actors lived who have given Boston such prominence in the history of our country.

The plan has been adopted, in viewing old localities, to tell for what they have been famous, and to briefly characterize or give some conspicuous traits and public services of the personages mentioned.

In view of the limits prescribed for this volume it has been found necessary to condense from the abundant material in the author's possession, but it is believed the more important features have been given.

While the numerous local publications have been carefully examined, the author has in all cases preferred original authorities in the work of compilation, and has endeavored to give credit where it is due. The beaten track has been avoided as far as possible, and preference given to such topics as have either escaped mention altogether, or received but little notice from former writers.

In a work so largely statistical it would be a surprise if errors did not exist, but unwearied pains have been taken to avoid them and to render the work as free from this objection as possible.

vi PREFACE.

The author believes that antiquarian subjects need not of necessity be either dry or uninteresting, and has aimed to make these pages agreeable to the general reader,— a class he is happy to say in which a growing interest in the early history of the founders of New England is evident.

Many persons have laid the author under obligations by the loan of documents or by communicating valuable information. He would express his deep sense of the favors and assistance rendered him by that eminent and thoroughly unselfish antiquarian, John Ward Dean, and also by Miss E. S. Quincy and John H. Dexter. Among the many persons consulted, who have kindly contributed in various ways to the success of this work, are Captain George H. Preble, U. S. N., Isaac Story, Lemuel Shaw, George Mountfort, William H. Montague, J. Wingate Thornton, Rowland Ellis, and Timothy Dodd, Esqrs., the latter of whom, at the advanced age of ninetythree, 'still retains a clear recollection of Boston as it existed three quarters of a century ago.

Boston, Mass., October 22, 1872.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

AFTER these pages had passed through the press, the most vital part of Boston, commercially, was laid in ashes by the conflagration of November 9 and 10, 1872, which claims the sad eminence of being the greatest of the fires with which the town or city has from time to time been scourged. In a few short hours millions in reality took to themselves wings and were dissolved in the vapor that rose above the desert of blackened ruins, and was mournfully regarded at their homes in the vicinity by half a million spectators.

The district destroyed is mainly comprehended in Chapters IX. and XIII. , and it becomes necessary to instruct the reader who peruses these chapters that he should substitute the phrase " here lies " for " here stands," where particular localities are designated.

Although the fire has swept away many of the edifices by which we indicated the habitations of the old residents, it is believed that these descriptions will not lessen the value of the work, now that they include not only the buildings lately standing, but constitute in effect a chart of the whole region destroyed as it existed previous to this disaster.

Amid the fearful devastation which has taken place, we cannot restrain a mental thanksgiving that those two monuments so dear to every Bostonian, the Old South and the Old State House, were spared, and we venture to express the hope that steeple and tower may long continue to stand in the midst of regenerated Boston.

Introduction

Myles Standish. — William Blackstone. — Shawmut. — Settlement "by Winthrop's Company. — Trimountain. — Boston. — Physical Features.

— Area. — Settlement by Indians. — Character of first Buildings. — First Location of the Settlers. — Geographical Divisions. — Wood and Water. — Dress. — Manners and Customs. — Slavery. — Curious old Laws. — Government of the Town. — Allotment of Lands. — Intolerance of the Times. — The Pulpit a Means of Intelligence, — Accounts by various Writers. — Town Records. — General Growth and Progress.

— Population. — Wards. — Paving the Streets. — Lighting the Streets.

— Supply of Water. — Enlargement of Boston. — Communication with Mainland. — Ferries. — Bridges. — Coaches, Public and Private. —

Railways

CHAPTER I. king's -chapel and the neighborhood.

History of the Chapel. — Establishment of the Church of England. — Chapel Burial-Ground. — Boston Athenaeum. — Academy of Arts and Sciences. — Historical Society. — The Museum. — The Old Corner. — Royal Custom House. — Washington. — H. G. Otis. — Daniel Webster.

— Tremont Street. — Howard Street. — Pemberton Hill. — Endicott. — Captain Southack. — Theodore Lyman, Senior. — John Cotton. — Sir Henry Vane. — Samuel Sewall. — Gardiner Greene. — Earl Percy. — Bellingham. — Faneuil. — Phillips. — Davenport. — Oxenhridge. — Beacon Street. — School Street. — Latin School. — Franklin Statue.

— City Hall. — Otis. — Warren. — Mascarene. — Cromwell's Head. — The Old Corner Bookstore. — Anne Hutchinson. — The French Church.

— Catholic Church. — Second Universalist. — Province Street, — Chapman Place. — James Lovell. — The Wendells 28

X CONTENTS.

Chapter II. From The Orange-tree To The Old Brick

Hanover Street. — General Warren. — The Orange-Tree. — Concert Hall.

— Brattle Street. — Samuel Gore. — John Smibert. — Nathaniel Smibert. — Colonel Trumbull. — The Adelphi. — Scollay's Buildings and Square. — Queen Street Writing School. — Master James Carter. — Cornhill. — Brattle Street Parsonage. — Old Prison. — Captain Kidd.

— Court Houses. — Franklin Avenue. — Kneeland. — Franklin. — Edes and Gill. — Green and Russell. — First Book and Newspaper printed in Boston. — Rufus Choate. — Governor Leverett. — John A. Andrew. — Henry Dunster. — Town Pump. — Old Brick. — General Knox. — Count Rumford. — John Winslow 68

CHAPTER III. FROM THE OLD STATE nOUSE TO BOSTON PIER

Captain Keayne. — Coggan, first Shopkeeper. — Old Cornhill. — Old State House. — First Church. — Stocks and Whipping -Post. — John Wilson. — Wilson's Lane. — United States Bank. — Royal Exchange Tavern. — William Sheaffe. — Royal Custom House. — Exchange Coffee House. — "Columbian Centinel." — Benjamin Russell. — Louis Philippe. — Louis Napoleon. — Congress Street. — Governors Dummer and Belcher. — First United States Custom House. — Post-Office. — Bunch of Grapes. — General Lincoln. — General Dearborn. — First Circulating Library. — British Coffee House. — Merchants' Row. — First Inn. — Lord Ley. — Miantonimoh. — Kilby Street. — Oliver's Dock. — Liberty Square. — The Stamp Office. — Broad Street. — Commodore Downes. — Broad Street Riot. — India Street and Wharf. — Admiral Vernon. — Crown Coffee House. — Butler's Row. — The Custom House. — Retrospective View of State Street. — Long Wharf. — TheBarricado. — T Wharf. —Embarkation for Bunker Hill . . 88

Chapter IV. Brattle Square And The Town Dock

Old Cornhill. — Paul Revere. — Amos and Abbott Lawrence. — Boylston's Alley. — Barracks of the 29th. — Blue Anchor. — Brattle Street Church. — General Gage. — Howe, Clinton, and Burgoyne. — John Adams. — Headquarters of Stage-Coaches. — Dock Square. — The Conduit. — Town Dock described. — Quincy Market. — Origin of Markets in Boston. — The Triangular Warehouse. — Roebuck Passage. — Clinton Street. — The Old Market Museum. — Old Cocked Hat. — Faneuil Hall. — D'Estaing. — Lafayette. — Jackson. — Prince de Joinville. — Jerome Bonaparte. — -Lord Ashbirrton. — The Portraits. — Corn Court. — Hancock House. — Talleyrand. — State Custom House. — The Conscription Riot 118

CONTENTS. XI

Chapter V. From Boston Stone To .the North Battery

The North End. — Boston Stone. — Painters' Arms. — Louis Philippe. — Union, Elm, and Portland Streets. — Benjamin Franklin's Residence.

— The Blue Ball. — Lyman Beecher's Church. — Benjamin Hallowell.

— Green Dragon. — Pope Day. — St. Andrew's Lodge. — Mill Pond. — Causeway. — Mill Creek. — North Street. — Sir D. Ochterlony. — Eastern Stage House. — Cross Street. — The Old Stone House. — New Brick Church. — The Red Lyon. — Nicholas Upshall. — Edward Randolph. — North Square. — Sir H. Frankland. — Major Shaw. — Pitcairn. — Old North Church. — Cotton, Samuel, and Increase Mather. — Governor Hutchinson. — General Boyd. — Fleet Street. — King's Head Tavern.

— Bethel Church. — Father Taylor. — Hancock's Wharf. — Swinging Signs. — First Universalist Church. — First Methodist. — New North.

— Ship Tavern. — Noah's Ark. — Salutation Tavern. — The Boston Caucus. — The North Battery. — Trucks and Truckmen . . . 143

Chapter VI. A Visit To The Old Shipyards

Early Ship -Building. — Boston Shipyards. — Massachusetts Frigate. — New England Naval Flag. — First Seventy-Four. — Hartt's Naval Yard. — The Constitution. — Her Launch, History, and Exploits. — Anecdotes of Hull, Bainbridge, and Decatur. — Old Ironsides Rebuilt. — Josiah Barker. — Nicholson. — Preble. — Stewart. — Other Distinguished Officers. — Escape from the British Fleet. — Anecdote of Dr. Bentley. — Action with the Guerriere. — The Java. — Cyane and Levant. — Relics of Old Ironsides. — Affair of the Figure-Head. — Captain Dewey. — The Frigate Boston. — Capture of Le Berceau. — The Argus 178

Chapter VII. Copp's Hill And The Vicinity

Copp's Hill. — British Works. — Ancient Arch. — Wm. Gray. — Old Ferry. — Reminiscences of Bunker Hill. — The Cemetery. — Curious Stones, Epitaphs, etc. — Old Funeral Customs. — Charter Street. — Sir William Phips. — John Foster Williams. — John Hull. — Colonial Mint. — Christ Church. — Revere's Night Ride. —The Chimes. —The Vaults, — Legends of. — Major Pitcairn. — Love Lane. — North Latin School. — Prince Street. — Salem Church. — North End Heroes. — Captain Manly. — Massachusetts Spy. — First Baptist Church. — Second Baptist Church. — Draft Riot, 1863 198

Xll

CONTENTS.

Chapter VIII. The Old South And Province House

Marlborough Street. -Governor Winthrop . - Old Soutk -™**a£ • Orations! - Tea-Party Meeting. - British Occupation. - Phillis WheatU -Spring Lane. - Heart and Crown. - Boston Evening Zl .Province House. - Samuel Shute. - William Burnet. -Wi - ham Shirley.- Thomas Pownall. - Francis Bernard. - General Gage. -Lexington Expedition. - Sir William Howe. - Conned of War. - Court Dress and Manners. - Governor Strong. - Blue Bell and Indian Queen.- Lieutenant-Governor Cushing. - Josiah Quincy, Jr. - ^ Mayor Quincy . • • •

Chapter IX. From The Old South Round Fort Hill

Birthplace of Franklin. - James Boutineau. - Bowdoin Block. - Hawley Street. -Devonshire and Franklin Streets. - Joseph Barrell. _ The Tontine. - Boston Library. - Cathedral of the Holy Cross. - Bishop Cheverus. - Federal Street Theatre. - Some Account of Early Theatricals in Boston. - Kean, Finn, Macready, etc. - John Howard Payne. - Federal Street Church. - The Federal Convention. - Madam Scott. - Robert Treat Paine. - Thomas Paine. -Congress Street. -Quaker Church and Burying-Ground. - Sketch of the Society of Friends in Boston. - Merchants' Hall. - Governor Shirley s Funeral -Fire of 1760. -Pearl Street. -The Ropewalks. - The Grays. — Conflicts between the Rope-Makers and the Regulars — Pearl Street House. — Spurzheim. —Washington Allston. — Theophilns Parsons — T. H. Perkins. —Governor Oliver. —Quincy Mansion.

— Governor Gore. —Liverpool Wharf. —Tea Party and Incidents of.

— The Sconce. —Governor Andros Deposed. — Sun Tavern. —Fort Hill 251

Chapter X. A Tour Round The Common

Long Acre. — Tremont House. — Mr. Clay. — President Jackson. — Charles Dickens. — Little House-Lot. — Tremont Theatre. — The Cadets. — Adino Paddock. — Paddock's Mall. — Granary Burying- Ground. — The Granary. — Almshouse. — Workhouse. — Bridewell. — Park Street Church. — Manufactory House. — Linen-Spinning Introduced. — Elisha Brown. — Massachusetts Bank. — Incident of the Lexington Expedition. — The Common. — Its Origin. — The Great Mall. — Fences. — Winter Street. — Governor Bernard. — John Mc- Lean. —Samuel Adams. —St. Paul's. —Masonic Temple. —Margaret Fuller. — Washington Gardens. — The Haymarket. — West Street. —

CONTEXTS. Xlll

The Gun-House. — Colonnade Row. — Massachusetts Medical College.

— Haymarket Theatre. — Boylston Street. — John Quincy Adams.

— General Moreau. — Charles Francis Adams 289

Chapter XI. A Tour Round The Common Continued

Common Burying-Ground. — Joshua Bates. — Public Garden. — Ropewalks. — Topography of the Common. — British Troops on. — Description of their Camps. — The Light Horse. — Powder House. — Old Elm. — Witchcraft and Quaker Executions. — The Duel in 1728. — Mill-Dam. — Mexican Volunteers. — Beacon Street. — Prescott. — Copley. — John Phillips. — WendeU Phillips. —Robert C. Winthrop.

— Hancock Mansion. — Governor Haucock. — General Clinton. — State House. — Public Statues, etc. — The Beacon. — The Monument.

— Lafayette's Residence. — George Ticknor. — Malbone. — Samuel Dexter. — Incidents of Lafayette's Visit in 182-i. — Josiah Quincy,

Jr. — Historical Resume. .— Repeal of the Stamp Act .... 323

Chapter XII. Valley Acre, The Bowling Green, And West Boston

Governor Bowdoin. — General Burgoyne. — Boston Society in 1782. — David Hinckley's Stone Houses. — James Lloyd. — Lafayette. — Daniel Davis. — Admiral Davis. — Historic Genealogical Society. — Valley Acre. — Uriah Cotting. — Governor Eustis. — Anecdote of Governor Brooks. — Millerite Tabernacle. — Howard Athenaeum. — Bowling Green. — Old Boston Physicians. — Charles Bulfinch. — New Fields.

— Peter Chardon. — Mrs. Pelham. — Peter Pelham. — Thomas Melvill.

— Dr. William Jenks. — Captain Gooch. — West Church. — Leverett Street Jail. — Poor Debtors. — Almshouse. — Massachusetts General Hospital. — Medical College. — National and Eagle Theatres . . 361

Chapter XIII. From Church Green To Liberty Tree

Church Green. — New South Church. — Dr. Kirkland. — American Headquarters. — General Heath. — Anecdote of General Gates. — Jerome Bonaparte. — Sir William Pepperell. — Nathaniel Bowditch. — George Bancroft. — Trinity Church. — Seven Star Inn and Lane. — Peter Faneuil. — Governor Sullivan. — Small-Pox Parties. — Duke of Kent.

— Sir Edmund Andros. — Lamb Tavern. — White Horse Tavern. — Colonel Daniel Messinger. — Lion Tavern. — Handel and Haydn Society. — Lion Theatre. — Curious Statement about Rats . . .380

XIV CONTENTS.

Chapter XIV. Liberty Tree And The Neighborhood

Liberty Tree. — Its History. — Hanover Square. — Liberty Hall. — Hanging in Effigy. — Auchmuty's Lane. — The Old Suffolk Bench and Bar. — Boylston Market. — Charles Matthews. — James E. Murdoch.

— Peggy Moore's. — Washington Bank. — Beach Street Museum. — Essex Street. — Rainsford's Lane. — Harrison Avenue. — Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin. — General John Coffin. — Anecdote of Admiral Coffin. — Sir Thomas Aston Coffin. — Henry Bass. — Old Distill-Houses. — Manufacture of Bum. — Gilbert Stuart, — Anecdotes of. — First Glass Works. — Disappearance of Trees. — Early planting of Trees. — Sir Roger Hale Sheaffe. — South Cove. — Hollis Street. — Colonel John Crane. — General Ebenezer Stevens. — Mather Byles, — Anecdotes of.

— Hollis Street Church. — Fire of 1787 396