Historic Nantucket, April 1974, Vol. 21 No. 4

Historic Nantucket

The Nathaniel Macy House — Liberty Street.

Presented to the Nantucket Historical Association by Mrs. George Christian. Open to the public during the season.

APRIL, 1974

Published Quarterly by

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS

NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, Henry B. Coleman Vice-Presidents, Albert G. Brock, George W. Jones, Alcon Chadwick, Albert F. Egan, Jr., Walter Beinecke, Jr., Mrs. Charles Clark Coffin.

Honorary Vice-Presidents, Mrs William L. Mather, W. Ripley Nelson.

Secretary, Richard C. Austin Treasurer, John N. Welch Councillors, Henry B. Coleman, Chairman, Mrs. Richard Swain, Bernard Grossman, terms expire 1974; Robert Metiers, George A. Snell, terms ex­ pire 1975; Mrs. H. Crowell Freeman, Francis W. Pease, terms expire 1976; Benjamin Richmond, Miss Mary Gardner, terms expire 1977.

Administrator, Leroy H. True Curator, Miss Dorothy Gardner Historian, Edouard A. Stackpole Honorary Curator, Mrs. William L. Mather Editor, "Historic Nantucket'', Edouard A. Stackpole: Assistant Editor, Mrs. Merle Turner Orleans.

STAFF Oldest House: Chairman. Mrs. Kenneth S. Baird Receptionists, Mrs. Charles Barr, Miss Adeline Cravott Hadwen House-Satler Memorial: Chairman, Mrs. Richard Swain Receptionists: Mrs. Irving A. Soverino: Miss Rosamond Duffy, Miss Marjorie Burgess, Miss Maud Jackson.

J800 House: Chairman. Mrs. H. Crowell Freeman, Receptionist: Mrs. John Kittila, Sr. Old Gaol: Chairman, Albert G. Brock; Receptionist, Lawrence Ayers.

Whaling Museum: Chairman, Hugh R. Chace, Manager, William W. Walmsley, Receptionists, Clarence H. Swift, Mrs. Harold Killen, Jesse Dunham, Mrs. Herbert Sandsbury, Abram Niles, James A. Watts.

Peter Foulger Museum: Chairman and Director, Edouard A. Stackpole Receptionists: Mrs. Elizabeth R. Worth, Mrs. Clara Block, Mrs. Sterling B. Yerxa Christian House: Chairman, Mrs. John A. Baldwin Receptionists: Mrs. Noreen Shea, Mrs. Sarah Morris, Mrs. Joan Gallagher.

Archaeology Dept.: Chairman, Paul C. Morris, Jr. Old Town Office: Chairman. Hugh R. Chace Old Mill: Chairman, Richard F. Swain Receptionist: Hugh MacVicar.

Folger-Franklin Seat & Memorial Boulder: Chairman, Francis Sylvia.

Friends Meeting House-Fair Street Museum: Chairman, Mrs. Harding U. Greene

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 21

April, 1974

No. 4

CONTENTS Nantucket Historical Association Staff and Officers

2

Editorial

5

The Robert Ratliff Portrait

6

Administrator's Report

9

Nantucket's First Swimming Pool

by Clement A. Penrose

10

Nantucket's Old Jail and Its Wandering Lock

by Edouard A. Stackpole

13

Origin of Nantucket — An Indian Tradition

16

Ram Pasture Excavation

by Edward B. Anderson

17

The Folger Clockworks

19

"Grandmother Hussey At Home"

by Burt Brown Barker

20

Grace Brown Gardner, a Tribute

by Merle T. Orleans

22

Nantucket's Thomas Macy

25

Legacies and Bequests

30

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 $5.00; Sustaining $25.00; Life — one payment $100.00.

Second-class postage paid at Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Copyright, 1974, Nantucket Historical Association Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Hstorical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554.

5

Community Investment An Editorial IT IS AN accepted fact that every business must of necessity have regular investment in itself to insure its continuance as a going concern. The community of Nantucket is now "big busi­ ness." Its economy is based almost wholly on its operation as a favored resort island, and where it was once chiefly a summer resort it has now become a place which attracts visitors at all seasons of the year.

While local businesses and individuals have invested in their own properties to a considerable degree, the Town, as a corporate body, has lagged. Each year, at the annual town meeting, various projects have been approved or disapproved by the voters, but the bulk of the appropriations have gone to carrying on the existing town and county government, protection of persons and property, and other necessary functions, including schools.

However, many opportunities for community benefit have been neglected. Private enterprise has improved some strategic properties; for example, the restoration of the Jared Coffin House by the Nantucket Historical Trust, which has also been responsible for the renovation of several old houses in the town.

Owners and purchasers of historic dwellings have invested in restoring them, as well. The improvement in properties has in­ creased steadily since the Historic Districts Commission was .set up nearly twenty years ago.

But the town has not kept pace. One of the outstanding opportunities came with the Sanford property, where the present town building now stands. Here was an auspicious opportunity to restore an historic mansion together with its formal garden, featuring box hedges, borders of flowers, fruit trees, pergola, etc.

Here could have been created a complete restoration of an historic property — a veritable garden spot in the center of town.

Of course, it is pointless to dwell on "what might have been," but it would be regrettable to forget that there was such an opportunity.

Leading the listing of projects in which the investment in community betterment is involved is "improvement in the surfaces of the streets and sidewalks of the town." In the past half century the surfaces of the streets have been built up by successive layers of tar, so that curbings are in many cases nearly topped; sidewalks are a mixed breed of surfaces, with many needing appropriate repair; fences have been battered by cars that park on sidewalks; overgrown hedges are a hazard.

Investments to correct such problems are not great if a planned program is set up and a regular work schedule inaugu­ rated and maintained.

6

The Robert Ratliff Portrait An Eastman Johnson Gift THE NANTUCKET Historical Association is fortunate in pos­ sessing four excellent paintings by the famous American artist Eastman Johnson, as well as a remarkable photographic copy of "The Cranberry Harvest," a canvas now in a San Diego, California, art museum. Several of the discerning art critics of our times have characterized Eastman Johnson as the out­ standing American painter of his generation, and this gives the collection, now on display at the Peter Foulger Museum, an especial significance.

One of the paintings now on exhibit was a gift to the Asso­ ciation by the artist — that of Robert Ratliff, the English mariner, who became a well-known rigger on Nantucket, and was painted during his later years while a resident of "Our Island Home." Mr. Johnson presented the large canvas in De­ cember, 1900, and on the back of the painting he wrote: Robert Ratliff, born Feb. 23d, 1794. Went with Napoleon to St. Helena. Shipwrecked on the Island of Nantucket Dec. 20th 1820, where he remained ever since, to date, Dec. 17, 1879 — Eastman Johnson.

In acknowledging the gift, Mrs. Elizabeth Bennett, Secre­ tary of the Nantucket Historical Association at that time wrote: It is a striking likeness of the old-time ship rigger, whom many of us still remember, and somehow it brings to our minds as we look at it the rigging loft, where his working days were spent, with its (to a Nantucketer) delicious odor of rope yarn, tar and such things.

As a companion piece to the painting there is a large burial stone in the Old North Cemetery on New Lane, which was placed at Robert Ratliff's grave in 1882 by Frederick C. Sanford, one of the best known Islanders of the 19th century, and a veteran of seafaring in his own right. On the face of the burial stone Mr. Sanford had the following inscription cut in: Robert Ratliff, born at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Feb. 25, 1794. Died at Nantucket, Feb. 28, 1882, aged 88. He was a seaman on board the ship Northumberland, 84 guns, under the command of Sir George Cockburn, that conveyed Napoleon Buonoparte to St. Helena, in 1815, and received marked notice from the great emperor.

He was also a seaman in the Albion, 74, in the attack on the city of Washington, in 1814. In 1820 he was shipwrecked on the Island of Nantucket, where he re-

8

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

sided the remainder of his life. He was well known as a successful master rigger for fifty years, honored for his integrity, respected for his uniform courtesy, and beloved for his kindness and generosity.

While a considerable biography in itself, it does not contain all the facts in the life of the veteran mariner, as he had also fought under Nelson at the Battle of Copenhagen. At one time, during service in the Baltic, he was on a ship frozen in the ice for several weeks before being released. He often told about the time a press gang snatched him and several others and "pressed" him into the Royal Navy. His shipwreck that brought him so unceremoniously to Nantucket is not completely known as to details.

During the Great Fire of 1846 the rigging loft of Robert Ratliff on South Wharf was burned along with all other water­ front properties. He rebuilt and continued in the business for many years thereafter. His home was on Quince Street, in the house which Austin Strong, playwright and Nantucket summer resident for so many years, enjoyed and in which he died two decades ago. Ratliff also owned land on the opposite side of the street, and during his first years on Nantucket lived in a house on Hussey Street.

The painting by Eastman Johnson of Robert Ratliff is a remarkable example of the artist's skill at capturing the per­ sonality of his subject. The face, under the sailor-like kerchief on the head, shows a strong countenance, eyes still alert under the creased forehead, mouth with evidence of good humor, and gnarled hands folded peacefully in his lap. Both the portrait and the grave stone insure this Nantucket-adopted British Navyman with a maritime immortality so long as both endure.

9

Administrator's Report WE HAVE HAD the Peter Foulger and Whaling Museums open Saturday afternoons again this winter and this has been most appreciated by people on the island for a weekend visit.

The number of students and people doing research at the Peter Foulger Museum has greatly increased and has demon­ strated the wisdom of uniting the two libraries; especially with Mr. Stackpole in the building for guidance and assistance.

I hope you will visit the Whaling Museum at your first opportunity for no other reason than to see the great improve­ ments Mr. Chace, the chairman, has implemented.

As usual, we have an active repair program going on in all the buildings but this year the program that we get the greatest satisfaction in moving along is with our portraits and prints.

Like painting the Hadwen House, the job will never be com­ pleted but we have made a tremendous start in having these very valuable possessions taken care of by professional restorers.

Devoted friends are working on these worthwhile projects: Mrs. Sandra Sherwood is preparing a complete index of all "Proceedings" and "Historic Nantuckets." The need of this is constantly felt.

Mrs. Harding Greene has tabulated a wealth of infor­ mation about our art collection from over fifty years of "Proceedings" as a start for preparing a manual. Al­ though we are not an art museum, we have a sizable and valuable collection.

Miss Mary Gardner is working on a program for acquir­ ing contemporary art; not only for current interest but looking toward the future when the work of today's artists will be part of Nantucket's history.

Mr. Stackpole has presented several lectures during the winter at the Peter Foulger Museum which have been excep­ tionally well received and attended. They are another example of the increasing interest in Nantucket history. Incidentally, have you seen his new book "Nantucket in Color"? It can be obtained from us or at the local book stores for $4.95 plus tax.

I am pleased to report that the Firemen's Association has undertaken the task of improving the exhibit at the Hose House.

We have some valuable memorabilia there which has been poorly presented and their help will be most appreciated.

Rev. Robert Metters, George W. Jones, and Albert G. Brock were selected as a committee to organize the Bicentennial cele­ bration for 1976 and have a program underway.

We are in the process of preparing a brief movie to indoc­ trinate visitors at the Peter Foulger Museum in Nantucket his­ tory. This is somewhat of an experiment but may be a valuable tool to aid in presenting our tradition and history.

Leroy H. True

12

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

ever since it has been occupied by the Williams family, is none other than the old swimming pool, which forms a major por­ tion of the foundations of the cottage, but any salt water therein would be strictly unplanned!

Phil Morris informed me that among his other talents, "Doc" Clisby was a talented artist. I have never, to the best of my knowledge, seen any of his work, but Phil tells me that his sister, who lives in Abington, Pa., has one of his paintings.

In compiling this information, in addition to Philip Morris, 'Sconset's postmaster for nearly 35 years, I am indebted to Philip A. Williams, III, present occupant and owner of the property, to my cousin, John Gibbs Penrose, to the late Miss Mildred Bur­ gess of 'Sconset, and to The Inquirer and Mirror for their allimportant item regarding the building of the original property in August, 1906, which provided the necessary prodding of the memory for not only the needed original information but the later facts and nostalgic reminiscences which constitute this article.

Footnote: Ernest Coffin of 'Sconset used to haul coal for the steam boiler which was used for heating the pool and also the pool itself was constructed by Nathaniel B. Lowell, then the main stone mason on the Island.

Phil Morris' sister, Mrs. William M. Sillars of Abington, Pa., has the picture by "Doc" Clisby.

Ernest R. Coffin is and has been caretaker of the property ever since it was acquired by the Williams family.

•

13

Nantucket's Old Jail and Its Wandering Lock

BY EDOUARD A. STACKPOLE

AS WE ARE all aware it is often the case that details concerning certain aspects of historic structures often become lost as their recording was neglected at the time the incidents took place. As an example, there is an interesting episode connected with the restoration of the Old Jail which should be documented because it is a part of the history of the ancient structure off Vestal Street.

Following the abandonment of The Old Gaol as a prison, the County -Commissioners did little to preserve the property but did keep the doors locked. After several conferences con­ cerning the ultimate disposition of the Jail, the Commissioners voted to deed both the Jail and House of Correction, which adjoined it, to the Nantucket Historical Association. This action was recorded on May 29, 1946, and the deed registered on June 3rd of that same year. During the month of July the cells of the Jail were cleared of certain "exhibits" collected during the Prohibition era, including some uniquely designed "stills" and some samples of the illegally manufactured "moonshine."

The Old Jail was opened in August, 1947, with John Collis as the custodian. During that winter Clarence Swift and his helpers worked on necessary restoration features. Some of the replacements of timbers along the south side, where rain water had seeped in and rotted the wood, were difficult as the Jail's walls were constructed of logs laid cabin style, and these logs had been drifted together with iron, and rotted places cut away was only the preliminary to the use of dozens of hack saws to cut through the iron drifts.

During the course of the restoration the heavy lower door of the Jail was taken off for work on the door frame. At this time it was plainly in evidence that the original lock — which had long since disappeared — must have been a huge one. The iron box on the inside of the door which once held the lock was still in place but the space once containing the lock had been filled in with fitted pieces of wood. On the outside of the door a large padlock was used to fasten the door when closed.

A news item describing the restoration at the Jail was writ­ ten for The Inquirer and Mirror by this reporter, and was reprinted in several mainland newspapers, and in the article reference was made to the missing lock. In January, 1948, a letter was received by the Association's then President, written

by Mrs. Robert C. Langlotz, of Daytona Beach, Florida, in which was revealed the fact that the missing Jail lock was in her pos­ session, having come to her from her grandfather, Dudley P.

14

The lock on the Old Nantucket Jail. Photograph by Melvin Summerfield.

NANTUCKET'S OLD JAIL AND LOCK

15

Ely, deceased, formerly of New Jersey. Mrs. Langlotz, having been further informed of the restoration at the Jail, offered the original lock to the Association — including the old key.

There was some skepticism about the lock, however, as it seemed too good a development to be true. Early in April, 1948, the mysterious combination of lock and key arrived. The lock itself weighed twenty pounds, and was I614 inches long by ,8 inches wide. The keyhole was curved as was the end of the key which was 91/2 inches long. All doubts as to the possible mistaken identity of the wandering lock were dispelled when the lock fitted the iron frame perfectly, and the key, lining up exactly, fitted into its proper place. Upon firm pressure, the key turned and the bolt moved into place, fastening the massive door firmly.

For some reason, the Board of Selectmen of the Town, early in 1867, had decided to replace the huge original lock with a large padlock which could be placed on the outside of the door and fastened to' the frame by a hasp. It is probable that the heavy door had sagged and as the Jail's lower cells were seldom used at this period it was thought unnecessary to spend the money for the work of correcting the problem. At this time Joseph B. Macy was delegated to procure the large padlock and set it in place. Mr. Macy was then the manager of a fishing company here, with his headquarters at the brick warehouse on Straight Wharf now called the Kenneth Taylor Gallery. Among the stock­ holders of the company were several summer visitors, among whom was Dudley P. Ely, and upon seeing the Jail's lock and key still on the door, and learning of its fate, requested that he be allowed to buy it. Mr. Macy was agreeable and shipped the lock to Ely in a box of salt fish.

The letter which substantiated Mrs. Langlotz's account, and brought a complete authentication, had been preserved in her grandfather's papers, and reads as follows: D. P. Ely, Esq., Nantucket, April 29, 1867 Dear Sir: I have this afternoon put into the Express a box containing the Lock of the Old Jail & Key. I cannot get much of a history as yet, but it must have been the original lock put upon the building when built, and I will soon find out more about it and write you. My carpenter had a job in getting it off as the door was so thick and so heavily ironed. I could not find a lock with a bolt sufficient to take the place of the old one, yet I found an old padlock that was used on our Bank Vault and thinking it would be cheaper than a lock, I bought it and paid my carpenter $3 — makeing the total cost of lock & expenses $8 — which is more than I had hoped.

I have put into the Box a few of our very nice pre­ served Fish to fill the Box, which you will please accept

16

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

and give a mess to Mr. Bishop. Excuse haste as I expect my whaling vessel to go in the morning and am much hurried up.

Very Respectfully, Joseph B. Macy.

Joseph B. Macy was a majority owner as well as agent for some of the last whaleships from Nantucket, and the whaler which he "expected to go in the morning" was the schooner Abby Bradford. Under Captain John Murray she sailed on schedule — April 30, 1867 — returning 18 months later from an Atlantic voyage with 409 barrels of oil.

After its wanderings from Nantucket to New Jersey, thence to Florida, and various storage experiences, the original lock and key of the old Jail returned to its home port. It is a story that may have counterparts elsewhere but has now become a definite part of historic Nantucket.

ORIGIN OF NANTUCKET — AN INDIAN TRADITION From the Columbian Magazine for July, 1787 ON THE WEST END of Martha's Vineyard are high cliffs of variegated coloured earths, known by the name of Gayhead. On the top of the hill is a large cavity, which has the appearance of an extinguished volcano, and there are evident marks of former subterraneous fires. The Indians who live about this spot have a tradition that a certain deity resided there before the Euro­ peans came into America, that his name was Maushop; that he used to step out on a ledge of rocks which ran into the sea, and take up a whale, which he broiled for his own eating on the coals of the aforesaid volcano, and often invited the Indians to dine with him, or gave them relicks of the meal.

That once to show their gratitude to Maushop for his great kindness to them, they made him an offering of all the tobacco which grew upon the island in one season. This was scarcely sufficient to fill his great pipe, but he received the present very graciously, smoked his pipe, and turned out the ashes of it into the sea, which formed the island of Nantucket. Upon the coming of the Europeans to America, Maushop retired in disgust, and has never since been seen.

17

Ram Pasture Excavation Archeologically Disappointing

BY EDWARD B. ANDERSON

Preliminary Report to Members: The purpose of the 1973 Ram Pasture Excavation was twofold. First, to provide an opportunity for members, students and interested residents or visitors, in that order of priority, to learn modern archeological techniques under competent super­ vision. To provide this supervision we were very fortunate in having the assistance of Dr. Selina Johnson, Mr. Dan Crozier of Temple University and Miss Barbara Kranichfeld who has returned to the southwest to work on an Arizona State Exca­ vation. The dedication and enthusiasm these three exceptionally able people brought to the field led to the success of the excava­ tion as an educational venture. Over 40 volunteers participated in on-site training for periods of time up to its full 90-day duration. In addition, Miss Barbara Linebaugh arranged to have her history class from Nantucket High School spend some time on the dig, which they did under the same conditions as regular volunteers. To enhance the educational nature of our excavation the Nantucket Institute organized a series of lec­ tures on archeology given during August in the Peter Foulger Museum.

The second objective of the excavation was archeological; to gather additional evidence from the site of the prehistoric Indian economy of Nantucket. Prior digging by the Shawkemo Chapter of the Massachusetts Archeological Society had yielded a rich assemblage of artifacts, living debris, architecture and pottery from what seemed to have been a site of long standing village settlement. The co-directors of the excavation, C. John Gilbert and Ted Anderson, agreed to a legal contract with the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, owner of the land on which the site is located, which provided for the collective disposition of all archeological evidence and records obtained from the dig, limitations on the extent and use of the land for excavation, a 90-day time limit on use and controlled access. We feel that on all counts both the Conservation Foundation and the Historical Association were pleased with this agreement and benefitted from the joint venture. Unfortunately the bulk of archeological evidence obtained was negative. We have very little concrete to show for our labors.

After setting up a grid based on two meter squares oriented on true north, we chose to open four squares in the northwest quadrant. It was proposed that two workers be daily assigned

18

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

to work each square thus limiting the number of people on site to nine at any one time. This was felt to be a manageable number for the field supervisor to guide. One of the two workers assigned to each square was given the specific responsibility for the field notes on a rotating basis. As the excavation progressed the work­ ers would learn through supervising each other's progress.

The surface survey of the northwest quadrant produced two features of interest. The first was a circle of vegetation of the type that has been thought of as evidence for an under­ lying floor and consequent Indian domestic architecture. With the aid of resources at the Maria Mitchell Library, Dr. Johnson identified this plant growth as a species of rush. While dense growth was limited to an obvious circle, the rush grows pro­ fusely throughout the area. One square was opened in this "Rush Circle" in hopes of locating some architectural features.

There was none. In fact, that square, N2W2, was completely sterile right down to glacial deposit.

The second surface feature of interest was a small circular mound in square N10W2. (Each square was given the number of the location of its southwest corner on the grid system. N10W2 is 10 meters north of the east-west grid line and 2 meters west of the north-south line.) It was therefore decided to excavate that area. Since the agreed maximum dimension of the area under excavation would be 15 meters the two squares chosen by sur­ face features of interest determined the north-south limits of the dig. The remaining two squares initially opened were N4W4 and N6W2.

Of the four squares only N10W2 proved productive. The questionable circular mound was soon identified as an abandoned ant hill, one of many in the area. Our two most interesting arti­ facts came from N10W2, a turtle backed point and a flake scraper, both quite common to the Island. Both were found within 15 cms. of the surface. Both N10W2 and N6W2 yielded small quantities of flaked by-products of implement manufacture. The squares to the south being sterile it was decided to investigate the quad­ rant further to the north despite the danger of encroaching on the previously disturbed area. After closing N2W2 and N4W4, N26W2 was opened and identified as within the grid of the for­ mer excavation. N24W6 was barely underway before we closed the dig for the season but gave considerable evidence of con­ taining a fire hearth.

On October 31, the 90th day of the agreement, the dig was closed out by Ted Anderson and Barbara Kranichfeld. To re­ store the land as nearly as possible to its original appearance, the trenches were filled, reseeded and the general area picked up.

The terminal depth of N10W2 was 54 cms.; N6W2, 72 cms.; N26W2, south half 52 cms., noi'th half 42 cms.; N24W6, 27 cms.

19

Folger Clockworks Described by 1790 Connecticut Writer A Description of a curious piece of CLOCK WORK, lately finished by Mr. Walter Folgier, fun. (a young man of 25 years of age, and bred to no kind of business) of Nantucket, Massachusetts.

IT PERFORMS the office of a common Eight Day Clock, but what is most extraordinary, is the Astronomical part, which at once discovers the ingenuity of the inventer: — When the Sun should rise, there is a Sun rises in the machine, comes to the meridian, and sets at the time the Sun in the Heavens should set at all sea­ sons of the year, and exhibits the Sun's declination, place in the Ecliptic, Time of her rising and setting every day of the year; when the Moon should rise there is a Moon that rises in the Machine, making the same appearance that the Moon in the Heavens should make, comes on the meridian, and sets at the proper time, making all the different appearances that we see the Moon make in the Heavens.

It exhibits the Moon's declination, time of high and low water at all times of the year, and keeps the date of the year for the space of a century without requiring any alteration.

By this machine the curious phenomena of the Harvest Moon is rendered plain and easy to be understood by the meanest ca­ pacity.

It is performed with forty wheels, and a suitable number of leavers, coins, &c., and contained between two brass plates, seven inches long, and five inches wide, and between one of the said plates and the dial plate, which is eighteen and an half inches long, and fourteen inches wide; the thickness from the dial plate to the back plate, is five inches; it is kept in motion by two weights of the size of the weights of a common Clock, and that motion kept regular by a second pendulum: — there is one wheel in it that keeps in motion continually, but that motion is so slow as to take the space of about eighteen and an half years to per­ form one revolution.

From the Connecticut Journal, July 14, 1790

20

Grandmother Hussey Painting

by Seaverns Authenticated AMONG DOCUMENTS now being indexed at the Peter Foulger Museum is a statement which identifies and authenticates a painting by Alexander Seaverns, an artist and engraver, who at one time taught drawing in the Nantucket schools. As he lived at 107 Main Street, on the west corner of Main and Gardner Streets, it is understandable why he selected a front room of the house for the scene of the painting.

The statement concerning the painting was made by Burt Brown Barker, attorney, of New York City, and presented to the Association together with a photograph of the painting by Henry 5. Wyer, one of Nantucket's outstanding artist-photographers from 1881 to 1920. The statement by Mr. Barker reads as follows: "The woman in the foreground in this picture is Lydia Macy Hussey, wife of Gorham Hussey and mother of Hepsibeth Chase Hussey. The picture was painted by Alex. H. Seaverns.

The interior is supposed to be that of a room in the Reuben Joy homestead at Monument Square on Main Street. But the portrait of Mrs. Hussey was painted from a photograph of her taken by her grandson, H. S. Wyer, as she sat in the living room of No. 13 Vestal Street, in which house she lived from soon after her marriage on January 27, 1820, till her death on March 6, 1885, and where in the little room off the living room to the west, said Hepsibeth Chase Hussey was born on March 27, 1827.

"Gorham Hussey, the husband, was born on September 7, 1797 and died on November 28, 1879.

"Lydia M. was born on July 1, 1798 and died on March 6, 1885. Both are buried in the Quaker burial ground at the west end of Vestal Street.

"The above information was secured by me on August 27, 1927 from Miss Eliza Hussey, No. 14 Gardner Street, a grand­ daughter of said Lydia. She took the dates of the marriage, births and deaths from the original entries in the Bible of said Gorham Hussey, then in her possession."

Burt Brown Barker

Grace Brown Gardner EARLY ON THE morning of December 22, 1973, Miss Grace Brown Gardner passed quietly away at the Nantucket Cottage Hospital, where she had been a patient since April of 1969. She was within two months of her 94th birthday, and had retained her characteristic keen faculties until close to the end.

Funeral services were conducted at St. Paul's Church on December 26 by the Rev. Herbert S." Stevens, who also officiated at the graveside ceremony held at the Gardner plot in the Pros­ pect Hill Cemetery.

The following account of Miss Gardner's long and useful life was written by Mrs. Merle Turner Orleans for The Inquirer and. Mirror and is both a tribute to her memory and an excellent summation of her contributions to her profession and to Nan­ tucket, as well as an account of her activities in the Nantucket Historical Association. Permission has been given to Historic Nantucket for its reprinting as an historical record.

Death of Grace Brown Gardner, Retired Teacher and Nantucket Historian Grace Brown Gardner, who died on December 22, 1973 was born in Nantucket on February 27, 1880, the daughter of Arthur H. Gardner and Mary Macy Brown Gardner. Both of her parents were ardent students of genealogy. Her father was a newspaper­ man, had been Tax Collector for Nantucket for nearly 20 years, had served as Representative of the General Court from Nantucket for a period of seven years. When Mr. Gardner died, his wife took oyer as Tax Collector and, in 1924, achieved the distinction of having collected every penny of the taxes owed the town in her first term as the island's first woman Tax Collector. In addition to his other interests Arthur H. Gardner served as president of the Nantucket Historical Association and his wife as treasurer for many years.

It was no wonder then that Grace Brown Gardner grew up in an atmosphere where every interest was in Nantucket — its history, its finances, and its politics. Her education was a broad one and her early schooling had an effect on her entire life. She received her elementary and secondary education in the Nantucket schools, attended the Charles Sumner School in Roslindale, Mass during the years her father was in the Legislature.

She graduated with the class of 1901 from Bridgewater Noimal School. After a few years of teaching, she went to Cornell University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts.

GRACE BROWN GARDNER

23

degree in botany in 1914. The following year she was awarded her Masters degree at Brown University.

She had throughout her life a deep interest in young people and instituted several courses to teach science to boys and girls in the elementary grades. Her first teaching practice was in the old Siasconset School while she was still a student at Bridgewater and she had to return home for a brief time because of an illness of her father. She assisted her father in the newspaper business at that time, and there began her hobby which followed her through­ out her life as long as she was physically able — the collection of all the material she could obtain concerning Nantucket.

Her scrapbooks, over which she spent thousands of hours, covered all subjects pertaining to the island of her birth — houses, people, churches, stores, whaling, the various Nantucket organizations, lightships and lighthouses, the island steamers — in fact, anything and everything. It was back in these early years that she began these collections, spending long winter hours with scissors and paste, making the fabulous scrapbooks which have become a legend and provided invaluable research material for hundreds of students and historians who sought her assistance.

When she returned to the mainland, following her gradua­ tion from Bridgewater, Miss Gardner taught for thirteen years in New Bedford schools, afterwards going to Fall River where she taught for three years in the B. M. C. Durfee High School.

In 1918 she went to Framingham Normal School as a teacher in the science department.

For the next twenty-three years she taught botany and related sciences to hundreds of students at Framingham. An eager interest in all plant and bird life which spurred her on to unique methods of teaching her students in the field as well as in the classroom stimulated an enthusiasm among those students taking her courses that, in later years, brought many of them to Nantucket to visit her summer after summer.

In 1942 Grace Brown Gardner returned to Nantucket to make her home at the old family home at the corner of Milk Street and Quaker Road. She was proud of her home which was one of only four of the older houses that remained in the ownership of the' direct descendants of the original builders.

Her membership in the Nantucket Historical Association had been a natural one, following along in her parents' footsteps, and it was not surprising that she was immediately elected to the Council of the Association. She was appointed a Vice President in 1946 and held that office as long as her health permitted her in her own estimation — to be of service to the Association.

In 1970 she asked to be allowed to retire. At that time she was made an Honorary Vice President. Her advice and counsel over the years were of tremendous help to all the officers and staff of the Association.

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Miss Gardner also had a strong interest in the Maria Mitch­ ell Association because of her work in the field of botany and bird life. One of her major gifts to the Maria Mitchell Associa­ tion was an herbarium which represented many months of careful and loving construction and planning to secure the "just right" plants for inclusion. Here again her advice and interest helped to smooth out many problems for the younger instructors and directors in the Natural Science Department of this Asso­ ciation, of which she was made an Honorary Member.

She was a Proprietor of the Nantucket Atheneum and served as a Trustee, as well as acting as Secretary for many years.

Among her other activities she took an active part in the Histor­ ical Association's annual "Gams," adding interesting anecdotes and stories from her vast background of island facts and leg­ ends. She also'served for a while as a hostess at The 1800 House.

She contributed to the columns of The Inquirer and Mirror in many ways over the years, but particularly she was noted for her series of biographies entitled "Fifty Famous Nantucketers."

That series is now a collector's item.

She was a member of St. Paul's Church in Nantucket. She was extremely proud of her Nantucket background, which she traced back to the original Tristram Coffin. A quiet, friendly person, she never sought any attention for herself or any thanks or monetary compensation for the hours of work she spent assisting those who visited her seeking help.

Even after she became a patient at the hospital she contin­ ued, as long as her eyesight permitted, to pore over her scrapbooks and diaries and enjoyed reading and rereading her fa­ vorite books on the island's history and legends.

The scrapbooks were given by Miss Gardner several years ago to the Nantucket Historical Association. They are kept in the air-conditioned vault in the Peter Foulger Museum, but they have all been put on microfilm and are available at both the Historical Association and the Nantucket Atheneum.

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Nantucket's Thomas Macy: A Western Pioneer THE CAREER of Thomas G. Macy, a Nantucket man who had a most picturesque life, will undoubtedly prove of interest to readers who enjoy accounts of men who were pioneers in the far western sections of our country. Through the interest of Jack Alnutt of Greeley, Colorado, we are able to use an account of the adventures of his grandfather, which reads as follows: In the early sixteen hundreds, Thomas G. Macy and Tris­ tram Coffin sailed over to the island of Nantucket to see if the Indians were friendly and the nature of the island. Finding it to their liking they settled there.

Ten'generations later, on February 2, 1835, there was born to Paul and Nancy Macy, on Nantucket, a son whom they named Thomas G. The G. stood for nothing, but he used to tell his grandsons that it stood for "Goose." Paul Macy was a whaler, as were many of the Nantucket men, and all were connected with the sea in one capacity or another.

One of Tom's recollections is sitting on his grandmother's lap and her sticking her old clay pipe in his mouth, teaching him to smoke.

When he was nine years old he stowed away on a vessel bound for the Pacific. They had barely gotten under way when Tom got hungry and appeared. The captain put him to work as cabin boy.

In the next five years he made several trips around Cape Horn to the Pacific. One time they sailed to China, stopping at one of the Hawaiian Islands on the way. He in later years used to talk about the Sandwich Islands and what a wonderful climate they had.

In 1848 or '49 the ship he was on put in at San Francisco and they found out that gold had been discovered at Sutters Mill The entire crew from captain to cabin boy left the ship in the mud flats of the bay and they all went prospecting for gold.

After several years of mediocre success Tom became home­ sick to see New England again. He had made a small strike and had enough to purchase a ship at San Francisco. They were loaded and ready to sail when the ship caught fire and burned to the water leaving Thomas destitute. He, however, was determined to get to the east coast so he signed on as a sailor and they started around the Horn once moie.

As they approached the east coast they put in at a southern port and found that the Civil War had been going on foi six

26

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

months or more. By persuasion or conscription, the Confeder­ ates signed up the entire crew in the southern navy. As they were all from New England, within a few months they deserted and made their way to the north, where Tom enlisted in the Union Navy and served out the balance of the war.

After the war he decided to leave the sea and settle down.

He and a cousin opened a little store in New York City. One of his cousins was Rowland H. Macy, who was the owner of the famous department store in New York. Whether this venture of Tom's was with Rowland or whether it Was some other cousin is debatable.

He was married to Frances Thompson and to this union were born three children, one died in infancy, a son Albert and a daughter Rebba who is still living.

He soon found living in a city and tending shop too con­ fining for his venturesome spirit so in 1869 he left his family and headed for Colorado where he had heard about the gold strike around Idaho Springs. After prospecting for some time, unsuccessfully, he did a number of things. One he used to tell about was carrying the mail to Blackhawk and after one very early and heavy snow storm he was walking on snow shoes when he stepped on what he thought was a rock but turned out to be a bear. He said he didn't know which one was the most scared as they both went in opposite directions as hard as they could go.

Another job he had was a "freighter" from Denver to Deadwood, South Dakota. There had been a big gold strike in Deadwood and Denver was the closest railhead. The freight was loaded in wagons and hauled up through Wyoming by ox teams.

One night this freighting party was attacked by Indians, who burned the wagons, killed several of the men and drove off the stock. Tom escaped in the darkness, not even waiting to put his boots on. At daylight he found a prospector's cabin. The prosspector, a man named Nace, who was an uncle of Mrs. John Meeker and Mrs. Henry Adams, both living in Greeley, took him in and with his jackknife cut the cactus out of his feet. Tom used to delight in going into all the gory details of how Nace sharpened his knife, finally honing it on his boot top. He had Macy lay on his stomach on the floor while he sat on his legs to keep him still while the operation was in progress. In three weeks Tom's feet were healed enough for him to walk back to civilization in a borrowed pair of boots.

In his traveling around the region, he noticed the new colony at Greeley and in 1872 decided that this was the place for him. He sent for his family and settled down to farming in the Pleasant Valley area. Knowing little about farming and with drought and grasshoppers, it wasn't too successful a venture.

One day returning home from town, going out Oak Street, he found that a bridge across the Poudre was being started.

NANTUCKET'S THOMAS MACY

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As was usual in those days people had time to stop, which Tom did. He soon saw that the workers were having trouble with the pile driver. He called to Mr. Baker, who had the contract, and told him that if certain knots were tied and rigged a certain way that the pile driver would work. Mr. Baker, with an oath, told him that he had contracts to build bridges up the Poudre, Big Thompson and the St. Vrain and if he could make the machine work he could have a job, which would last about a year. Tom had no crop to bother about so he hitched his team of broncs to some brush along the river and went to work im­ mediately.

When Paul Macy died he left Tom a 40-acre apple orchard in upper New York State. It had been hard going in Colorado so he loaded up the family and moved back to New York; how­ ever, within a few months he decided, with his adventuresome pioneer spirit, he could never live on 40 acres so back to Greeley he came. His daughter was born in New York, the doctor making Mrs. Macy stay until after the baby was born and getting along all right.

Tom tried various and all kinds of jobs to make a living, among which was that of being sexton of Linn Grove Cemetery.

In 1884 he was elected coroner of Weld County. He held this office with the exception of one term until he retired in 1916.

In those days Weld County extended to the Nebraska line on the east and included all the area comprising Morgan, Sedg­ wick, Philips and Logan Counties.

The problem of transportation in those days was great.

Some coroner calls would keep him away from home for several days. He would go by train to the nearest town, then hire a livery team or go by horseback, if it was off established roads.

Many stories he told of some of these early day trips, about getting caught in blizzards, getting lost and all the other hard­ ships that the early day pioneers withstood.

Between the two occupations, coroner and cemetery sexton, he found himself helping more and more families when they had a death occur. In these early days John Irons, cabinetmaker, would make a coffin to order and it would be taken to the cem­ etery by spring wagon.

Mr. Macy decided as long as he was so involved that he might as well get into the business, so he bought a few caskets and started "T. G. Macy, Undertakers." His day book shows that he sold a coffin in April of 18.86. This is the first written record of any transaction that we can find.

In 1893, Frances Macy died and in 1894 he married Hulda Wolfenden, a widow with two daughters. Both Mr. and Mrs. Macy thought as much of and treated the stepdaughters the same as their own and the three girls were all sisters in thought and action.

28

HISTORIC NANTUCKET

Tom Macy was a valued member of the early day volunteer fire department. In the competition with other departments his early training in climbing the rigging on sailing ships stood him in good stead in the ladder climbing contests.

One Saturday night the fire alarm sounded. It must have been Saturday, for both he and Mrs. Macy had taken baths and she had laid out clean underwear. When the alarm sounded, Tom jumped out of bed and was having trouble getting dressed in the dark. By the time Mrs. Macy had the lamp lighted so he could see what the trouble was they found he had been trying to get into his wife's underwear. This tickled Mrs. Macy so she became almost hysterical, which made Tom mad and he swore that he would never go to another fire, and he never did. Years later he was on his front porch wondering where the fire was and it was his own barn burning. Some friend came by and remarked about the barn burning and Tom said: "Where is Huldy?" When the neighbor said he had seen her out by the barn, Tom said: "Thank God, she got the stock out then." And she had.

Mr. Macy was coroner when Weld County had its only lynching in 1889. A little known fact is that the coroner is next in line to the sheriff. When a sheriff is incapacitated or disqual­ ified the coroner takes over his duties. This fact was known to the vigilantes for when Tom heard the commotion in town, probably when they were knocking the door off the jail with a tree trunk, he went to the door to see what was happening.

Two masked men were on his front porch and told him every­ thing would be all right and to go back in and go to bed. He then tried the back door with the same result. After looking around he found a window he thought he could get out of without being seen. As he jumped out the window he came down on top of another vigilante, knocking his handkerchief mask off. He recognized the man, so he made a bargain. If the man would let him get away he would never mention the man's name. How­ ever, when he got to the corner two more men were waiting and taking him by the elbows marched him back home. Tom said his feet touched the ground two or three times in the block back to the house. The result, as we all know, the man was lynched and Macy buried him in Linn Grove.

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Bequests or gifts to the Nantucket Historical Association are tax deductible.

They are greatly needed and appreciated.

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This was the cover picture in our January, 1974, issue, with the sidewheeler steamer identified at the "Gay Head." This was in error. The Sidewheeler having been the "Uncatena. Both of these steamboats were in operation to Nantucket for many years, the "Gay Head," built in 1891, being a larger boat than the "Uncatena," built in 1902. The "Sankaty," first of modern propeller-driven steamers on the line, was built in 1911, and launched the same month (February) that the control of the Steamboat Company passed into the hands of the New York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad.