Historic Nantucket, January 1960, Vol. 7 No. 3

Historic Nantucket

An Old Fashioned Nantucket Winter THE FREEZE UP — 1914

JANUARY, 1960

Published Quarterly by

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, George W. Jones.

Vice-Presidents, Burnham N. Dell, Stokeley W. Morgan, Everett U. Crosby, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, W. Ripley Nelson, Albert Egan, Jr. Secretary-Treasurer, Miss Ethel Anderson.

Auditor, Ormonde F. Ingall.

Councillors, George W. Jones, chairman: Mrs. William Mather, Mrs. William Perkins, term expires 1960; Richard J. Porter, Oswell J. Small, term ex­ pires 1961; Robert C. Caldwell, Alma P. Robbins, term expires 1962; Mrs. Franklin Bartlett, Robert E. Deeley, term expires 1963.

Publicity Committee, W. Ripley Nelson, chairman.

Honorary Custodian of Collections, Mrs. Nancy S. Adams.

Custodian of Collections, Mrs. William Mather.

•I

Finance Committee, Stokeley W. Morgan, chairman.

Editor, Historic Nantucket, Miss Alma Robbins; Mrs. Margaret Fawcett Barnes, Mrs. R. A. Orleans, Assistant Editors.

Exhibits' Publications Committee, Burnham N. Dell, chairman; Mrs. John Bartlett, Mrs. William Perkins, Miss Ruth Haviland Sutton.

Chairmen of Exhibits, Fair Street Museum, Mrs. William Mather; Whaling Museum, W. Ripley Nelson; Oldest House, Mrs. William Perkins; Old Mill, Robert Caldwell; Old Jail, Oswell Small; 1800 House, Mrs. Franklin Bartlett.

2

HISTORIC NANTUCKET Published quarterly and devoted to the preservation of Nantucket's antiquity, its famed heritage and its illustrious past as a whaling port.

VOLUME 7

JANUARY 1960

No. 3

Nantucket Historical Association Officers Main Street Fete, Photo by Bill Haddon ..

Editorial Admissions Report History Making Events Education: Nantucket School System from Its Settle­ ment to the Establishment of a Public School System,

2 4 5 7 8 11

By W. D. Perkins, Principal Nantucket's Elementary Schools

Jonathan Trumbull and the Nantucket Trade

20

By Glenn Weaver, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut

The Unitarian Church Celebrates 150 Years

28

By The Rev. James Hammond

A Twentieth Century Sketch of the Island Steamboat Line

30

By Norman P. Giffin

William H. Tripp, 18,80-1959 A Letter Membership, (Continued from the October, 1959 issue) Legacies and Bequests "Uncle Pillick", A Ditty—1750

35 36 38 39 40

Historic Nantucket is published quarterly at Nantucket, Massachusetts, by the Nantucket Historical Association. It is sent to Association Members. Extra copies $.50 each.

Membership dues are — Annual-Active $2.00; Sustaining $10.00 ; Life—one payment $50.00.

Entered as Second Class Matter, July, 1953, at the Post Office, Nantucket, Massachusetts Copyright 1960 Nantucket Historical Association.

Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts.

3

4

Main Street Fete

Photo by Bill Haddon

Selectmen Chairman Kenneth N. Pease and Representative to the General Court Robert P. Mooney cutting the ribbon, opening the Main Street Fete, August 11, 1959.

5

Editorial "I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.

I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him."

—A. Lincoln Three hundred years have come and gone since the propri­ etors purchased the Island of Nantucket, and Peter Folger per­ suaded the Indians to sign over their rights to the land.

The 300th Birthday Celebration has now become history.

Nantucket may well be proud of those who guided the celebrations, even as all Nantucketers are proud of the Island, in 1959 as in 1659.

The Town, County, State and National Governments all had parts to play in this celebration. The official celebrations were steered through the fog and haze of un-cooperative weather by our president, Mr. George Jones, and the Steering Committee, with the professional help of the advertising firm, Newsome Company, Boston, and the zealous, tireless cooperation of literally hundreds of citizens, and local organizations.

To enumerate each special occasion would take too much space here but we can point out the Nantucket Historical Associa­ tion as contributing its fair share in man power, and adding much to the celebration by providing entertaining exhibits and lectures.

Each historical unit was dressed for the occasion. The Old Mill flourished sails and ground corn, and it was a pretty sight to see on top of Mill Hill. The Old Gaol was ship-shape, neat and orderly as befits a house of detention; the 1.800 House and Fair Street Museum, each with fresh paint and varnish, presented an appearance which demonstrates the artistry and refinements of good living that took place in the earlier days despite the rigors of weather and seafaring. The Whaling Museum had not only fresh paint but fine new exhibits of articles and industries associ­ ated with whaling which made Nantucket an honored, world­ wide name in the past, and fascinated more visitors than ever before during this anniversary year.

And besides the exhibits our Association sponsored a series of "whaling" seminars by persons who know both Nan­ tucket and whaling. These lectures were expertly navigated by the chairman of the Whaling Museum, Mr. W. Ripley Nelson.

6

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Then there were the Family Reunions which we reported in the October issue. The Historical Association entered into their plans to help descendants of the original Ten, from far and near, enjoy their visit to the Island.

There were a few events which took place during the celebra­ tion that require a special note of appreciation for they were part and parcel of the gala days, of the past as well as the present, and made this 300th Birthday a memorable occasion, Nantucket a proud place.

For the first time in history the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which needs no extolling adjectives, came to the Island and pre­ sented an afternoon and an evening concert.

The Veteran Motor Car Club came to a "Meet" with their vehicles in shining good form. Their parade, with dusters but­ toned to the chin, carriage veils flying in the brisk breeze of their ten-miles-per-hour speed, brought on a nostalgia for the dusty byways of past eras and the kick-back of the first Model-T crank.

The concerts by the Nantucket Community Orchestra were another in the special high-lights group. They in no way com­ peted with other musicals or "Celebrity Concerts", but had their own appeal with members either of "natives" or friends all doing themselves proud.

"The China Trade" a play written by Nantucket's own Mar­ garet Fawcett (Mrs. Landon Barnes) in which she captured the thrill and mystery of a Nantucket sea captain's life in the Far East was staged by the professional company at the Playhouse on Straight Wharf under the direction of Peter Poor.

Nantucket could not have celebrated without the "Sheep Shearing" which was always a great event in past decades, the pictures showing the Island in color and to good advantage, the Square Dancing, and now and again the "Yankee" in the harbor, a beauty if ever there was one, with her sails flying full!

The destroyer (USN) "Miller" came to anchor outside the bar and the band ferried ashore to give full-dress concerts that were attended by thousands of appreciative listeners. The "Miller" held open house; over 1200 Nantucketers were ferried out to see!

In fact, many officials who were guests on the destroyer were obliged to remain over night, Nantucket's weather and the sea putting on such a rough show the small boats could not navigate safely back to the harbor.

7

EDITORIAL

The Firemen's Muster with the fire engines, "Siasconset", and "Cataract" from the Fair Street Museum, all done up with "spit-and-polish" as though they were ready for the big fire of 1846, were rolled out. And after some practice and puffing on the part of Nantucket's stalwarts the "Cataract" threw a stream 175 feet, just as in the "old days"!

To top the main events the Main Street Fete was revived.

After weeks of unconscionable concern on the part of Mrs. Allen Backus, who shouldered the over-all responsibility, the day dawned fair, the sun shone brightly, all Nantucketers turned out in cos­ tume and the performance was well-nigh perfect! For the hun­ dreds who took delight in Main Street from the cobblestones to the finest piece of scrimshaw, it was a day to remember. The four sponsoring organizations: The Nantucket Atheneum, The Hospital Thrift Shop, The Nantucket Historical Association, and the Woman's Auxiliary of St. Paul's Cchurch, reaped financial bene­ fits. These monetary gains were not as great as had been hoped but that loss was greatly mitigated by the pleasure experienced by all in the utter fitness of the Time, Place, and Activities.

Last, but by no means least, of the happy events was Nan­ tucket's Commemorative Parade. A good mile-long parade of the town's finest; all those not parading followed, avidly snapping pictures all the way, for the whole was gay and colorful, with just-right dignity, fun, and furbelow.

If the next 300-year mark is celebrated in like manner who could ask more of a proud place in which to live!

Admissions Report Historical Museum Pair Street Oldest House 1800 House Old Jail Old Mill Whaling Museum Totals

*1959-60

1958-59

1957-58

1956-57

1955-56

3,642 5,133 1,123 1,968 3,128 19,244

3,928 4,154 1,221 2,029 2,815 17,742

3,203 4,871 1,265 1,865 2,825 20,118

3,193 4,383 921 3,355 2,832 18,308

2,728 4,770 1,218 3,313 2,704 15,631

34,238

31,889

34,147

32,992

30,364

* There will be slight change in the figures of June 1, 1960.

for .1959-60 in the final report as

8

History Making Events In November, 1959, Dr. Will Gardner who has worked many months to establish the Folger-Franklin Seat and Memorial Boulder turned this site over to the Nantucket Historical Associa­ tion and it now becomes one of the Historical units belonging to the Association which will be maintained for the interest and pleas­ ure of all, visitors as well as "native" Nantucketers. This Memorial is located on the original "Folger Grant", the land which the Ten Proprietors gave to Peter Folger thus binding him to the island.

Here he lived for twenty-six years, and in his home here his daughter Abiah was born. The Memorial seat bears the names of Peter's seven daughters and two sons. Not only Benjamin Franklin, Abiah's son, but many other descendants of Peter Fol­ ger may be found in a proverbial World Wide Who's Who. He gave invaluable services to the island; his wit, wisdom, incom­ parable courage and unshakable humanitarian ideals. It is fitting that our Association have this Memorial for which all credit and thanks are due Dr. Gardner, and Mr. Thomas J. Hallowell who gave the land. *

*

*

*

Miss Edith Bartlett is giving the deed to the small, and ex­ ceedingly attractive fire house at the corner of Howard and Gard­ ner Street to the Nantucket Historical Association in Memory of her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. William Macy Bartlett.

This is the only one of the original fire houses left and mem­ bers of the Association have for a long time hoped that this building might be kept as a Historical unit. This gift is received with thankfulness and sincere appreciation. It is a most desirable addition to Nantucket's Historical preservations and every effort will be made to have it open to the public suitably housing fire engines as in the past. The story of its past will soon be added to the fascinating stories of other Historical Buildings belonging to the Association. *

*

*

*

If any of our readers are familiar with the Italian magazine "Tempo" published in Milano, they will be interested in the Sep­ tember, 1959 issue which has a fine reproduction of the article, complete with two full pages of pictures, about the Coffin Reunion which appeared in "Look" magazine. They have even published the same error, namely, giving Miss Grace Brown Gardner's age

HISTORY MAKING EVENTS

9

as ninety-four when she is just turning eighty in 1960. Despite that, it is a fine lay-out and does justice to our Oldest House as well as members of the Coffin Family who attended the Reunion. *

*

*

*

Recently the Nantucket Historical Association has purchased several books of interest to all members.

"Returns of Whaling Vessels Sailing from American Ports", a continuation of Alexander Starbuck's "History of the American Whale Fishery" 1876-1928. This material has been compiled by Reginald B. Hegarty with additions by Philip F. Purington, and published by The Old Dartmouth Historical Society, and Whaling Museum, New Bedford, Massachusetts, 1959. It will be available to all visitors in the Whaling Museum library.

"The Story of Yankee Whaling" has been published by the American Heritage Publishing Company, Inc., New York, as a Junior Library book. This book has been edited by American Heritage. The narrative by Irwin Shapiro in consultation with Edouard A. Stackpole, Curator, Mystic Seaport, who was a presi­ dent of our Association, and has written many books about Nan­ tucket and Whaling. This book is illustrated with paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs of the period. Many Nantucketers contributed to this thrilling story of Whaling.

"Hidden America", by Roland Wells Robbins and Evan Jones, a true story of digging for landmarks of America's past from the dust and rubble of years. Anyone interested in American history will find this book interesting and exceedingly informa­ tive. It is a graphic report of archaeological adventures, many of them in areas which are familiar to all of us. This book is pub­ lished by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, and nicely illustrated. * * * * "Gayre's Book" being A History of the Family of Gayre, Vol. iv, by Lieut.-Col. Robert Gayre of Gayre and Nigg, K.C.M.M., M.A., D.Phil., D. (Pol.) Sc., D.Sc., Consultore Pro Lingua Anglica, College of Heralds, Rome, and R. L. Gair, F.R.G.S., F.S.A.Scot.

Published by Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh: Tweeddale Court, Lon­ don: 39A Welbeck Street, W.l.

This is the fourth volume of a subscription publication of the History of the House of Gayre or Gayer. This book is of in­ terest to Nantucketers, especially those who may be descendants of William Gayer of Nantucket who married Dorcas Starbuck, daughter of Edward Starbuck, one of the original Proprietors.

10

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Miss Grace Brown Gardner was able to furnish the author with information regarding the Nantucket Gayers. *

*

*

*

The Nantucket Civic League, under the able guidance of W. Ripley Nelson, together with five other organizations, is recom­ mending at the 1960 Town Meeting that they vote to create a "Park and Recreation Commission", and to establish a "Recrea­ tion Area". The purpose of the recommendation is to provide for residents and summer visitors programs and facilities for recrea­ tional and cultural activities not now provided for general public participation under any organized program.

This Commission, (now, by law, the Board of Selectmen) would, by election, consist of five resident taxpayers of the town at the next Annual Town Meeting (1961).

This recommendation by the Civic League is the result of many months of work. Since September, 1958, the possibility of reviving the entertainment and cultural activities as successfully promoted by the "Nantucket Neighbors" has been explored.

It was decided that today's needs present too big a problem to be undertaken by any voluntary organization and following this decision came the advisability of recommending the creation of a Commission. The plan has been submitted to and discussed by the Planning Board and the Board of Selectmen. Representa­ tive Robert F. Mooney has been most cooperative and helpful in obtaining valuable suggestions and data from State authorities as to the success other communities have had with such a plan.

Town Counsel Roy E. Sanguinetti has given valuable legal advice.

Copies of Articles to be submitted to Town Meeting together with applicable extracts from Chapter 45 of the General Laws may be secured from Group Members.

11

Education Nantucket's Schools from its Settlement to the Establishment of a Public School System.

By W. D. Perkins On January 9, 1830, the following- appeared in the "Inquirer."

The liberality of this community in the establishment of public schools and the munificence of an individual in the foundation of one, which, though not public extends its advantages to almost every individual of this town have excited a deep interest in the subject of education. Within a less space of time than three years, with a suddenness that surprised the most sanguine in the cause of learning, this community has emerged from a cloud which for a long time overhung its destinies, and has taken a rank at least respectable, in the most enlightened state in the union. Previous to the time above named, our schools, with few exceptions, were in a condi­ tion calculated rather to confirm ignorance than to communicate knowledge. The happiness and future respectability of children had been committed to the care of those who might or might not be faithful to their charge, but who, intrenched within their own walls, were safe from the supervision of the public, and could safely sacri­ fice the dearest interests of their pupils to their own ease or profit.

But those times have passed away, and whatever may be the fate of free schools, it is not probable that a like indifference to education will ever again exist. The change, though rapid and sudden, will be permanent. Schools will hereafter be estimated as they are known and faithful teachers will be prompted both by inclination and in­ terest to court the public eye.1

The indifference to which the writer refers was great indeed.

For years the people of Nantucket had ignored the laws of the Commonwealth with respect to education. Only new legislation and the imminence of court action in 1827 caused the town to finally give some serious attention to the establishment of a system of free public schools.

Before the story of education in Nantucket can be appreci­ ated, some knowledge of the statewide picture is necessary. The following points should be sufficient for our purposes.

1. Massachusetts was the leading state in the development of free public education in this country.

2. Education legislation of the General Court of Massachus­ etts was the first colonial legislation of its kind. It was without precedent in the English-speaking world.

3. When Nantucket became a part of Massachusetts there were three major education laws on the books of the General Court. . . . The first was that of 1642. It directed the "Chosen

12

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

men" of each town to ascertain from time to time if the parents and masters were attending to their educational duties; if the children were being trained in "learning, labor, and other em­ ployments" profitable to the commonwealth and if the children were being taught to "read and understand the principles of re­ ligion and the capital laws of the country." The second was that of 1645 which was not of particular interest to Nantucket but which made definite provisions for the "training up of youth to the art and practice of arms." The third, that of 1647, was the most significant. It is often called the "deluder Satan" law because of its preamble which begins. .. .

"It being one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep men from the knowledge of the scriptures . ..."

The law ordered two things of major importance: a. Every town having 50 householders should at once "appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to him to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general by way of supply, as the major part of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint; provided those that send their children be not oppressed by paying much more than they can have them taught for in other towns." b. That every town having one hundred householders must provide a grammar school to fit youths for the university under a penalty of five pounds for failure to do so. The penalty was later raised to twenty pounds.

Thus the law of 1647, did two things which preceding legis­ lation did not do. It provided for the establishment of schools and directed the employment of schoolmasters.

4. Nantucket chose to ignore the laws of the state with respect to education.

With these things in mind we can proceed to divide the story of education in Nantucket into three parts: domestic, pri­ vate, public.

It must be remembered that these divisions are not clearly defined. One period flows into another without any distinct transition and characteristics of each are to be found in all.

DOMESTIC The period immediately following the landing of the first settlers on the Island might well be called the Domestic period

EDUCATION—NANTUCKET'S SCHOOLS

13

in Nantucket s education story. It was a period characterized by concentration on things far removed from education as we know it today. The business of establishing homes and means of sub­ sistence was not an easy one. It required the attention and labor of all. men, women, and children. Any teaching of reading, re­ ligion, and the capital laws of the country was done by parents and little, if any, record of it is to be found. Learning, of course, went on just as it does today in the homes and the fields, but education as spoken of in the records of the General Court did not exist. It was ignored in the struggle to survive and prosper.

Needs of the growing community increased with size and expanding activities. Not the least of these needs was that of education. Again, it was not that which we know today, but one directly associated with the local economy. We might mark the year 1690 as the beginning of a new period in Nantucket's education story. It was the year Nantucket hired her first teacher, Ichabod Paddock, to instruct the people in the best manner of killing whales and extracting their oil.

PRIVATE As the community grew so did the realization that its con­ tinued growth and prosperity depended, in large part, upon education. The hiring of Ichabod Paddock is a prime indication of this growing realization. More particularly, however, the passing of time made it clear that a more extensive and diverse education was necessary for the youth of the community. Though Nantucket did not yet provide for the education of its youth in conformity with the "law of the land", the Island was not without its schools. The need was felt and, as always when there was need, someone was around to meet it. As a matter of fact, a good many sources were available to satisfy the need for a more extensive and diverse education. They had their motives.

We 1.

2.

3.

might divide them roughly into five groups: To earn an income 4. To share knowledge To supplement an income 5. To satisfy the feeling that To perpetuate a name certain knowledge should be passed on.

The differences in some of these motives were fine ones, to be sure, but they existed just as the schools they were responsible for did. Added to the variety of motives was an even wider span

14

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

of capabilities and the result was a most extensive and diverse educational grab-bag.

2

if-4

This Bill is from the collection of School material now on file Fair Street Museum.

in the

Many of the small schools were established because of the need for an income. These were the Dame, Cent, and Infant schools. They were usually established and taught by widows, wives, and young unmarried women of the town. It has become customary, in any discussion bearing on the history of educa­ tion, no matter how cursory, to point with wonder at these schools.

In communities such as Nantucket, which has no public kinder­ garten, this is surprising. Their modern-day counterparts con­ tinue to prepare children for the primary grades. But this has not always been so. There may have been a time when such pre­ school facilities actually were nonexistent. Nantucket's early Public School organization provided for the training of children under six years of age. The Introductory Schools, of which there were three in 1838, admitted children under Chapter III, Section 1 of the school committee's published regulations for that year as follows: These schools shall receive no pupils under the age of four years.

The teachers shall impart those elements of knowledge which may be necessary to qualify scholars for advancement into the Primary Schools, by the simplest and gentlest modes of training; by the exhibition of visible objects, and oral explanations thereon; by pleasing exercises with instructions pertaining thereto, combining such descriptions of the properties of the various articles shown, and of the signification of the steps pursued, as may tend to im­ press on the minds of their young charges a love for the process whereby they are to attain information, and a favorable impression respecting the practice of going to school.2

EDUCATION—NANTUCKET'S SCHOOLS

15

When the children left these schools to enter the Primary Schools they did so on certain conditions. These conditions are to be found in Chapter IV, section 1 of the regulations mentioned.

Scholars may be received into these schools as early as the age of six years, provided they have acquired the ability to read sen­ tences in which there are no words of more than two syllables.3

Conditions such as these which characterized the early Nan­ tucket School system may well have been responsible for the temporary disappearance of schools of the Dame, Cent, and In­ fant type. Those conditions changed, however, and with the changes came private pre-school facilities bearing marked re­ semblance to their predecessors. Some of these schools, as might be expected, were excellent; others, as the initial quotation from the "Inquirer" indicates, "were in a condition calculated rather to confirm ignorance than to communicate knowledge". Attend­ ance depended largely on three things: Popularity of the teacher The price What was taught

The Little School on the Hill, Tuckernuck, in the 1890's.

We are able to use this picture through the kindness of Mrs. Everett Chapel.

The subjects most often found in these schools were reading, writing, spelling, counting, and sometimes sewing and embroid-

16

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

ery. Some of the "schools" as Helen A. Gardner indicated in an article in the Proceedings for July 1908, were little more than baby-sitting establishments.

Some of these schools were kept by young misses not out of their teens, on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons and were much like the "day-nursery" schools of today, where tired or busy mothers were glad to leave the little ones for a few hours. Others were kept six days in the week, two sessions a day and were open to little boys and girls, some of whom were too young for any lessons. These had their toys and spent long recesses in the yard in good weather.1

The masculine part of the early pre-school picture was some­ times supplemented by Boys' schools. Registration of the Boys' schools was, of course, limited to boys, discipline was frequently stricter, but the subject matter, except for sewing and embroid­ ery, was the same.

Interior of the Tuckernuck School, early 1900's.

Miss Thelma Coffin has the original of this picture and by her courtesy we are able to use it.

EDUCATION—NANTUCKET'S SCHOOLS

17

Of the teachers in these early schools one poet wrote of one who sits. ... . and awes some thirty infants as she knits; Infants of humble, busy, wives who pay, Some trifling price for freedom through the day".5

Another wrote. . . .

"In every village marked with little spire, Embowered in trees and hardly known to fame, There dwells, in lowly shed and mean attire, A matron old, whom we schoolmistress name, Who boasts unruly brats with birch to tame".0

With direct reference to Nantucket:

His next recollections were of his first school days under Dinah Spooner, "a terror to evil doers and far from being an angel to those who did well". To the end of his life he remembered the trembling of his knees when first called on to recite the alphabet, "following the positively electrified end of the knitting needle".

From that place he went on to the even more awful place dom­ inated by Edward Freeman, "a savage with no redeeming trait of character". "Nearly seventy years after (he writes) one of my school mates could scarcely refrain from tears at the recital of some of his own sufferings at the hands of this cruel man."

Next came Nathan Comstock, only a shade less savage.

"Not one of these teachers, however, inspired me with a love for learning, but a distaste for all books "7

One cannot help but wonder if these early Nantucket teachers had refined their practices to equal those of the German school­ master of the same era who kept detailed records. In his records can be found references to "moderate" computation of such things as 10,235 blows over the mouth, 7,905 boxes on the ear, 1,115,800 raps on the head, 777 times made boys kneel on peas, 613 times made boys kneel on a triangular piece of wood, 3,000 expressions to scold with. It should be mentioned, of course, that this record covered a period of fifty-one years and seven months.

Such references as those above are the exceptions. For the most part, available references to early Nantucket teachers pre­ sent them as sincere, likeable human beings intent on doing the job and doing it well with due consideration to the ages and feel­ ings of their charges.

The discipline in these schools was mild but firm.

Nothing is re­ called more severe than a rap on the hand with the "pointer", or a few minutes on the "repentance stool", where the shame of the punishment soon brought the sinner to a state of penitence. In one school if in the recess games of "Round-a-ring-a-rosy" or "Raise the gates as high as the sky", there was rough pushing or

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

18

The Friends Meeting House, Fair Street, (1880) when it was a Wilburite Meeting House, and School. (Now belongs to the Nantucket Historical Association.) too loud shouting, the next recess was spent in the "pen". This was not a strong place of close confinement. The culprit was encircled by the arms of a blinded invalid who was sitting in his chair, and who, after giving a few hints on proper behavior, generally finished by telling some thrilling incident of one of his voyages.8 *

*

*

*

Some of Nantucket's early keepers of schools involved them­ selves with the business of education as a means to supplement income from another source. Timothy White, the first preacher known to be a resident on the Island, was most active as a school­ teacher. It must be assumed that Mr. White found it necessary to so supplement his income for a good many years. The Tim­ othy White Payers published by the Nantucket Historical Asso­ ciation in 1898 contain schooling accounts he kept for the years 1732, 1733, 1734, 1735, 1740, 1741, 1742, 1745, 1746, 1747, 1748.

His payment, though often in cash, was not always so. His records clearly indicate that he was paid with wool, cheese, beef, labour, paper, ink, rye, corn, and fish, among other things. A letter from Governor Belcher to George Bunker, Sr., written in 1732, leaves little doubt that Mr. White was greatly in need of some means to supplement his income. . . . . I understand he has now been about seven years in Nantucket and preached (twice every Lord's day) to a congregation of between

EDUCATION—NANTUCKET'S SCHOOLS

19

200 and 300 souls, among which you are one of the principal, and I find his chief support hitherto has been from private funds, aris­ ing out of collections and subscriptions in and about this town, and from the above mentioned commissioners, and although there are about 60 men that attend on his preaching, yet he has been obliged to support himself for more than two years past wholly by his school; and the funds from which he formerly received consider­ able being now exhausted, he is at present under great discourage­ ment, not seeing how he shall subsist himself and family, but thinks he must be obliged to come away."

Since Mr. White continued on Nantucket until 1750, and since his schooling- accounts continue long after 1732, we are justified in assuming that schoolteaching provided a satisfactorymeans of supplementing whatever income was eventually derived from his preaching.

(To be Continued in April issue).

1

3

Inquirer, January 9, 1830.

Regulations of the School Committee of Nantucket 1838, Chap. Ill, Section 1, p. 12.

Ibid., Chap. IV, Section 1, p. 13.

4

Gardner, Helen A., "Cent Schools", Proceedings of the Nantucket Historical Association, (July 21, 1908), pp. 42-43.

5

Cubberley, Elwood P., History of Education. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1920, p. 448.

Ibid.

6

s J

Wright, Helen E., "William Mitchell of See No. 4 p. 44.

Nantucket",

Proceedings .... (1949), p.

34.

Dudley, Myron S., "Letter of Jonathan Belcher to George Bunker of Nantucket", Pro­ ceedings .... (July 19, 1900), p. 13.

20

JONATHAN TRUMBULL* AND THE NANTUCKET TRADE

BY GLENN WEAVER In the eighteenth century Nantucket was the British Empire's chief source of whale oil. This commodity was always in demand in London, and, because of the profits which could be made in its production, the island's energies were almost entirely directed toward the whaling industry. Consequently, Nantucket's food­ stuffs were always insufficient to her needs and large quantities of provisions had to be imported from the mainland. Indeed, to such an extent did the Nantucketers concentrate on the produc­ tion of oil that in 1730 their twenty-five sailing vessels were all engaged in whaling rather than in shipping.1 Almost from the beginning of the whaling industry on Nantucket the islanders had depended upon Boston merchants to gather the oil on Nan­ tucket, ship it to England, and, in return, bring English manu­ factures and Connecticut or western Massachusetts provisions to the island.

At this same time Connecticut was the largest colonial pro­ ducer of barreled provisions: beef, pork, and flour. As foodstuffs could not legally be sent to England, Connecticut lacked a com­ modity which was saleable on the London market and with which her merchants could pay for the English goods they brought to America. Bostonians were the middle-men so far as both the large-scale whale oil and provisions businesses were concerned, but for Nantucket and Connecticut to develop a direct trade of whale oil for provisions might have gone along way toward solv­ ing the economic problems of each. In 1730 Connecticut had some forty-two ships, most of which were involved in a flourishing trade with the West Indies.2 Occasionally a Connecticut vessel ventured to the Far-Away Island and exchanged a small cargo of Connecticut provisions for an equally small cargo of oil, but the Nantucket-to-Boston-to-England pattern prevailed until about

1

2

Jonathan Trumbull (1710-1785) was Governor of Connecticut from 1769 to 1784.

John R. Spears, The Story of the American Merchant Marine (New York 1910), p. 59.

Oscar Zeichner, Connecticut's Years of Controversy (Williamsburg Va [1949]), p. 41.

JONATHAN TRUMBULL AND THE NANTUCKET TRADE

21

1745 when Nantucket vessels successfully transported whale oil directly to England and brought back iron, hardware, sailcloth, and hemp,3 thus demonstrating that Nantucket's prosperity was not wholly dependent upon Boston.

New ships built on Nantucket were put to carrying oil to London, but Nantucket's direct trade with England was not a perfect solution of her economic problems. Additional shipping and more vessels did nothing to increase the island's food sup­ ply. The rising price of oil on the London market,4 however, permitted the oil producers to make arrangements with whomso­ ever they pleased for transportation and to buy their provisions on an open market. Much of the food sent to Nantucket via Bos­ ton had been produced in Connecticut, and Connecticut barreled meat was regarded, during the eighteenth century, as the finest which was produced in the colonies.5 In the winter of 1750-1751 Jonathan Trumbull, Connecticut's provisions magnate, had a surplus of Connecticut foodstuffs on his hands. Trumbull was, at the time, a member of the Connecti­ cut firm of Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin, and as the Connecti­ cut men had just disposed of a cargo of English goods which had come to the colony on the Friendship and they were awaiting the arrival of a second vessel, the snow Sarah* in which they had a principal interest, the affairs of this partnership had reached a standstill.6 As it was planned to send both vessels to England in the spring, a cargo had to be gathered for the return voyage.

Provisions could not be sent to England, and, as there was certain 3 4

5

6

Obed Macy, The History of Nantucket (Boston, 1835), pp. 51-52.

The price per tun of eight barrels of oil in London averaged £7 in 1730, £18 in 1742, £14 in 1743, £10 in 1748, £21 in 1753. Elmo Paul Hohman, The American Whaleman (New York, 1928), p. 31.C.f. William B. Weeden, Economic and Social History of New England (2 vols., Boston and New York, 1890), II, 654.

See the present writer's Industry in an Agrarian Economy: Early Eighteenth Century Connecticut, The Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin, XIX (July, 1954), 86-87.

For a description of Trumbull's operations see the present writer's Jon­ athan Trumbull: Connecticut's Merchant Magistrate (Hartford, Conn., 1956), pp. 31-59.

A "snow" was a square-rigged cargo vessel common in the trans-oceanic trade of the eighteenth century.

22

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

to be a delay in sailing, the cargo could not consist of perishables of any sort. Nantucket seemed to provide a happy issue. Trum­ bull, therefore, wrote to Sylvanus Hussey, a Nantucket Quaker, regarding a regular exchange of commodities. Hussey, although he was by no means the largest operator on Nantucket, promised to furnish oil of such a quality as to suit the London trade, and that in considerable quantity.7 Perhaps not altogether to the advantage of Williams, Trum­ bull, and Pitkin, it was not until mid-summer that final arrange­ ments were made with Captain Edward Bacon to transport the goods.8 In September, Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin received their first shipment from Nantucket, 7,000 gallons of oil,9 and the following month a quantity of beef, pork, butter, and lard was sent to Nantucket.10 The Connecticut merchants had great plans for the whaleoil business. At the time he delivered the provisions to Nantucket, Captain Bacon had been instructed by his clients in Connecticut to propose a partnership in the oil trade with both Hussey and Joseph Rotch, the largest oil producer on Nantucket.11 The plan, however, was not acceptable to the islanders. Rotch had no need for a mainland connection for he had no need for additional capital and no desire to enter an agreement whereby he may become as de­ pendent upon Conncticut as he had formerly been upon Boston.

Neither was Hussey receptive to the proposal of partnership.

Although he was able to dispose of his Connecticut meat at a handsome profit, the cargo arrived later than he had expected it and Captain Bacon had been slow in taking the whale oil off his hands.12 Furthermore, Hussey was incensed that his competitor, Rotch, should have been permitted to come into the picture at all Sylvanus Hussey to Jonathan Trumbull, February 20, 1750/51. Trumbull Mercantile Correspondence, Box 289 Connecticut Historical Society, Hart­ ford, Connecticut. Hereafter cited as TMC, 289, CHS. 8 Jonathan Trumbull to Silvanus Hussey, July 24, 1751, ibid.; Jonathan Trumbull to Edward Bacon, July 26, 1751, ibid.

9 Silvanus Hussey to [Joseph Pitkin], September 7, 1751, ibid.

10 Jonathan Trumbull to Silvanus Hussey, October 30, 1751, ibid.

11 Edward Bacon to Jonathan Trumbull, December 23, 1751, ibid.

12 Silvanus Hussey to Jonathan Trumbull, November 29, 1751, ibid.; Jon­ athan Trumbull to Silvanus Hussey, July 24, 1751, ibid.

7

JONATHAN TRUMBULL AND THE NANTUCKET TRADE

23

since it was he (Hussey) who had made the arrangements for the Nantucket-Connecticut trade in the first place. That Rotch got a portion of the cargo was taken by Hussey as not only a con­ spiracy between Rotch and the Connecticut provisions men, but also as a reflection upon his business acumen and an indication of Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin's doubts as to his ability to dispose of the whole cargo. It took a good deal of reassuring to restore the injured pride of the Quaker whaler, but, with his pride finally salved, Hussey continued to supply oil via Captain Bacon's sloop.13 Joseph Pitkin, Trumbull's partner, found the whale oil bus­ iness so attractive that he soon purchased an interest in a Con­ necticut ship built in Middletown for the whale fishery. Trumbull was invited to participate in this ill-fated venture, but he wisely declined,14 preferring to deal with the experienced whalers of Nantucket.

Oil continued to arrive in Connecticut from Nantucket. In mid-winter 1751-1752, the Sea Horse, Captain Andrew Burr, master, sailed from New London on a winter crossing. Not wish­ ing to wait the arrival of the Sarah, which was then in Antigua where she had been driven by contrary winds, the Connecticut partners decided to venture their entire stock of oil on the Sea Horse.15 Fortunately, Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin had insured this cargo, for near the end of the voyage the Sea Horse ran into a severe storm and the Captain, in order to lighten the load, threw overboard one hundred and fifty barrels of oil belonging to the company.16 When the Sea Horse reached London only one hundred and twenty-six barrels of oil remained. Samuel Sparrow, to whom the oil had been consigned, was able to dispose of it at from £16 to £20 per tun,17 but it soon became apparent that Hussey had un13 14

lo

16

17

[Jonathan Trumbull] to Silvanus Hussey, January 7, 1751/52, ibid.

Joseph Pitkin to Jonathan Trumbull, March, 1751, Trumbull Correspond­ ence, Personal and Private, Box 290, CHS. [Jonathan Trumbull] to [Samuel] Sparrow [December, 1751], TMC, 289, CHS. Jonathan Trumbull to Samuel Sparrow, March 9, 1752, ibid.; Samuel Sparrow to Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin, February 24, 1752, ibid.

This was probably about the going price. Hohman says that in 1753 the price was £21. The American Whaleman, p. 31.

24

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

loaded his inferior oil on the inexperienced Connecticut provisions traders. The London purchasers complained that the oil was of a bad color and of foul odor, and one soapmaker was loud in his complaint that the inferior oil had ruined a large batch of soap.18 With considerable embarrassment, Sparrow warned his Colonial correspondents to send only "straw-colored, thin and fine" oil. He also advised them to send no more oil as the London market was so glutted that oil of any quality would be sold only with the greatest difficulty.19 But the warning arrived in Con­ necticut too late, and Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin had already bought a large quantity of oil from Nantucket, and again of a poor quality, before Sparrow's letter arrived.20 In April of 1752 the long-expected Sarah reached New Lon­ don harbor. Trumbull and his partners were still unaware of their innocence of the oil trade — Sparrow's letter probably did not arrive in Connecticut until late summer or early fall — and it was their intention to send the Sarah to Nantucket loaded with provisions and then sail directly for England with oil.

Whether Rotch feared the outcome of a battle of the giants — provisions magnates vs. oil mogul — he used every device in his power to keep the Sarah out of Nantucket harbor. He not only pointed out either real or contrived impracticabilities in bringing a vessel of the Sarah's type into the harbor, but he also offered his service in collecting oil on Nantucket for shipment on Captain Bacon's sloop.21 Rotch had thus seized the initiative, and while Hussey was kept waiting for Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin to remove his oil,22 the more affluent competitor doubtlessly gained an advantage by exploiting his other shipping connections. Even Hussey was able to dispose of his oil in other quarters, and when the Sarah is Samuel Sparrow to Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin, May 28, 1752, TMC, 289, CHS. 19 Samuel Sparrow to Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin, May 19, 1752, ibid.

20 Joseph Coit to Jonathan Trumbull, March 20, 1752, ibid.

21 Joseph Rotch to Jonathan Trumbull, May 28, 1752, ibid.

22 Silvanus Hussey to Jonathan Trumbull & Company, June 10, 1752, ibid.; Samuel Wade to Jonathan Trumbull, June 15, 1752, ibid.; Joseph Pitkin to Jonathan Trumbull, Nov. 4, 1752, ibid.

JONATHAN TRUMBULL AND THE NANTUCKET TRADE

25

reached Nantucket in December, Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin received from Hussey a supply much smaller than they had anticipated, for the Quaker whaler had learned that it was wise to sell to the Connecticut people only such oil as he could not dispose of to other dealers.23 For another two years Hussey's Connecticut trade continued in this fashion. In July, 1754, Hussey decided that he had had enough shabby treatment from Trumbull and as the accounts of the two balanced at that time, Hussey closed his books so far as his account was concerned.24 Hussey was glad to end the correspondence and, so, too, probably, was Trumbull. Hussey, to be sure, had dumped his in­ ferior oil on Trumbull and his associates, but Trumbull also dis­ posed of his less choice provisions on Nantucket.26 For some time Trumbull had been, to say the least, indifferent to the Nantucket trade. Since the fall of 1752 Williams, Trumbull, and Pitkin had been exploiting a new market, Nova Scotia. Joshua Mauger of Halifax was involved in all sorts of ventures including victualling the ships of the British Navy and for a while Halifax rather than Nantucket became Trumbull's dumping ground, as Mauger would take, albeit with protest, all the provisions Trumbull would send him.26 For Trumbull it was well that his dabblings in whale oil came at an end at this time. The French and Indian War had virtually ruined the oil trade and although prices did not drop remarkably on the London market, 27 it was difficult for those who remained in the trade, to market their oil. With the end of the war, however, prices remained high, perhaps largely be­ cause of a price war then being waged between the Rotches and a syndicate organized by Thomas Hancock of Boston whereby the

Edward Bacon to Jonathan Trumbull, December 15, 1752, ibid.-, Joseph Pitkin to Jonathan Trumbull, December 15, 1752, ibid.-, Joseph Pitkin to Jonathan Trumbull, November 4, 1752.

-4 Silvanus Hussey to Jonathan Trumbull, July 19, 1754.

28 In the above cited letter Hussey complained that he was having trouble in disposing of the last shipment of Trumbull's meat.

-6 G. Weaver, Jonathan Trumbull, p. 52.

-' The price per tun of eight barrels fell from £21 in 1753 to £18 in 1756 to £17 15s. in 1762 to £16 lis. in 1765. Not until 1767 did the price rise to £18. By 1770, however, the price had soared to £40. E. P. Hohman, The American Whaleman, p. 21.

23

26

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Nantucket firm of Folger and Gardiner gathered the oil on the island, while Hancock and Company shipped it to England where Barnard and Company of London put it to the English market.

Prices rose rapidly28 but perhaps few persons off Nantucket knew the real reason for the boom. Trumbull's son, Joseph, then in England on business for Trumbull's new partnership of Trum­ bull, Fitch, and Trumbull, attributed the high prices to the poor year of the English and Dutch whalers. Consequently he urged his father to return to the oil business and even to send out several ships on whaling voyages.29 For a year Trumbull watched from the sidelines as the Rotches and Hancocks fought their price war. By the summer of 1764 Trumbull could resist no longer. Two vessels belonging to the newer Trumbull combination, the sloop Alliance and the sloop Seaflower, were soon devoted entirely to carrying whale oil. There seems, further, to be some reason to believe that Trum­ bull had some direct interest in a whaling venture in either Nan­ tucket or Martha's Vineyard.30 The oil trade with Martha's Vine­ yard failed to prosper,31 but on Nantucket the company of Paul Bunker, Nathaniel Macy, and Joseph Swain exchanged large quantities of oil for beef, pork, cheese, butter, flour, and other foodstuffs.32 Indeed, by the fall of 1765, Trumbull's operations on Nantucket had become so extensive that his son, Jonathan, Junior, was sent to the island to conduct the affairs of the house of Trumbull, Fitch, and Trumbull. Jonathan, Junior, loaded the snow Neptune with oil, insured ship and cargo for £1,500, and sent the vessel (which belonged to Trumbull, Fitch, and Trum-

28 Herbert S. Allen, John Hancock, Patriot in Purple (New York, 1948), pp. 75-76; W. T. Baxter, The House of Hancock: Business in Boston 1774-1775 (Cambridge, Mass., 1945), pp. 168-174.

29 Joseph Trumbull to [Eleazar] Fitch and Jonathan Trumbull, August 16, 1764, Trumbull Correspondence, Personal and Private, Box 290, CHS; Joseph Trumbull to Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., December 24, 1763, ibid.

3° Lemuel Butler to Jonathan Trumbull, June 1, 1764, TMC 289, CHS; Jon­ athan Allen to Jonathan Trumbull, July, 1764, ibid. Butler was writing from Long. 70° 20" w. and Allen from Chillmark.

31 Jonathan Allen to Jonathan Trumbull, October 16, 1764, ibid.

32 Bunker, Macy, and Swain to Jonathan Trumbull, October 30, 1764, ibid.

JONATHAN TRUMBULL AND THE NANTUCKET TRADE

27

bull) to London in mid-December.33 Four days out from Nan­ tucket the Neptune sank.34 The sinking of the Neptune was just another step on Jonathan Trumbull's road to financial ruin. Although he was able to re­ cover most of this loss from the underwriters of the insurance, other losses followed which were disastrous, and by the follow­ ing summer Trumbull was bankrupt. His last order for provisions from Nantucket was from Nathaniel Macy of February 25, 1767.

Macy requested "20 bb. pork, 20 bb. flour, 6 bb. Cornell, 500 lb. cheas, 2 firkins hogs' lard, and 2 dozen good brums."35 The order was never filled.

33 34 35

Lane and Booth to Jonathan Trumbull, December 27, 1765, ibid.

Lane and Booth to Jonathan Trumbull, February 12, 1766, ibid.

Macy to Trumbull, February 25, 1767, ibid.

(Editor's note — Professor Weaver is presently assistant profes­ sor of history at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. He re­ ceived his Ph.D. from Yale in 1953 and has published numerous books and articles dealing with Eighteenth Century Colonial American History.)

28

The Unitarian Church Celebrates 150 Years

BY THE REVEREND JAMES HAMMOND The Second Congregational Meeting House Society (Unitar­ ian) was incorporated on No­ \ vember the ninth, eighteen hundred and nine.

During the year 1959 the members of the Church made preparations for an appropriate celebration.

The historical records were catalogued and excerpts from these records were compiled and edited by the pastor and printed in pamphlet form for distribu­ tion to all members of the Soci­ ety and their friends. Several members took part in various ways to aid the program.

The Church Clerk, Mr. Tell Berna, procured an enlarged print of the Constitution which was framed and hung in the main auditorium. He also obtained copies of the seating arrange­ ments and a list of all ministers who had served the Church since its incorporation.

Extensive alterations and improvements were made in the Church. A new carpet for the main sanctuary was purchased and the pews covered.

An exact replica of the Church made by Ning Der, in 1939, who was then thirteen years of age, was on display in the vesti­ bule together with show cases containing historic data and papers which were written one hundred and fifty years ago.

The minister, the Rev. Hammond, and the Board of Trustees engaged the services of special speakers at stated intervals throughout the summer months. Among those was the Rev. Richard S. Hasty, President of the Channing Conference of which this Society is a member; the Rev. Robert Killam, of Cleveland, Ohio, and the Rev. Dana Greeley, President of the American Unitarian Association.

THE UNITARIAN CHURCH CELEBRATES 150 YEARS

29

During the summer the Church doors were opened to the many members of organizations celebrating the 300th anni­ versary of the settlement of Nantucket.

The Annual Meeting of the Nantucket Historical Association was held in the main auditorium, and sessions of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. There were many lectures on a variety of subjects given here and colored moving pictures of trips around the world as well as of Nantucket past and present, all attracting a large number of interested individuals.

On November 9, 1959, the anniversary of the date of in­ corporation, the Church members and their many friends gath­ ered at a supper to commemorate the occasion.

The model of the Church was appropriately decorated, the vestry made attractive with profuse floral decorations, copies of the pamphlet giving the history of the Church were distributed.

The pastor gave a short discourse, the Rev. Bruce Koerner, (pas­ tor of the Methodist Church) offered the Blessing before the Harvest supper. Later, pictures of Nantucket of twenty years ago were shown by Mrs. John Stackpole.

Many members of the Society assisted with this celebration, among them Miss Josephine Congdon, who is also Treasurer of the Church, was chairman of the reception committee and was assisted by Mrs. Hammond. Mrs. George Oldham was chairman of the supper committee, Mrs. Charles Bell, and Mrs. Lester Ayers served with her. Mrs. Byron Coggins and Mrs. Augustus Bentley arranged the decorations. Other members of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Robert Congdon, Chairman, Mr. Tell Berna, Mrs. Sydney Coffin, Mr. Byron Coggins, Mr. Charles Varin, all assisted in making the celebration appropriate and memorable.

As Nantucket has passed its 300th milestone, The Second Congregational Meeting House Society has marked its 150th year with the bell in the Watch Tower sending out chimes to mark the hours for all to hear.

30

A Twentieth Century Sketch of the Island Steamboat Line

BY NORMAN P. GIFFIN In recollections of the island steamboat line, one is apt first to recall to mind the various steamers on which he may have traveled.

The steamers owned by the New Bedford, Martha's Vine­ yard, and Nantucket Steamboat Company in 1900 were: the Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Gay Head. They were all wooden, paddle wheel steamers with the familiar walking beam overhead. Also each had the open forward deck. The Martha's Vineyard was built in 1,871, the Nantucket in 1886, and the Gay Head in 1891.

In the fall of 1902 the Uncatena, named for one of the small islands near Woods Hole, was added to the fleet. She was also propelled by paddle wheels, but was the first to have a steel hull.

She was built to serve the Vineyard primarily, and replaced the old Monohansett which had been sold in 1900.

The last vessel to be built by the old Steamboat Company was the Sankaty which made her maiden trip in the spring of 1911. The Sankaty was driven by a single screw, the first propeller steamer in the Nantucket service.

Built primarily for the Nantucket run, it was intended that she would replace the Nantucket. In the fall of 1911 the Line was sold to the New Haven Railroad, and the following spring the steamers Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket were sold

THE ISLAND STEAMBOAT LINE

31

to New York parties. For the next eleven years the Gay Head, Uncatena, and Sankaty furnished the service on the line.

In the early 1920's the island line was absorbed into the New England Steamship Company which operated the Sound Lines of the New Haven Railroad.

The first of a fleet of four steamers to be built by the New England Steamship Company was the Islander which came out in 1923. Her hull was substantially on the lines of the Gay Head, and her hull length and beam were the same. She was single screw. Both her saloon and hurricane decks extended her full length. On the quarter deck aft where on the old side wheel steamers had been located the "ladies" cabin was the lunch room.

On the hurricane deck, forward of the stack, was a texas, and above that was the pilot house and bridge. The Islander replaced the Gay Head which also went to New York to end her days.

The Nobska was built in 1925 to replace the Sankaty which burned at her pier in New Bedford in 1924. The Nobska was a sister ship to the Islander, and they were as alike as two peas in pod except for very minor details.

The Uncatena had seen hard service, and had also become obsolete with the increased demand for freight deck space for the automobile traffic. The Neiv Bedford was brought out in 1928, and the Uncatena retired. The New Bedford's hull was identical with those of the Islander and Nobska, but the entire main deck was used for freight with the exception of a very small spaceway in the stern where there was a small foyer for passengers, a small baggage room, and the men's washroom, and between them the stairway to the saloon deck. This was the first vessel with this deck arrangement to be operated on the Line.

At this time the names of the Islander and Nobska were changed to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, respectively, to correspond with the names of the islands served; also the names of the three steamers were the same as the name of the Line: New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamboat Line.

Business continued to increase; so in 1929 the Naushon, the queen of the fleet, was added. She was the largest and finest steamer ever to operate to the islands. Incidentally, it was the last vessel to be built for the New England Steamship Company for any of its various lines.

The Naushon was 250 feet in length, 60 feet beam over the

32

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

guards, and her draft was 9 feet, 6 inches, the same as the other steamers. She had the same freight deck arrangement as the Neiv Bedford. On the hurricane deck aft was a well-appointed lounge.

Also this steamer had 36 staterooms fitted for overnight use, every room had hot and cold running water. She had twin screws, and was somewhat faster than the other boats. It was planned to use her on the New London Line to New York in the winter, and she actually did cover that service for one or two seasons.

Following the advent of the Naushon came the depression, and World War II. During the summer of 1942 both the Naushon and New Bedford were taken by the Government who turned them over to the British. They were taken overseas, and saw service in the English Channel and North Sea. After the war they re­ turned to the States, but were not brought back to the Vineyard Line.

During the war the Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket were the only boats on the Line. The heavy summer traffic taxed the capacity of the boats to the limit, and there were many extra shuttle trips between Oak Bluffs and Woods Hole to care for the crowds, and the cars.

With the abandonment in the summer of 1937 of the Sound Lines, our Vineyard Line was all there was left of the New Eng­ land Steamship Company. After the war the company was faced with the problem of getting new boats, and labor conditions were not to their liking; so in the fall of 1945 the New Haven sold the Line to a Boston group who organized the Massachusetts Steamship Lines to operate the business.

The one outstanding innovation of their regime was the inauguration of ferry service between Vineyard Haven and Woods Hole.

The freight decks of the Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket were enlarged by removing the smoking room and moving the men's washroom to the saloon deck. The auto carrying capacity of each steamer was thus increased by four cars.

In 1947 the Massachusetts Steamship Lines bought a sur­ plus LSM from the government, and operated her on the Line during that and the following summer. In 1947 she ran with a minimum of conversion, but that winter there was considerable work done to make passenger accommodations. She did not prove a success, and in the fall of 1948 she was sold.

THE ISLAND STEAMBOAT LINE

33

After two years of operation the owners of the Massachusetts outfit were looking for a chance to unload. No private parties being interested, the General Court enacted legislation creating the New Bedford, Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard, and Nan­ tucket Steamship Authority in 1948. They purchased the Line from the Massachusetts Steamship Lines, and commenced opera­ tion in May, 1949.

One of the first pressing problems was to get a replacement for the ferry Hackensack operating between the Vineyard and Woods Hole. The present ferry Islander was built and went into service in the spring of 1950. Also that same winter of 1949 and 1950, the Nantucket had a very extensive face-lifting. Practically the entire main deck was set aside for freight, and after freight gangways were installed. The main stairway to the saloon deck went up from a small foyer way in the stern. Leading off this foyer on the port side was the men's washroom, and on the star­ board side was a baggage room with a door leading to the freight deck.

A new texas with much more commodious accommodations for the officers was built on the hurricane deck, and a new pilot house with the captain's room just aft was built atop the texas.

With the increased deck space on the Nantucket there still were periods during the summer when the two steamers could not handle all the cars that were offered for Nantucket.

The truck traffic to the Vineyard was proving popular. The Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket with insufficient headroom could not handle these big trucks and trailers. A small vessel which could handle two or three semi-trailers named the Searoad was built and operated between Hyannis and Nantucket during 1955 and 1956. It proved quite popular with considerable loss of traffic to the Authority.

The Martha's Vineyard was getting old; her freight capacity was exceedingly limited, and there was definite demand for a ferry-type operation on the Nantucket run. After two years a-building, the new Nantucket was completed and put into service in April, 1957. She is an entirely different type of vessel from any of her predecessors. Her length is 229 feet overall, and beam 60 feet over the guards. Her power consists of two 2000 horse­ power Skinner Unaflow steam engines, and her cruising speed is about 15 knots. There are two engine room fidleys with 13 foot headroom between them to accommodate large trucks and trail-

34

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

ers. On either side there is about 7 foot headroom with a mezza­ nine deck above. On each side of the main deck, well forward, is a side port, full height and wide. The main deck at both bow and stern is shaped to fit a transfer bridge in a ferry slip. On the mezzanine deck is a lounge and five staterooms on each side.

There is also on this deck a small outside promenade aft with a gangway for loading passengers.

Above the mezzanine is a full-length saloon deck, open at both ends. The lunch counter is at the after end of the saloon with tables on each side. The Purser's office is on the starboard side. The passengers' washroom facilities are located amidships.

On the hurricane deck is located a well-appointed texas with officers' quarters, and above that a pilot house and bridge.

The traffic pattern of the Line is decidedly seasonal. The islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are very popular summer resorts. For eight months of the year business is very slack, yet the steamboat line must maintain facilities and equip­ ment enough to care for the peak summer load. The advent of the automobile has completely changed the method of handling freight; everything is now on wheels. In 1900 there were very few auto­ mobiles. Now they take up by far the largest percentage of the deck space on our steamers.

(Editor's note — Mr. Giffin is a "native" Nantucketer who knows the steamboats from long years of experience and association with the lines, (which he continues), and since the problems have greatly increased, are more controversial, this sketch seems to be especially pertinent.)

35

WILLIAM H. TRIPP 1880—1959

The recent death of Mr. William H. Tripp takes one of Nantucket's good friends of many years, and not only a good friend but sincere and ardent worker for the Nantucket Histor­ ical Association from our midst. His home was in New Bedford, but as he often remarked, his "second" home was in Nantucket.

Mr. Tripp was a historian and author of recognized merit, and an expert amateur photographer. He was a member of the Board of Editorial Advisors of The American Neptune, and an Associate Member of the internationally-famous Explorer's Club.

From early adolescent years, when he played about the New Bedford docks and the old whaling hulks there, Mr. Tripp had a never-waning interest in whaling and all things pertaining thereto. After he became an official of a New Bedford bank, a position he held for many years, he continued this interest in and study of whaling and in 1925, he obtained a leave of absence from his banking position, and as guest of the captain, sailed on the schooner Manta to the Hatteras grounds. During this voyage he took more than two hundred and fifty pictures. Many of these pictures he showed during two lectures which he gave as one of the speakers at the Whaling Seminars which the Nantucket His­ torical Association sponsored as part of Nantucket's 300th An­ niversary Celebration.

Mr. Tripp was the last Master of the Charles W. Morgan, the last of the square-rigged whaling ships, when it was towed from Round Hill to be enshrined at Mystic Seaport in 1941.

Mr. Tripp, after retiring from banking, was for many years Curator of the Bourne Whaling Museum in New Bedford, and the Old Dartmouth Historical Society. He was known and re­ spected by thousands of persons who had visited there and con­ sulted him even as he was known and loved by many Nantucketers who counted him as friend and consulted him frequently. His stories of whaling adventures will be remembered and retold by present and future generations. His courtesy, his gracious man­ ner, his never-failing, accurate knowledge of the sea and whaling, which he gave of freely to all interested, will be sorely missed but always remembered thankfully. Above all, Mr. Tripp was a person of character and kindness never to be forgotten.

36

A Letter

<5 4

( ,

'//< 1

...

<>f-

.Am •

&/•

»

Nantucket April thll Dear Cousin Sarah You scarcely had got out of sight When I commenced this ditty But when I closed it was as night And you in Bedford City.

Now sad the fate of her who is The Wife of Capt Horner With all the fortitude she has She some times is a goner.

The Starbucks have begun a ship They say for Captain Veeder And for a Mate they seem to think They'll try for Samuel Meader.

They say the Henery they have given To Alexander Coffin — Its Coffin that to Sconset lives To whom I just had reference. sj:

He • *

Last Sunday I to Polpis went You know to have a meeting For Mister Bradford he has gone And so we have no preaching

A LETTER

37

I spent the day with Phebe Ann Though Lydia was not present We took a walk and on the Whole I found it very pleasant.

(At this point the author lapsed into prose for a page)

Sarah, last Saturday night the news came of the death of Henery Ellis second mate of the Rambler he was killed by a whale.

It seems worse his being1 so short time from home how uncertain is life. We are here today: and tomorrow like the morning cloud and dew we have past away.

P.S. I was much pleased with your interesting epistle. I think from your description of Joseph's farm it must be very pleasant and I want to see the poetry comeing, Sarah. ***** Give my best regards to Elizabeth ***** remember me to Brother and Sister Wise ***** I have Brother Wise minature before me on the table I took it from sister Worth's last evening. ***** P.S. Lydia has gone out to Phebe Ann to help her paper — Charlotte seems to be getting along nicely ***** My best regards to Joseph and Phil and family ***** Do not let anyone see this letter for I have written in such haste ***** Now I am as when you left A Widdow all forlorn —.

(The letter is unsigned, the writer unknown.)

(Editor's Note — Long letters in rhyme carried news of the town as well as the family in the 1800's. This one is typical. Written in mid-1800, the exact date is uncertain.

Cousin Sarah, to whom the letter is addressed, was the wife of Captain David Bunker and the great-grandmother of Mr. Paul Blackmur of Boston and 'Sconset, and an interested member of the Nantucket Historical Association.)

38

Membership List (Continued from October, 1959, issue) Schaeffler, Miss Lizbeth, 78 Irving Place, New Rochelle, N. Y. Schuchter, Mrs. Jeanne M., 170 Elm St., New Rochelle, N. Y. Sherman, Mary H., 5 Milk St., Nantucket, Mass.

Sizemore, Mrs. Mildred, 300 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, N. Y. Smith, Emma P., 45 Popham Road, Scarsdale, N. Y. Snow, Curtis H., Topsham, Maine Stackpole, Mrs. John, Nantucket, Mass.

Stackpole, David R., Box 434, R. #1, Kingston, N. Y. Stanley, Mr. Irving, Centre St., Nantucket, Mass.

Stanley, Mrs. Irving, Centre St., Nantucket, Mass.

Stanisfer, Mrs. C. M., 39 Oak St., Hyannis, Mass.

Starbuck, Carlton W., 235% 18th Ave., S. E., St. Petersburg, Fla. Starbuck, Mrs. Carlton W., 235% 18th Ave., S. E., St. Petersburg, Fla. Starbuck, James C., 51 Main St., Somers, Conn.

Staples, Mrs. Anne F., 3210 Ogate, Eugene, Oregon Steere, Mrs. Alice, 394 Ten Rod Road, No. Kingston, R. I. Squires, Mrs. E. J., Pepperell, Mass.

Squires, Miss Violet Faith, 67 Morton St., New York 14, N. Y. Stone, Mrs. R. R., 1804 Market St., Wilmington, N. C. Terry, Herbert I., Eel Point, Nantucket, Mass.

Terry, Harriet Lyon, Eel Point, Nantucket, Mass.

Terry, Roger Lyon, Eel Point, Nantucket, Mass.

Thompson, Mr. S. J., Glendale, Ohio Tooker, Miss Elva, 24 So. Court St., Providence, R. I. Tower, Mrs. George, 134 Rockland Ave., Larchmont, N. Y. Urquhart, Mrs. F. G., 209 Mountain Ave., Montclair, N. J. Waine, Miss Roberta, 55 Orange St., Nantucket, Mass.

White, Mrs. D. S., 730 Woodland Ave., Van Wert, Ohio White, Stuart, 730 Woodland Ave., Van Wert, Ohio Whittier, Carl, Western Ave., No., Topsham, Maine Whittier, Mary Lida, Western Ave., No. Topsham, Maine Whittier, Mrs. Carl, Western Ave., No. Topsham, Maine.

Willars, Mrs. K. K., 2731—31 St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Williams, Mrs. Robert, The Rock, Williamsburg, R. F. D., Mass.

Wolfe, Mrs. Herbert Jay, Box 347 AA—Rt. 1, Beaufort, So. Carolina

Legacies and Bequests Membership in our Association proves that you are interested in its program for the preservation of Nantucket's famed heritage and its illustrious past, which so profoundly affected the develop­ ment of our country. You can perpetuate that interest by naming the Association to receive a legacy or bequest under your will which will help to insure the Association carrying on in the future. Counsel advises that legacies or bequests to the Nan­ tucket Historical Association are allowable deductions under the Federal Estate Tax law.

Legacies will be used for general or specific purposes as di­ rected by the donor. A sample form of bequest may read as follows: FORM OF BEQUEST "I give, devise, and bequeath to the Nantucket Historical Association, a corporation duly in­ corporated by the Commonwealth of Massachu­ setts, and located in the Town of Nantucket, in said Commonwealth, the sum of dollars."

Bequests may be made also in real estate, bonds, stocks, books, paintings, or any objects having historical value in which event a brief description of the same should be inserted instead of a sum of money.

Please send all communications to Miss Ethel Anderson, Secretary, P. O. Box 1016, Nantucket, Massachusetts. Office, Fair Street Museum.

"UNCLE PILLICK" Old On He On

Uncle Pillick he built him a boat, the ba-ack side of Nantucket Point, rolled up his trousers and set her afloat the ba-ack side of Nantucket Point.

(A Song, popular in 1750, from "The Nantucket Scrap Basket")