Historic Nantucket, January 1962, Vol. 9 No. 3

Historic Nantucket

Photo by Bill Haddon

This new year, 1962, sees another landmark disappear. Smith's Point Road at Madaket is gone. Tides have taken away the road, dunes, and land where several houses stood.

JANUARY, 1962

Published Quarterly by

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, George W. Jones.

Vice-Presidents, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, Burnham N. Dell, Stokeley W. Morgan, W. Ripley Nelson, Albert Egan, Jr., Mrs. William Mather.

Secretary-Treasurer, Miss Ethel Anderson.

Auditor, Ormonde F. Ingall.

Councillors, George W. Jones, Chairman; Robert C. Caldwell, Alma P. Robbins, term expires 1962; Mrs. Joseph King, Mr. Herbert I. Terry, term ex­ pires 1963; Mrs. Francis W. Pease, Mr. H. Errol Coffin, term expires 1964; Alcon Chadwick, Norman P. Giffin, term expires 1965.

Publicity Committee, W. Ripley Nelson, Chairman.

Honorary Curator, Mrs. Nancy S. Adams.

Curator, Mrs. William Mather.

Finance Committee, Albert Egan, Jr., and Alcon Chadwick.

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.

Chairmen of Exhibits, Fair Street Museum, Mrs. William Mather; Whaling Museum, W. Ripley Nelson; Oldest House, Mrs. Francis W. Pease; Old Mill, Robert Caldwell; Old Jail, Oswell Small; 1800 House, Mrs. Joseph King.

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 9

January, 1962

I

No. 3

CONTENTS

Officers of the Nantucket Historical Association

2

Swain's Burnt-Out Polpis Lean-To,

by H. Chandlee Forman

4

Recent Events Briefly Noted

17

Letters of Annie Maria Mitchell, Edited by Mrs. Alice Payne Amey

23

Diary of William C. Folger, Edited by Nancy S. Adams

30

Legacies and Bequests

35

Nantucket Town During Hurricane

36

Historic Nantucket is published quarterly at Nantucket, Massachusetts, by the Nantucket Historical Association. It is sent to Association Members. Extra copeis $.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, 1962, Nantucket Historical Association.

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

5

Swain's Burnt-out Polpis Lean-to

BY II, CHANDLEE FORMAN*

Some sixty years ago there stood in a field across the main road from the old schoolhouse at Polpis, Nantucket, the SwainSevolle-Smith House (Fig. 1). In the past so much misinformation has been written about that dwelling that the following is an at­ tempt to strip the whole subject down to fundamentals and also to restore the building on paper so that wre may see what it was like.

After passing through a condition of decrepitude and desuetude for a number of years, this ancient, wind-blown abode in 1902 succumbed to fire and was completely destroyed.

Polpis, which was called by the Indians "Paotpes," "Podpis," and "Podkis," meaning the divided or branch harbor, since 1676 or 1677 has been a Swain neighborhood. The first English settler there appears to have been John Swain, Sr. (1633-1714), who had an early home in Sherburne, Nantucket, near the "Cove" on the western arm of Hummock Pond. In 1677 the Court granted him liberty to "make up" any part of the creek or run of water near his house at Polpis and gave him the privilege of setting up a fulling mill for his own advantage. By the year 1680 he had purchased from the Indians the neck of land at Polpis on which his habitation stood, and by 1686 had received confirmation of that property from the Governor of New York.

The creek at Polpis near the site of John Swain's seat where the fulling mill stood is still running and is mentioned in the old deeds as Mill Creek or Millbrook Creek.

On March 14, 1711, John Swain, Sr., granted to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Joshua Sevolle or Savalle, a tailor, two acres which are described as "being and lying near the Wind Mill & Fulling Mill at Poatpiss, being the land on which the said Joshua Savalle's house now standeth." When this Swain-SevolleSmith dwelling was constructed has not yet been determined, but we can be certain it was in existence in 1711.

In 1713 John Swain, Sr., granted to his daughter Elizabeth "Copyright 1962 Henry Chandlee Forman.

Dr. Forman, retired college professor of fine arts, has been a member of the American Institute of Architects for 32 years, and is author and editor of nine books. Last summer he edited Underbill's Old Houses on 'Sconsel Fank, the First History of Siasconset, Nantucket Island.

6

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Sevolle a one-eighth share of land, "the part of that land on which my house stands called 'the neck' only excepted and foreprized" — a record which indicates that his own homestead on the "neck" or "Swain's Neck" was not the same building as that of his daugh­ ter and her husband Sevolle.

Further, it is interesting to note that in the deed of 1711 above mentioned from Swain to his daughter and her husband there is described the "new cartway that goeth into that land called the Beach Wood" — evidently the lane which today runs into Beechwood Farm and the Hidden Forest.

In the latter part of the nineteenth century the Swain-Sevolle-Smith dwelling, the cellar hole of which still may be seen on the land of Mr. David Gray, was owned by George Swain, Sr., and his daughter, Mrs. Love Smith, the last occupant before the con­ flagration of 1902. It is to her that we owe the statement that her homestead was constructed in 1704 by John Swain, Sr., for his daughter Elizabeth, who in that year married Joshua Sevolle.

It is to be wondered whether or not this same cottage was the timber-framed house raised in 1704 by the Indians for John Swain, Sr., as related in the "Journal" of that doughty Quaker, Thomas Story. Until more information comes to hand, the date 1704 for the Swain-Sevolle-Smith abode remains merely a guess •— but a good guess at that.

The restoration drawings (Fig. 2) of this building were based on various sources, such as old photographs and drawings, as well as assistance kindly given by Mr. Donald Craig, who has erected in the immediate vicinity of the site in question a very modified reconstruction.

Cfh& StLraLn ~<Se tro Ile-Smith 3Iouse 'PlarL} fiolpJ/anlucxeZ

fT] urni i U| | -W i Fig. 2. Floor Plan and Side Elevation Restored.

14

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

We have been able to trace out four periods of development in the Swain-Sevolle-Smith House, which on the Floor Plan have been called "Phases." The original structure, Phase I, presumably constructed in the "Hangover Medieval" Style of architecture — that is to say, the persistence of the Medieval Style in,to the eighteenth century — comprised simply a Great Room or "Hall" sixteen feet by twenty in size and loft above (Fig. 3). There was a fireplace of eight-foot span, the usual massive posts and beams, and a little entry beside the fireplace. Access to the garret was probably by ladder.

The second phase, No. II, saw the dwelling transformed into a lean-to with long "catslide" roof at the back, thereby changing the house into ani example of the Transitional Style (c. 1680-c.

1730) — the intermediary style of architecture between Medieval and Georgian. In the lean-to the back door (Fig. 4) was placed exactly opposite the earlier rear entranceway, and the summer beams were extended from the Great Room across the little "aisle" or "cell" room at the back. Before we proceed further, it should be explained that a lean-to or "salt-box" actually possesses little rear "cells" or "aisles" — derived originally in England from church aisles, which were additionis to the nave of the parish church. Such small back chambers were a distinctive mark of the Transition.

In the aisle room of the Swain-Sevolle-Smith dwelling there was a little staircase with winders which shows in the drawing (Fig. 5) made on September 7, 1885, by Collin Campbell Cooper.

Then some time during the mid- or late eighteenth century Phase III developed by a wing tacked onto the East gable-end. In Wyer's photograph of 1881 (Fig. 1) this addition is the one fur­ thest from the viewer, and its roof line was a lean-to like that of the Transitional house.

About 1800 another addition, Phase IV, was attached to the chimney or West end, and carried a symmetrical gable (Fig. 6).

The Great Room was par excellence, the feature of the whole place. It had three great summers or girders, roughly 12 x 14 inches in size, with crude chamfers or bevelled edges. Set paral­ lel to the fireplace as is customary on Nantucket, the beams were supported by gunstock or flared posts and were mortised into the wall plates. Between the summers ran small joists in the usual manner (Fig. 3). The great fireplace possessed a cooking oven in the back wall which was probably an addition when the fire­ place was turned into a back-to-back one about the year 1800, as

SWAIN'S BURNT-OUT POLPIS LEAN-TO

15

shown on our Floor Plan (Fig. 2). In Victorian times wallpaper imitations of Delft tiles (Fig. 7) were glued to the sides and top of the fireplace.

The little back aisle or cell was about eight-and-a-half feet wide and nineteen long. Under the staircase was a small closet (Fig. 5) for hanging oilskins, sou'westers, boots, and the like.

Beneath the East addition was a boulder cellar approximately eleven feet square, access to which probably was by trap door in the first floor and a stepladder, since no signs of an outside cellarway are evident in the present ruin in Mr. David Gray's field.

Between the siding and the plaster in the exterior walls of the original house was a filling of clay and straw. According to accounts some of the chimney bricks were 10 by 4% by 21/2 inches — a large size by today's standards. In color they ranged from dark blue to light red. There were also small Dutch bricks, red and very hard.

As in many Nantucket buildings the chimney stack was an ell in plan, indicating the use of multiple flues. Off the West end of the edifice extended a range of outbuildings (Figs. 8, 9), all of which have disappeared.

It would seem that Henry Barnard Worth in "Nantucket Lands and Land Owners" (1906, p. 225) and Kenneth Duprey in "Old Houses on Nantucket" (1959, p. 70) were wrong in calling this dwelling the "John Swain House," which, as has been shown, was distinctly another habitation. It is interesting that Worth listed (pp. 224, 225) what he designated as "facts," as follows: "the center section [was] the oldest" — when only a portion of the middle section of the Swain-Sevolle-Smith House has been found to be the original dwelling; "the original house was a leanto" — which it was not, as has been shown; and "the house rested on the ground without cellar or wall" — whereas a part of the structure had a cellar, which can be seen today.

At Polpis there stood once a group of Swain domiciles, and it would be easy to confuse them. There was Benjamin Swain who took over the stream by John Folger's houses — a body of water granted in 1708 to Benjamin Wyers to set up a fulling mill for the purpose of fulling the cloth of Nantucket town. Benjamin Swain's license to operate that mill in 1717 was revoked. Then there was John Swain, Jr., son of the first Swain on the Island,

16

HISTORIC NANTUCKEET

who was supposed to have dwelt with his wife Experience some­ where near his father's house in Polpis. Lastly there was Peleg Swain, who about 1760 was granted a couple of acres in Polpis Neck and a similar acreage lying to the eastward of that neck and adjoining the Mill Pond.

Polpis, it seems, lying serenely along the Harbor of Nan­ tucket, has come a long way from the days when the Townspeople thought of the farmers out there as "Polpisy." It is safe to assume that the warning to children, "Don't act Polpisy," must have had some echo of Swains in it, for the hamlet there would not have amounted to much without Swain- buildings. And the pity of it all is that the Swain-Sevolle-Smith dwelling burned in 1902, within the memory of persons now living. There must have been many details about that silver-shingled, weather-beaten, lonesome ruin which would have been worth while recording. What we do know about it has been resurrected in these pages.* *Acknowledgment is made for photographs to Mr. David Gray, Mr. Donald Craig, and Mr. Robert Deeley.

17

Recent Events Briefly Noted Among many gifts of special value to the Historical Associa­ tion because of their close association with Island families were those presented by Miss Beatrice Lawrence of New York and Nantucket. Of these gifts two are pictured here: the miniature (below) of Charles C. Lawrence, and the brooch on Page Twenty.

Photos by Studio 13

The picture of the miniature is twice actual size. The colors are fresh and bright, in excellent condition. Charles C. Lawrence was born in Nantucket, 1839.

20

Photos by Studio 13

The brooch (the small picture is the actual size of the pin) is a delicately colored mosaic, probably Italian made, 1800 or earlier, and is in good condition. Fine gold wires make the frame. This pin belonged to Sarah Cartwright, who was born in Nantucket, 1786. She was great-grand­ mother of donor.

RECENT EVENTS BRIEFLY NOTED

21

Of greatest moment to all of us interested in the history mak­ ing events which occur on the Island is the radical change in the topography of the section beyond Madaket for a long time known as Smith's Point. As you can quickly see from the cover picture the road which, before 1869, was often traversed all the way to Tuckernuck Island has gone into the sea. One more small section has become an Island unto itself. This is an old story as was written

by Professor Maria Mitchell in 1844.

An Old Story

Before Columbus ever thought Of Western World with glory fraught; Before the Northmen had been known To wander from their native zone; Before was raised a single mound, The antiquarians to confound; Indeed, so very long ago, The time one can't exactly know, — A giant Sachem, good as great, Reigned in and over our Bay State.

So huge was he, his realm so small, He could not exercise at all, Except by taking to the sea (For which he had a ticket free, Granted by Neptune, with the seal, A salient clam, and couchant eel).

His pipe was many a mile in length, His lungs proportionate in strength; And his rich moccasins, — with the pair, The seven-league boots would not compare.

When'er siestas he would take, Cape Cod must help his couch to make: And, being lowly, it was meet He should prefer it for his feet.

Well, one day, after quite a doze, A month or two in length suppose, He waked, and, as he'd often done, Strolled forth to see the mid-day sun: But while unconsciously he slept, The sand within his moccasins crept; At every step some pain he'd feel, 'Twas now the toe, now near the heel;

HISTORIC NANTUCKET At length his Sachemship grew cross, The pebbles to the sea he tossed, And with a moccasin in each hand, He threw on either side the sand; Then, in an instant, there appear Two little isles the Sachem near: One as the Vineyard now is known, The other we may call our own.

At ease, he freely breathed awhile, Which sent the fogs to bless our isle; And turning east, with quickened motion, The chill, bleak winds came o'er the ocean.

Ill-judging Sachem! would that you Had never shaken here that shoe; Or, having done so, would again, And join Nantucket to the main!

M.M., Nantucket, 1844

Road's End, Madaket

23

Letters of Annie Maria Mitchell Edited by her daughter, Mrs. Alice Payne Amey Continued from the July and October, 1961, issues of Historic Nantucket (Annie Maria Mitchell was the daughter of William Foster Mitchell [brother of Maria Mitchell, the famed astronomer], her mother was Charlotte Dow. William Mitchell Barney, to whom these letters were written, was a cousin to Annie as his father was Matthew Barney and his mother was Sally Mitchell, sister to William Foster Mitchell.)

Nashville, Jan. 10, 1867 Dear Mitchell, We have no Northern mail today on account of the snow north of us. You seem to be having a severe winter. We only get the end of all the storms, as we did of this one in a small "flight" of snow this morning. I think I shall enjoy seeing a real good snow storm next winter. We have boxes of goods needed for the Freedmen very much on the other side of the Ohio river waiting for the breaking up of the ice. We are afraid they may not reach us until the need for them is over. We — or rather father — had a letter from uncle Matthew a few days ago, and among sundry other pieces of news we heard of your having been regularly chosen assistant cashier of the Pacific. Are you now a fixture at Nan­ tucket?

By the way, we shall probably be at Nantucket a couple of weeks next summer. Do you remember what you said about our bathing house on the beach? We are talking of the White Moun­ tains as a resort for a couple of weeks and then of Phil, as a per­ manent home. All is, however, very uncertain. Never did I live in such utter isolation. Just think of days and then of weeks wherein we can never sit down thinking some one may "drop in," never of a beautiful bright evening to be able to take a walk, and going in town but seldom even in the day time on account of the distance. To go to church once in four weeks is quite a variety and a visitor — too bold a thought to be ventured and lately, even

24

Photo by Universal Photo Shop

This small tintype, delicately tinted, of Annie Maria Mitchell is in a French frame, was done in the 1860s after her aunt Maria had returned from Europe with the cameo which she had had carved in Italy; it is the profile of Annie's grandmother, Mrs. William Mitchell.

LETTERS FROM ANNIE MARIE MITCHELL

25

letters are few and far between. We were all exceedingly sorry to hear of Alice's illness. I do hope she will recover. Her mother must be almost discouraged.

Do you know anything of Winnie Green? I have not heard from her in a long time. Lucy Field is owing me a letter but when the mails are so uncertain she may have written and I not have received it. I saw in the Mirror the marriage of your friend Miss Annie Joy. Did you attend the wedding? or did Sara Joy Barney. You know we had the honor to call there once! It is a pity that about you over which Leni and I amused ourselves that summer. You know it was about that time.

After Mr. Chute — you remember hearing us speak of him — left here last summer we found out that he had been talking about us all — not in a very complimentary style. Part of his conversation had been addressed to our cook, and the rest to var­ ious visitors which he had — in short he was rather a hypocrite.

His opinion of me came to my knowledge through our "orderly" who is the cook's son. "Mr. Chute said, he didn't like Miss Ault," quotes Toby, at which we laughed, "and he said he didn't like Miss Annie either." "What did he say about me?' Asked I. "He said 'that little, frisky Annie Mitchell, he didn't like her'!" I don't know when I have been more amused. I believe papa did not like it very much. Ever since, when I do anything which is — ahem!

— well — youthful, I am immediately denominated "frisky."

I had a gift from the Christmas tree. "A Summer in Leslie," Goldthwaites Life — by the author of Faith Gartney. Wasn't that nice? I have words from Lynn but particularly new or strange.

Is Lizzie Rule there, do you know? Do you read Petroleum Y. Nashy, and have you seen the letter of his where he builds the "nigger" school house? I will send it to you for fear you did not see it. The pictures of the Nashville school houses are not out yet, in Harpers. I will write you in what number they appear for I want you to get it and see them. More tomorrow.

Monday We have had a snow-storm. The snow lies an inch deep on the level which — although it may seem very little, is more than has fallen here before in three years. The boys — as usual are greatly pleased. Come and help me prepare my scholars for an exhibition. It is quite a task I assure you.

Mother says tell him "How'dy Assistant Cashier!" Do you

26

HISTORIC NANTUCKEET

have a moral objection to be written to with red ink? One of my notions, you must be use to them by this time. Talk about skat­ ing! Just thinik of all the skating & sleiging, & coasting up North.

One sleigh out in Nashville today!

I wonder if you feel as old as I do — five months & all — It seems to me I am very old honestly, now, don't laugh. What — do you suppose that certain age is, after and at which, one is an old maid; Jo and Gayworthy, you know.

Well, I declare, I believe I am talking for the sake of saying something.

0 Mitchell! I've just thought of something bright — fact!

Join us in a trip to the White Mountains! Now do! They will give you a vacation about that time & we do not intend to stay but two weeks and then come down to Nantucket. Think about it, won't you? Oh, it would be just splendid wouldn't it? Now set your wits at work and devise a way. The mean's are reached easily enough by an Assistant Cashier! Just the height of the season too. We leave here about the 15th of June. My thought is so good I must pause for a reply from you.

Affectionally carried away by an idea — Cousin Annie Nashville, Jan. 11, 1867 Dear Mitchell, We suppose that there are mail lost as we do not receive letters. Ella Stearns of Lynn wrote me a letter a few days ago in which she said she had had no letter from me since before Thanksgiving, and I certainly wrote to her. Everybody — (most) is owing me a letter & what is true of A.M.M. is true of the rest of the family.

My father received a few days ago the deed of aunt Maria's house. I mention it because I thought your father might like to know of its safe arrival. It seemed to me like a little piece of home to see the names of all the family on it, and to know that it had been at all of those homes. I am just so sentimental, you know.

By the way, I have a new dog whom I call "Lion." I often remark to him "Does the Lion wag his tail ?" And when I answer for him "until he comes of age so to speak for himself" "He dooes." Does your memory serve you? If I did not think there were lost mails I should scold hard, in fact, I should not write to you at all. Just think, I have not heard of that famous Christmas at Cambridge!

27

Photo by Universal Photo Shop

This page is from the Certificate' issued to Anne Marie Mitchell by the Freedmens Relief Association. In March, 1865, the "Freedman's" Bur­ eau was organized in the Federal Government, a Commissioner ap­ pointed, and Assistant Commissioners in each state cf the Confederacy.

This Bureau was continued until 1870. It was formed for the purpose of Supervision and Maintenance of emancipated negros. This Bureau has long been controversial. Since the War between the States is now being commemorated this Federal agency has been attacked from many sides.

28

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

nothing of your doings at Nantucket, and only through grandma's letter, of the violent gale at Nantucket. You Northern people are having a hard winter from all accounts. So far we have had very mild weather — with the exception of two or three days — I only hope we shall not have much cold for the sake of the poor and the miserable construction of my school house. It is almost impossible to warm it on the very cold days.

Oh! I had such a queer dream about you a few nights ago. I shall not tell you about it, but it was very curious. Winnie does not write any more than anyone else and of course this is owing to you having absorbed her correspondence. It is a regular shame.

Be contented with your share, sir! I don't wonder you want more in that direction, but you cannot have it. When you write you must tell me everything you can think of. If you hesitate wonder­ ing whether I have heard it just conclude I have not and write on.

One of our teachers has gone home to get married >anid an­ other has come in her place. That's the news here. We are about to begin, to commence, to get ready for an exhibition of our schools.

Did you hear of my father's New Year's gift? A gold headed cane from his teachers. It is worth $25.00.

Nashville, Feb. 24th, 1867 Dear Mitchell, I wrote one letter to you this morning, and then threw it into the fire. ... I received your letter soon after I had written to you. ... Do you read in the papers what "big" times we are hav­ ing down here in Tennessee. Passing all sorts of impossible bills, and the Union people exultant. On the night of the 22rd there was a grand Union Convention held here. I am so glad, as could be expected at the passage of the Franchise Bill, but I am so glad that I shall be well out of Tennessee when the voting comes. On the same night, the Convention was held, Miss Ault and I attended a sociable in the city, consisting almost entirely of Northern peo­ ple. It seemed very pleasant. They were all full of the convention of course. Some left and went up to the Capitol to hear the speak­ ing. I saw Nashville streets for the first time by lamp-light. It is the funniest thing, the way we watch for people we expect. We understood that two ladies were to start for here a week ago.

Consequently when the time arrived for them to be here, we watched for them in every train and Mr. Hubbard went to the depot for them. We got a room ready for them and talked about

LETTERS FROM ANNIE MARIE MITCHELL

29

them, but they did not come .... I am very glad of your conclusion in regard to the White Mountains. I think a couple of weeks there would be very pleasant, and I think two weeks is as much as we shall spend at Nantucket.

We are having it quite Spring like and we think the Winter with us is broken up. The grass is getting quite green in places and the snowdrops & crocuses are up. Just at this season we always have it very rainy here.

I thought about your remark about head-dress the other night. I never saw people go to such extremes. They make them­ selves look like perfect frights. How come Lydia Gardner at N. at this time of year? Has she graduated? Where is Sarah Joy? Has she returned home?

Cora sent me a Lynn Reporter about two weeks ago with a poem of her own on the front page. I would like you to see it.

It is a dainty, pretty little thing, & although not exactly correct with regard to — metre — if that is the word — shows talent. I wonder if there was ever anyone who grew up without writing poetry. Not a word have we heard from Alice Barnard since she was taken ill away from home. Cannot you tell us something?

Do you ever see Linner? Do you know whether he entered the Grammer School this last examination? I am half cross with you for neglecting my last letter so long. Be good now, & write soon.

Annie M. Mitchell

30

Diary of William C. Folger EDITED BY NANCY S. ADAMS (Continued in each issue of "Historic Nantucket," starting October, 1960)

William C. Folger was a direct descendant from Peter the 1st.

He was born in Nantucket June 8, 1806, after gaining his educa­ tion, he taught school here and later, on the Cape and in Ohio. He was also a land surveyor for 50 years. He commenced the work of Genealogical research about 1842 and pursued it until his death in November 10, 1891.

He gathered his material first from his relative Benjamin Franklin Folger and from the public records, from family history and old family bibles, and by correspondents everywhere. He was quite an aid to Mr. Savage in compiling his Genealogical Dic­ tionary. It Was entirely a labor of love and he left a worthy monument which has been carefully preserved. His diary starts in the year 1835.

1836 Nov. 5—I sent a letter to Father and a letter to uncle Walter

by Thomas Nickerson who went to-day bound for home. I took leave of Gapt. Adams & of George A. Lawrence this evening and left Albany about 9 p.m. Passed the Aqueduct at Cohoeis Falls just before daylight and another in the course of the forenoon and arrived at Schenectady about 2 o'clock, stopped an hour or two and then resumed our route. Stephen Y. Hale of Boston formerly of New Hampshire joined us at Schenectady. Next Morning passed a cold mountainous country and then Fort Plain & St. Johnsville & in evening arrived at Little Falls. Saw some of the romantic region & bought 121/2 cents worth of gingerbread.

Nov. 8—Arrived at the city of Utica this forenoon. Stopped and was shaved and went into two bookstores. Utica is a large and beautiful place exceeding any I have seen in beauty. Walked to Whitesborough, three miles, which is also a very beautiful place.

Just before dark Hale and I stopped at Rome and took a walk up and viewed the place. Saw the arsenal—passed a low wet country covered with cedar, ash, etc.

Nov. 9—Landed this morning at Manlius and left the letter from Aunt Phebe to Aunt Elizabeth Worth who lives about twenty miles from here. Landed again this forenoon at Syracuse, bought snuff box, 121/2 cts. Saw the salt works, much resembling those of

DIARY OF WILLIAM C. FOLGER

31

Barnstable County. Saw Salina & Geddesburg, the latter on the canal. Landed at Lyons & Palmyra & Newark, Lyons & Palmyra are considerable places. Bot some gingerbread & crackers.

Nov. 11—Landed at Rochester in a rainstorm about 10 a.m. went with Mr. Hale to view the Genesee Falls — went into three or four large book-stores etc. Saw the Arcade, bot some groceries. Saw John Foster Coffin of Nantucket & conversed with him. Rochester has about 17,000 inhabitants. Left the city about 1 o'clock, the most muddy place I ever saw.

Nov. 12—Passed Brockport, Holley & Albion before morning — stopped at Medina which has four churches, two of which are stone, one is Catholic, many large stone houses & stores & two flour mills. Passed Tonewanta just before day. Passed Lockport where we stopped a while last evening.

Nov. 13—Lockport has five locks of twelve feet each and is a large, rough place. The canal is cut three miles through the solid rock, a costly work. Passed Blackroek before breakfast & saw the Niagara River which ran very swiftly, saw the Canada shore & many beautiful seats & farms. We arrived at Buffalo about 10 o'clock a.m. Our passengers left us here. Walked up and viewed the place, bot some groceries. I went in the afternoon to the Baptist Church to meeting.

Nov. 14—Called on Francis G. Macy at Sam. H. Macy's Brokers office, showed him my demands against him. He promised to see me in a few days in Cleveland. I bot a bean to put in snuff for 61^c and some groceries. Paid Capt. J. Myers for passage $9.10 & for freight $5.17 and board 25c. Paid carman for taking things to the United States Steamboat, 25c. Left Buffalo in the steamboat about 11.30 a.m. for Cleveland, Ohio as a deck passenger. Passed Erie in the evening, stopped at Conneaught to get wood. I landed and bot some groceries.

Nov. 15—Landed again at Grand River and bot some groceries.

We arrived at Cleveland about 12-30 m. Paid for passage $3.00 and freight $6.50. I stowed my goods at a warehouse. Saw Richard Hussey & Charles W. Hussey to whom I had letters. Paid Barber 1214c for shaving and 2c worth of apples. I took tea at the Frank­ lin house — took a walk with T. P. Spencer editor of the VanBuren paper, to whom I had a verbal message from — Ring, a barber in Nantucket. Got of him 3 papers, sent one to Wm. M. Bunker, one to Walter Folger Esq. one to Asa G. Bunker — went to a read­ ing room.

Nov. 16—I called on Ichabod Champion of the firm of Fairehild

34

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Feb. 12—I attended a Baptist meeting' at the School House near — Smalls and heard Elder Willey of Cleveland preach.

Feb. 14—I went this evening to the Tavern of Benajah Fay, Sr. to board.

Feb. 18—Snowed last evening. I returned to Sandford & Lott the history that I had of them and was charged to me. Thermometer down to 10 below zero.

Feb. 20—The last spelling school this afternoon.

Feb. 22—I closed my school this afternoon it being the end of twelve weeks from the commencement. I have given in cash about 12 cents for rewards, a cent or two at a time.

Feb. 23—Worked all day on the school bill.

Feb. 24—I received from Benajah Fay $22.77 being the public money belonging to the district. Also of Jesse R. Freeman 1.82 and of David Huntington $5.30 towards paying me the $48.00 due me for my three months tuition. I left B. Fay's tavern after breakfast, having had a pair of shoes stolen from me by some travellers who absconded in the night time, but left my books which were in the same chamber, (second hand shoes). I dined at J. K. Freemans, collected my things Etc. I gave Mrs. Freeman a couple sperm candles of my manufacture and to him J. K. F. part of a box of blacking and to his daughter Lucinda Ann the Singers Own Book as a reward of merit she being an attentive scholar.

1 wrote down some receipts for Botanic medicines at J. K. Free­ mans that he & his wife gave me. I left J. K. Freemans and called at David Huntingtons & settled with Mrs. H. for washing & iron­ ing by paying 75 cents. I gave D. Huntington the History of United States that I had lent to his boy George W. Shepard. Left Parma after 4 p.m. for Cleveland it being very muddy I hired a passage in from Brooklyn for 12V9C in a waggon.

Feb. 25—David Huntington took in to Mr. Reuben Champion my 2 trunks and a bundle and a pair of boots for me gratis. 1 at­ tended a court at Justice Hoadley's and was unexpectedly called on to give hearsay evidence in the case of Parish vs. O. Conerson.

Spent the evening with Richard & Charles W. Hussey & ladys.

(To Be Continued)

35

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. 0. Box 1016, Nantucket, Massachusetts. Office, Fair Street Museum.

Photo by Bill Haddon

Nantucket Town and Harbor during Hurricane Esther, 1961.