Historic Nantucket, January 1966, Vol. 13 No. 3

Historic Nantucket

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Main Street looking East.

January, 1966

Published Quarterly by NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, George W. Jones.

Vice Presidents, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, W. Ripley Nelson, Albert F. Egan Jr., Mrs. William L. Mather, Alcon Chadwick. Henry B. Coleman.

Treasurer, Norman P. Giffin.

Secretary, Miss Ethel Anderson.

Councillors, George W. Jones, Chairman; Mrs. Nancy S. Adams, A. Morris Crosby, term expires 1966; Miss Helen Powell, Albert G. Brock, term ex­ pires 1967; Mrs. Ernest H. Menges, Walter Beinecke, Jr., term expires 1968; Leroy H. True, Herbert I. Terry, term expires 1969.

Advertising and Publications, W. Ripley Nelson and H. Errol Coffin.

Honorary Curator, Mrs. Nancy S. Adams.

Curator, Mrs. William L. Mather.

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

Editor, Historic Nantucket, A. Morris Crosby; Assistant Editors, Mrs. Mar­ garet Fawcett Barnes, Mrs. R. A. Orleans.

Chairmen of Exhibits, Historical Museum, Mrs. William L. Mather: Whaling Museum, W. Ripley Nelson; Hadwen House — Satler Memorial, Albert F. Egan, Jr.: Old Mill, Henry B. Coleman: Old Jail, Albert G. Brock; 1800 House, Miss Ethel Clark; Fire Hose Cart House, Irving T. Bartlett; Oldest House, Mrs. J. Clinton Andrews; Folger-Franklin Seat and Memorial Boulder, Herbert 1. Terry.

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 13

January, 1966

No. 3

CONTENTS

Nantucket Historical Association Officers

2

A Brief Account of Whaleship Building on Nantucket, by George W. Jones

5

Of Interest to Conservationists

13

An Interview with Dr. "Will" Gardner, a Tape Recording

by Henry C. Carlisle

16

Notes Regarding some Special Work for the Old Mill

21

The 1965 Season, by W. Ripley Nelson

23

Recent Events

24

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

26

Legacies and Bequests

31

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 $3.00 ; Sustaining $10.00; Life—one payment $50.00 Second-class postage paid at Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Copyright, 1966 Nantucket Historical Association.

Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts, 02554.

The Jared Coffin House Sparkles in the Warm Sunshine of a January Thaw.

5

A Brief Account of Whaleship Building on Nantucket

By GEORGE W. JONES A talk given under the auspices of the Nantucket Historical Association at the Friends Meetinghouse, August, 1965.

I

ET'S GO BACK TO A TIME about one hundred and thirty or forty J years ago. We are approaching Nantucket from the North. No watertower appears on the north shore; it will be many years before running water will become commonplace. Dug wells supply water for all uses. No breakwater marks the entrance to an outer harbor, only a long sandy bar delineated by a line of white caps. Through this bar are two channels having a depth of only six feet at low tide by which we gain entrance. On either side are low sandy and swampy peninsulas; Coatue on our left, Brant Point •on our right.

On Brant Point only a rope walk can be seen near the north headland and a small wooden lighthouse near where the brick structure will be built in 1856. Next to the lighthouse and nearer town is a ship yard from which a new whaleship has recently been launched. A few cattle graze on pastur­ age separated by wooden fences, near the north bluff.

On the far shore to the south hardly a house is to be seen, nothing but green hills where the settlement of Monomoy and Shimmo will appear much later. We see no yachts or pleasure craft, but there are many vessels an­ chored off, either recently arrived with supplies or awaiting the proper tide and wind to be on their way with out-going cargoes of oil and candles.

The sky-line of the town shows no gas-holders, oil tanks or smoke­ stacks, only a forest of masts of the ships and schooners lying at the wharves which run much farther into the harbor than they will when this great fleet has disappeared and become only a memory.

We see four windmills busily turning as they grind corn or other cereals.

They are rather closely grouped and only one will be destined to be still in existence in the year 1965.

The South Tower and the North Church Tower stand out against the sky high above the surrounding buildings. Of trees there are none and upon landing we see only the most important streets are paved with cobblestones.

We have here a compact town in which live some 7,000 people and where the many houses are packed as closely together as it is possible to build them.

Few vehicles are in evidence as we walk up from the long wharf, only the commercial trucks and drays drawn by horses, many boasting only two wheels. Only the shipowners and a few other financially influential men can afford pleasure vehicles and fine horses; most people walk and think little of going on foot to 'Sconset, Madaket, Polpis, or to other outlying lands, and to many farms, farms which very likely number nearly a hundred, mostly small family farms upon which are raised staples and animals to

6

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

feed and clothe the occupants. Many work in conjunction with fishing in season.

A compact grouping of domiciles and business establishments is neces­ sary and desirable for communication, as telephone and auto and even bi­ cycles are not known. All contacts must be made personally or by messenger and mostly on foot. When one walks to work and returns home after a long day in the same manner, it is advantageous to be close to one's occupation.

The wharves are busy places with returning whalers and coastal craft moving in and out in never-ending trade with mainland ports.

Such vessels are in a constant state of unloading, loading, or outfitting.

Blocks creak as cargoes are discharged or loaded. Caulking mallets beat a tattoo and drays loaded with filled oil casks rattle up Main Street over the cobbles to the oil refiners to the westward. These oil casks come from com­ pact lines which have been landed on the wharves.

Ship chandlers are numerous along the streets near the wharves and sail lofts are receiving bolts of canvas and turning out sails on an almost daily schedule. Candle factories are heavily engaged producing the candles which will light thousands of places in this country and abroad.

We see hemp, bales of it, being trucked to one ropewalk or another, and wagons returning with rope for the riggers to consume in their trade.

The ring of blacksmith hammer on anvil can be heard coming from numer­ ous shops and cord wood is piled high in all spare room on and near the wharves in anticipation of the demand for heating during the colder seasons.

A busy, bustling, energy-expending place it is: this, the world's greatest whaling port.

It is strange that with so much which has been written about Nantucket's, past, so little light has been shed on the local activities during the height of the whaling era, when the name Nantucket was known throughout the seaports of the world.

1. Alexander Starbuck — "History of Nantucket" — writes of early settlers, war difficulties, churches, genealogy of first families, whaleship list­ ing and other matters. Very little if anything about business.

2. Lydia Hinchman — "Early Settlers of Nantucket," writes mostly on the descendants of the first settlers.

3. William Oliver Stevens — "The Far Away Island."

4. R. A. Douglas-Lithgow — "Nantucket: A History."

5. J. E. C. Farnum — "Brief Historical Data and Memories of My Boy­ hood Days in Nantucket."

6. Florence Bennett Anderson — "A Grandfather for Benjamin Frank­ lin."

7. Henry Barnard Worth — "Nantucket Land and Land Owners."

All these and a number of other historical authors write about many facets of Nantucket life; but all neglect to tell us very much of what went on here, regarding the employment of those people who did not go to sea.

Nantucket has had many interesting things happen in its past and has been fortunate in the interest displayed by some of her many outstanding former inhabitants. They have had sufficient interest and curiosity to search out facts and commit them to the written or printed record for future generations' information and enjoyment.

Much has been written about the early settlement, about the raising of sheep, about the difficulties experienced by the inhabitants during the wars

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF WHALESHIP BUILDING

7

with England and our own Civil War. Even more has been recorded about the actual pursuit of the whale, the record voyages, the money made in whale oil, the dangers of the chase and even the monotony of the voyages: and the romance of the south seas, the islands' natives, cannibals and head hunters coming in for their share of attention.

Strangely, with all this writing very little has been put in permanent record about the effort and industry that made these voyages possible.

It is my purpose today to bring to your attention, and I hope to interest you, that supporting Island industry.

Let us roll the calender back for 133 years. Why that particular length of time? Well, that would carry us back to the year of 1832 and it was in that year that Nantucket outfitted and sent to sea after whales a greater num­ ber of full-rigged ships than for any other like period. Total number of whaling vessels putting out from 1815-1848 inclusive was 841. Average number of vessels sent to sea for whales for this period was 25 a year. In no year did less than thirteen put to sea for this purpose. The business grew and although the number of vessels departing remained about the same, their size increased from around 100 tons to nearly 500.

Imagine if you can 40 vessels, all but two being full-rigged ships, which were completely rigged and prepared for long years at sea, all this work concluded in a twelve-month period in the year 1832. Seven of these ships were new, having been completed in that year.

Of the total ships nine were to be at sea between three and four years; seventeen were to be at sea between two and three years; five were to be at sea between one and two years; and seven for less than a year. The two which were not full-rigged ships made a number of short voyages. It might be well here to compare the growth of this business: 1771-1775, 26,000 bbls. of sperm oil; 4,000 bbls. of whale oil; 1832, 47,848 bbls. of sperm oil, 12,061 of whale oil. The only reason this year was different from those immediately preceding it or following it was in the number of ships out­ fitted. For a number of years these ships ranged in the twenties and thirties.

Few people who read of a big battle with many men engaged realize the great effort put forth by many times that number of persons to prepare for and make possible the final clash.

The same laws hold true in such an industry as whaling. Most people reading about and interested in this activity as carried on in the last century see only the period from the time a whaleship left the home port until her re­ turn, during the time her crew battled the mammoth animals second to none in the world.

They relive the accidents, trials, dangers, courage, perseverance and even the boredom. These are the romantic aspects that appeal to us all.

But none of these things could develop if great preparations had not been made by many people before the ship ever left the wharf. It is our purpose here today to consider those preparations. Let us then return to the year of 1832 here in Nantucket when the population, engaged almost ex­ clusively in whaling and its supporting industries, and when these 38 ships put to sea, numbered around 7,500 men, women and children, roughly twice our present permanent population.

It is difficult to recall all the different skills required to carry on this business of outfitting, but many are self-evident.

8

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

First came the building of the ships themselves. Most were built on the mainland where labor and material were plentiful and close by. How­ ever, one of the seven new ships in 1832, the Charles Carroll, was built on Brant Point in a shipyard which occupied the land just west of the present U. S. Coast Guard Station on property now owned by Mr. Sanford. She was a large ship for her times, being rated as 376 tons.

Such work required the employment of many skilled mechanics: loft-men, pattern makers, shipwrights, ship carpenters, copper sheathers, caulkers, riggers, etc. These men were engaged in roughing-out, joining and placing the keel and frames, fitting and fastening the outside planking (1); the in­ side sheathing, and the deck planking, caulking and filling all the thousands of seams (2); to make it water tight, and covering all surfaces below the water line with sheet copper nailed on with copper nails not more than an inch apart (3).

Ships carpenters did the finish work in cabins and between decks. All this took months but was only a fraction of the total.

After the launching the ship must be sparred and rigged. On a fullrigged whaleship of that period there were at least twenty-five spars. Let's count them: There were three lower masts, fore, main and mizzen; three top-masts, one for each lower mast; and three top-gallant masts above the top-mast.

Each mast was crossed by four yards, a total of twelve. Add to these the bowsprit, jib boom, spanker boom, and spanker gaff. My computation being correct, that makes twenty-five. In addition a number of spare parts were carried to repair storm damage.

Thus, by simple arithmetic we see that thirty-eight ships would account for a minimum of 950 spars of varied sizes which from time to time required replacement. I will not go into the detail of making a spar, except to say that spars should be made from heart-wood, rounded, shaped, and fitted.

All this takes skill and a large amount of physical energy. Spar shops must have been numerous and a constant source of employment for many men.

Spars will not stand nor can sails be set without standing and running rigging. As there was no steel rope in those days, all lines both large and small were of necessity made of fiber, usually hemp. These ropes varied from four-strand hawsers to whale-line, Russian hemp to finest manila. Not feet, not yards, not fathoms, but miles and miles must have been the amounts turned out by the ropewalks, which must at times have been hard pressed to keep up with the demand.

Mr. Bodfish — "Chasing the Bowhead" — gives for whale-line alone five and one half shots at seventy-five fathoms, 2,475 feet, for each boat.

Most ships carried five boats ready for the chase. So we have approximately two miles of whale-line per ship not allowing for spare line.

Mr. W. R. Easton who wrote "Reminiscences of 1872" states, "The greatest number of ropewalks in operation at any one time was ten, where nearly all the cordage used by the whaling fleet and other vessels was made."

Let's consider this for just a moment: ten ropewalks which were usually in the neighborhood of 600 feet long. Thus, we have a total of 6,000 or one mile and one fifth of covered structure. That is a building reaching from the Pacific Bank down Orange Street to the "mile stone" and then out 'Sconset 1. 20,000 holes average 1 in. in diameter and 10 in. to 18 in. deep; 2. 2% miles of seams; 3. Copper sheets vary in thickness. Figures from "Birth of a Whale Ship,"

by Reginald B. Hegarty.

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF WHALESHIP BUILDING

9

Road as far as Monomoy Road intersection. Time has erased the record indicating the location of most of these ropewalks, but we do know where several of them were built. The street now called East Lincoln Avenue which runs between North Beach and Walsh Street, on Brant Point, was the site of one. Another operated on land between Union and Washington Streets, running diagonally in a southeasterly direction from the property just south of Mr. George Anastos' home on Union Street. A third was situated on the land parallel to and very near the south side of Easton. Street, and running from North Water Street to North Beach Street; and a fourth was just south of Milk Street on land that is now part of Prospect Hill Cemetery.

Besides the amount of cordage needed for rigging on both whaleships and coastal vessels hailing from here, all whaleships carried nuumerous stock below decks for replacement of broken and worn gear. Thousands of bales of hemp must have been delivered here by coastal vessels which at the time we are considering consisted of about 26 sloops and schooners constantly operating in and out of all the large ports and many small ones between Portland, Maine, and New Orleans, Louisiana. They furnished a continuous stream of timber, sawed lumber, firewood, hemp, pine-pitch, copper, iron and foodstuffs and carried away full loads of whale oil, elephant oil and candles.

A book could be written about these coastal vessels alone, a subject which has been scarcely touched and one ripe for research.

Sail lofts were the working places of many men who cut and handsewed some twenty to thirty sails for each craft. The sails used by the ves­ sels outfitted for whaling in 1832 alone amounted to perhaps a thousand.

All sails were not new but many were, particularly for the new ships going out for the first time. We read that "some fifteen hundred bolts of duck wrought into sails and other canvas items were the yearly requirements of this industry." Putting this into an equation: 1,500 bolts x 40 yards equals 60,000 yards or 180,000 feet, or more than 30 miles, enough to reach from Nantucket nearly to Woods Hole.

Whaleships carried four, five, and six whaleboats. You have seen the one in the Whaling Museum. Imagine the labor of supplying the 38 whale­ ships with these craft. At least 150 would have been required and while some may have been boats being used again from previous voyages, many must have been new for many times boats were badly damaged at sea and to outfit a ship for a three- or four-year voyage with weakened or unsafe boats could have been folly. Thus we may assume that all the new ships had new boats and perhaps half the boats on the older ships would require re­ placement. This would indicate something over one hundred whale boats built for this year alone. We also read of boats built and shipped to other ports where whaling was carried on.

Rev. James Freeman states in his "Notes on Nantucket" written in 1809: "The whale-boat also was built at Nantucket. A whale-boat is twentyseven feet long, is made of cedar boards Vi inch thick, carries five men to row and one to steer, is built by five or six workmen in three days and costs fifty dollars." A work day was probably from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the summer, perhaps a bit shorter in the winter. Long before auto production lines with interchangeable parts, we had here a similar method, parts being made and stored in slack times.

10

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

There were several boat-shops most of which have long gone, but one of the biggest still lives and is now the home of Mr. James Glidden on the corner of Milk Street and Quaker Road.

Incidentally, this same author confirms Mr. Easton's figures stating, "There are ten rope-walks which manufacture each about twenty tons of cordage in a year. This would indicate a total of 200 tons of cordage made by all ten walks.

Power tools were practically unheard of, so you may form some idea of the number of men required in the boat-shops to meet the annual de­ mand for boats.

Many fittings were of brass and a brass foundry, situated just west of Washington Street and south of the Dryshoal Cleaners, supplied countless numbers of these things.

In the same vicinity and for many years there were three tanneries in full operation.

Iron was imported and some ten or twelve blacksmith shops were busy making the implements used in capturing the whale and processing the blubber, that is: harpoons, lances, flencing irons, whale spades, mincing knives, boat hatches, etcetera. Many iron ship fittings were required on masts and spars, and anchor chains must have been a constant requirement.

A trade familiar then but no longer heard of here was block-making.

All blocks including the sheaves were of wood, mostly oak and lignum vitae, having a rope strap around them, some of which were wormed, served and parcelled. Each ship required several hundred b'ocks of assorted sizes for running rigging plus deadeyes for standing rigging.

Mr. Easton writes: "Previous to 1811 Daniel Barney manufactured blocks and pumps by water power. His factory was situated on the south side of Old South Wharf (Island Service Wharf) and over the dock. He built a reservoir on the top, the base of which covered the entire building and which was kept filled with water by a windmill." The water was prob­ ably used principally for turning lathes.

I have very sketchily covered the requirements for the operation of the whale ship, but what about the crew? They must take along supplies suffi­ cient to feed and c'othe them for many months. Obed Macy in his "History of Nantucket" lists the following for necessary food for the well being of a crew on a sperm oil cruise: 100 bbls. of salt beef; 100 bbls. of salt pork; 11 tons of bread (hard tack) prepared in many bake shops here on the Island and stored in casks; 80 bbls. flour: 1,400 gallons of molasses and, in addition, peas, beans, corn, dried apples, coffee, tea, chocolate, and butter; all in ample quantity and of good quality.

To this must be added casks of fresh water enough to last for weeks on end and clothing to replace that worn out during the voyage.

But wait — we have forgotten one of the most important items. There must be something to store the oil in after it has been boiled out of the blub­ ber: casks and more casks, enough to hold 3,000 to 4,000 bbls. of oil on each ship. Each must be made of the best white oak and they must vary in size and capacity from three to six barrels. Several sizes are required to facilitate maximum storage in the hold.

These casks were made on the Island here and then "knocked down" and stowed until needed. A little multiplying will show that for the ships

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF WHALESHIP BUILDING

11

putting to sea from here in 1832 enough casks had to be made to contain a minimum of 114,000 bbls. of liquid. The cooper's trade was a very im­ portant one here and aboard the ship. At one time twenty-two cooper shops flourished employing a great many men. One of these structures still exists known as the "Cooperage," a studio of art and music on Vestal Street opposite Bloom Street. Another stood on Chester Street just west of Ivy Lodge about where Holiday Bicycle Shop now stands.

So far we have considered only that employment necessary before the ship left. Much had to be done after her return to prepare the oil for sale in the shape of refined oil and spermaceti candles.

Mr. William R. Easton states, "Whale oil manufacture at its peak and including elephant oils and candles resulted in the operation of 36 factories," and "the annual product of these institutions has reached one to one and one half million dollars." These are 1830-40 dollars having a purchasing power perhaps six times those of today and might indicate a nine million dollar annual business at today's dollars.

According to Dr. Emil F. Guba, in his book "Nantucket Odyssey," recently published, he is in agreement that 36 factories were so engaged and his figure of candles alone agrees with Obed Macy's figure, in "History of Nantucket," of 380 tons annually: 4,560,000 candles (Lithgow). His figure is for 1840; Mr. Macy's figure is given for the year 1785, so we see that this business was of major importance for many years. The first candle factory, according to Lithgow, was established in 1772.

Rev. James Freeman, writing as of 1809, gives the number of candle factories (this not including the oil processing plants) as 19.

Only two of these buildings are now evident here. One is the Whaling Museum. This building was erected by Richard Mitchell and Sons in 1847 just after the big fire which occurred in 1846. Later it was purchased and operated as an oil and candle factory by Messrs. William Hadwen and Na­ thaniel Barney. The other candle factory was in the brick building on the east side of Washington Street just south of Commercial Wharf.

Candles were packed in wooden boxes and large numbers of these boxes were required to transport over three hundred tons of candles.

Mr. Easton tells us, "The first steam mill, we think, ever in operation on the Island was established on the North Beach by David Mitchell as early as 1832 or '33 for the manufacture of candle boxes and successfully carried on for several years. Subsequently another on a more extensive scale was built on the South Beach by Levi Starbuck and operated by him and his son Obed for the manufacture of casks, candle boxes, grain grind­ ing, and the planing of boards."

Thus we see that almost all the industry up to 1832 about which I have spoken was carried on by hand.

In 1832 there were, based on the census taken in 1830 and again in 1840 approximately 7,500 inhabitants.

Assuming 50 per cent of these were male, and allowing for the crews on the number of whaling ships sailing from here as approximately 60, which would average 20 men and total approximately 1,200 men, and add­ ing to this boys under 18 years of age who, by Macy's figures, amounted to about 1,400, we arrive at a figure of 1,150 male adults to accomplish all this

12

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

work, plus house construction, farming, operation of stores and four banksand all other necessary occupations.

One thing that made this possible was the absence of child labor laws.

All children had their specified chores and when considered advisable by their relatives were allowed and even encouraged to work for wages. In addition many men were skilled in more than one occupation.

Thus we can be very sure that at the period we are considering, the first half of the 1800's, and probably for many years previously, for the whaling industry lasted approximately 150 years, this was one of the bus­ iest towns along the coast. In this state it ranked third as a shipping port exceeded only by Boston and Salem.

From the figures I have presented we can conclude that the following places of employment approximated in number these figures: Shipyard 1; Boatshops perhaps 5: Ropewalks 10; Oil factories 17; Candle factories 19; Cooper shops 22; Brass foundry 1; Tanneries 3; Blacksmith shops 10; Spar shops perhaps 4; Bakeries perhaps 2; Block factories perhaps 2; Sail lofts perhaps 4; Rigging lofts perhaps 3; Candle-box factories perhaps 2. Total 105.

This does not take into account clothing stores and food provisioners, ship chandlers stores, brickyards and, as noted by at least one writer of the past, a rum distillery.

1 leave with you a picture of the activity which must have been evident here just before morning curfew at seven, when hundreds of men were hurrying on foot to work and again at noon and when all were moving to and from their dinner, and I say dinner advisedly for no light lunch would have sufficed these hard workers.

And now I must close this rather lengthy discourse hoping I have stim­ ulated your curiosity to the extent that you may read and discover on your own just what went on here when this was a place of, as the common saying has it, "wooden ships and iron men."

13

Of Interest to Conservationists TWO ACTS OF IMPORTANCE to Nantucket have recently come out of the legislative mill on Beacon Hill in Boston: one to protect the unique herd of gray seals at Madaket (see the April, 1964 issue of HISTORIC NANTUCKET, page 27); the other the so-called "Wetlands Bill."

When the Massachusetts legislature learned of the pressing need to protect the gray seals, it quickly passed the following brief but effective act (Chapter 129, Acts of 1965): No person shall wilfully detain, hunt, kill or injure a gray seal (halichoerus gryphus), also called a Nantucket horsehead.

Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars. Section two, in addition, expressly excepts gray seals from the provisions of the law relating to the hunting and trapping of mammals. Thus, the small herd, about fifteen in number, frequenting the shores and shoals of Muskeget is now thoroughly protected. It should grow, as these seals are growing in British waters. But if it does not, it is at least saved from possible extinction.

The "Wetlands" bill is the result of a long, hard pull by conservationists and others able to look beyond the immediate present to a time when the bulldozing fraternity, if not checked, would have destroyed most if not all of our marshes and tidal land areas, so vital not only to wild but even to human life. It is an act with teeth, giving the commissioner of natural re­ sources broad powers, yet preserving the right of individuals who may feel aggrieved to appeal to the courts. Some of the language of the bill reflects the nature of the opposition, as when it states in the emergency preamble that its purpose is in part "to immediately provide for the protection of coastal wetlands against the imminent threat of the development of such lands for industrial and other uses detrimental to their preservation in their natural state."

The bill (Chapter 768, Acts of 1965) is rather involved, but its purpose is well expressed in the emergency preamble quoted above; and it is further stated, in Section 105, that "the commissioner, with the approval of the board of natural resources, may from time to time, for the purpose of pro­ moting the public safety, health and welfare, and protecting public and private property, wildlife and marine fisheries, adopt, amend, modify or repeal orders regulating, restricting or prohibiting dredging, filling, removing or otherwise altering, or polluting, coastal wetlands. In this section the term 'coastal wetlands' shall mean any bank, marsh, swamp, meadow, flat or other low land subject to tidal action or coastal storm flowage and such contiguous land as the commissioner reasonably deems necessary to affect by any such order in carrying out the purpose of this section." In addition to all this any "city or town may, upon written request of the commissioner, take by eminent domain the fee or any lesser interest in any land or waters located in such city or town, provided such taking has first been approved by a twothirds vote of the city council or a two-thirds vote of an annual or special town meeting, which land and waters shall thereupon be under the jurisdic­ tion and control of the commission."

The foregoing is naturally a very sketchy description of the Act, and persons interested are advised to study it in its entirety.

14

Forty-foot Lifeboat, U. S. Coast Guard Station, Brant Point. Since the withdrawal of the 82-foot cutter for service in Vietnam waters, this craft is the largest now available attached to the Nantucket Station.

15

As part of the improvement of Nantucket's waterfront, these old build­ ings at the head of Straight Wharf have been moved out on the wharf where they will serve as artists' studios, galleries, and so forth. The bui'ding at the corner was at one time the office of the coal company owned by Charles C. Crosby, a pioneer in the organization of the Nan­ tucket Historical Society and for many years its treasurer.

16

An Interview with Dr. "Will" Gardner (Transcribed from a Tape Recording made by HENRY C. CARLISLE) THE LATE HENRY COFFIN CARLISLE'S tape recordings of his conver­ sations with various Nantucketers, described in detail by W. Ripley Nelson in the April, 1963, number of HISTORIC NANTUCKET, are being stenographically transcribed to make them more readily available to researchers and others interested. Mr. Carlisle's purpose was twofold: to make permanent the recollected impressions of Nantucket life and affairs in the memory of living persons; secondly, to record at the same time the voices of the people whom he interviewed. As time goes on, the substance of these "conversa­ tions" will naturally grow in importance as the voices diminish in historical value. Yet the voices are most interesting and entertaining in themselves, and, for those who wish to listen in on an impromptu "chat," the tapes and LP records, together with a tape recorder, are available on request at the Historical Museum. HISTORIC NANTUCKET will publish some of the transcrip­ tions from time to time as they appear. For a start, while Dr. Gardner's memory is still fresh in our minds, we offer Mr. Carlisle's interview with him, taken down in August, 1962. Apparently there had been some preliminary talk and then the tape recorder took it up with Mr. Carlisle's first question.

— Ed. WILL, you had such an interesting grandfather. I think it's a shame to leave him without mentioning something about his whaling days and a little about where you first saw his name in print. How many voyages did you say he went on — how many whaling voyages?

— His name was Chandler Brown Gardner and he went on five whaling voyages. The first was as a cabin boy in the old "Barclay." His second was on the ship "Congress," Captain Abrams.

— Then he went on, you said, five voyages. You don't have to name them all. He went on three more voyages as captain of a whaleship?

— Yes, on the "Logan," then the "Helvetia" and then the "James Stewart" from St. Johns, New Brunswick.

— But the others were from Nantucket?

— No, none were from Nantucket except the first and the "Congress" were from Nantucket.

— the "Barclay"

— You have told me several stories about your grandfather and I like the one best about you finding the record, seeing his name, fifteen years old, on a list.

— Yes, it was a great moment, Henry, when 1 found it in Edgartown, looking over some old papers that had been rescued when the storage room of the Boston Post Office was damaged by water. These papers were found in a store in Boston that was selling old documents. They were bought by the head of the Duke's County Historical Association and it was very inter-

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. "WILL" GARDNER

17

esting to open them because at the very top of the bundle was this one which recorded the sailing of the ship "Congress," Captain Charles Abrams of Nantucket, and the first name on the crew list was Chandler Brown Gardner, age 15 — my grandfather.

— Good. I think that is a good story.

— How would you like to hear the story of the people coming from New Brunswick to secure him as captain of the "James Stewart'? This firm was in New Brunswick — St. Johns was the city where they were located. They were anxious to have Nantucket captains and were willing to pay more for them than for any other captains. Not only that, but they sailed their ship, "James Stewart," into Nantucket Harbor and came ashore and got hold of my grandfather to come down and look at it. They took him down to the wharf and said, "See that beautiful ship off there? That is the ship we want you to command. Just look at her sails. See how beau­ tifully white and clean she looks." And my grandfather, a rugged and gruff old fellow, said, "Damn her sails. Give me her guts." What he wanted to know was how much it was damaged by worms and what was the condition of the seams, when had they been caulked last, and had any copper been used to protect the bottom of the ship, and so forth and so forth.

— Now that's a good story. That was about — I don't know, you don't know probably — his fourth or fifth voyage. Did he accept?

— Yes, he accepted the call to take charge of the ship and had a very successful voyage. And then again the owners in St. Johns, New Brunswick, asked him to take the ship for a second voyage. This he did, which was also very successful. This is a record that comes from him. I have written to St. Johns and in the Historical Association there, there is no record of the "James Stewart" and no record of this firm that brought the ship into Nantucket, in existence, which I think is a great pity.

— And it's not in "Starbuck" because it was not an American port?

— Yes. Now, I think you'd be interested in this. One of the best memories I have of my boyhood is the meeting of the captains in 'Sconset during the fishing season to gam each evening in my grandfather's kitchen.

The house has always been known as the House of Parliament (Lords?) because of this event that was carried on for several years in the 'Sconset fishing season. I can remember hearing some of the old stories told. For instance the story of Uncle Cromwell Morselander. A captain of a ship, he went into one of the islands and there he traded for fruits and vegetables, and so forth, and the time had gone quickly and he had stayed on into the evening and he finally said, "I want a man to take me out to my ship.

So they assigned a native and he came in a little skiff. The skiff had a tiller.

It was probably a curious skiff that had been rescued from a wreck. Uncle "Crum" went to the rear — to the stern of the skiff — and as he sat down he saw if the tiller was loose and he found that it was. And so they paddled away out toward the ship. Strange to say, the man who paddled, paddled facing him and Uncle Crum watched him with a good deal of care and was rather suspicious of him. But when he was out in the middle of the way to the ship, the man put his hand in his shirt and pulled out a knife and be-

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

18

gan coming toward Uncle Crum. Instantly he shipped the tiller out and struck the man a deathly blow over his head. Then he went on with the skiff and when he arrived at the side of the ship, he had a man bring him some old chain stuff, and put it in the bottom of the skiff and tied the man to it and drove a hole in the bottom of the skiff as he came up to the side of the ship. Now this story created a good deal of interest among the old captains and it was told over and over again, not in the form in which I have told it, but by questions and answers. "Crum, how did you get a man on board the ship to bring you those chains and not disclose to him you'd killed a man?" "How did you do this," and "How did you do that?" The old captains had many, many questions about any story that was told them and in that way the stories were told and retold from night to night.

— This is the first time that you have mentioned Uncle "Crum" — a real uncle, the brother of your Uncle Charlie?

— He married the sister of my grandfather.

— I see. He was pretty nearly an uncle.

— Yes. . . . There were a dozen or fifteen captains who used to assemble in the old house at 'Sconset.

— Now, more or less, what period was this? Was this when you were a boy? Or before you were born?

— When I was in the Coffin School.

— Your grandfather was very much alive?

— Very much alive.

— I didn't know, if you hadn't told me, that he was at 'Sconset for a number of years.

— Yes, he owned the House of Lords — the center house of the old captains. A humorous story is the story of grandfather being feasted by a chief on one of the Pacific Islands. The Chief was a favorite friend of my grandfather's. In many ways he had helped him to get provisions and was in a curious way attracted to his personality. On one visit he gave him a dinner and the harem danced for him after the dinner. When the dinner was over and the dance was over, the Chief rose from the only seat that enabled anybody to sit off the ground. Taking the seat from underneath him, he passed it to my grandfather and said, "This is a souvenir of our good time tonight." That seat is a seat that has been preserved in my family and is now in the Whaling Museum in Nantucket.

— It is well marked?

— Yes, well marked. Another time my grandfather went ashore and had dinner with this Chief and after the dinner was over he was shown some of the things that he had never seen before — that is, the inner part of the royal habitation. They were coming out of the rear when they passed through a tent or shelter that contained a lot of monkeys in a cage and they were the fattest monkeys he ever saw and he said to the Chief, "What do you do with these monkeys?" "Why," said the Chief, "that's what you had for dinner

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR. "WILL" GARDNER

19

tonight." Grandfather said that it was very difficult for him to find his way back to the ship, he was so sick after he thought that he had had a delicious dinner of a cute little monkey.

— Will, can you add one or two more on your grandfather?

— Did you have the one about "Gimme your guts"?

— Yes, that's done. Have you ever looked up in your "Alexander Starbuck" to see how many barrels he got on these one or two or three voyages?

For instance, the "Congress" — did you ever look up to see whether he came back with 2,500 or 2,000 or 3,000 barrels?

— I think the "Congress" was 2,000.

— That, of course, Will, was a very good cargo.

— Here, pick out the "Congress" — you can see better than I can.

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

20

— Now, Will, from what our conversation has been in the last minute, I think we are in the wrong generation. It's a good generation, but now let's have something about your great-grandfather.

— Well, Henry, all we know about my great-grandfather is preserved

by Frederick Sanford, who was President of the Pacific Bank here in Nan­ tucket for twenty-two years and was a writer of all the old stories of the Nantucket whaling days and also the clipper ship period. Frederick Sanford wrote a long article which was published and republished in many papers on my grandfather Ebenezer Gardner — my great-grandfather Ebenezer Gardner. He was fascinated by the stories that were told about him, for he was a privateer on the "Saucy Hound" — S-a-u-c-y H-o-u-n-d. They went out from Nantucket because they felt that there was a chance to intercept vessels and make a good deal of money by it. They were out only a short distance and had made only one or two captures when they were run down by a British frigate and, in a few words, he was taken to England in the "Rattlesnake" which carried the surrender of Cornwallis. In England he was pressed into service and served on the "Marlborough" as a gunner against the French. ... I think that it's very difficult to do this in a short time because it's a long story.

— But, Will, go ahead because this is a separate reel.

— I should have to have my material.

— I see.

— Because I haven't read it in a long time.

— It is an excellent subject -— your grandfather and great-grandfather.

— I think you're getting too much of it.

— Well, you're out of this so you don't have to feel it is anything personal with you and your great-grandfather being a privateer.

— Frederick Sanford was a man who had great interest in these things.

The longest story he ever wrote was a story of my great-grandfather. He used to meet me on the street and say, "Boy, do you remember me?" "Yes." "Do you know who I am?" I said, "Yes, Mr. Sanford." "Well, who am I?" "You're Mr. Sanford." "Do you remember I wrote the obituary of your grandfather and your great-grandfather?" "Yes, Mr. Sanford." "Good, good."

And so ends this interesting reel — all too soon. (Ed.)

21

Notes Regarding Some Special Work for the Old Mill

THE RESTORATION of any antique is a delicate and intricate task, its reproduction especially so: and the making of a replica of the big wheel that turns the Old Wind Mill into the wind was no exception. When batter­ ing storms finally reduced the old wheel to decrepitude beyond repair, a replica had to be made. It was a slow and painstaking job: but under the skillful hand and able direction of Mr. James A. Norcross, foreman of the custom wood-working shop of the Marine Lumber Company where it was made, the huge device gradually took shape and was installed last season in time for visitors. The new wheel, made entirely of white oak, is an exact.

22

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

blue-printed copy of the old and should endure for a long time. The photo­ graph presents "Jim" Norcross amid the clutter of the shop contemplating with justifiable pride his creation which awaits only the last coat of paint before being installed. On the floor is the old hub and a piece of the rim with a couple of rotted spokes revealing the extent to which the decay had gone. Beside the wheel is a tire-bender, the device by which the iron tire was bent to fit the rim. It was lent by Mr. Morgan Levine, owner of the "Four Winds" gift shop now occupying the building at the head of Straight Wharf which was formerly the last blacksmith shop on the Island. Sincere thanks are due Mr. Levine, for without the bender the wheel could not have been finished.

23

The 1965 Season

BY W. RIPLEY NELSON OCTOBER 12th marked the end of the open season for all the Nantucket Historical Association's buildings. It did mark, also, an all time high in attendance which this year totaled 62,003 paid admissions as compared with 54,813 for the summer of 1964 and almost doubled that of 1960 which totaled 31,326 paid admissions.

Hadwen House-Satler Memorial and the Whaling Museum were the last two exhibits to close for the season. The other exhibits, Historical Mu­ seum, Old Mill, Old Jail, Oldest House, 1800 House, Fire Hose Cart House and Folger-Franklin Seat and Memorial Boulder all closed as is customary in mid-September.

Paid admissions for 1965 exceeded 1964 at all exhibits with the Whaling Museum, Old Jail, and Oldest House establishing new and all time highs.

The Whaling Museum, only ten short of 35,000, showed 34,990 paid ad­ missions against a previous high of 31,150 in 1964; the Old Jail with 3,838 as against 3,524 in 1963 and the Oldest House 7,684 against 6,868 in 1964.

Hadwen House-Satler Memorial, which opened for the first time in 1964, showed in 1965 the third largest attendance of all exhibits with 6,805 paid admissions as against 6,478 in 1964. This attendance record was ex­ ceeded only by the Whaling Museum and the Oldest House.

A statement of the paid admissions for 1965 and 1964 shows the fol­ lowing interesting comparison; 1965 1964 Whaling Museum 34,990 31,150 Hadwen House-Satler Memorial 6,805 6,478 Oldest House 7,684 6,868 Old Mill 3,914 3,460 Old Jail 3,838 2,862 Historical Museum 3,030 2,554 1800 House 1,742 1,441 The attendance at the Fire Hose Cart House and the Folger-Franklin Memorial is not recorded, as paid admissions are not required.

An increase in paid admissions from year to year is an excellent meas­ ure of the growing public interest. This is reflected also in the record of the States of the Union and foreign countries from which our visitors come.

The "Guests' Registry Book" at the Whaling Museum recorded visitors from 48 states in 1965 as compared with 46 in 1964 and 44 in 1963. The record showed visitors from foreign lands represented thirty-one countries as com­ pared with twenty-three in 1964. Here again is evidence that instead of Nan­ tucket men roaming the seas, the world now comes to Nantucket!

With the growing attendance each year, there is a corresponding added responsibility in the presentation of the Association's exhibits which create the public interest. The Association recognizes this responsibility, and its Council, the governing body, gives constant and serious thought and con­ sideration to improving its exhibits and providing for their safety, together with the convenience and comfort of the public.

Recent Events FOLLOWING WHAT WE HOPE was a precedent set in 1964, the Hadwen House-Satler Memorial was open to the public the Friday and Saturday following last Thanksgiving Day. The ladies of the Committee were again on hand in period costumes to welcome guests and show them about the building. An innovation was a "Silver Tea," served in the "Morning Room" Saturday afternoon. The attendance was not as large as in '64, a rather rainy day doubtless keeping down the number of visitors on Friday. Still, some fifty signed the guest book, one from as far away as India. The Nantucket Historical Association is fortunate in having one exhibit so heated that it can be shown "off season." When the Whaling Museum is similarly condi­ tioned (soon we hope), the Association will then at long last have taken its rightful place as a year-round enterprise to which its size and importance entitle it — and in saying this we don't think we are bragging. People do come to Nantucket in the winter, and the Association does open its in-town exhibits on occasion; but it is a teeth-chattering experience to go through a cold building for even the most ardent visitor. The Hadwen House-Satler Memorial is a long step in the right direction. *

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The Association has received from Mr. J. Frank Havemeyer, a summer resident, a valuable collection of documents pertaining to early Nantucket.

These will be checked and catalogued and further details will appear in a later issue of HISTORIC NANTUCKET. The linking of Nantucket with Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod in the phrase "The Cape and Islands" is a convenient handle for the newscasters at station WOCB, the New Bedford Standard Times' excellent FM and AM radio station at West Yarmouth, especially in giving the Boston Weather Bureau's forecast for the "Cape and Islands." (Incidentally, this is not in­ frequently wrong, because, as the saying goes, Nantucket makes its own weather or sometimes follows New York.) We do not especially object to being linked with our neighbors in this way, even if we are unique in being a town, county, and island all in one. Yet there are times when we feel that we should be differentiated. So, WOCB must stand corrected for including at its first newscast of Nov. 10th last this island in its account of the gigantic power failure of the previous evening. The Cape and Martha's Vineyard did suffer that terrifying experience along with the millions of other inhabi­ tants in New York and New England. Nantucket, however, has its own independent power plant and was consequently only a most sympathetic bystander.

In that connection, a pretty story emerged from the blackout: A gentle­ man and his wife, summer residents on a business trip to Nantucket, were engulfed on the mainland in the power failure. Nevertheless, they were able to secure transportation on a small plane. As they winged out over the Sound, Nantucket suddenly appeared ahead, a blaze of light amid the Stygian darkness. They were thrilled. Never before, they said, had they enjoyed a plane trip so much or appreciated Nantucket more.

25

RECENT EVENTS

Apropos of the boom in bicycles — Milwaukee boasts a 64-mile bicycle route around the city. Nantucket's seven mile path to 'Sconset is yet to be completed. *

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We have long held to the notion that letters of praise have no place on an editorial page; they shouldn't even be mentioned. Pats on the back are very nice, but they tend to develop a rather stiffling complacency when it comes to running even a small magazine. Better the well aimed verbal brick­ bat to keep all hands on their toes and forward-looking. There is, however, an exception to every rule and we claim one in the case of a letter received recently from Mr. Frank J. Skelly, of Salem, Massachusetts. Mr. Skelly is a side-wheel steamboat "buff," and writes to tell us that he read with interest the article in the October number of HISTORIC NANTUCKET suggesting the re-creation of a side-wheeler for Nantucket. Mr. Skelly speaks of such a craft as a "beam engined steamboat," which is a good point, because there were late side-wheelers with horizontal power plants that eliminated the "walking beam." The lovely "Priscilla" and mighty "Commonwealth" of the old Fall River Line were examples.

Mr. Skelly's enthusiasm for beam engine steamboats dates way back when, as a boy, he rode to and fro on the ferries to East Boston, and ma­ turity has nowise abated it. He has converted his wife and together they have sought out and happily traveled on side-wheelers whenever and wher­ ever they have been able to locate them. They came to Nantucket ("your wonderful island") on their honeymoon and again five years later, traveling by steamboat both ways. Of this he says they went down by a "Skinner Uniflow, which I do not consider a traditional steamboat." Mr. Skelly plainly has nothing but scorn for the modern oil-burning motor vessel, speaking of the "shake, rattle and roll and smell Bluenose," on which he once voyaged from Yarmouth, N. S., to Bar Harbor, Maine. He concludes: "You seem to enjoy a boat that is a boat and looks like a boat. . . . It is my belief that a real honest to goodness beam engined steamboat should be operating in every navigable river, lake, bay, and sound and seaport to keep alive an American tradition." Well, Mr. Skelly, we are with you a hundred per cent; and, as the "Oracle" in Yankee says, "You may lay to that." Thank you, Mr. Skelly, very much for your nice letter.

The Nantucket Historical Association has received another very welcome gift, this of about $5,000 worth of corporation stock, which, according to the wishes of the donors who desire to remain anonymous, were sold, the proceeds to be applied as follows: $1,000 to the development and upkeep of the garden and grounds of the Hadwen House-Satler Memorial; $1,000 to the professional designing and making of a crewel-work bedspread for the latter exhibit; and the remainder of the fund to the restoration of the nu­ merous paintings owned by the Association. Nantucket's atmosphere, free as it is from the corrosive elements that damage (sometimes irreparably) oil paintings in metropolitan collections, is easy on Island paintings. However, these do require some attention and the Association will now be able to secure for its own paintings the expert advice and treatment which lack of funds heretofore has prevented.

26

Diary of William C. Folger EDITED BY NANCY S. ADAMS

(Continued from the October. 1965. issue of "Historic Nantucket") WILLIAM C. FOLGER was a direct descendant from Peter the 1st. He was born in Nantucket June 8, 1806. After gaining his education, he taught school here and, later, on the Cape and in Ohio. He also was a land surveyor for 50 years. He commenced the work of genealogical research about 1842 and pursued it until his death on November 10, 1891.

He gathered his material first from his relative Benjamin Franklin Fol­ ger 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 Dictionary. It was entirely a labor of love and he left a worthy monument which has been carefully preserved. No one knew more about Nantucket land-holdings than did William C. Folger and, during the rest of his life after returning to the Island, he was frequently called on to settle boundary disputes too vague and uncertain for any court to handle.

His diary starts in the year 1835.

1840 Oct. 24—I paid Stephen Easton $16.67 being my one third of share in Bap. Meeting House and took receipt from him as Collector. Cephas I. Ames and Sam. H. Ames each paid $16.67 on first payment toward their shares in B.M.H. Soc. Paid Stephen Easton and Hiram B. Andrews each ten dollars for work on M.H. Paid Lot D. Fisher $13.00 for labor on M. H. Received from Hon. Barker Burnell and George B. Upton the sum of $16.67 each for shares in M.H. Soc. I measured a piece of land for Capt. George Chase this afternoon.

Oct. 26—Paid Isaah Folger for freight for Mahogany for Bap. M.H. the sum of $1.00 I put off my school till day after to-morrow on account of a reported case of Varioloid near the school house.

Oct. 27—The carpenters began to raise the Bap. M.H. this afternoon.

Oct. 28—Finshed raising the sides and ends and raised three of the five rafters which are bolted together with iron. 1 paid yesterday to Henry C. Worth $4.00 for a silk hat got of him last week.

These past two weeks I have endeavoured to teach an evening school but for want of scholars being ready, but two having attended, I have now put it off till next week.

Oct. 29—By cash received from Samuel R. Bartlett, H. G. O. Dunham, and Jonathan Paddack each $16.67 for their first payments on shares in Bap. M. H. Soc. Oct. 31—Finished raising this forenoon the rafters which are bound together with iron and began to board on the Bap. M.H. Cash paid to Alexander M. Adams $10.00 and to Stephen Easton $8.00 for labor on B.M.H. I heard the lecture given by Hon. Stephen C. Phillips of Salem delivered before the Nan­ tucket Democratic Whig Association this evening.

DIARY OF WILLIAM C. FOLGER

27

Nov. 1—I went out this day to Polpis, attended the Meeting in afternoon and evening saw for the first time the schoolhouse they have recently built. Took tea and lodged and breakfast with William Bennett, walked down.

Benjamin H. Folger, son of Roland, began to go to school to-day. Paid Cash $7.50 to James C. Lawrence for carting for the Baptist Meeting House.

Nov. 3—The Nantucket Baptist Soc. to cash paid Joseph Ramsdell for labor in hoisting up rafters of Meeting House, 50cts.

Nov. 4 Cash paid Jesse Eldridge for B.Soc. $4.00. To nineteen dollars cash paid Isaah Rolger to pay Caleb C. Cook of Providence for his bill for Ma­ hogany & carting for the Bap. Soc. Nov. 7—Cash handed to Stephen Easton on account labor on M.H. $5.00 and to Hiram B. Andrews on acct. of labor on M.H. $15.00.

Nov. 9—I distributed votes for Harrison & Reform & voted myself. Uncle Aaron returned some books & I lent him some others.

Nov. 10

Benjamin Nutter began to go to school to me evenings.

Nov. 11 I finished plotting the survey of George Chase land near Orange Street. I borrowed the Life of Lorenzo de Medici by Wm. Rogers from C. C. Hazewell.

Nov. 12—The steamboat came bringing the joyous news to us Whigs of the election of the Patriot, Statesman, Gen. William H. Harrison to the Presidency of this Glorious Republic. 1 was in the evening with the Whigs at Washington Hall.

Nov. 14—Cash received from Stephen Easton, Collecter, $16.67 being John G. Thurber's first payment on his share in Bap. Soc. Also $16.67 from John Cook, Jr., on his share in the Bap. Soc. To cash paid to Amos Eldridge for labor $5.00: to Barnabas Bourne $5.00: to Stephen Easton $5.00 all for labor on Bap. M.H.Soc. I got paint and painted a sink made for me by Stephen Easton a light blue, got the paint of Allen Gibbs. Capt. Peter Chase paid me some time ago $1.00 for surveying for him up to the North Shore.

I paid Mary R. Bunker 50cts for this weeks washing up to this date.

Nov. 18—To cash paid for labor on M.H. Edward H. Bennett $7.00 and received from same $1.00 on account of admission fee as member of the Nantucket Baptist Soc. Paid 15cts for oil for Vestry for the Bap. Soc. Nov. 21—By cash received to the credit of the Nan. Bap. Soc. $25.00 paid in by Charles G. Coffin on his share. Surveyed a piece of land on Washington Street for Henry Swift, land bought of Jesse Gardner. Cash paid to the fol­ lowing carpenters who have worked on the Bap. M.H. Moses Swith - 10.00; Barnabas E. Bourne - 10.00: Asa P. Jones - 15.00; H. B. Andrews - 5.00; S. Easton - 2.00; Amos Eldridge - $6.00.

Nov. 26—Labor on M.H. William F. Parker $57.11.

Nov. 27—To mony paid James Ross for tending mason at M.H. Nov. 28—To cash paid for oil to light the New Meeting house whilst drying the plastering 50cts.

Nov. 26—It being Thanksgiving Day I had no school today. I went out to Polpis with Jonathan Paddack to measure two lines of a farm he has bought of Ellis Morey. Stormy day. Called a few minutes at Barna Coffin's. I found that Jona thinks deed spoke of about 11 acres of land more than it conveyed.

28

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

The masons finished plastering the M.H. this afternoon. I was at the Vestry meeting in the evening and watched the fires at the M.H. during half the night.

Nov. 28—I again went to Polpis with Jonathan to try to find something more about his land but did not take down any tools as Ellis had not got his papers there as he agreed to have them. I had some of E. M. Gardners scholars in my evening school on the 20, 21 & 23 of this month to accommo­ date him when he went off and Mr. Round the Baptist minister assisted me on those evenings. Bot one quart of sperm oil 28cts. I subscribed and paid two dollars toward a subscription raised to be presented to Rev. Daniel Round, Jr. Nov. 29—I watched at the M.H. this afternoon and night.

Nov. 30—I had a new scholar to-day.

Dec. 1—Capt. Randall paid $4.00 on his bill for James Henry's school bill.

Joseph James paid 1.67 being the balance of his son's school bill.

Dec. 2—I bot a quarter cord of pine wood for $1,3114 paid carting 1214 cts, sawing 25cts. I paid Allen Gibbs 79 cts. being for the several times I have painted my sink and 1214 cts for setting a square of glass in school house. Rec'd from Father his Magnum Bonum razor which he sent me by Capt. Hatzel K. Handy also in cash $2.6214 being for whale oil sold. I surveyed a piece of land near the Cash's gate, belonging to George R. Gardner.

Dec. 3—I gave the scholars a holiday to-day as the Town schools were being examined. I surveyed a piece of land on South Union St. for Samuel Woodward. Meeting of the Baptist Vestry first held at the School house in School street.

Dec. 6—I subscribed one dollar towards getting a set of the Evangelical Library for the Baptist Sabbath school library.

Dec. 7—several new scholars this day. I had no school this evening or rather broke up my school to go to a called meeting at the Friend's Meeting House & heard Lindley M. Hoeg speak.

Dec. 8—Harriet Gruber began to go to my school this evening.

Dec. 9—Obed Barney paid me $16.78 on my signing the paper of the As­ signees of Asa G. Bunker, it being 11%. I got of the agent of the American Tract Society a set of the Evangelical Library in 15 volumes, intending to let the Baptist Sunday School have them when they complete the subscrip­ tion. I paid $6.50. I also got an Essay to do Good, by Dr. Cotton Mather for 1214 cts.

Dec. 9—I made out a new plot of a part of the land I surveyed last week.

I charged for the two first plots $2.00 and for this 33cts. I have received of Asa Bunker $1.00 towards the plots.

Dec. 10—Meeting of the Corporation of the Nantucket Baptist Soc. at half past five p.m. at School house. I was appointed their Attorney to get the Meeting House insured also to affix the Corporation Seal for that purpose.

Appointed Comm. to attend at the Dedication next week. Voted to put on a spire. Admitted 4 new members. After the Corp. adjourned there was a meeting for the purpose of religious worship.

Dec. 11—I handed in to the printing office a notice of the Dedication.

DIARY OF WILLIAM C. FOLGER

29

Dec. 12—I worked in School house in fixing anew some of the benches.

I carried to the Democratic Editor the Life of Lorenzo de Medici in two Vols,

by Roscoe which I had read through and he lent me the History of Florence of L A. DuPont.

Dec. 14—I was at a party at Capt. Potter's this evening — I got E. S. Hussey to tend for me at the school and receive such scholars as might come & dismiss them. I had sent notices to most of them.

Dec. 15—I had one or two new scholars to-day.

Dec. 16—I paid on second day to Capt. Potter's father-in-law 25cts. being for two loads of shavings that I had bought of him to take from the Baptist house for Lydia G. Bunker.

Dec. 17—I attended the Dedication of the Baptist Meeting House in after­ noon & evening. Present James C. Boomer of Holmes Hole. Hall of Edgartown and John Lord of Charlestown, Mass., and the minister of Nantucket and from five to six hundred people.

Dec. 18—Paid cash to boys for going of errands to get chains & other articles to forward the house for dedication. I had a vacation of my school or holiday all day yesterday on account of the Dedication and again this forenoon to see about getting the chairs home and to prepare a piece for the Inquirer about the Dedication. I paid lOcts. postage on a latter from Capt.

L. D. Bassatt with regards to his share in B.M.H. Dec. 19—I bot the other day of S. Haynes Jenks 6 newspapers and I this day put one in the office for each of the following persons: one to Father; one to Miss M.E.C. of Harwich; one to Samuel Rogers of Brewster; one to Capt. Robert B. Chase of Cleveland, Ohio, and gave the other to Rev. D. Round, Jr. Dec. 20—Meeting to-day and this evening in the New B.M.H. —- I acted as one of the building Comm. to take care of fores etc. We had to borrow a number of chairs the house was so crowded, I gave 50cts toward the collec­ tion. Was up to A. Morses in evening.

Dec. 21—Had two new scholars to-day and some more in the evening.

Dec. 23—I surveyed a piece of land on Gay Street belonging to the heirs of Capt. Peter Coffin. Paid I^ydia G. Bunker five dollars cash on acc't of board.

Dec. 24—I bot half a cord of pine wood at $5.50 per cord; $2.75 for carting & 33cts for sawing & splitting and put in the school house. Meeting at the school house this evening.

Dec. 25—No school to-day. went to Episcopal Church in the morning.

Dec. 25—Meeting in the evening of the Building Comm., voted not to finish the tower nor put up fence untill more suitable weather.

Dec. 26—I handed to Zephaniah C. Wood a plot of the whole piece of land on Gay street surveyed for Andrew M. Macy and a plot of a part of it made for himself. I charged $1.50 for the survey and 50cts for the plot he paid me 50cts for his plot.

Dec. 27—I plotted my survey of the Jesse Gardner land made a number of weeks ago for Henry Swift. I got Stephen Easton to make two spit boxes for me for the school house and he delivered them yesterday, charged 33cts.

I had a letter from Father a few days ago in which he mentions the death

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

of Jonathan Snow, Jr. he says he could not come on for the dedication as he has to light their Meeting House 3 times a week. He has not his usual cough & is pretty smart.

Dec. 28—I took up the Nan. Baptist Soc. note to Nabby Bailey for $30.00 dated Aug. 10 and on which $15.00 paid was endorsed Aug. 27, 1840, the balance now due her was $15.00 plus 38cts interest. Had this evening two more girls in my evening school, namely; Lucretia Paddack & Ann Folger.

Dec. 29— I paid Charles S. Jenkins one dollar for framing & glazing my portrait of President Harrison.

Dec. 30—Got Charles Jenkins to set two panes of glass in Edward P. Coffin's house opposite the school house which my scholars had broken.

I was this evening at a meeting held at the School house, the last day of the year.

(To Be Continued)

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 development of our country. You can perpetuate that interest by giving to the Association a legacy under your will, which will help to insure the Association's carrying on. Counsel advises that legacies to the Nantucket Historical Association are allowable deductions under the Federal Estate Tax law.

Legacies will be used for general or specific purposes as directed by the donor. A sample form may read as follows: "I give, devise, and bequeath to the Nantucket Historical Association, a corporation duly or­ ganized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and located in the Town of Nantucket, in said Commonwealth, the sum of Dollars."

Legacies may be made also in real estate, bonds, stocks, books, paint­ ings, or any objects having historical value, in which event a brief descrip­ tion of the same should be inserted instead of a sum of money.

Please send all communications to Miss Ethel Anderson, Secretary, Box 1016, Nantucket, Massachusetts, 02554. Office, Fair Street Museum.

Winter Frosting on one of the Very Old Houses in Centre Street.