History of Pocomoke City, formerly New Town : from its origin to the present time

Contents

Pagh.

History, Preface of 7

Author's Life, Sketch of 9

Preface

In writing a history of Pocomoke City, formely New Town, I will say, the subject never presented itself to my mind until recently, and then I only contemplated a brief sketch of some of the early inhabitants together with their business life, the habits, customs and social bearing of society in ''ye olcUn times'' But as the subject loomed up before me into greater proportions, and as there never had been written a history of the place, only in scraps for newspaper publication, and as I have been repeatedly solicited to write such a history, I have submitted to undertake the arduous task.

The subjects comprised in this history will, therefore, be the geographical position or town limits of the place together with a description of its Houses, Streets, County Wharf and Pubhc Square. The Mercantile, Shipping, Manufacturing, Steam Milling, Hotel and Livery Stable Business. The Practice of Medicine and Law. The Post-Office, Press, Social Life, Moral Outlook, Temperance, Schools, Churches and a brief sketch of the lives of its leading business and professional men.

In writing this history I have not aimed at literary display, if I had, the book itself would expose my weakness. But I have simply aimed at giving a statement of facts, and chief among my aspirations has been the rescuing from oblivion, the names and history of persons living in New Town in the days of yore, names precious and dear to many who are still living in Pocomoke City, together with Incidents of Social Life that will be of interest to read. The whole history covering a period of over two hundred y^trs.

8 PREFACE.

In. giving a sketch of my own life, separately, I must say, in jnstice to myself, that the sab j cot never once entered my mind until I had been repeatedly requested to do so, finally I yielded, hoping that my eventful life would be both a warning to the 3'oung not to pursue those paths of vice into which I had fallen, and an encouragement to all, that it is never too lale to turn over a new leaf, never too late to do good. The fact of my joining the Virginia Conference, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, when I was in the fifty-sixth year of my age, undertaking a four years course of Conference studies, leaving a loving liome and going among strangers for three successive years, in the valley of Virginia, and on the Mountains of West Virginia, and traveling in that Conference for six years, averaging the first three years, probably, fifteen hundred miles a year on horse-back, is an adventure of my life, at which I am truly amazed. Although I was in Orders when I entered the Conference, I was required to go through the usual course of studies, and I mention, in detail, the subjects upon which I was examined and the books to be read, simply to show the amount of labor I had to perform at my advanced age, and yet by application I succeeded.

J. M.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE

AUTHOR'S LIFE

I was born in New Town, Worcester County, Maryland, on the 11th day of August, 1814. My father's name was Michael Murray. He was born in the town of Armagh, in Armagh County, in the North of Ireland. He received quite a liberal education in his native country, and was reared, by his parents in the Roman Catholic taith. My mother's name before she married my father, was Nancy Maddux. She was born and raised in Potatoe Neck, now Fair Mount, Somerset County, Maryland. She received such an education as the schools of her day were prepared to impart, and in her religious faith she was brought up a Methodist. My father came to America soon after the revolutionary war ended and engaged in merchandising, at Maddux's Island, Somerset County, Maryland. How long he continued there I cannot say, it was there, however, that he married my mother. In the course of time he moved to Rehoboth and continued merchandising some years, when, in 1803, he moved to New Town and continued in the mercantile and shipping trade in New Town for fifteen years. Of my mother were born seven sons and one daughter, all of whom lived to be grown. All of the boys learned trades except the youngest, and after their majority they all pursued other avocations, more or less. Of my six brothers and sister, I am happy to say, they all had good minds, and some of them shown with lustre, and of my sister, especially. I would say if the fair sex would not look at it with an eye of egotism, that she had an intellect above the ordinary class of her sex* They have all passed away except my youngest brother William who lives in Sumner County, Tennessee. I have said my father was a

Konian Catholic. He would liokl family prayer on Sabbath morning, and would teach the children the prayers of that Church, such as the Lord's prayer, the Salutation and Invocation to the Holy ViriL-in Mary, the Apostles Creed, etc. But with these facts before me I must conclude that he was a broad minded, liberal man, for he contributed to the building of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in New Town, and had all his children baptized by Protestant Ministers. I have been at a loss to account for my early religious impressions, in view of the fact that my father was but a nominal christian, while my mother, during the lifetime of my father, did not belong to church. I can recollect distinctly, when but a child, that I was not afraid to die, and when the good spirit of the Lord so moved upon my little heart, as to soften it into tenderness and love.

I can also recollect, when in my early youth, that I was afraid to die, that I had a consciousness of sin and was afraid of God, and in view of such convictions, when I would retire to my bed at night, I have engaged in prayer, repeating the Lord's prayer and those my father taught me and concluding with : Now I lay me down to sleep, etc., until my little eyes would close in balmy sleep "nature's sweet restorer." I pursued this course under the impres, sion that Satan would not come after a person while they were praying, for I was fre(iuently afraid the Devil would get me before morning. The reader will recollect the Cat Story in relation to myself, which is told under the head of Social Life in New Town.

I have, if possible, a thousand times reviewed my fother's course in raising his children. While in some instances he was very strict, yet in otliers he was remiss in his oversight of them. I suppose there have been but few ftmiilies, especially in the days of my boyhood, ])ut what there would be more or less lighting by the boys. Sometimes when my brothers and myself would be at work, we would get into a fight, and as I was the youngest, I would

A Brief Hlstnry of the Avthor^s Life. 11

generally get whipped. I recollect instances when I was not in fault, I would go to my father and tell him of it, instead of inquiring into the matter, he would give me another whipping and send me off to work again. I then had no appeal, and many a hard fight I have had with my dear brothers. I have said my father was very strict. If he promised me a whipping I was sure to get it. I recollect times when I would run from him to avoid punishment and he would say, in his broad Irish accent, "niver mind boy I will pay you." I felt that moment that my doom was sealed, and my feathers fell.

My father whipped his boys with the cowhide. It has been said of the Irish that they were the greatest people in the world for whipping the Devil out of their children. But it is a problem for solution, whether such whipping whips the Devil out of, or whips the Devil into, the children. I recollect very well my brothers and myself would get hold of the old cowhide, that had punished us so severely, and we would take it to the wood-pile and chop it into mince meat with the axe.

There was no Sabbath School, in New Town, in my little boyhood days, and the boys to a great extent, were suffered to roam about on the Sabbatb day. On such occasions I would learn a great deal of wickedness. I learned to swear profusely, to play cards, and as early as eight years of age I learned to chew tobacco. I was the first one in my father's family to use tobacco, my father and mother never using it. Many a night, after I would go to sleep, my father would search my pockets for my tobacco and burn it ; but it was all to no use, I conquered my father in my wicked course, and when I grew larger I chewed, with impunity, in his presence. This one instance of my boyhood life has caused me many a heartache since, and often times in contemplating the subject, I have been so mortified and humbled that the tears unbidden would steal from my eyes. At a very early age I learned to swim and finally I became quite an expert at it. I was like a duck in

12 A Brief llistunj of the Author^s Life.

the water for diving, and several times I have been nearly dnjwned by trying how far I could swim at the botUjm of the river before I would come to the surface again. At other tirr^es I have been nearly drowned in playing with larger boys who would hold me under the water too Vmg. It used to be quite common for the town boys to take their canoes, and go to the river swamps for shingle billets and l)ring them home to burn. Frequently, after loading my canoe with billets, I have taken the tow line in my mouth aud swam along with the canoe as it would drift with the tide.

In eighteen hundred and twenty-seven, my father moved with his family to Baltimore. I was then thirteen years old. Another event occurred in my early history of which I have, ever since felt deeply ashamed, and humbled. After my father moved to Baltimore, for sometime, I had nothing to do, aud consequently I would be down at the wharves and on board the Eastern Shore vessels to see those I was acquainted with, and would engage in boyisli sports, such as standing on the waist or spars of the vessel and jumping to a rope and catching hold of it with one hand, and exhibiting my activity; during these visits I became acquainted with a man who had gone from this place. He followed the sea. lie took a great liking to me for my activity and venturesome spirit, and persuaded me to go to sea. The pleasures of a seafaring life that loomed up before me, together with the idea of visiting foreign countries, were truly captivating. I det(;rmined on such a course at all hazards. I had not consulted my father or mother. I knew it would be of no use, that they would not give their consent and so I determined to act for myself. I bad made seme little engagements with a captain of a Dutch Ship bound to Bremen. I was but a boy and had no where to stay of niglits and consequently would sneak home at night and run off in the morning. Tliis state of things lasted several days. I have since heard my mother say that my father bas walked the floor wringing his hands and saying, in deep agony : "What shall I do with my boy James." Finally, he overtook me on Fell's Point, I was about to run from him, wlien he told me he wanted to talk with me, that he wanted to know where I was going, what ship I was going in, and how long I would begone, and the wages I would get, ifcc. I had had premonitions that I was acting wickedly, but on this occasion I realized the heinousness of my crime. I felt as though the ground ought to open and swallow me up. I think the good Spirit of the Lord was showing me how wicked I was. I shall never be able fully to explain my feelings on that occasion. I was completely conquered. I went home and purposed to be a better boy.

There was another event, during my first years residence in the City of Baltimore, which has been, ever since, a pleasurable thought to me. I attended the first Sal)bath School that I was ever in, that year. It was at a little frame church called Frog- Eye, in South Baltimore. The Superintendent talked so sweetly about Jesus that my little boyish heart was completely captivated. I was all humility. I went home. It was on Sabbath afternoon, and at the supper table. I could not help weeping. I have often thought since, tliat if I had had any one to explain to me the nature of Christianity, its blessedness and experience, that then I would have become a Christian. In my fourteenth year, I was thouglit to be rather young to go to a trade, consequently I obtained work in a brick yard, with a man by the name of George Cline. This man was so illnaturcd, crabbed and peevish that I hated him. I recollect one day I was on the kiln tossing bricks to him, on the ground, and as he was not looking the bricks struck him on the foot. It was a terrible blow, he took up a half brick and said : "I have a great mind to knock you ofl" that kiln." I had no faith in him, and was ready, if he raised his hand to throw, to jump off' the kiln on the other side. I disliked this man so mnch, on account of his disposition and the small pay I received,

14 A Brief History of the Autho7-^^ Life,

which was one dollar a week and I board myself, that I framed a lie, and told my father, that he did not want me any longer. I then went to work with another man, in an adjoining yard, by the name of John Reese. This man gave me kind words, treated me like a father, and gave me a dollar and a half a week. The one I love to think of, the other I have long since forgiven.

In eighteen hundred and twenty-nine, I commenced learning the shoe making trade with my brother. I was then in my fifteenth year. I was very apt, and soon learned to make a boot. During the next year, however, he concluded to leave the City, and he made an engagement with Captain John T. Taylor^ of Snow Hill, "Worcester County, Maryland, to act as foreman in his shoe and boot factory, in that place. This event took place in eighteen hundred and thirty, and to me it was an epoch in my history that I shall never forget. I was then turned out on the world to shift for myself, at the age of sixteen, without counsellor or friend to take me by the hand and direct me in the way I should go. It is true my father and mother were then living, but they were living in New Town and I was in the City of Baltimore. I have often thought upon this part of my early history as being marked by the special providence of my great Heavenly Father who watches over the present and future doings of those that are left destitute. I procured board at the house of a kind humane man, for one dollar and twentj'-five cents a week. I could make two dollars and fifty cents a week at my trade, cooseciuently I could have, after paying my board, one dollar and twenty-five cents to buy my clothes, shoe findings, and to pay the laundress, and the balance I could have for spending money. This state of things continued until the latter part of the year when my father moved back to the City, and I was again with the family.

In the latter part of eighteen hundred and thirty-one, my father died and was buried in a K( »mau Catholic Cemetery, in the western part of the city of Baltimore. Early in eighteen hundred and thirty-two, my mother, with her three youngest children moved back again to New Town , and I was left in the city. I was then in the eighteenth year of my age. I was ambitious to excel at my trade, and in order to be a proficient, I went under instructions with one of the best worknaen in the city, and boarded with him. I soon became master of my own trade and could hold a seat of stitched boots in any of the best shops in the City. But this prosperity at my trade, was attended with a series of wickedness that ought to be truly alarming. My association was entirely of a vicious character. In those large shoemaker boarding houses there would be sometimes as Li'i as fifteen or twenty men upon their benches, strewed around tlieroom. In such a company there must be entertainment, and scarcely, without an exception it would be of a vicious character. The bottle of liquor would be in the middle of the floor; the singing those songs and telling yarns which had an immoral tendency. Then theatre going, ten-pin alleys visited, gambling saloons tarried at» frequently, till after midnight. I have, since, often wondered at the alarming progress I was making, in fixing my habits that, without some interposition, would end in my utter ruin. In eighteen hundred and thirty-three, my brother, who had established himself in Inisiness in Snow Hill, wrote to me to come and work for him.

This was a ]u-ovidcntial door opened to me, for which I have, ever since, had great cause to be thankful. I was, by accepting this invitation, lifted out of my old associations, and placed in an entirely new element of society. I held on, however, to my old habits of swearing, gambling and tobacco chewing. In the winter of 1843 and 1844, there was a great revival of religion, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Snow Hill. I was providentially brought under its gracious influence. Before this, however, I would argue Roman Catholicism with the Methodists, yet I believed they were under some blessed influence to which I was a stranger. This conviction was the result of my observation of their godly walk, their chaste conversation, and their acclamations of joy in their religious meetings. The leading men engaged in conducting that revival were Mathew Sorin and Shepherd Draine. These were the ministers on the circuit. Stephen Townsend, afterwards Doctor Townsend, of the Philadelphia Conference ; Epliraim Mathews, father of I. T. Matthews, Esq., who is the present clerk of the count)- ; George Hudson, who was for many years clerk in the office of the Register of AVills for Worcester County ; and Levi Nelson, a boot and shoe maker. These men commanded my highest respect. I could not gainsaj' their Christianity in^ny particular. I often wondered at their kind and gentle bearing towards me. Notwithstanding, I attended their meetings regularly, yet I would avoid those men by taking a seat in the rear of the congregation. They would, however, tind me out, and by their kindly, gentle course would persuade me to go up and mingle in the congregation. With unabated love I have often thought of those men, when they would come to me sometimes, lay their hands upon my head, though not a word would be spoken, and weep over me. This was more than I could bear. I thought if I did not j-ield to such loving entreaties as this, I ought lo go to Hell. I determined to make an unconditional surrender of myself to God. I was ignorant of the ways of God and the Gospel plan of Salvation. I submitted to be taught like a child. I bowed at the altar. I deplored and confessed my sins, the more I prayed, and contemplated my condition, the more I saw myself a lost sinner, my feelings became intolerable. I sought the Lord day and night without intermission except when I was asleep. This was a long, dark, dark night of experience to me, but finally in fixing my eyes upon the day star from on high' the day-light of i)ardou, peace and joy broke into my soul. Before this I was decidedly opposed to making any ado about religion. I said if I embraced it I would let the people see how decently and in order I could get it. But oh ! how foolish I was. I was as ignorant as a beast before the Lord. Wlieii I nceivcd tlie uitness (jf pardon and my

A Brief History of the Authored Life. 17

acceptance with the Lord, I was lost in praise, and thought of nothing but Jesus and his love to me, and shouted aloud before a large congregation the veritable experience of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Though this experience was realized nearly fifty years ago, yet to this day it is unspeakable, it was Christ in me the hope of glory. I was truly convinced that I was as thoroughly changed in my spiritual nature as that I had a being, and the savor of the good, I then received, I have to this day. A ^lew life then opened up to me. I broke off my old habits at a stroke, excepting tobacco chewing, which I did not then realize to be inconsistant with a profession of Christianity. I can say, since that day I have studiously avoided all those places in which I previously took delight, places where God was not honored.

During eighteen hundred and thirty-four I returned to Baltimore and worked at my trade. An event occurred that year which liked to have cost me my life. There was a mob raised upon the breaking of the old Maryland Bank. The spite of the mob was directed to the oflBcers of the Bank, such as Reverdy Johnson, John Glenn and others. It commenced operations on Saturday night. I had finished my day's work and had eaten my sapper and walked down town. I discovered their aim ^^•as at Reverdy Johnson's house, on Monument Square. A guard was already posted across Calvert street, on the North side of Baltimore street. As I came along I was requested to volunteer. I did so, and about twelve o'clock, while fighting the mob, I was struck in the forehead with a stone which cut through my hat and cut my head about an inch long. I was knocked down as quick as if I had been shot. My wound was examined and pronounced not dangerous, and I was placed on the retired list. No changes occurred in my life, but such as are of common occurrence until eighteen hundred and thirty-six. In the first of January of that year, I established myself in the boot and shoe business, in New Town. I was in the twenty-second year of my age. Up to this date my

18 A Brief History of the A^dhor^s Life.

education was of the most superficial character. With the exception of a few weeks, I had not gone to school since I was thirteen years old. I could, however, at that date read, write and cipher Bome. I understood the multiplication table up to the twelfth line, the four fundamental rules in arithmetic, was somewhat aquainted with the single and double rule of Three, and Practice, and was a tolcrablj^ good speller. This was the ultimatum of my schooling until I was twenty-two years of age. During that year, by some casuality, Kirkham's grammar fell into my hands. It was a dead science to me. I took the book, however, to a friend and desired him to give me some insight of it, he did so, and I began to understand it, and I was so ambitious to improve my education that I went to school two months, to a good scholar. I confined my studies chiefly to English grammar and geography, and without any praise to myself, I soon stood at the head of the grammar class. This was the result of two considerations : first, I had a longing desire for knowledge, and secondly I was at a more mature age to receive instructions than the younger scholars. After this I would carry my book in my pocket as I would walk the street, or have it on the bench while I would be at work, and would parse everything that came under my observation.

On the 11th day of January, 1838, 1 was married to Mrs. Mary Atkinson, widow of Thomas D. Atkinson, deceased. Her maiden name was Long, she was the daughter of Josiah and Sally Long. In this instance I assumed a responsibility for which I was scarcely adequate. I was poor, and to support a large family from the beginning with no other means but my trade was no small undertaking. Yet I succeeded, by good manngcnunt lo provide, in some little degree, tilings convenient. In the course of a few years my health l)ecaiiie so impaired by sedentary life, that I was induced to iii.-ikc :i cli.'inua-. I commenced farming in a sm;ill w:iy uiilil 1849 Prior to the above date I had served two terms as justice of the peace, and when the Magistrates Court was established 1 was appointed chief judge of this district, but refused to accept the appointment. During the time of which I am writing I was serving the Church as class leader, recording steward and local preacher. Up to 1849 all my children were born, and my second son James Henry was dead. At the above date I leased a farm, four and a half miles in the country ; the farm was poor and I was told that I would starve on it, but by careful management, after living on it four years, and living well too, I had gained four hundred dollars. While on the farm I would ride to town of a night, after the day's work would be over, lead class and return home. During my sojourn on the ftirm, an event occurred, which has ever since been a source of congratulation.

It was my abandonment of the use of tobacco. This may seem to some persons a very small matter, but to me it was of vast moment. I had had, for many years, misgivings with regard to the propriety of its use. I had sought to justify myself by all possible considerations, chief among them was the example of christian men and christian ministers, some of the highest dignitaries of the Church in the habitual use of tobacco. I dared not unchristian ize them, some of them were, in other respects way marks to the better land, and if they can use it why not I? This vas a powerful argument for me to continue its use. Another consideration in favor of its continuance, was the fact that I commenced at such an early day, when I embraced Christianity and knew I was accepted of my gracious Heavenly Father. I was still using it. But r.otwithstanding all these considerations, I still had my misgivings when I read the precious word of truth and considered that cleanliness was an attribute of godliness. I reasoned, also, that in many instances, if not all, tobacco was unhealthy in its use, and that our money was a precious talent to be used in a proper way, and not to be used in feeding a debased and an unnatural appetite. I had made, probably, a hundred attempts to quit its use, aad as many times failed. But in this last effort I succeeded, and one great inducement urging me on was the bad example I was setting my children, for how could I tell them not to use it when I was using it myself? Another event took place while I was on the farm, which has been the greatest pleasure to me.

It was a revival of religion, at Swansgut Methodist Episcopal Church, in which about fifty persons professed religion, and there was no other instrumentality employed in it but the Rev. John Hersey, of precious memory, and the writer. In 1852, 1 served as one of the assessors of "Worcester County. At the close of 1853, 1 moved back to New Town, and in 1854, 1 embarked in the steam saw mill business, but had not more than g(jt the mill in running order before I discovered that I had made a mistake, and I determined to sell out as soon as an opportunity presented itself It was not long before I had an offer for my interest in the mill, and I sold out witli a loss of about three hundred dollars. Some thought I was fickle in this instance, but I had made up my mind to get out of the mill, and the sequel showed the wisdom of the act. I had invested but a few hundred dollais which I had been gathering together for between fifteen and twenty years by hard work, and had I continued in the mill I sl^ould have lost all. In reviewing the history of this incident, there is cau>e f ^r praise to my Heavenly Father, and admiration of this special providence over me. At the close of 1850, 1 removed to Somerset County, on a farm M'hich I had purchased of Hon. Isaac D. Jones. I now began to think that I should be settled in life. I had moved about so nuicli that I desired that this should be the last time until I would go to my long home. But I had not been on the farm two years before circumstances were brought to bear upon me, which caused a change.