Historic Nantucket, July 1968, Vol. 16 No. 1

Historic Nantucket

Mooer's Lane — One of Nantucket's Charming Crossways

ANNUAL REPORTS NUMBER

JULY, 1968

Published Quarterly by

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, Edouard A. Stackpole.

Vice Presidents, Miss Grace Brown Gardner, W. Ripley Nelson, Albert F Egan, Jr., Alcon Chadwick, Henry B. Coleman, George W. Jones.

Honorary Vice President, Mrs. William L. Mather.

Treasurer, Roger J. Roche.

Secretary, Mrs. Austin Tyrer.

Councillors, Edouard A. Stackpole, Chairman; Mrs. Ernest H. Menges, Walter Beinecke, Jr., terms expire 1968; Leroy H. True, Herbert I. Terry, terms expire 1969: Mrs. J. Clinton Andrews, Richard F. Swain, terms expire 1970; Mrs. Albert F. Egan, Jr., H. Errol Coffin, terms expire 1971.

Executive Committee, W. Ripley Nelson, Chairman; Alcon Chadwick, Henry B. Coleman, Albert F. Egan, Jr., George W. Jones, Edouard A. Stackpole,

ex officio.

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

Honorary Curator, Mrs. William L. Mather.

Curator, Miss Dorothy Gardner.

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

Chairmen of Exhibits, Historical Museum, Mrs. Elizabeth Worth; 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, Mrs. Herbert Foye; Fire Hose Cart House, Irving T. Bartlett; Oldest House, Mrs. J. Clinton Andrews; Franklin-Folger Seat and Memorial Boulder, Herbert I. Terry.

STAFF Historical Museum and Friends Meeting House Chairman and Receptionist Librarian Relief

Mrs. Elizabeth Worth Miss Alice Crocker Mrs. Roy H. Gilpatrick

Oldest House Chairman Receptionist

Mrs. J. Clinton Andrews Mrs. Lawrence F. Mooney

Hadwen House - Satler Memorial Chairman Chairman, Reception Committee

Albert F. Egan, Jr. Mrs. Irving Soverino

The 1800 House Chairman and Receptionist

Mrs. Herbert Foye

The Old Jail Chairman Receptionist

Albert G. Brock Joseph LaVoie

The Old Mill Chairman Receptionist

Henry B. Coleman Frank W. Ramsdell

The Whaling Museum Chairman Administrator Receptionist Relief Receptionist, Craft Shops Relief Sales Clerk Librarian

W. Ripley Nelson Walter W. Lindquist Mrs. Elizabeth Lindquist Mrs. Dorothea C. Peters Mrs. Sidney W. Thurston Bertram E. Morris Clarence H. Swift Miss Lisbeth Taylor Mrs. Reginald F. Hussey

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

VOLUME 16

July 1968

No. 1

Nantucket Historical Association Officers

2

Green Hand on the Susan, 1841-1846

By Edgar L. McCormick

5

Nantucket Friends Meeting, Summer 1967, with some Account of Friends Present and Past and their Interests from Indians and Slavery to the Great Fire of 1846

By Katherine Seeler

14

Annual Reports

19

Recent Events

30

Legacies and Bequests

-

Nantucket Historical Association Schedule of Exhibits

31 32

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 S3.00 : Sustaining $10.00; Lite—one payment $50.00 Second-class postage paid at Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Copyright, 1968, Nantucket Historical Association Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts, 02554.

The Great Woods Fire of April 10th, 1968, viewed from South Beach

5

Green Hand on the "Susan", 1841-1846

BY EDGAR

L. MCCORMICK

NINETEENTH-CENTURY WHALING VOYAGE is infin­ itely more significant than those involved in its long months of weary labor and brittle weather were likely to realize. No matter how formal the captain's log or how voluminous the oc­ casional journal kept by a green hand, such records inevitably reveal mysteries and perils unknown to the familiar islanded existence. In the midst of the practicality of the voyage, there was little chance for speculation about the strange and the inex­ plicable, but the objects and events that symbolized them were always visible. And no matter how blunt and terse, the daily en­ tries show that Captain and green hand alike responded to the unexpected and the uncharted. Now to us, the voyages they felt compelled to record seem analogues of life.

One such voyage is that of the Susan of Nantucket to the Pa­ cific's Off-Shore Grounds, the Line, the Middle Grounds, the Japan Grounds, and the Northwest Coast. Her fifty-three months of cruising from December 8, 1841 to May 28, 1846 yielded 637 barrels of sperm oil, 1,405 of whale oil, and 12,000 lbs. of whale bone. It is evident from such a manifest that the Captain did his best to make the voyage a success.

All the Susan's officers were Nantucketers: Reuben Russell, Master; James Pitman, Mate; Oliver Coleman, 2nd Mate; George W. Macy, 2nd, 3rd Mate; and John B. Starbuck, 4th Mate. Starbuck was boatsteerer for the starboard boat; John W. Wood of St. Thomas, W. Indies, for the larboard boat; David Osborn from New Jersey, for the waist boat; and Valentine B. Pease from Long Island, for the bow boat.

And among the several green hands among the crew was Andrew B. Meader (1820-1864), son of Thomas and Deborah Meader of Nantucket, who kept a lengthy journal of the newness, danger, and ennui through which the Susan moved. And so well did Andrew prove himself on this voyage that he later was to migrate to Ohio to marry Ann Maria Russell, the Captain's daughter. His journal survives today in the possession of his Dr. McCormick, Professor of English and Assistant-Dean at Kent State University, in the course of summer visits to Nantucket became interested in the Nantucket migrations to Portage County, Ohio, in the Western Reserve Territory. He has contributed to HISTORIC NANTUCKET the following articles on the subject: "Melville's Third Captain", April '62; "William M. Folger and the Prentiss House", October '62; "Nantucket in Portage County, Ohio", in two parts, January '63 and April '63. This salty and lively narrative of life on a mid-nineteenth century whaleship will unfold serially.—Ed.

6

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

granddaughter, Mrs. Earl Stevens of Ravenna who has graciously permitted my use of it.

Captain Reuben Russell (1799-1875), the son of Charles and Hepsabeth Coffin Russell of Nantucket, followed the sea from 1.813 to 1846, serving as Master Mariner for over two decades.

In 1847, with his brother Charles C., also a Captain, he moved to Rootstown, Ohio, ready for the change that farm life offered, and for the companionship of his family: Maria Gardner, his wife, and their children, Albert G., Ann Maria, Emily, and Reuben, Jr. Captain Russell was experienced and perceptive, and his log of this last voyage, beautifully illustrated with his drawings of ships, landfalls, and whales, reveals his competence and artistry.

His great-grandson, E. F. Spelman of North Royalton, Ohio has kindly let me use the log. I am also indebted to the Spelman fam­ ily for a picture of Andrew Meader.

It is my intention to draw from these two sources an account of men confronted with themselves, with one another, and with nature. I shall depend mostly upon Andrew Meader, for he wrote outside of the conventions of the regular log. His reactions are often sharp and detailed; the Captain's more succinct record affords a check and balance on the green hand's enthusiasm and speculation. When a date is in question or navigational data is uncertain, the ship's log is considered authoritative.

This then, is the story of the voyage, pared of routine mat­ ters, very much as Andrew Meader himself told it in his journal.

I To the Off-Shore Grounds After fitting at Edgartown during two weeks tinged with ice and snow, the Susan "hauled off in the stream below the flats" on Thursday, December 8, 1841. There she awaited good weather and fair tide. On the 12th she had the misfortune to trip her anchor and back into the coasting schooner, Narragansett, cutting her own stern boat nearly in two. But on the 13th she was truly underweigh. Captain Reuben Russell reported four ships in com­ pany and added proudly, "and we outsail them all."

Andrew Meader, a green hand, began his journal as formally as if he were in charge of the Susan's log. On December 22, how­ ever, the moonlight inspired him to write at length : "Now that I am on the sea and have a beautiful moonlight evening before me, now can I say that I didn't imagine half the grandeur. It is now the watch called the Dog Watch, when every man is allowed the privilege of being his own man, doing what small jobs he has to do, loafing about deck, spinning yarns or whatever else he likes.

At present our jolly crew are assembled on the main deck and some of the darkies are dancing to the quick notes of the accord­ ion, while the two watch-dogs are sporting and jumping about from one end of the ship to the other, seeming to be enjoying themselves in the Dog Watch as well as any of the best.

GREEN HAND ON THE "SUSAN"

7

But the next day brought a "perfect gale from N.E." which continued unabated through Christmas day. "Some of our greeneys who were so lively last night are now sea-sick as death and can't find their trowsers," observed Meader, who was below when the heavy sea first made fore and aft over the Susan. ". . . Amid the bawling of the wind through the rigging and the dashing of the waters against the ship, the heavy squalls of rain and the orders of the officer, we could hear the 'heave ho' of the sailors. ... At last it came my trick of two hours at the wheel where I had the pleasure of receiving a thorough ducking of fresh and salt water, mixed, and then kept in as straight a position as pos­ sible that the water might run off. In this manner, many times, sailors have the only way of drying their clothes. Who wouldn't sell a farm to go to sea, where they sometimes get three meals a day and a ducking extra for nothing."

On deck, Meader saw some "standing to windward holding by the halliards, and others by the rail. If one happens to miss his hold, when a sea comes, away to leeward he goes, and wallows a spell in the lee scuppers ... he is sure to have the laugh of all hands upon him." A "greeney" . . . "deputized by the forecastle to carry their bucket of tea forward" slipped in the heavy sea and "away went the bucket, tea, and greeney." He got "a scalded foot and a few rounds of grapeshot and cannister curses from the old t^rs " Sunday, December 26, was calm. Meader and his fellows washed their clothes and got things snug again. On Monday they heard their first cry from aloft, "There she blows!" . . . All was hurry and confusion, each boatsteerer and oarsman was running for a boat, but none knew which he belonged to for as yet neither boats' crews were picked out, nor boats allotted to steerers. How­ ever . . . the fish went down after he spouted a few times and he being four or five miles to leeward we lost sight of him. . . . An­ other beautiful evening . . . how I should like to be home . . . if I could enjoy the weather there, but we know it must be very cold at Nantucket, if not stormy, we are now a long way from there [Latt.

33.30 N, Long. 38-30W] and are also drawing toward a region of the world where good weather prevails. I hope in the course of an­ other week to be . . . where we can depend more on the looks of the clouds, sun, moon, etc. This coast of N. America is said to be an ugly place to cruise on in the winter, and I have every reason to believe the saying."

The Captain and the starboard boat responded to the cry from the mast head on December 30, but instead of a whale found a wrecked brig or schooner of about 50 or 60 tons, "bottom up­ ward and the starboard side stove in . . . owing to its being rough we did not scuttle her to ascertain if she had any cargo," wrote Captain Russell. "She only showed her keel above water, the sea broke constantly over her. She was surrounded with several kinds of fish." .

On January 1 the Captain noted that the weather was fair and all were well except the carpenter. But to the green hand,

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

employed in the rigging, the day awakened memories of a time "when enjoyment and amusement were no strangers. . . . and ... if I was at home, there is no doubt that I should be among the many in enjoying this day. . . . But here where we are it is fashionable to take but little notice of such times, not even enough to give us either cake or duff."

On Sunday, January 2, Andrew Meader reported "the Barber business carried on to a great extent today, lots of hair cropped, most enough to fill a common sized bed. Our Captain seems to pay high respect for the Sabbath and will have as little work done on this day as he can. He with the rest of the officers seemed wellpleased this afternoon while a few of the crew forward were singing hymns with the accompaniment of the solemn notes of the accordion, while others of the crew were stretched out at full length on the deck, either reading the Big Book or some other holy work."

On Monday, Boatsteerer Pease "raised the spout of a whale twice, but it was only visible to his eagle eyes," wrote Meader.

A week of monotonous sea duty followed, with long watches at the mast head. But a strange ship broke the dullness on January 10. It "proved to be the Portuguese Hermorphrodite Brig under all sail," and Meader was fascinated by the encounter that followed: "When she perceived us, she hoisted her colours, wove round, and run for us. At the same time our Captain hoisted the Ensign at the Peak. When about a mile on our weather beam, she hauled up her spencer, and fired a gun to leeward. Our Captain, who was looking through his glass all the while, now grew suspicious on seeing so many men on her deck, and she answering the descrip­ tion of one of the many pirates who infest these lattitudes, called all hands, hauled up the mainsail, hove the main yard aback, put the helm hard down, and called the man down from mast head.

The suspicious stranger now bore proudly down before the wind and crossed our stern, and hove to under our lee, at the same time hailing us in broken English, 'Ship ahoy,' 'Are you a whaler,' 'What is your longitude'; to which questions he got his respective answers, but not seeming to understand us, he wrote on his quarter bulwarks ' 25' 45" ' to which our Captain wrote on a board '26' 30".' The stranger then hailed 'Thank ye,' 'Good bye,' waved his hand, up helm and was off and soon out of sight. Various were the conjectures on board by some of our men. Some thought he must be a pirate by his having . . . about 25 men, and that he was too much afraid of our sharp lances and whaling gear to attempt to board us, but that he would cruise a little longer, to fall in with some richly laden West Indiaman. Anyhow we were all glad when he was out of sight."

In contrast, the Captain noted simply that the brig was a trader enroute to Brazil "with lady passengers on board' and that "he came down only to learn our longitude which differed very much from his."

On January 11, the Susan sighted the Island of St. Antonio and steered S.S.E. towards Brava. Andrew Meader was one of the

GREEN HAND ON THE "SUSAN"

9

boat crew making two trips ashore there for fruit, chickens, and eggs. On the 12th two boats traded iron hoops, rice and old bread for goats, hogs, fowl, bananas, oranges and lemons. The carpen­ ter, too sick to work, asked for his discharge on January 13. The next day Captain Russell got a certificate of discharge for him from the American consular agent and shipped four Portuguese "to go the voyage." Meader learned that the Captain paid the governor $36.00 to cover the carpenter's passage home. He was amused by "the capers of our new Portuguese who are green as grass about the ship and can hardly speak a word of English, but seem to be quite active and likely to make smart fellows."

This same day "the cake that we brought from Edgartown was . . . overhauled in the Bull-Room and Steerage and we found it a little mouldy so cut of [f] the mould, and 'to save it, eat it'."

Outward bound on January 19, the Susan took a squall from the S.E., letting all sail stand. Porpoises were close under the bow on the 20th, "but they were very shy," said Meader. On Friday, the 21st, almost to the Line of Latt. 2.07N, he reported "our crew have a fine time just before sundown in swimming." He noted on January 25 that the starboard, larboard, and waist boats lowered at 4 p.m. so that the green hands might practice rowing and "the larboard boat beat all hollow." The next morning in a dead calm three boats "paddled" for a school of blackfish and "after try­ ing for two hours, the waist boat fastened and brought alongside a pretty good sized one." (It later made 20 gallons in the boiling out).

On January 30 Captain Russell closed his entry with a sketch of a huge sperm whale — the Susan was in luck, acquiring over 80 bbls. of oil at Latt. 0.07S. Meader, in describing the chase, used a page of his journal.

Three boats had been lowered within a mile of the whale's going down. ". . . The starboard boat being ahead when the whale rose . . . then pulled up and Mr. Starbuck put his Iron in real solid, then lanced him, when he went down and took all the Starboard boat's line. Then we in the larboard boat pulled up and bent on, but the old sog took all of our line." The waist boat tried next, but their line fouled and they had to cut. The whale kept within 6 or 8 miles of the Susan, "so we sprung to our oars and the Lar­ board boat reached him first and as we had nothing but short warp left, we put on a drug and Iron and gave it to him ... we pulled hard and hooked up the fast line that was floating on the water and held on in hopes to get a chance to lance him, but Mr. Coleman being nearer the whale and having some spare line, he fastened again at the same time the starboard boat hooked up the end of the fast line. So here was two drugs and three boats fast to him, but the whale kept milling around and kicking us in the bite of the line and [to] keep from capsizing we let go to the Starboard boat who soon hauled up close as he could to the whale and then cut. . . but Mr. Coleman got fast again and at 5 o'clock we turned him up about 4 miles from the ship. After he sounded the first time he never went down again although he kept alive and run-

10

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

ning for four or five hours. We hooked on to him and we three boats pulled him to the ship by i/2 Past 7." At 84 in the shade it was "warm work cutting in" the Captain noted. At noon on February 2 they "bailed out the last dipper full from the cooler," said Andrew in an entry as short as the Captain's usually were.

Two days later he told of a merchantman hailing them: "We gave him our names, and asked him his, but the Captain was gentleman enough to know it best himself, so he withheld it and hauled on the wind again. . . ."

When the 81 bbls and 10 gals, were coopered and stored away, Captain Russell "divided a 30 lb. cheese equally amongst the Bull-Room, Steerage and Forecastle. A grand treat," declared Meader, "to be eating good cheese with a tin pot of dish water vulgarly called tea, and any quantity of hard biscuit soaked in it, and to top it off, a tin pan of cold potatoes and salt junk. So Salt Junkish — and lean, that it would make first rate Jack Knife handles. Although this they tell me is good living to what some whale ships have (but I had rather have poorer living among a greater variety of people, to use the words of Solomon 'who wouldn't sell a wife and farm to go to sea'."

Then followed a week of tarring down the rigging, fitting a new mainsail and new fore and main topsails. Three hours were devoted, Meader reported, "in raising a monument to illus­ trious Blacksmiths in the shape of a Forge and Anvil when our little Irish Blacksmith is installed as chief de horse and the way he seivs up damaged Iron crockery is cautionary to cautious."

On February 12, with hot, clear weather, "berths are turned inside out and their contents hang on the clothes line to air" ob­ served Meader, adding that "many do not pretend to sleep below decks at any time." But by the 16th, at Latt. 3'.29"S and Long.

35.47W, he found "a great coat quite comfortable at night." On the 17th he noted the butchering of "a couple of beautiful and fat kids who had been fed on musty tobacco for these few days past."

One was for the Cabin, and "half of that being left, with the other one made a fine tea party for the steerage and Forecastle."

On the Monday, the 21st, strong winds began which by mid­ week had turned into heavy gales. On the 24th Meader mentioned an unsatisfactory culinary experience: "Caught, killed and cooked an Albertross [sic] or goney, a very large bird but was so strong flavoured that they are seldom eaten. This one was so tough and strong that but little of it was eat."

On March 4 the voyage ended for Robert Phillips, about 24 years old, of Newburg, New York. "He was standing on the martengale guy," said Meader, "with a porpoise Iron in his hand . . . but suddenly a heavy sea came and ... he went down partly under the ship and came up to windward off against the waist when he was heard to say, 'oh dear' two or three times. We were under such headway that it was impossible to throw anything for him to catch at before he was a long way astern."

"There is nothing more dismal or that causes more confu­ sion than the cry of a man overboard," wrote the Captain. "Our

GREEN HAND ON THE "SUSAN"

11

ship was going at the rate of 8 knots, but it did not exceed five minutes before she was a back & a boat lowered which came very near to upsetting under the counter of the ship, but the man was heavily clothed with pea jacket and boots & could not swim. . . . he was soon engulfed & the scene closed. The boat returned with a slow, disconsolate motion."

With all hope of rescue past, the Susan "raised one of the Falkland Islands called Phillips Island, the same name of the man we lost" observed Meader. And it was Meader, too, who noted the sad inventory made the next day of the lost man's possessions before his chest was put "down in the run."

Several days of moderate weather followed; the Susan neared Staten Island. On March 10, Meader and the crew enjoyed "a fine fresh meal" of part of a large porpoise. On the 11th, from a boat, they "shot and caught a shag" which "made a fine mess for the steerage" the next day. "It had much the same taste of a shoal duck," said Meader. And the remains of the porpoise yielded six quarts of excellent oil. Porpoises and penguins were common as the Susan swung south of the Horn which it sighted on March 17.

The same day the green hand enjoyed his first gam. They had raised a sail at 8 a.m. which proved to be the Ship Constitu­ tion (Ramsdell) of Nantucket, returning with 2,150 bbls. of sperm oil after 32 months out. "Gam'd till near noon when we give them our letters . . . sent two letters to Mother."

On that same day Captain Russell set his crew to sorting potatoes and they also broke out the forehold for water. On the 19th he judged they were off Diego [Ramirez]. Meader's journal now is filled with mention of heavy gales, the lashing down of the fore and main hatches, and "the sea making over her fore and aft." . . . these are hard times when every watch has sail to make and to take in, two or three times in a watch, and the weather cold and sea rough, makes a chap 'remember his friends on land'."

The Friendship of Fairhaven passed the Susan on the 29th "she having out more sail than we." She was 111 days out, bound for the Northwest Coast after Right whales. Frequent snow and hail squalls turned into a "thick snow storm from 5 to 12" on the night of April 3. "Cold, uncomfortable weather," added the Captain, "thermometer at 44 deg. in the cabin."

But by April 10 the Horn had been conquered and fine moderate weather prevailed. "Clothes are hanging in any abun­ dance about the rigging to dry," Meader reported. "Just after sundown Mr. Starbuck went forward while porpoises were playing under the bow and was fortunate enough to strike one which was a species of Right Whale Porpoise. We went to work clean­ ing him, getting Blubber off and the lean meat was hung up to dry before cooking." Two days later, they tryed out the porpoise and got seven quarts.

Captain Russell set his crew to cleaning the ship inside as they neared Talcahuano. They saw land at daylight on April

12

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

18 "and kept off N.E. St. Mary's . . . saw the paps [of Bio-Bio] off our lee bow ... at noon saw Port St. Vincent." Thursday, April 21, at 3 p.m., the Susan anchored in the port of Talcahuano, in company with eleven ships. On the 22nd, after all hands had coopered oil, 69 bbls. were shipped on the Magnolia (Barnard) to New Bedford at three dollars per barrel.

One watch had shore liberty on the 24th and all but one man returned the next day. "At 7 p.m. on the 25th, David Osborn accidentally shot one of his fingers off with a pistol and lodged the ball in John Taylor's knee." Both were sent ashore to a sur­ geon. The Magnolia sailed April 28; the Susan's crew stowed down water and painted the ship.

On May 1, William Lyons deserted, the Captain noted, "tak­ ing all his effects with him." Louis Williams deserted on the 3rd.

The crew got off water and potatoes, and painted spars. Lyons was brought aboard on May 4 (Captain Russell had sent a search party ashore). Two Sandwich Islanders were shipped on May 5, a third recruit was added on the 6th. Meader listed them as "Spunyarn, George & William, Kanakas."

On May 7 in company with the Alexander Barclay, the Susan left Talcahuano and cruised off Masafuero. After sixteen days in port, Andrew Meader turned to his journal again. He saw Tal­ cahuano as "a port which is very remarkable for the villiany [sic] of its inhabitants, they look 'and if report says true they don't belie their looks' as if they could be hired to rob a man for a shil­ ling and kill him for half that. There are few among them that can be trusted. They are one and all 'lazy' for by a little industry they could get rich by cultivating such fertile soil, still, it seems they had rather go half clothed and half fed than soil their deli­ cate hands. Nearly all the work that is done is done by females, who go about in the sun and exposed to all weather, without any covering to their head, except what nature gave them; though they are so bad, yet one of our colored men named Louis Williams chose rather to stay among them, so he ran away and we came off without him."

On May 10 the Susan sighted Juan Fernandez where Mr. Pitman took the starboard boat ashore to fish and got "a good lot of Cod, Trout & Poggies." "Four men reported to be living on the Island," added Andrew Meader, "3 of them Ameri­ cans, the other an Englishman." On the 11th the Susan tacked off and on under the lee of the island with three boiling ships nearby, one of them boiling a whale. At 9 p.m., abreast of the harbor, the Susan sent a boat in, which returned the next day with "about 50 fine fish, no fruit to be had, it being about one month too late."

Captain Russell also noted that the three ships seen the day before were the Daniel Webster of Nantucket (22 months out, 2,000 Bbls.) the Roman (2,600 Bbls.) and the Catawba (1,300 Bbls.).

On the 13th they chased a large sperm whale without success.

After losing him to windward, they talked "ifs and ands" said Meader, "how we might have got him if — and some other Boat might got him if — and so on."

GREEN HAND ON THE "SUSAN"

13

On May 16 they saw Massafuero bearing W by S; at noon on the 23rd, passed St. Felix and on the 24th steered over under the lee of Ambrosio and landed one boat on the north side.

"Saw nothing but birds," wrote Captain Russell, adding that they caught about 20 fish before returning on board at 5 p.m.

Meader was with the boat which went ashore with "gun, Fishing tackle, and seal poles." "After much trouble," he wrote, "we make a landing at a small sandy spot along shore, perhaps the only spot of sand along the whole shore. We found the Island to be about 2y% miles long and 1V& miles wide and composed of a very porous volcanic rock, not a green thing to be seen on it, except small and scattered bunches of a kind of seashore grass. After stay­ ing on the Island an hour, examining some of the many caves, tak­ ing a dozen boobies, a kind of sea-bird, the size of a small goose, and easily captured that is, by merely going up to them while they are sitting sleeping on the ground and take them by the neck, might have got more as there were probably thousands on the Is­ land, they being the inhabitants of this rock. In one of the Caves we found part of a Gun Lock, a pair of trowsers and a mound of earth with a stone at each end, looking as though it might be the grave of some poor sailor, wreck'd. — In launching the boat we had a more wet time than in landing, for just as we thought we were off clear of the breakers a large one came rolling and break­ ing right over our bow. We came near being swamped but otherways we got safely off, and in a short time we were at the fishing spot where without any anchor and being carried quite fast by the tide, we found the fish to be the same kind of those at Juan-fernandez, they were a little larger, but not so plenty, the bait being Salt Pork or Booby. ..."

Meader paid high tribute to the Captain as a fisherman: "Captain Russell was what the Sconseters would call high hook, that is, he caught the most. At about sundown got aboard the ship to answer the many enquiries of the crew concerning the Island, Fish, etc, etc. I felt this fishing excursion to be a real treat indeed although I was wet through to my skin from the time we landed till I got back on board."

Meader elaborated on the Captain's brief reference to two unsuccessful lowerings on May 26 for a large sperm whale first seen at 1 p.m. going fast to leeward: "lower the Larboard, Waist and Bow Boats, chace him about three hours, when the Larboard boat, Wood, darts his two irons, missed, and his excuse was that it being very rough and the boat steers very wild (owing to the heavy sea and breeze) and whale, perceiving the boat, hove him­ self from the boat, when or before he darted. He told Mr. Pitman 'he was not near enough' but Mr. Pitman told him 'dart your iron and try him'." Later the three boats pursued the same whale, but the sun went down before they could get near enough to strike.

On May 30, the Andes appeared about 115 miles off the weather bow with snow "distinct on the mountains." The Susan steered NE towards the Galapagos Islands.

(End of Part I)

14

Nantucket Friends Meeting, Summer 1967 with Some Account of Friends Present and Past and Their Interests from Indians and Slavery to the Great Fire of 1846

BY KATHERINE SEELER

The Friends Meeting that gathers during July and August each Sunday at 10:45 in the old Meeting House on Fair Street continued last summer.

Attendance was a little greater than the previous year. At any rate to be able to attend the meetings in the old Meeting House continues to be a privilege and sincere thanks are due to the Nantucket Historical Association for this.

It is only natural that this old room of simple and beautiful design reminds us of the early Friends and arouses our curiosity and interest about them. One can picture the ladies in gray or brown silk with taffeta bonnets sitting on one side of the room, and on the other side we can see the men with their broadbrimmed hats on their heads. These were only removed when they spoke to God. But though we may picture these people, we would like to know more about what they were really thinking. Not long ago we found two volumes of the Quaker magazine published in Phila­ delphia and called "The Friend — A Religious Literary Journal."

It was published weekly for two dollars a year and gives us an insight into what these Friends of the past century were interested in.

These two volumes, found in Nantucket, for 1845-47, provide a printed bridge leading back to days one hundred and twenty-two years ago. A history of early Friends, letters from William Penn and other famous Quakers are interspersed with short items of special interest and news. Notices of soup kitchens for the poor in Philadelphia show the concern for feeding people that led to the feeding of German children and the foundation of the Friends Service Committee. On January third, 1846, the following notice appears: "The very severe weather so early in the season, together with the high price of flour and potatoes, occasioning an unusual application for soup, induced the Western Soup Society to com­ mence the delivery on the 26th ultimo to continue daily, (except­ ing the First-day of the week,) between the hours of eleven and one o'clock."

"In thus announcing the opening of the house for the season, the Society indulges the hope that a charity which has been tested by years' experience, and found to be less liable to abuse than many others, and very efficacious in relieving the wants not

FRIENDS MEETING

15

only of the sick and' destitute, and those temporarily out of em­ ployment, but also rendering many children comfortable, who might otherwise experience much suffering, will meet with a ready response in the bosom of the benevolent and the aid which has heretofore been so generously bestowed, will still be continued, and the society enabled to continue its benefits to the suffering poor."

In several announcements of these soup houses it is asked that donations of rice, salt, meat, flour and vegetables be left with the Matron.

Friends in those days were apparently very much concerned about helping American Indians as they are, indeed, today. There are many letters and articles on the plight of the Indians. The general tone can be seen by quoting just one paragraph from a letter by John Johnston: "I think it may be affirmed, without the fear of contradiction, that, from the first planting of the English power on this conti­ nent to the present moment, no permanent plan has ever been adopted or even proposed, by authority, for the preservation of the Indian race. All the measures of the Colonial Governments, as well as that of the United States, (which has, by the Federal Constitution, exclusive jurisdiction of the matter,) appear to have had solely in view the acquisition of the lands and homes of the Natives, and removing further west, out of the way the owners thereof. No one seems once to have thought that a perpet­ ual right and interest in the soil, with the advantages of govern­ ment, was indispensable to the civilization and preservation of this race, as well as every other race of men upon the earth. The want of these two things have been the prominent cause of the ruin and destruction of the Indians; and the absence of govern­ ment, and of such right in the soil as is possessed by our own citizens, will continue as it has done, to work their destruction, until there will not be one of them left."

There are, of course, many letters and articles about the wrongs of slavery. The following is a brief note: "Randolph's Slaves. — We learn from the Colonization Jour­ nal, that Judge Leigh, the executor of John Randolph, has pur­ chased a large tract of land in Mercer County, Ohio, on which to locate the slaves, some three hundred, manumitted by that remark­ able man. A large quantity of land in Mercer county, comprising three or four townships, is now owned nearly altogether by coloured persons."

There is also an account of the Evening Adult Coloured School held in Philadelphia. The enrollment for men was 204 and for women 201.

An interesting item is entitled "Good News from a Far Country. The best news by recent arrivals from Europe, is, that the British Parliament have passed the law forbidding the employment of women and children in the factories for a longer period than ten hours a day. — Late Paper.'

16

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

It was always a concern of Friends to help when any disaster struck a community, so it was with great interest that we found the following account of the Great Fire at Nantucket. This ap­ pears in the August 15, 1846 issue. Of special interest to all Nantucketers is the letter containing one of the few eye-witness accounts of the fire.

"Nantucket Sufferers. — The collections in New York for the relief of the sufferers by the great fire at Nantucket amount to about $8000, and will be increased, probably to $9000 or $10,000. When the great fire occurred at Fall River, Mass. the people of Nantucket sent them relief to the very liberal amount of $5000. On the present occasion the Fall River people, although their own calamity is so recent, forwarded to Nantucket $1200 in cash, and provisions, &c., sufficient to increase the amount to $4000. 'He that watereth, shall be watered also himself'."

"If no general collection is made in Philadelphia for the aid of the sufferers, ought not Friends to ascertain whether any of their own brotherhood are deprived of the means of subsistence, and according to their needs, send them prompt assistance?"

"The Exeter News Letter has a letter from a correspondent who was at Nantucket during the recent conflagration, which gives a vivid account of that disastrous catastrophe: "Along the path of the flames were stored many thousand barrels of oil, and tons of spermaceti. The casks were burned through, and the liquid ran down the streets, converting them into perfect rivers of fire, driving the appalled inhabitants before it, and washing the buildings that lined the ways with burning waves. So rapid was its approach to some points, that men had barely time to escape, and even two fire engines were left a prey to the element. It ran out upon the water in the harbour, still blazing, and resembled, in its thousand flashes and spires of light, a gorgeous palace of gold amid the sea. The country about was as light as at noon. For hours the town was a lake of fire; the moon looked bloody, and the sky glared above, while the noise of the flames was like the roar of the ocean, and the ex­ plosions, in blowing up the houses, like the tempest-bursts of thunder.

"It was morning before the progress of destruction was checked, but many, who saw the sun go down in affluence, had been reduced, ere its rising, to poverty and destitution.

"Numerous were the thrilling incidents that occurred during the hours of that night. A part of the officers and crew of a Revenue Cutter lying in the harbour, came ashore and rendered valuable assistance. At one time, just as a store was blown up, they lost sight of their commander, and it was feared he was killed. Several minutes of intense anxiety passed, but at length he was found unharmed, and so great was the joy of the seamen, that they opened their arms, and received him with repeated embraces.

"Two ladies, strangers in the town, not knowing whither to go, fled to one of the wharves for safety. In a brief period, every

FRIENDS MEETING

17

building near the head of the wharf was on fire. The burning oil poured into the docks, and they were nearly hemmed in by flames; the wharf was supported by wooden spiles, and in mo­ mentary danger, — In this frightful situation, they remained more than an hour, but were finally discovered by a boat from the Cutter, and released from their distressing position.

"The fire among the ruins, on the second night, lit up the sky, throwing a wild glare over the remainder of the town."

This realistic and vivid account of the fire is followed in the next issue of The Friend, August 29, 1846, with moving details of the actual plight of some of the inhabitants, as follows: "In our notice of the destruction and affecting calamity which befel the town of Nantucket, was a suggestion, whether inquiry should not be made as to the extent of suffering from the con­ flagration by our fellow members in religious profession, prepara­ tory to sending them aid according to their needs. A letter has since been placed in our hands from a resident there to a Friend in this city, from which it appears, that of those who suffered (members of our Society), two of them lost to the amount of $500 each, consisting of their shop and stock — no insurance. Another lost $1600, 'all he had and more'. The letter adds, 'She (the wife) is a feeble woman, but with her needle does what she can towards a living. He is a watch-maker; they were getting along comfort­ ably by their industry, and assisting in the support of a widowed mother, and a sick sister. His tools being a little more costly than for some other occupations, he is not able to set himself up again, but having been a little acquainted with the carpenter's trade, he is now working at that, until he can do better.' Another is mentioned as losing to the amount of $450, and his sister, 'a very valuable Friend,' as having lost her little all, except her clothing.

Another Friend is mentioned as having 'lost considerable, but has a little left.' Another, a female, 'had not much, but lost nearly all.' The loss of another, a Friend well known and esteemed in this city, is stated to be from 9 to 900 dollars. The loss sustained by another is put at $2000, and no insurance. Other cases are mentioned in number twelve or more, the loss in some of which was total, in some nearly so. The letter remarks of one Friend, he 'has lost but not all — he saved his tools, which enabled him to carry on his business immediately and has plenty of work at the tin-plate business, which is his dependence.'

"We have thus endeavored to cull from the letter the parts most material for information. The writer appears cautious to avoid exaggeration, but remarks, 'although we cannot say that our Friends are in a suffering condition, yet we know (in respect to a number of them,) that their means were limited, but by in­ dustry and prudence were getting along comfortable, until this disaster has deprived them of their little all, or nearly so'."

There is no further mention of the Nantucket fire until March 20, 1847, when a moving and beautifully written account of the distribution of the fund sent up from Philadelphia is pre­ sented. There is nothing that could be found from those days

18

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

that could better represent the integrity and high quality of these early Friends. This article begins: Nantucket Report of Committee on Distribution of Relief Fund "Friends: The Undersigned, Selectmen of the town of Nan­ tucket, having finished their labours in the distribution of the bounty entrusted to them from abroad, for the relief of the suf­ ferers by the calamitous fire of the 13th and 14th of July last, feel called upon to give an account of their stewardship."

This account goes on to say that 56,498 dollars were received plus provisions, clothing, furniture and dry goods to the value of 6,400 dollars. The recipients were more than 460 persons of whom 350 were heads of families and some 156 were widows.

As with any relief project there were some dishonest ones: "Some few of the recipients, as we have since found, were not entitled to assistance; but while they have received it through false statements, they have also received our just rebuke."

Anothr paragraph not only testifies to their gratitude but gives a sad picture of the situation after the fire: "Friends, — your generosity and sympathy for the distressed, entitle you to our sincere thanks, and we here, for the inhabitants of Nan­ tucket, for the recipients of your bounty, and for ourselves personally, publicly and heartily tender you the same. When hun­ dreds of families were without a roof to cover them or a bed to lie upon, and very many of them without a change of raiment, — when widows and old men had been stripped of their all, and had no hopes for the future, except such as were founded on the humanity of others, — it was then you so liberally and promptly responded to the call of the distressed, bound up their broken hearts, and sent them on their way rejoicing; — and surely heaven's choicest blessings will be your reward."

The final paragraph states that upward of 360 buildings were burned and the amount of property destroyed was about one million dollars of which 320 thousand was insured. The amount received as aid was about 70 thousand dollars which left, they said, an actual loss of about 600,000 dollars. This interesting document is signed by Job Coleman, Nathaniel Rand, Obed Swain, Eben W. Allen, William Barney, Charles G. Coffin, and Alfred Folger.

So, after reading these excerpts from "The Friend," we picture these Friends showing a concern for the rights and human dignity of all people, Indians, negroes, women and chil­ dren laborers, and those suffering from disaster. The plight of mankind was their concern. And for us, meeting in this old building on Fair Street, this is a challenging message from the past.

19

Annual Reports THE ANNUAL MEETING of the members of the Nantucket Historical Association is scheduled for Tuesday July 16th at the Friends Meeting House, Fair Street, at 2:30 p.m. To expedite the procedure, reports of the Chairmen and Secretary are recorded here. Due to the death of the Treasurer, Mr. Giles, and subsequent changes in the office, the final closing of the books for the fiscal year 1967-68 was delayed. Financial statements will be presented to the members in the October issue of HISTORIC NANTUCKET. It can be said the Association appears to be in good financial condi­ tion.

Membership Report New Members — Fiscal Year June 1, 1967, to May 31, 1968 Caroline Baker Hazel M. Buhite John S. Chapman G. Martin Coffyn William Diver Mrs. Samuel C. Dunlap E. Norman Flayderman Dorothy Gardner Dr. Dorrit Hoffleit Mrs. William G. Keller Thomas B. Kellog

LIFE Ruth H. Kennedy Agathe Kongshoj John S. Leary John W. McCalley Mrs. Alan Newhouse Mrs. Edward C. Roberts Mrs. Clarence L. Sibley Mrs. David W. Swain Frank F. Sylvia Victoria M. Waggaman Patrick Watson

SUSTAINING Dr. Robert Minshall Mrs. Irving H. Burnside ANNUAL Nancy Bowen Barbara Aldrich Mrs. James M. Bowes Lois M. Alton Rachel Bowman Thomas S. Ambler Mrs. Edward Briggs Robert S. Anstiss Mrs. Edward Brooks Mrs. Albert Andersen Helen Brown Mr. and Mrs. L. Auslander James Campbell Harriet W. Backus William B. Chase Eleanor Balchin Dr. and Mrs. B. G. Clarice Maria L. Balinski Harry E. Clute Michel L. Balinski Marjorie E. Clute Rebecca H. Balinski Elsie Coffin Christine G. Berry Hector D. Coffin S. Roberts Blair

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HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Sally Collins Coline S. Covington Treadwell D. Covington Marjorie Jane Crayton Gregory Creedon Martha Creedon Mildred Daniels Joseph Davis Mrs. Archer B. des Cognets James Douglas Gordon I. Erikson Mr. and Mrs. Philips Farrington Todd Farrington Mrs. Henry Fee Bruce Francis Mr. and Mrs. Eugene George Gary R. Gesch John Githens Prof. Marianne Githens Mrs. Joseph J. Grabiec Mrs. David A. Grass Mrs. William Habicht Norma Hall Henry Mitchell Havemeyer Mrs. Paul Height John C. Hindley John G. Hines Mrs. DuBrol Hoban Russel W. Hood Walter Hoskins Mrs. John J. Inch, Jr. Mary Lou Ingraham Jesse G. Jennings Margaret K. Jennings Nita V. Katherman Agnete V. Katherman Mrs. Adrian C. Kelle Mr. and Mrs. Whitman Knapp Mr. and Mrs. John L. Kolle Clair Irma Kortgis Ann Langdon Mr. and Mrs. Glyn Lewis Jean Lief eld.

Marguerite Liniger Mrs. George C. Lunt Mrs. Jesse D. McClellan Paul J. McNeil, Jr. Elwood H. Macy Diane Chase Madden Paul Howie Madden Ernest D. May

Mrs. Robert Merritt Mathew A. Myer •J. Gregory Millett Allen P. Mills Denise Minihan Ethel L. Mooney Dorothy R. Morgan Jessie L. Morgan Jerome Naft Mrs. Arejeh Neier Gordon I. Newcombe Deborah Newhouse New York State Library John Wesley Orton George E. O'Neil Frank Pannenborg Margaret Pannenborg Mr. and Mrs. George R. Peck Mr. and Mrs. John Plover Suzanne Plover Robert Purrington Allen W. Raines Mary E. Raines Rhys Richards Mrs. James Rodgers May W. Rodgers Vincent J. Roggeveen Gloria K. Rolle Elizabeth Ann Roos Dr. and Mrs. Robert S. Salisbury Mary Shaddock Mr. and Mrs. William F. Shaw Mrs. B. H. Shields, Jr. Nancy W. Sims Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Small Mrs. Phillips Smith Mrs. John Kirby Speers, Jr. Barbara Beck Squires Mrs. Ernest St. Jean Helen E. Sten Eric E. Sterling W. Edwin Stevens Mark Sutherland Mrs. Harold Sutton Dorothy J. Swanson Anne M. Taylor C. Herbert Taylor James J. Taylor, III Jessica G. Taylor Lawrence M. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. I. E. Thompson

ANNUAL REPORTS

Mr. and Mrs. Harmon Tupper James R. Turner Elizabeth Tyrer University of Mass. Library Donald M. Veronneau Waltrut Von Bertrab Janet Wagner Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Walker Jr. Mrs. Wesley H. Webb Mr. and Mrs. John Weeks

21

Howard M. Wert Edward L. White Mrs. Donald S. White Emily T. Wolff Robert K. Wickware Robert A. Williams Louise H. Wilson Martha Wilson Elizabeth F. Yager Mr. and Mrs. George W. Young

Totals: Life 22; Sustaining 2; Annual 148. Total new members 172 The total membership June 1, 1968 is as follows: Life: 201

Sustaining: 107

Annual: 877

Total: 1185

The above figures represent the number of members in good standing as of June 1, 1968.

We are saddened by the loss, through death, of the following members: Mrs. Ardelle Folger M. M. Armstrong Mrs. Richard Beer Miss Effie Bowes George Cartwright Mrs. Donald Craig Daniel DeMenocal Mrs. Robert Francis Leonard Giles Frederick Hackenberg Harry Larkin Albert Loepsinger Mrs. Henrietta Mills Miss Celeste Robinson

Lawrence Romaine Miss Ada Sheppard Miss Cora Stevens Mrs. Edna Whittekin Mr. Clarence Sibley Mrs. Edna Lapham Mrs. Nancy Adams Jacob Amrein Mrs. Jennie Cahoon Eleanor Blackmur D. T. Burnett George T. Langdon Homer J. Folger Eleanor Dixon Glidden

Membership in the Association is open to anyone and we are always happy to receive new members. Membership in the Association entitles one to free admission to all the Association's exhibits and to copies of the quarterly magazine, HISTORIC NAN­ TUCKET. We strive to reach a membership of 1200 and to keep it at that figure and we enlist your help. Membership blanks may be obtained at any of the exhibits or by writing to Box 1016, Nantucket, Mass. 02554.

There are many members who join only for the current sum­ mer season. It has been our policy that when no reply is received from a second notice, and after a reasonable period of time, mem­ bers are dropped from the registry. Reinstatement may be made, however, at any time, upon receipt of dues. Since it is our member-

22

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

ship dues which help support our organization, we do appreciate any suggestions as to prospective new members.

The postage has increased considerably on returned issues of HISTORIC NANTUCKET, due to lack of current address and we, therefore, particularly stress the cooperation of all members to notify us immediately of any changes of address.

ADMISSIONS TO MUSEUMS 1967 1966 1965 1964 1983 Fair Street Museum 2415 2785 3030 2554 3298 Oldest House 7242 8543 7684 6868 6585 1800 House 1304 2050 1742 1441 1755 4313 4674 3914 3460 5041 Old Mill Old Jail 2957 3499 3838 2862 3524 Hadwen House-Satler Memorial 3250 7750 6805 6478 35957 38803 34977 31150 29078 Whaling Museum 59438 68114 61990 54813 49281 Total Elizabeth Tyrer, Secretary

Historical Museum and Friends Meeting House

BY MRS. ELIZABETH B. WORTH, CHAIRMAN

It is gratifying to know that there are many visitors to our Historical Museum who thoroughly enjoy the fine exhibits housed in this building. There are family portraits and pictures, relics silverware, Indian artifacts, the Walter Folger clock and telescope The vault and filing cases are full of interesting materia) and we are also fortunate to have valuable genealogical records which are available during the summer months for research. This year we have added (among other items) five albums which con tain pictures of Nantucket houses taken about 1895.

The Meeting House was used again last summer for the Sunday services held by an interested group of Friends.

We regret that Mrs. Clara Block, who was with us for sev­ eral years in the Library, will not return this year due to illness.

Miss Alice Crocker, who has been connected with the Associatior for many years, will be in charge of the Library and the genealogy research. We welcome Mrs. Marion Gilpatrick to our staff to sub­ stitute for days off. The Chairman of this exhibit will again be at the receptionist's desk.

Our thanks are due to Mr. Grenville Curtis who keeps the Walter Folger clock in running order so that we can display its many interesting points.

ANNUAL REPORTS

23

Report of Curator 1967-1968

BY MISS DOROTHY GARDNER

Since my appointment last summer I have been learning my duties as Curator of the Nantucket Historical Association slowly, as this is a completely new adventure for me. The interest shown by those who donate gifts to the Association both amazes and pleases me. This year the Association has received several dona­ tions of silver, quilts, old letters, maps, scrapbooks, and genea­ logical books, to mention a few of the accessions.

Some of the outstanding donations which can be seen at the various exhibits should be given special mention. In the 1800 House there is a quilt made by Lucretia Mott and James Mott's waistcoat. These were given by Mrs. J. C. Richard Heckscher, a descendant of Mr. and Mrs. James Mott. The Hadwen-Satler House has a display of fans donated by Mrs. George Folger and a collection of Easton and Sanford spoons donated by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Swain in memory of Mrs. Alfred C. Prime.

The Association is greatly indebted to Col. Laurence Bunker and Mr. Paul Bunker for their interest in the society. In the Fair Street Museum there is a display on the second floor of some of their gifts: The game of "Boston" with its Chinese painted playing cards (without numbers) and exquisite ivory carving on the covers of the counters, a Chinese hand painted Masonic apron, and a cross-stitched sampler of the Bunker family. Included in the display are Chinese Lacquer boxes which are part of the Bunker family memorabilia and letters presented to the Associa­ tion by the Nantucket Historical Trust. On the first floor there is an interesting scrapbook which came from the estate of Mrs. Isabel Gibbs.

These are only a few of the articles received this year which I feel need special mention. I have not included the accessions of the Whaling Museum, as they have been recorded in the report of the Whaling Museum. This has been an interesting and re­ warding year for me and I am sure this coming year will prove so for the Nantucket Historical Association.

24

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

The 1800 House

BY BERNICE WINSLOW FOYE, CHAIRMAN

The 1967 season was a very disappointing one for the 1800 House. Of course, the weather was the primary factor in the low attendance record. Our total was only 1294 paid admissions, the lowest since 1965 when we had but 1265.

This charming old house gives one a very true picture of Nantucket life in the early eighteen hundreds. Many of our visi­ tors expressed much appreciation of, and interest in, some of the rare and authentic pieces of both furniture and china which make up the furnishings.

We had guests from 33 states and 9 foreign countries. Many of our visitors came from the Middle West and were truly de­ lighted and perhaps a little bit surprised to see how comfortab'y and well the people used to live here on the "Far Away Island."

Of course, our "Tea Party Chair" always evokes great in­ terest and many times a bit of skepticism until the story of how it came to the island and into our possession is told.

Many people visiting Nantucket for the first time do no1 realize that treasures from all over the world were brought here by our sea captains and that this house, like many private homes on the island, has much of interest and historic value of which we all are very proud.

It was with much regret that we accepted the resignation of Mrs. Gladys Rounsville, who served so ably as relief hostess for many years. We missed her, for she knew so well the old house and its furnishings and made it come alive for all who saw it.

Mrs. Roy H. Gilpatrick, who has made her home here on the island for a long time, became our new relief hostess. She enjoyed the house and our guests, and they her. I hope we will be able to have her with us for some time to come.

Mr. Earl Ray has taken on the work of our fine old Aaron Willard clock for repair and it should be ticking merrily this coming season.

The rest of our exhibits remain the same and we are looking forward to a good season in 1968.

ANNUAL REPORTS

25

Advertising — Publicity — Publications

BY H. ERROL COFFIN & W. RIPLEY NELSON The Association's program for advertising and publicity during the fiscal year 1967-68 was divided, as in past years, into three classes: (1) local newspapers; (2) magazines and director­ ies; and (3) descriptive booklets and cards.

The newspaper advertising was reduced materially, as the usual summer series of lectures was not carried out during the past summer. Advertising was limited, therefore, to certain events such as the (a) general opening and admission schedules of all buildings and exhibits; (b) the annual meeting of the members; (c) the annual gam; and (d) the special holiday openings of the Whaling Mustum and Hadwen House-Satler Memorial for Me­ morial Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Paid newspaper adver­ tising was limited to the one Island newspaper.

Magazine and directory advertising was carried on as in past years. This included weekly advertisements for thirteen weeks during the summer season in the two local seasonal publications, "Nantucket Holiday" and "Your Nantucket Vacation Guide." In each publication, a full page was used — the back of the front cover of each publication. This provided excellent position to ad­ vertise our exhibits, hours and days open and admission fees.

Usual listings were arranged in the "New England Council," a summer guide and various other vacation guides.

The usual "Admission Schedules," cardboard signs listing all our exhibits and information as to opening dates, admissions, and visiting hours, were distributed early in June for display by hotels, guest houses, clubs and some island businesses. The Asso­ ciation's folded leaflet describing the exhibits was given wide circulation through our various buildings. The two pamphlets, "Main Street" and "Rambles Through the Historic District" were given the customary wide free distribution and met with the usual welcome and appreciation from island visitors.

The descriptive booklets for the Old Mill and the Whaling Museum were updated, revised and reprinted. The 1800 House booklet, used since its opening, is in the process of being com­ pletely rewritten for publication for the 1968-69 season. In its new form, the reader will be guided through each room of the build­ ing, as on a tour, with interesting descriptions of unusual items in each room. Pictures of the various rooms and exhibits will add greatly to the booklet's appeal.

News stories of all Association's activities were released to the Island newspaper and one olf-island newspaper which has substantial island circulation. Both newspapers continue their friendly and interested cooperation in giving good news coverage based on these releases.

26

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

The Whaling Museum

BY W. RIPLEY NELSON, CHAIRMAN The summer of 1967 will not be soon forgotten by Nantucket for rain and fog throughout the vacation season adversely af­ fected summer business. Reduced attendance at the Museum re­ sulted, but the Museum committee has pleasure in presenting a brief summary of the year's accomplishments.

ADMISSIONS. Paid admissions for the 1967-68 fiscal year totaled 35,957, a decrease of only 2,846 from the 1966-67 year's all-time high of 38,803 but still 980 ahead of 1965-66 which estab­ lished an all-time record high, up to that date. The Whaling Museum more than held its place in accounting for over 60 per cent of the total admissions for all Association buildings and ex­ hibits as against slightly over 50 per cent for the previous year.

It is interesting to note that of the past season's total admissions, 30,203 were adults and 5,754 were children under 12 years of age as compared to 33,563 and 5,240 respectively for the previous year.

The "guests registry book" showed 45 states represented this year as compared with 44 last year. The five missing states were Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana and South Dakota.

Registered visitors from foreign lands recorded an astounding increase as 43 countries were represented as compared with 23 the previous year. The countries represented were: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Azores, Belgium, Bermuda, Bahamas, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Finland, France, W. Germany, Holland, Honduras, India, Italy, Jamaica, W. I., Japan, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Okinawa, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Persia (Iran), Poland, Pak­ istan, Portugal, So. Vietnam, Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, So. Africa, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Tonga Island (Samoa), Vene­ zuela.

While Nantucketers still roam and visit foreign lands, here is outstanding proof of how the tables have turned with respect to people from all parts of the world visiting Nantucket. Needless to say, this places real responsibility upon the Island to extend a cordial welcome and courteous and considerate attention to all visitors which is the policy the Whaling Museum staff endeavors to carry out at all times.

ACCESSIONS. All accessions, their location in the Museum and the donors' names were entered as usual in the Museum accession book. With the tremendous growth in the Museum's exhibits, frequent relocations have become necessary so during the coming year, it is planned to make a recheck of the exhibits to verify their locations and to establish an up-to-date inventory.

ANNUAL REPORTS

27

HEATING PLANT. The installation of the heating plant was completed during the summer of 1967. The final cost amounted to $18,408.18 which was $1,533.57 below the approved estimated cost of $19,941.75. The promised donation of $8,000.00 was re­ ceived in full payment and credited to the cost, thus making the net cost to the Association only $10,408.1,8. During the fall, winter and spring months, when the Museum was officially closed, the temperature was maintained by thermostat control at slightly above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

This past winter was marked by exceptionally cold weather and high winds. Despite the exceptional weather, the total cost of oil to operate the plant amounted to $602.20 which exceeded by only $77.20 the estimated cost of $525.00 for a normal winter season.

Having heat in the building made possible the opening of the Museum during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods with a warm and cordial welcome to all visitors. This is an im­ portant accomplishment, for off-season visitors to the Island, es­ pecially in the holiday periods, are steadily increasing in numbers and they naturally are seeking entertainment and a visit to the Whaling Museum is high on the visitor's list of things to do.

LIBRARY. Mrs. Ellen D. Chace has served the Museum in its Library for a period of 15 years. Beginning in 1953, she served for three years as part time Librarian. In 1956 she was officially appointed Librarian in which capacity she served for 11 years until 1967 when her health forced her to limit her activity to part time Librarian. At the end of the season, acting upon her physi­ cian's advice, she presented her resignation as a member of the Staff. The Museum Committee accepted her resignation with great regret for she served in her position faithfully and loyally, mak­ ing many friends for the Museum and the Association, and is responsible for the installation of numerous constructive features in the management and development of the Library.

Mrs. Reginald Hussey, who succeeds Mrs. Chace as Librar­ ian, will continue the all-important task of reading, indexing, and cross-referencing the log books, including data about ships spoken and recording the results on 3x5 cards for ready reference. This record has already proven of inestimable value to researchers.

A new project is to be started this year. Real progress has been made to insure the physical protection of the many valuable logs, journals, documents and books, but with the exception of the previously described work on the log books, little else has been done to classify the Museum's outstanding collection of books, documents, manuscripts, and other valuable papers, as well as the log books and journals. The new project will be to inventory, cross reference and catalog the Library's collection with a view to eventually publishing the completed work. This will insure the more effective use of the library by maritime historians, writ­ ers and graduate students. It should be made possible, some time in the future, for the Historical Association to offer and sponsor summer lecture series in Maritime History, especially whaling,

28

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

and, ultimately, seminars for students using many of the valu­ able materials in our collections.

Such a project requires a position separate from that of the Librarian whose time is generally absorbed by tourists' questions, public relations, clerical work and above all, keeping an eye on the Library's valuable items. We are fortunate to have secured Miss Helen L. Winslow to start this project during the summer. She is a former Librarian of the Museum and has had excellent training and experience in historical research techniques, both at the Uni­ versity of Wisconsin and the Museum Institute for graduate stu­ dents which the University of Connecticut sponsors at Mystic Seaport. She also has contacts with a variety of private and state historical associations and universities from which she can obtain excellent advice.

All the book shelves in the Library have been enclosed with wire mesh shelf doors as was suggested last year. The unnecessary and unauthorized handling of books by persons other than the Librarian, with the resultant confusion and work arising from non-replacement and mis-filing has been eliminated and protection is assured against actual loss of books.

PERSONNEL. There will be some changes in positions and personnel during the coming season in our loyal staff, which may be summarized as follows: Mr. Walter Lindquist will serve again, as Administrator, and Mrs. Elizabeth Lindquist will again greet visitors at the Reception desk and will supervise the sales desk, the counting room and the scrimshaw room. As in past years, Mr. Bertram E. Morris will be responsible for guiding visitors through the Whale Craft Shops. Mrs. Reginald Hussey, as pre­ viously stated, will be Librarian. Miss Lizbeth Taylor will serve again at the sales desk; Mrs. Dorothea Peters, who joined the staff last fall, will serve, together with Mrs. Sidney W. Thurston, as relief at the reception and sales desks and in the Library. Mr. Clarence W. Swift will return as relief for Mr. Lindquist and Mr. Morris.

SUMMARY. The Museum Committee, as frequently stated, recognizes and bears constantly in mind that the Whaling Museum is the outstanding asset and earning power of the Association and that it is nationally and internationally classified_ as one of the outstanding Whaling Museums of the World. Additional space is now the foremost need of the Museum. A review of the situation was presented in last year's report.

The Committee is constantly striving to protect and improve the Museum and its exhibits and to maintain its recognized na­ tional and international position and to this end, the Museum staff contributes its loyal, efficient and helpful cooperation.

The Museum Committee for 1968-69 will remain unchanged with W. Ripley Nelson, Chairman; Albert F. Egan, Jr., Mrs. Kent K. King, and Charles L. Sayle serving as members.

ANNUAL REPORTS

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The Oldest House

BY MRS. J. CLINTON ANDREWS, CHAIRMAN

The season of 1967 started with an Open House on Sunday afternoon June 11th when eighty-five children and adults visited.

Attendance for the summer totalled 7232 paid admissions and visitors came from 43 states and 16 foreign countries.

The unprecedented rain and fog presented problems, such as the roadway becoming a muddy lake after each shower and the many days when visitors had to inspect the upstairs rooms with the aid of a flashlight, it being too dark to see otherwise.

Miss Ida Parker again served as receptionist with Mrs. Lawrence Mooney as her relief.

The Old Mill

BY RICHARD P. SWAIN, CHAIRMAN

The Old Mill, under the able guidance of Mr. Frank Ramsdell, closed its door for the 1967 season with 4,241 paid admissions. Mr. Joseph Senecal and his crew removed the vanes and battened down the hatches for the winter.

During the winter the main shaft has been rotated a quarter of a turn each month, to prevent its taking a "set" and to help keep the main bearing from rotting. This shaft had to be replaced in 1960-61 at a considerable cost, and as timbers of its size are becoming increasingly harder to obtain, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Several boards on the first floor were replaced due to their rotting out, and several posts supporting the guard chain around the vanes were replaced.

Mr. Senecal replaced the vanes June 5, and we opened the Mill on June 10.

196,8 promises to be a good year and we are pleased to have Mr. Ramsdell again at the helm to greet visitors.

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Recent Events THE MOST IMPORTANT, certainly the most spectacular, of re­ cent events was the woods fire which burned over 1000 acres on both sides of the 'Sconset Road last April 10th. Starting at Old South Road the blaze, fanned by a brisk southwesterly wind, was out of control when Fire Chief Irving T. Bartlett arrived with the first apparatus. Realizing that the Town equipment could not alone handle the fire now raging through tinder-dry brush toward the Milestone Road, he sent out calls for help. Scores of volunteers responded — local residents, the U.S. Naval Facility, Coast Guard, Boy Scouts, High School boys, several bulldozer operators with their machines, men from the Memorial Airport and from the construction work along the waterfront. Despite their united efforts, the fire jumped the main road and raged into the State Forest, heading for the Polpis Road and its string of houses.

With fire-fighting tools running low, a call for help was sent to the mainland, and a plane loaded with equipment flew down from Bedford Air Base. The fire, partly checked by a local shift of the wind to the East, was brought under control about four o'clock, although isolated patches of woods still burned. Finally the "all out" was signaled about five-thirty, but fire watches were set up throughout the night in case the blaze should break out again.

Chief Bartlett declared it was the worst fire since 1949, when a larger tract of woodland was burned by a fire starting near the Fair Grounds. At the height of the April 10th fire photographer William Haddon went up in a plane, taking Polaroid pictures of the heart of the fire, rushing them on landing to Chief Bartlett, who was thus able to direct his men where they were most needed.

In HISTORIC NANTUCKET'S view of the fire on page 4 appears a black spot in upper right center — Bill Haddon's plane. $ $ $ H: $ The "Annual Gam" was held, as usual through the courtesy of the Maria Mitchell Association, at its library in Vestal Street on March 3rd. Sixty-five persons attended with President Stackpole presiding. The subject for discussion at this, the 17th meet­ ing, was "Recollections and Old Time Stories." Many were told and were fully reported in The Inquirer and Mirror. *

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The extensive work at the Waterfront proceeded steadily if not rapidly. Little by little the approach to the Harbor takes on a look new but as consistent as possible with the spirit and atmos­ phere of Nantucket under the over-all plan of improving the "economy" of the Island. At times there were so many tall derricks operating off and at the wharves as to suggest that long-ago era when the masts of many a whaleship cleft the sky.

Legacies and Bequests Membership in our Association proves that you are interested in its program tor 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 bv 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 the Secretary, Box 1016, Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554. Office, Fair Street Museum.

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION WHALING MUSEUM: Broad Street near Steamboat Wharf.

Daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

HISTORICAL MUSEUM and FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE: Fair St. Weekdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays 2 to 5 p.m.

HADWEN HOUSE-SATLER MEMORIAL: Main St. corner of Pleasant St. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OLDEST HOUSE: Sunset Hill off West Chester Street. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OLD MILL: Prospect Street. Weekdays only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

OLD JAIL: Vestal Street. Weekdays only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1800 HOUSE: Mill Street. Weekdays only, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FIRE HOSE-CART HOUSE: Gardner and Howard Streets Weekdays only 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FOLGER-FRANKLIN SEAT and MEMORIAL BOULDER: Madaket Road. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free for rest and meditation.

Admission is 50c to each exhibit, except Whaling Museum 80c; Hadwen House-Satler Memorial, $1.00; Old Mill, 30c; Old Jail, 30c. No charge to the Fire Hose-Cart House, but visitors are asked to make a donation toward its upkeep in the box inside provided for that purpose. Children under 5 years of age admit­ ted free; from 5 years to 12 years admitted at half price. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Group tickets entitling holders to all exhibits may be obtained at the reception desk in the Whaling Museum for $2.00 per ticket. "Group" is defined as ten or more persons from any one organization. Members of the Nantucket Historical Associa­ tion presenting 1968 and Life Membership Cards will be admitted without charge.