Historic Nantucket
NANTUCKET TOWN From a lithograph by Ruth Haviland Sutton
JANUARY, 1957
Published Quarterly by
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
NANTUCKET, MASS.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial
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A Visit to Milford Haven
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Old Nantucket House Gives Up a Secret
17
The Whale Ear Bone
19
Ship Spermo of Nantucket
25
Keziah Coffin Fanning's Diary
26
History Making Events
32
Gifts, Legacies, and Bequests
35
Officers
36
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 4
JANUARY 1957
No. 3
Historic Nantucket is published quarterly at Nantucket, Massachusetts, by the Nantucket Historical Association. It is sent free to all members of the Association. Membership dues are — Annual-Active $2.00; Sustaining $10.00 ; Life—one payment $50.00. Entered as Second Class Matter, July, 1953, at the Post Office, Nantucket, Massachusetts, Copyright 1957 Nantucket Historical Association. Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket, Massachusetts.
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EDITORIAL The Warrant for Nantucket's Annual Town Meeting to be held February 18th includes an Article — No. 92 — containing a proposal to amend the Historic Districts Commission Act. It is made the subject of this editorial because we believe the proposed amendment would defeat the purpose of the Act and thus adversely affect the economy of Nantucket. The Article reads as follows: To see if the Town will vote to instruct its representative in the General Court to file a bill to modify Chapter 601 of the Acts of 1955, Section 8, Paragraph (b) so that paragraph (b) will read as follows: "The Historic District Commission in passing upon appro priateness of external architectural features in any case shall keep in mind the purpose set forth in Section One of this Act and shall consider among other things the general design, arrangement, and structure of the building or structure in question and only in such cases where the cost of the change or construction exceeds the amount of one thousand ($1,000) shall this act apply."
This proposed amendment would have the Commission, in passing upon appropriateness of exterior architectural features in any case, ignore "texture, material and color" for in the amendment these words are omitted. These three factors, as stated by the editor of a professional architectural magazine, since time immemorial have been of the greatest importance in assaying works of architecture. Nor is the Commission, in passing upon appropriateness, to consider "the relation of such factors to similar features of buildings and structures in the immediate surroundings" for these words also are omitted in the amendment. Not to take these and other factors into account in considering appropriateness" obviously would leave the door wide open for any type of construction or restoration and the use of any kind of materials and colors irrespective of the historical surroundings. Far worse, however, are the concluding words of the amend ment which are to be added to section (b) namely that "only in such cases where the cost of the change or construction exceeds one thousand ($1,000) shall this act apply". Think of what might be done to Main Street in the changing of windows and doors; adding cupolas, modern dormers and porches; and painting with glaring colors never seen in old Nantucket, especially if the work
EDITORIAL
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was done by the owner for there is nothing in the amendment defining cost nor requiring that the labor time of the owner be included as a cost with respect to the §1,000 limit. Then, too, almost anything could be done and any kind of monstrosity added to any house simply by dividing the construction or restoration project into various separate projects to be done at different times provided no one project exceeded an undefined §1,000 cost. Finally, who is to be the judge as to whether the cost has been fairly and correctly figured and is within the limit of $1,000 ? It is easily understandable why the Historic Districts Com mission is opposed to the proposed amendment on the grounds that it would defeat the purpose of the Act. Those sponsoring the proposed amendment seem to have over looked Section 7 of the Act under which the Commission is au thorized to "make such rules and regulations consistant with this Act as may appear desirable and necessary". Further that the Commission, acting under this authority on April 27, 1956, issued a bulletin, advertised in the local papers and mailed to all con tractors, painters, masons, etc., that individual applications for approval need not be filed for exterior repair and paint jobs covering ten different broad classifications of work. This was done without impairing the basic principal of the act that the appro priateness of exterior architectural changes must be decided upon by one designated authority — the Commission — to preserve the historical atmosphere of the districts as against the varying opinions of an untold number of individuals. President George W. Jones, appearing before the Finance Committee in opposition to Article 92, emphasized the fact that many cities and towns spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore their communities to a Revolutionary War period at mosphere and still they have only reproductions, whereas Nan tucket still has the original houses of the 1800 era and many of even earlier dates. He pointed out that almost any resort can provide visitors, with much more accessibility, the same summer attractions Nantucket provides except for one thing, our histor ical atmosphere. It was to preserve that great asset that the Historic Districts Commission Act was instituted and accepted by the Town. This prompts us to remind our members of the historic background of the Act and its sponsorship as outlined in
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the editorial, which appeared in our January, 1956, issue pub lished prior to the unanimous acceptance of the Historic Districts Commission Act by the 1956 Annual Town Meeting. The editorial read in part: "The presentation of this Article to the voters is the final step in the plan industriously worked out during 1954 and 1955 by nine local organizations which believe that Nantucket's future lies in the preservation of its past evidenced in its Main Street mansions, old gray shingled houses and historic whaling structures together with its winding lanes and cobblestone streets. "Led by the Nantucket Civic League, the Nantucket Historical Association, The American Legion, Rotary Club of Nantucket, Chamber of Commerce, Siasconset Improvement Association, The Real Estate Dealers, Nantucket Taxpayers Association, and the Firemen's Association initiated and sponsored this Act. Subse quently the Summer Courtesy Town Meeting by resolution ex pressed its approval and recommended acceptance of the Act. Before the Legislature passed and Governor Herter approved the precedent setting act, the Supreme Judicial Court was re quested by an order of the Senate to pass upon its constitutionality. In deciding that the Act could be legally enacted the Court stated in part: " 'The definition of the purpose of the proposed Act as set forth in 1 is — "the preservation and protection of historic buildings, places and districts of historic interest; through the development of an appro priate setting for these buildings, places and districts; and through the benefits resulting to the economy of Nantucket in developing and maintaining its vacation-travel industry through the promotion of these historic associations".' pp.
"Commenting upon what Nantucket has at stake the Court said in part : " 'We may also take judicial notice that Nantucket is one of the very old towns of the Commonwealth; that for perhaps a century it was a famous seat of the whaling industry and accumulated wealth and culture which made itself manifest in some fine examples of early American architecture; and that the sedate and quaint appearance of the old island town has to a large extent still remained unspoiled and m all probability constitutes a substantial part of the appeal which has enabled it to build up its summer vacation business to take the nlace of its former means of livelihood.'
EDITORIAL
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"The danger which Nantucket constantly faces and which threatens its future unless protected by a flexible law such as this proposed Act is recognized in the following words of the Court: " 'It is not difficult to imagine how the erection of a few wholly incongruous structures might destroy one of the principal assets of the town. . . "
The Historic Districts Commission Act of Nantucket is now nationally known and applauded as evidenced by the many favorable editorials, newspaper stories, and inquiries received from other cities and towns establishing similar controls, several of which are in Massachusetts. It is of special interest to note that at the present time the General Court of the Commonwealth has before it a proposed statewide enabling act to permit cities and towns to establish Historic Districts and Commissions and that the wording and general provisions of the proposed act are similar to the Nantucket Act. What better evidence can there be as to the desirability and importance of this type of protective legislation and of the economic value of preserving historic areas as provided by the Nantucket Historic Districts Commission Act? The proposed amendment, if adopted, would without doubt prove to mean virtual nullification of the Act and thus open the door to the destruction of one of the principal assets of the town of which the Court gave warning. The words of the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court should carry weight with our members in reaching a decision as to how to vote on this proposed amendment for they were prudent words, carefully weighed without prejudice and void of any pressure not only as to the legality of the Historic Districts Act but what Nantucket has at stake.
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A Visit to Nantucket's Colony Milford Haven, Wales By GEORGE W. JONES
Few people realize that colonization was not only in a west erly direction, but also took an easterly track from the New World to the Old. It would be difficult, of course, to find many towns abroad which were first built by Americans, but there is one particular town (and perhaps only one) which was settled in Great Britain by original inhabitants from America — and Nan tucket at that. This town is Milford Haven, in Pembrokeshire, on one of the extreme western tips of Wales. Here is how it happened. In the summer of 1792, fifteen families of Nantucket origin sailed into Milford Haven. They were aboard 13 ships, manned by 182 men, probably all Nantucketers. In the group were coopers, sailmakers, boat-builders, shipowners, ships' officers and sailors — all of whom had been persuaded by a British Government subsidy to establish a whaling port at what is now Milford Haven. Leaders of the expedition were Samuel Starbuck and Timothy Folger, who brought their families with them. After the safe arrival of this first party, more ships sailed into port until there was a total of nineteen, and more than four hundred settlers. New Light Thrown on Milford Haven Recently, facts about this migration have been brought to public attention, and in a relatively short space of time. First, Mr. Edouard Stackpole (a Past President of our Association), in his book, "The Sea-Hunters," published in 1953, furnished an account of these whalemen and their families who moved first to Nova Scotia and then very shortly thereafter to Wales. Then, Sir Frederick Rees, who was born in Milford Haven and lived there during his childhood, published in 1954 "The Story of Mil ford," a history of Milford Haven. Finally, in the same year, there was the discovery of a diary which had been kept by Timothy Folger's wife, Abiel, during the early years of the settlement (see "Historic Nantucket" for April, 1955). This diary was found in the attic by my wife, Rozelle
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(Coleman) Jones. When its interest stirring- contents were dis closed, it was transcribed at the suggestion of Dr. William E. Gardner, who had been in correspondence with Mr. H. L. Howarth, Clerk of the Urban District Council of Milford Haven, regarding Nantucket's part in the settlement of the town. A typed copy of the diary was, of course, later sent to Milford Haven. Visitors from Nantucket and Wales At about the same time, this Welsh town received a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Burnham N. Dell, who were there in 1954, and, a year later, Miss Margaret Harwood, who is well known for her astronomy work for Harvard University at the Maria Mitchell Observatory here on Nantucket. Mr. Gordon Harris, a business man of Milford Haven, visited Nantucket in 1955, as did also Mr. Arthur H. Jackson, Deputy Clerk of the Urban District Council of Milford Haven, and his wife, Mrs. Florence Jackson, last July. Mr. Jackson presented the Nantucket Historical Association with several unusual presents from the Council. Among them were an official greeting scroll, a copy of the genealogical chart of some of the Quaker leaders in the early migration, and an elaborate Welsh "Love Spoon". We Visit Milford Haven All this activity, coupled with the fact that Abiel Folger, her husband Timothy, Samuel Starbuck and probably many others of the original band were distant relatives of my wife and me, created a desire to visit Milford Haven and see the historically interesting places which had been familiar to these Nantucketers. We acted on this desire during our trip to England last fall, and had a most enjoyable time. Touring by car, we were headed for Liverpool from Land's End, and, after having passed through Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Gloucester, and then west through Monmouth and the Welsh counties of Glamorgan, Carmarthen, finally reached Pembrokeshire and Milford Haven. It was a brisk, sunny afternoon when we entered the town and turned into Hamilton Terrace, which runs parallel to the waterfront. Standing some sixty or seventy feet above the harbor and overlooking the town's maritime activities, the avenue has a beautiful location, and is made even more attractive by a wellkept walk which extends along the harbor side for its full length.
A VISIT TO NANTUCKET'S COLONY
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A Busy Town Below Hamilton Terrace is the busy fish pier (Milford Haven is the fourth largest fishing port in the United Kingdom), where some forty trawlers unload their sea harvest. Here the fish are sorted, cleaned, and shipped to Bristol, Liverpool, London, and other cities and towns throughout the country. The weekly catch of fish averages a thousand tons. Beyond this pier and across the main docking area is a drydock, which will accommodate a 10,000-ton ship, and wet docks which run out into the harbor. Much of the prosperity of this community of 12,000 inhabi tants is, as it was at its birth, dependent on the sea, but there is also a large farming area surrounding it, and the town's retail district draws considerable trade from the vicinity. At the time of our visit, Milford Haven was planning the construction of a large graving dock to accommodate the largest oil tankers now being built throughout the world. Plans for a large oil storage station across the harbor, and for a terminus for 90,000-ton ocean liners (now in the blueprint stage) were also projects being much discussed and enthusiastically considered. Milford Haven of Yesterday and Today The old town consists mainly of three parallel streets. First there is Hamilton Terrace — named for Lord Hamilton, the origi nal owner of the district — and on this avenue the larger resi dences are located. Next comes Charles Street — so called for Charles Greville, nephew of Lord Hamilton, who was instrumental in the original establishment of the town — where most of the retail stores are situated. The third parallel street, where there are small residences, is named Robert, which was the name of both Charles' brother and his nephew (Robert senior's son), who expended much of his estate in the later development of Milford Haven. Many of the old stone residences remain on these streets. The more modern residential sections lie east and west, and at either end, of these older thoroughfares. The larger of these two areas is west across Hubberston Pill (a pill is a salt water inset) and is called Hakin. The original village here existed before Milford Haven was settled; as now laid out, it consists of a number of attractive one- and two-story brick houses.
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To the eastward of the old town, between it and Castle Pill, which is about seven tenths of a mile long, is the other new development called Pill, and with construction similar to Hakin's. It also has a very good location and overlooks the haven and Castle Pill. North of the three older streets, the town spreads out into newer residences. These are no longer built on parallel streets, and are perhaps more pleasing for that reason. The Historic Lord Nelson Hotel
On our arrival, we drove down Hamilton Terrace to the Lord Nelson Hotel, named after the great sea lord who was here in 1802 to attend a celebration of the Battle of the Nile, fought four years before. This hotel was built in 1800, and has thus been in operation for over 150 years. Like most of the older structures, it is built of stone, and has thick exterior and interior walls. It appeared to us that much is being done to make this hotel more comfortable and attractive: the outside is white and neat-looking, and inside, the main banquet and dance hall was being completely
THE LORD NELSON HOTEL, HAMILTON TERRACE.
A VISIT TO NANTUCKET'S COLONY
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renovated. We were invited to view the basement and old wine cellar, and found that it consisted of many large, brick arches which looked as though they could support the building for cen turies to come. Nantucketers Are Feted After settling in at the Lord Nelson, we walked along Ham ilton Terrace to its easterly end where the new Town Hall, a building of which the town may be justly proud, is situated. With very little difficulty, we located Mr. Arthur H. Jackson, the Deputy Clerk of the Council, who immediately opened his arms in welcome. From that moment until our departure, he and Mrs. Jackson extended every hospitality to us and made us feel quite at home among old friends. We were introduced to Mr. Frank Jones, Chairman of the Council, who welcomed us to Milford Haven. We were to meet him later during a most congenial evening. The Jacksons' home in Hakin became our headquarters, and the Jacksons acted as our pilots to many of the old and historic
PRIORY LODGE.
The original home of Samuel Starbuck soon after he arrived in Milford Haven. Note: The two windows and the doorway on the left hand side of the picture together with the two chimney stacks above have been added since the house was originally built. The date of the addition is not known.
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points of interest. We visited Priory Lodge, lived in by one of the early Starbuck settlers, and then were driven through Nan tucket Avenue and Starbuck Road, down Priory Road to the Friends Meeting House and burying grounds. The meeting house
THE FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE, PRIORY ROAD.
is a one-story stone building, about thirty by fifty feet, and has a four-pitched roof. It seems to be in excellent condition, and is still an active parish. The sexton, who lives next door, very kindly opened the meeting house for us. On our signing the visitors' book, we saw the names of Mr. and Mrs. Dell and Miss Harwood, and this made us feel close to Nantucket. In the churchyard, we saw the graves of Samuel Starbuck and his wife Abigail, Timothy Folger and Abiel, his wife, and those of a number of others who had been born on Nantucket and who lived out the latter part of their lives here on these Welsh shores. In the evening of our second day in Milford Haven, we were the guests of the Urban Council at a dinner in the Lord Nelson.
A VISIT TO NANTUCKET'S COLONY
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THE TOWN HALL.
This was given in honor of the Nantucket visitors, and was at tended by Council members and their wives. After a very enjoyable meal, we adjourned to the Town Hall, where a moving picture of the town and its environs was shown, along with many colored slides the Jacksons had brought back from their summer visit to New England. Following an expression of welcome in the Council Chairman's office, and during the social hour held after the display of pictures, I was pleased to present the Urban District Council with several momentoes from the Nantucket Historical Association and its members, and to express our appreciation of the hospitality we had received. As might be expected, these gifts had a decidedly Nantucket atmosphere. They consisted of three books: Mr. Stackpole's "The Sea-Hunters", Mr. Everett U. Crosby's "Ninety-Five Per Cent Perfect", and Mr. Samuel Chamberlain's book of pictures of Nantucket. A Visit Long to Be Remembered On the third day in Milford Haven, we visited St. Katherine's Church, erected in the early 1800's. A stone structure facing down Hamilton Terrace from its easterly end, it is an imposing building, attractive inside and out. St. Katharine's is mentioned many times in both Abiel Folger's diary and Sir Frederick Rees's history.
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On the same day, we saw the oldest building in town — St. Thomas a Becket's Church. It was built some time prior to 1400 and was the only structure in the immediate vicinity when the Nantucket settlers arrived in 1792, although it was partly in ruins at that time. Now it has been thoroughly repaired and renovated, and stands as an active parish building. We enjoyed a friendly evening at the Jackson home and bid them farewell, but not without regret at having to leave so soon this attractive locality, in the establishment of which our fore fathers had so much to do. The next morning, we left the Lord Nelson Hotel and Milford Haven, and were soon headed toward Liverpool on our way home. We will remember Milford Haven for a very long time, and it gives us great pleasure to know that this town, originally settled by Nantucketers, will remain im portant for many years to come. Editor's Note:, We are indebted to Mr. Arthur H. Jackson for supplying the photographs of 'Milford Haven taken by S. Robinshaw, iStudio Janwen (15 Charles Street, Milford Haven) from which the pictures were made for this article.
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Old Nantucket House Gives Up Secret When Least Expected, Buried Treasure Is Often Found. BY HARMON TUPPER
Nantucket is the 38th largest community in the United States. . . . The longest railroad in America extends for 344 miles. . . . "Christians," with 121,000 members, outnumber Friends by 34,600. . . . The highest mountain in this country is Brown's Peak, in the Rockies, with an altitude of 18,800 feet. . . . There is no oil in Texas. . . . America produces 123,361,836 bushels of Indian corn annually. . . . Massachusetts has not a single slave, though more than two million are in the United States. . . . Schenectady has a larger population than Milwaukee; the residents of New Bedford outnumber those of Cleveland almost two to one. . . . The President of the United States is James K. Polk. These are a few of the historical facts which have been brought again to light by an unusual "find" here on Nantucket — the kind of discovery which you may make yourself if you keep your eyes open. Late last October, 20-year-old Sidney William Small, son of the genial Oswell J., was tearing down a partition in his house at No. 6 Farmer Street, which he inherited from his grandfather, the late William E. Small. Between two 2x4's he found, neatly folded up and in an almost perfect state of preser vation, a large broadside entitled, "The United States at One View — 1776-1845", published by Humphrey Phelps in New York City and "For sale by J. M. Macomber, 20 Washington Street, Boston." The United States on One Page The old paper is a one-page encyclopedia of miscellaneous information about this country as it was over a century ago. In a series of boxes and charts, the 22 in. by 29 in. sheet — with a fancy scroll around the edges and a noble American eagle at the top — tells you, among other things, the population of the States and of the 150 largest cities; the size of various religious groups (Methodists led the van) ; the principal canals, rivers, mountains, railroads, and the "Rail Road, Steam Boat and Stage travel routes; leading agricultural products (almost 750,000,000 pounds of cotton and more than 185,000,000 pounds of tobacco yearly) ; brief histories of the new territories of Oregon and Texas; the numerical composition of the Continental Army (Massachusetts
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and Maine head the list with 82,206 men-at-arms followed by Connecticut with 39,751 out of a total of 286,813); and distances between various important cities of the time. But why should we go on ? If you want a glimpse into the past, get out your mag nifying glass and study the insert that reproduces this old en cyclopedia-in-miniature. Bank Document Also Found Along with this broadside, Sidney Small found another doc ument : "A TRUE ABSTRACT Of the Statements of the several BANK CORPORATIONS in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, rendered January, 1814. Printed by order of the Honorable Senate of 20th January 1814. Attest, ALDEN BRADFORD, Secretary of the Commonwealth." that lists the assets, liabilities, and other financial facts about the Commonwealth banks. Among them (and who would expect it to be otherwise?) is our own Pacific National, chartered in 1804. If you happen to notice that "1818" is set boldly forth above the portal of today's Pacific National building, that is the date when the building was erected. It's Dr. Frank E. Lewis, the President, who will have to explain the complexities of finance reported in this abstract, And if you want to take a look at this interesting old record, just visit the Pacific National Bank and see it hanging on the wall — Sidney has made a present of the document to the bank. The United States at One View" Now on Exhibition Sidney Small also has given "The United States at One View" to our Association, and you can see that, too, nicely framed1 in the Historical Museum. As you look at it, remember that we of Nantucket and all of you Association members everywhere, are the richer because Sidney Small recognized a "find" (just think of it, our little old Nantucket more than twice the size of Chicago in 1845!) and brought it to us. There may be no oil in Texas, as they could have said in the middle of the last century, but nevei forget, there may be real, as yet undiscovered treasures in your house and those of relatives and friends. We want to see them, so keep your eyes open!
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The Whale Ear Bone A Tympanic Bone and Two Rare Specimens BY EVERETT U. CROSBY
Such bones are occasionally found in museum collections of whaling items. An old card alongside such a bone in the local museum calls it a tympanic bone. They are spoken of as auditory ossicles in correspondence about them from George G. Goodwin, Curator at the American Museum of National History, New York, who states, "They are placed in the skull of a whale in much the same position as in other mammals, on the underside of the upper part of the skull toward the rear end and near the outer side, immediately behind the junction of the lower jaw. They are firmly attached to the boney structure of the skull and it would require considerable effort to pry them loose. Ear bones in all the large whales are about the size of a man's fist and are somewhat in the form of a shell. The bone structure in the ear bones of a whale is denser and much heavier than that from any other part of the whale's skeleton." The particularly unique feature of the bone is that with an occasional one the edge of the lip which curves about the open side is in profile of a man. It would have been feasible with a small amount of labor to carve and etch one side of the bone to increase the appearance of a face, but this was not done. Evi dently, in the old days, the bone was discarded with the skeleton and the rest of the waste material of a slaughtered whale. Now, with wholesale commercial whaling being done in a large way, everything is saved for fertilizer or other purposes and the bone material sold by the ton. It doubtless would not have been desired by the sailors one hundred to one hundred and fifty years ago, as they had the softer and more easily workable material in the pan bone and teeth. The occasional ear bones found in museum collections have not been worked on by etching or carving, and hence are not scrimshaw. They are just plain bone with an occasional one showing a natural profile. Nobody knows from what the word scrimshaw derives, al though a number of suggestions have been offered, but it defi nitely was first and almost altogether used to describe the art
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of the American whaleman, as when making pictorial, ornamental and useful things from the pan bone and teeth of the sperm whale. This work was done by sailors as a pastime while in ships on long whaling cruises, as etched or carved souvenirs "for love and not for sale." The word has no reference to carvings and etchings on elephant ivory, which was done in prior eras such as described in the Old Testament and the Iliad. Therefore, it was of much interest to the scrimshaw collecting fraternity when the writer found in New York a pair of ear bones which had been moderately etched and carved and mounted on wooden blocks to stand upright. The accompanying photographs show a rear view of each bone in the natural state with the rough surface, while on the front the natural profile with its protruding nose and rough surface representing the hair has been taken advantage of to outline the ear, eye, and mouth without changing the profile. Thus these bones have been worked on in the old manner, but when or by whom is not known. Will Tripp (New Bedford Whaling Museum), Edouard Stackpole (Mystic Seaport), Colonel Eugene Clark (Sandwich, Mass., Marine Research Laboratory), Mrs. Nancy S. Adams (Honorary Custodian of Collections at Nantucket Historical Association), Charles S. Batchelder, Jr., and Weston Howland, of Milton, Mass., (notable private collectors), and others specializing in scrimshaw, on inquiry advised they had never seen nor heard of such bones that had been scrimshawed, although attention was called to whale ear bones in the New Bedford and in the Nantucket Whaling Museums which, however, were in the rough and natural state, viz., not etched or carved. At this writing these are the only scrimshawed whale ear bones known to us, but there should be others in existence and, with publicity, others are likely to be newly fashioned and come to the market. It is assumed they are not of the one hundred year old, Pacific Ocean whaling cruise, sailor-made class but are more likely modern, landmade, but nevertheless most interesting. Editor's Note: The ear bones pictured are in the collection of Everett U. Crosby of Nantucket to whom we are indebted for the plates from which the illustrations are printed.
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MLIR SPERMO OENANTIHKET IN A TIEAVV TURXDER-S^'ALL OK THE (OAST OF CALIFOKNI A* 181 2
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Ship Spermo of Nantucket An Unusual Early American Primitive BY EVERETT U. CROSBY
Alexander Starbuck's History of the American Whale Fish ery, 1878, reports on page 282 the following data. The Spermo was a whaleship of 296 tons; sailed August 27, 1820, and arrived on return March 24, 1823; Captain James Bunker; ManagingOwner or Agent A. Mitchell; whaling grounds Pacific Ocean. Result of voyage: 1,920 bbls. sperm oil. It was noted that the ship was built in 1820 and sold in 1823. The book, Whaling Masters Voyages, published by Old Dart mouth Historical Society, printed by Reynolds in 1938, a Federal project, on page 65 states that James Bunker sailed in 1820 from Nantucket on Ship Spermo. A letter of June 12, 1956, from Edouard A. Stackpole, Curator of Mystic Seaport, reads as follows: "I recently saw a unique painting. Its title was 'Ship Spermo of Nantucket in a Heavy Thunder Squall on the Coast of California — 1822'. Measuring 4 ft. 5 in. by 3 ft. 3 in. it is framed with a crib-back of wood. The painting was first drawn to my attention by Mr. Alexander O. Vietor, Curator of Maps at Yale University, who has followed the course of the painting from Martha's Vineyard to Ansonia. He says it was owned on the Vineyard most of its lifetime. As a genuine American primitive it is in a class by itself, depicting a storm at sea so fierce that the good old Spermo is practically perched on the breaking seas. The detail is excellent, showing the men in the rigging; the captain on the port quarter aft, with his speaking trumpet; the mate in the bow boat, also with his trum pet ; sails being torn to shreds, and several hands on the bowsprit, furling the jibs. It is by far the most unique primitive of the sea which I have seen in many years, and in fact that it (IT being the entire composition) deals with a Nantucket whaleship makes it a painting peculiarly suited to Nantucket." Editor's Note: This primitive is in the collection of Mr. Crosby and we are indebted to him for the plate from which the illustration is printed.
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Keziah Coffin Fanning's Diary (Continued)
1793 EDITED BY NANCY S. ADAMS
Jan. 20—Paul Gardner, Jr.'s wife has son born last night — lived but a few hours. Jan. 26—Jethro Hussey & Margaret Shaw were published to-day. Hussey's wife died the 20th of last November. Feb. 10—Had a son born before 9 a.m. (Keziah Fanning's child). Feb. 18—Eben Calef's wife had a daughter born to-day. Feb. 21—Jethro Hussey & Margaret (Peggy) Snow married to-day. March 6—Edmund broke his thigh half way between knee & hip, playing in front chamber. Zaccheus Macy set it. Greenleaf Marshall's son broke his arm to-day and a child of Juda Chace's put his knee out of joint. March 7—Old Mrs. Morris fell down stairs last night & put her hip out of joint and shattered the bone badly. Hulda Coffin, Daniel's wife had a son born this afternoon. March 27—Thomas Starbuck sued Rice for £27,00'0. Left to arbitrators last fall. Award carried into Court was against Rice. Letter from Mrs. Sampson—she had a daughter born a week or ten days ago. April 12—Mrs. Johnson had fine daughter born this morn. May 2—Daniel Hussey & Anna Starbuck married. May 24—Anne Folger, David's wife, died last night. June 27—Dr. Bartlett has moved to the Vineyard. Barclay's wife had a daughter this Spring. June 30—Betsey Bunker, John's wife, had daughter to-day. Last night Deborah Smith died of small pox. July 6—Betsey Willis had a daughter & Billy Morton's wife a son born to-day. Phoebe Rawson died yesterday. July 19—Silvanus Bunker died last night. I
KEZIAH COFFIN FANNING'S DIARY
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August 29—the 3rd of the month letters came from Andrew Pinkham's Mate who sailed from here He writes that Bartlett Coffin died the 9th of Feb. Overstrained & hurt himself in Jan. died in great agony. Sept. 1st—Benjamin Coleman died last night—over 90 years old. Oct. 20—Accounts came from Boston that Burrill was drowned on his passage from here to Boston—he sailed with Thomas Coffin. Oct. 27—Eber. Clark & Kata Coffin published to-day—a short courtship. Nov. 12—Moved to-day to the house belonging to and formerly occupied by old John Beard. Capt. Waterman lived in it a number of years. His widow has built a house this summer. We give 40 dollars a year. Nov. 16—Went to Cos. Eliza Coffin's—Eber. Clark & Kata Coffin married. Dec. 27—At a company Mrs. Fanning mentioned "2 strange young men that weave at the factory". Benjamin Coffin, aged 75, died. 1794 Feb. 16—Capt. James Whippey in a new Brig ran on the Bar last night. He sailed from France to the Brazels on a whaling voyage owned by himself and a frenchman, he put in here to escape being taken, he has 5 or 600 bbls. of oyl onboard, he has been absent 7 years from his family. Feb. 17—The Brig at the Bar leaking very badly. Sept. 27—Upward of 30 sail went out of the harbor to-day. Nov. 20—Thanksgiving. Cos. Eunice had a daughter born last Saturday. Dec. 21—Seems warm like a morn in May—The grass grows up green under the sunny side of house and fences. Mr. Shaw had a slight attack of paralysis. 1795 Jan. 22—John Beard, Jr., went out Tues. P.M. to the S.E. as far as Frank Bown's lot to look for his father's horse. Cold & snowy
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after he went and he lame and not well—did not return at night —men searched for him yesterday and again to-day and found him dead, probably froze to death. Feb. 21—After 4 p.m. fire was cried, Silvanus Gardner back chamber catched on fire, supposed done by children's throwing a broom (?) under the bed as the bed was all on fire when it was discovered, but happily there was not much damage, the bed and bedding and some clothes was burnt. It alarmed pretty much the whole town—one engine. Feb. 27—Ice almost to the Bar. March 4—John Bunker's youngest child died 20 months old, a girl, of throat distemper. March 13—Violent storm, wind carried away the east end of the South roof (four or five boards) of our house and the whole North end of Nathaniel Woodbury's barn & shattered the boards very much & did other damage around us. 'Tis said by some that there has not been such a blow these twenty years. Mar. 21—News came of death of Polly Sampson of child bed fever & Sally Sigourny (Barker that was) died this morn of child bed fever, left little baby. April 6—Mrs. Gelston has sold the house they live in to Jet. Fitch, going to build another. May 5—Uncle Christopher Coleman died this eve. sick about 10 days Shubael Swain's wife died very suddenly. She was about house & died in a minute. May 22—Hezekiah Barnard's wife (Shubael Barnard's daughter) died this morn in child bed, she lay in last week, this is the fourth woman that has died in child bed in a short ime. May 31—Timothy Coleman died this P.M.—short illness—bilious colic, a remarkably fleshy, robust man. June 10—Went to Plums, a gold merchant that lives in Spencer's store, trades all sorts of nick-nacks. Came from Hudson & married a Nantucket girl & brought her here. June 26—A general alarm, the Nantucket Bank robbed of a large sum of money, it is supposed keys were made for the purpose. There were five locks to unlock & two iron doors to open. It was
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thought to be quite secure. A handkerchief was found in the vault which appeared to be greasy, it was supposed to be Rice's because he was a Butcher, in consequence of which he & Joseph Nicolls & his son were taken last night by warrant & put into James Barker's store, not being allowed to speak to each other nor any person along. All the reason that I hear given for taking up the Nicholls is because they and Rice are very intimate. There came about 10 o'clock a number of the proprietors of the bank & searched Nicholls house and all round the hill & bank, they went to Rice's & W. Nicholls & did the same, but without success. In the afternoon they had kind of tryal before two Magistrates & then were dismissed. 'Tis said they have lost 2,000 and some hundreds dollars. The bank is but lately established it is set up at 4,000 specie & twice that in paper, it is not 2 weeks since there bills were first distributed. There is various conjectures respect ing the matter, some say its impossible that there could be any keys obtained & that it must be the original keys that opened the doors, others suppose keys were made but nothing certain is known except by the perpetrators. June 28—Zaccheus Macy's wife died yesterday. July 21—A public Friend from No. Carolina preached & prayed to-day. July 26—Cos. Eliza Coffin died very suddenly 3 p.m. August 25—Went to Maxcys. Uriah Swain, Jo. Chace, Silas Jones and Isaac Coffin there. Came searching round J. Barkers secre taries for the money stolen out of the bank. As Sam Barker is suspected for one. Sept. 10—Rebecca Down and Thaddeus Folger's wife died Monday. Sept. 18—Abner Coffin & Jo. Chace came to-day in the Packet, have been to Boston (went some days ago) Judge Prescott & Dexter state atty. came with them. They have come to have a court of enquiry to see if the persons that are held up to view are guilty or not—Jethro Hussey & his son Jonah, Samuell Barker, Jr., Randall Rice are taken for trial. Albert Gardner & Wm. Coffin the harbor are strangely suspected. Its a dismal day & should these men be proved guilty it would be much more so. Sept. 19—The court of enquiry sot at 9 o'clock to-day, the first information they got of the matter was from William Worth—
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he give his deposition that on the 20th. of June (the night that it is supposed the bank was robbed) he was coming off the Long wharf late at night & saw several men on the Bank steps, one he thought he knew to be Jethro Hussey, one Josiah Hussey & one Sam. Barker—Rachel Gardner went into court & swore that on the 29th. of June late in the evening she went into Thomas Delano's barn (the barn is out to the street, but hoodwinked by a pile of wood) soon after she went in she perceived some body or bodys go up over the wood pile—she kept very still—there being a large hole in the barn and its being moon-light she could discover the persons as they stood so near the barn that she could have taken hold of Jethro Hussey, she deposed that said Hussey & Sam Barker & Randall Rice were the three and heard their conversa tion, it was as follows. Rice began with saying that he thought he should have died when the handkerchief appeared he was so much afraid he should betray himself, he remembered that he sweat very much & took his handkerchief out to wipe the sweat & sup posed he dropped it. One asked the other if the girl was paid the 15 or 5'0 dollars the that procured the keys, one replied it was done or should be done immediately. They called each other by name as Uncle Jethro and Sam & Rice in their conversation with each other. One says Sam where did you put the money, Sam says about 10 rods from the house, one says supposing any one was in hearing—why Death should be their portion. More she said but I cannot recall it. She says there was a man with her, she tells his name, he is a stranger & is not now on the island, one thing more she said, I was afraid of that William Worth, another says I'm not afraid of him for I followed him a long distance to the Northward, she told this story soon after she heard it & before W. Worth had told of his seeing these men, which Must convince anyone that she spoke the truth, for how should she have thought of William Worth any more than of another man, had she not heard his name & there is a number that will attest that she told them directly after it happened. Libeus Coffin deposed that in the night after the 20th of June he was on the wharf late at night & coming off the wharf he discovered several men standing to-gether he dodged around the ships undiscovered by them & got above them and then crawled to a hatters block, but a short distance from the bank door, there being just room between the block and shop, he got there and lay
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snug, that the men he knew to be the six above mentioned, that he saw them pass & repass he saw the 2 Husseys & Barker go into the bank & discovered they had something heavy in their arms, that they went to a store across the way, they went in twice or thrice, that they passed and repassed several times & that he perfectly knew them, he told this story to his mother before it was public the bank was robbed. Sept. 21—Court sat again to-day. Wm. Worth went into court this forenoon & swore that he was not on the wharf on Saturday the 20th. of June, neither did he see any of them men which he swore to before & that he lied and was now conscience smitten & could lie no longer, he always & at all times has declared he was there & that he knew the men, 'tis generally believed that he is bribed—a vast number of evidences were sworn, some very little to the purpose. Sept. 22—Court sot again to-day, afternoon the Judge ordered Jethro Hussey, R. Rice, & S'l Barker to be committed to Goal for trial or to get bonds for 20,600 dollars each. Josiah Hussey he cleared as the evidence was not so strong against him as the others. Rachel did not see him & Libeus would not speak so fully to him as the others. Sept. 24—Hussey & Barker got bonds. Rice gone to Goal. Oct. 14—Jethro Starbuck died in Providence Tuesday of bilious colic. Sailed from here 2 weeks ago Thursday; left two children. Oct. 27—Betsey & I went to Kata Clarks to see the steeple raised, there is a bell to be put up to the meeting house. Dec. 19—Polly Johnson has moved to Pitts house, near where friends meeting-house used to stand. Dec. 21—Billy Coffin moved last week into his new house under the bank. Dec. 30—Mary Clark, widow of Henry, died very sudden this eve. Went to bed last night as well as usual, towards daylight she rapped on the wall for her niece & maid who lodged in the chamber over her. They went to her, she made signs but could not speak. Doctor called and gave her medicine and ordered quiet. Slept several hours, attendants found her asleep on her face & in great sweat — tried to rouse her but she showed no signs of sense, up to the time of her death, just at night.
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History Making Events Annual Winter Gam
Plans for this annual event are said to be in the making but the Moderator, the date, and the place where it will be held are still a dark secret. President Jones does say he hopes it will take place in February. Watch Nantucket's local papers for an an nouncement will be released through them as soon as plans are completed. Business Office
The need for a Council meeting room and a business office located in one of the Association's buildings has been a long-felt need especially during the late fall, winter and spring months. In view of its continued growth in membership and activity the Council decided at its October meeting that the time had arrived when something had to be done. The answer was found in the second story room located over the easterly end of the Friends Meeting House. Old records, papers, etc., heretofore stored there have been removed and, thanks to an anonymous donor, the walls, ceiling and floor have been repaired and repainted and storm windows and electric lighting have been installed. A gas heater, thermostatically controlled, has been put in on a trial basis by the Nantucket Gas & Electric Company. The Associa tion can now handle its business affairs year round from one location and the Council is looking forward to holding its meet ings there regularly beginning with the January meeting. Nantucket Railroad Exhibit
In May of 1955 it was announced by Mr. Robert E. Deeley, now President of the Island Service Company, that plans were in motion to start a Nantucket railroading museum and that he and two summer residents, also interested in Nantucket's old railroad, would combine to stock the museum with their col lections. Old tickets, timetables, stock certificates, lanterns, bells, signs, other small pieces of equipment and many pictures have been collected and placed on display in the second floor of the Island Service Company office building. Accepting Mr. Deeley's invitation, the Council held its October meeting in his office and
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after completing: its business visited the display of exhibits with r. Deeley giving an interesting talk and explanation about the articles on display. Old 'Sconset Pump Restoration of the 'Sconset Pump has been completed with the digging up of the old cobblestones, buried for many years around it, and the relaying of them as they appeared in days of old. For this work the Association is indebted to Mr. Matthew L. Jaeckle. Potential Value of Historic Nantucket Circulation Our circulation continues on a national and international basis as evidenced by the October issue which was mailed to thirty-two States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Canada, England, and far away Ceylon. It reaches over 1,100' persons who are members, many of their friends and numerous historical so cieties and libraries which are on our mailing list at their special request. This is an audience of which any organization may be proud but it brings to mind a thought of how we might profit well from it. Many of our summer resident members undoubtedly are members also of historical societies or interested in similar activities in their home communities. To know of the work and different types of projects carried on by other societies in all parts of the country would be of inestimable value to our Associa tion. Our summer members can help to make this possible by writing our Association from time to time on this subject and sending to us copies of their home-town historical magazines, bulle tins, catalogues, or descriptions of special exhibits and notices of similar import. Such items should be addressed to the Nan tucket Historical Association, P. 0. Box 1016, Nantucket, Massa chusetts. All our members are asked to keep this in mind for such data will without question present valuable ideas to us. Recent Acquisitions The Association has recently received several interesting and valuable gifts which will be added to the exhibits at the Whaling Museum and the Fair Street Museum. From Miss Margaret Folger, of Portland, Maine, the daughter of the late Admiral Folger, the Association has received a china
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bowl found on Pitcairn Island at the time of its discovery by the ship "Topaz". It is reasonable to assume that this bowl was part of the equipment of the ship "Bounty" and was carried ashore by the mutineers when they abandoned that vessel. Also received from Miss Folger were a silver spoon made in Japan and ornamented with a replica of the "U. S. S. Kearsage", com manded by Admiral Folger; a framed photograph of the "U. S. S. Orleans" commanded by him during the Spanish-American War, and a silver loving cup presented by Admiral Higginson to Ad miral Folger on the occasion of his second marriage. These items will be on display at the Fair Street Museum next summer. The Association has received from Mr. William H. Tripp, of New Bedford, 50 bound volumes of Whalemen's Shipping Lists. These documents cover the voyages of all whaleships for a period of 52 years, from 1843 to 1895, and include not only Nantucket ships but those from all the American seaports from which whalers set sail. These papers will be of great value to all who are interested in the old time whaling industry and in genealogical research. The books will be available for con sultation and reference at the Whaling Museum during the months that it is open. Mrs. Everett Whiting Smith has donated "Fanny", a small china doll with wardrobe designed and made by Mrs. Smith's mother in 1878 when 10 years old.
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Gifts, Legacies and Bequests The treasurer's report, published in July, showed that in come from operations exceeded expenses by a small margin, but it was made equally clear that this margin is not sufficient to finance any major special project such as we were forced to undertake at the Whaling Museum last year. Generous donations made in response to special appeals have partially financed that project but additional funds are still needed to cover the entire cost. Counsel has rendered the opinion that gifts to the Nantucket Historical Association are allowable deduc tions for Federal Income Tax purposes. Your help in the form of a donation to the Whaling Museum Restoration Fund is earn estly solicited. Membership in our Association proves that you are interested in its program for the preservation of Nantucket's famed heritage and its illustrious past, which so profoundly affected the develop ment of our country. You can perpetuate that interest by naming the Association to receive a legacy or bequest under your will which will help to insure the Association carrying on in the future. Counsel advises that legacies or bequests to the Nan tucket Historical Association are allowable deductions under the Federal Estate Tax law. Legacies will be used for general or specific purposes as di rected by the donor. A sample form of bequest may read as follows: FORM OF BEQUEST "I give, devise, and bequeath to the Nantucket Historical Association, a corporation duly in corporated by the Commonwealth of Massachu setts, and located in the Town of Nantucket, in said Commonwealth, the sum of dollars." Bequests may be made also in real estate, bonds, stocks, books, paintings, or any objects having historical value in which event a brief description of the same should be inserted instead of a sum of money.
Officers 1956 - 1957
President George W. Jones
Vice Presidents Howard U. Chase Burnham N. Dell Stokeley W. Morgan
Everett U Crosby Miss Grace Brown Gardner W. Ripley Nelson
Secretary-Treasurer
Auditor
Miss Ethel Anderson
Ormonde F. Ingall
Councillors George W. Jones, Chairman
Term Expires
Earl S. Ray
1957
James A. Norcross Mrs. Joseph King Robert C. Caldwell Mrs. Cyril C. Ross
1957 1958 1958 1959
Albert Egan, Jr Mrs. William L. Mather Mrs. William Perkins
1959 1960 1960
Honorary Custodian of Collections Mrs. Walton H. Adams
Custodian of Collections Mrs. William L. Mather
Finance Committee Earl S. Ray
Stokeley W. Morgan, Chairman Howard U. Chase
Historic Nantucket W. Ripley Nelson, Editor Mrs. Harold R. Page
Harmon Tupper
Associate Editor
Associate Editor
Publicity Committee Stokeley W. Morgan, Chairman