Historic Nantucket
Great Point Light Threatened The recent advices respecting the situation at Great Point clearly indicate that the rapid erosion of the past few years has cut the east beach near the end of the Point back to where the future of the old lighthouse is threatened. Unless this cut-back is stopped it would appear that the white tower, erected in 1818, will fall into the sea within two years. Government officials are studying the problem, and a statement should be issued soon regarding the feasibility of checking the erosion. The cost of moving the lighthouse precludes such an attempt, according to the authorities.
October, 1179
Published Quarterly by Nantucket Historical Association Nantucket, Massachusetts
NANTUCKET HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OFFICERS President, Leroy H. True Vice-Presidents, Albert G. Brock, George W. Jones, Alcon Chadwick, Albert F. Egan, Jr., Walter Beinecke, Jr., Mrs. Merle T. Orleans Secretary, Richard C. Austin Treasurer, John N. Welch Councillors, H. Flint Ranney, Miss Barbara Melendy, terms expire 1980; Donald Terry, Mrs. H. Crowell Freeman, terms expire 1981; Miss Dorothy Gardner, David D. Worth, terms expire 1982; Nancy Ayotte, Mrs. Bernard D. Grossman, terms expire 1983. Historian, Edouard A. Stackpole Editor: "Historic Nantucket", Edouard A. Stackpole; Assistant Editor, Mrs. Merle T. Orleans
STAFF Oldest House: Curator, Mrs. Kenneth S. Baird Receptionists: Mrs. Margaret Crowell, Mrs. Elsie Niles Hadwen House-Satler Memorial: Curator, Mrs. Phoebe Swain Receptionists: Mrs. Irving A. Soverino, Mrs. Richard Strong, Mrs. John Stackpole, Mrs. J. B. Ord 1800 House: Curator, Mrs. Clare Macgregor Receptionist: Mrs. Donald MacGlashan Old Gaol: Curator, Albert G. Brock Whaling Museum: Curator, Renny Stackpole Receptionists: Frank Pattison, James A. Watts, Patricia Searle, Rose Stanshigh, Alice Collins, Mary Lou Campbell, Anita Dougan, Alfred N. Orpin Peter Foulger Museum:Curator and Director, Edouard A.Stackpole Receptionists: Mrs. Clara Block, Everett Finlay, Mary J. Barrett, Mrs. Ann Warren, Blue Balliett Librarian: Mrs. Louise Hussey Nathaniel Macy House: Curator, Mrs. John A. Baldwin Receptionists: Miss Dorothy Hiller, Mrs. Gertrude Petzel Archaeology Department, Curator, Mrs. Roger Young; Asst. Mrs. John D. Little Old Town Office: Curator, Hugh R. Chace Old Mill: Curator, John Gilbert Millers: John Stackpole, Edward G. Dougan Folger-Franklin Seat and Mem'l Boulder: Curator, Francis Sylvia Friends Meeting House-Fair Street Museum: Curator, Albert F. Egan, Jr. Lightship "Nantucket": Curator, John Austin Shipkeeper: Richard Swain Receptionists: Martin Foley, Barbara Nathan, Carlos Grangrade III Greater Light-Receptionists, Dr. Selina T. Johnson, Florence Farrell Building Survey Committee: Chairman, Robert G. Metters Hose Cart House: Curator, Francis W. Pease
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 27
October, 1979
No. 2
CONTENTS
Officers and Staff
2
Editorial—Economic Transition a Century Ago
5
President-Administrator's Report at Annual Meeting by Leroy H. True
7
Treasurer's Report
10
Two Hundred Years of Nantucket Needlework
11
U.S.S. Snook — SS(N) 592 by Theodore C. Wyman
15
Legacies and Bequests
16
The Coffin Family by Walter Weston Folger
18
Finding the Origins of Nantucket's Portuguese Bell Conclusion — by the Rev. Edward B. Anderson
20
The Hussey-Wood Family
27
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 $7.50; Sustaining $25.00; Life—one payment $100.00 Second-class postage paid at Nantucket, Massachusetts Communications pertaining to the Publication should be addressed to the Editor, Historic Nantucket, Nantucket Historical Association, Nantucket. Massachusetts 02554.
5
Economic Transition a Century Ago ONE HUNDRED AND ten years ago, November, 1869, the bark O a k sailed from Straight Wharf for the Pacific Ocean.She was never to return. Her departure marked the end of Nantucket's remarkable whaling history, the last visible bit of a century and three-quarters of seafaring enterprise which led from a humble shore-side activity to the highest rank among the world's great seaports in whaling. But long before she sailed the Islanders had resigned themselves to the inevitable.The single industry which had sustained them for such a long span of years had vanished.There were spasmodic attempts to in troduce some manufacturing, but one by one these failed.And then, by a fortunate adjustment of fate, a new form of free enterprise developed that soon became known as "the summer business'.' This was not a planned economy; no public relations firm drew up a blueprint for such a manner of making a living. The Island's new business developed through the nineteenth century. The unique natural advantages, the geographical position, the old town in the sea, soon became the lures which developed Nantucket into a popular and favored summer resort, and those differences prevailed well into the next century. History had created the town; nature had con tributed the setting.The transition from a community which had virtually been abandoned to a thriving summer locale took place over a con siderable period of years, and the unspoiled character of Nantucket prevailed despite certain economic changes on the mainland. Modern Nantucket came into existence with the advent of the automobile in 1918. Post-war changes (World War I) did not deal unkindly with the environment.The great depression of the 1930's made life somewhat more grim, but the storm was weathered; World War II brought marked changes, the most significant being the acquisition of the Nantucket Airport and the introduction of commercial airlines. Trans portation by water brought many new features. One of the most dramatic developments in the onrush of progress was the creation of the Historic Districts Act which protected the old town. What will the next century bring? Will there be a transition as for tunate in its development as that of the 1879-1919 period? Nantucket Sound is no longer the moat that protects the castle; the long tentacles of modern trends have already reached over from the mainland. Will the blight of the times accompany the greedy tension of the tentacles?
6
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
Can the quiet dignity of history become a part of the new transition? Or will the heedless, grasping present leave scars that will make it im possible to conceal the loss of the character that once featured our "old Nantucket'.' We are no longer just a summer resort, as we are known as a haven for those who come at all seasons of the year.But once we lose our character we become just another New England resort, and with this loss we give up something which belongs to the fragile pages of our larger American history. Edouard A. Stackpole
7
President — Administrator's Report to the Annual Meeting July 17, 1979 PRESIDENTS' REPORTS TEND to be boring and administrators' even more so.You are to get both together, so prepare for the worst. We have had an exceptionally good year. Twelve months ago we established an income goal of a quarter of a million dollars. We went well over this figure. Unfortunately, our expenses were also the biggest ever, although less than the income. I hope income will continue to increase because I can positively guarantee that expenses will be greater. We will need two thousand more visitors to pay for the increased cost of heating oil alone, and repairs which cost a lot last year will never be as cheap again. The Hadwen House-Satler Memorial received the greatest attention this past year—new kitchen tile was put down; seven chairs were reupholstered in silk fabric; the dining room, hall, stairway, and children's rooms were painted, as was the front and back of the outside of the House and the entire fence.Painting the fence alone cost more than painting an ordinary house and it must be done every few years. We rebuilt the big chimney at the Oldest House; painted the inside of the Quaker Meeting House, and made many less noticeable repairs which, compared to the big jobs were small, but cost several thousand dollars. We made another major repair at the Old Mill and Mr. Dougan, the assistant miller, painted the outside trim. Peter MacGlashan, with a crew from CETA, checked over all of our artifacts with our file cards and master files and numbered them with a waterproof substance; thousands of them in all. We continued the restoration of paintings, prints, and textiles by professional restorers, had a number of pictures reframed, and purchased several new display cases. We lost a number of members, mostly because they no longer live or visit here, but our new member program has generated enrollment to make it up. Our membership still hovers around 2500; perhaps we are the largest Historical Association in any town our size. "Historic Nantucket" is a great help in holding members and we are fortunate to
8
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
have Mr.Stackpole to edit it, but this too, has felt the hand of inflation. Printing now costs twice what it did a few years ago. We received a small grant for preservation and two for research. We have received a great deal of help from CETA and have thereby ac complished much which otherwise could not have been done. Our docents do a good job and since our survey last year we have been improving our presentation. Next year we will try even harder. It is not enough to tell our visitors who built the house; we must make them conscious of the people and times that created our great heritage. We have reached a crossroad at the Peter Foulger Library. Inquiries and the necessity of assistance for classes and individuals doing research in history and genealogy have constantly increased to the point where our small staff can hardly cope with the demand. With encouragement, this will greatly increase. It is non-revenue producing. Shall we aim toward a larger staff and more room, or discourage this increase? A study and decision will have to be made this year. Mr. Chace did a wonderful job in improving the displays at the Whaling Museum, though at times it becomes too crowded, especially in Sanderson Hall during the "talks". We should either take Sankaty Light out of there and put it in an adjoining tower or produce some other plan for expanding the floor space. We have spent considerable money on the 1800 House and need to spend more. Mrs. Macgregor has worked hard and has made this a very attractive exhibit but it is not popular, nor do I believe it can be so as a period house or the home of the High Sheriff. I propose having a com mittee study the feasibility of converting this house to a display of early island industries: needlework, rugmaking, weaving, etc. As you know, security is one of our major problems. Forty-two thousand articles were stolen from museums last year, a large percent by professionals and employees. I constantly worry and talk with our people about this problem, but I know we are always vulnerable. We are pleased with our arrangement with the Garden Club for the development and care of the Hadwen House garden. Within a few years it will be the most beautiful spot in Nantucket.The Macy House garden has also become a thing of beauty through the efforts of Mary Armstrong and the tender loving care of people who were friends of Mrs.Christian.Did you know that a flower from this garden won first place in the Green Thumb Show? I think we made a mistake in changing the name of this house and wish we would again call it the Christian House.
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
9
We are now operating the Fair Street Museum in conjunction with the Nantucket Arts Council through a committee composed of Albert F. Egan, Jr., Reginald Levine and Robert D. Congdon. Rotating exhibits are being presented with special emphasis on marine and early paintings by nationally known artists.The Quaker Meeting House is being used for Sunday service by the local Friends Society. This year, Elizabeth Gilbert, with the help of a few hard working volunteers, has mounted an extremely fine needlework exhibit here at the Peter Foulger Museum. I will ask her to speak on this and urge all of you to see it today if you have not already done so. Issuing plaques for houses built before 1812 has been a worthwhile program and we are still having applications. We miss Jean Merriman doing the research on these but Blue Balliett has done a commendable job. Among our non-revenue producing services are free admission to four of our buildings, the Archaelology Department, quarters with light and heat for the International Marine Archives, a very impressive display in the State Capitol put on by Renny Stackpole; free admissions for Nan tucket school classes to all of our buildings; a number of lectures and courses by Mr.Stackpole; and many things I have forgotten to mention. I want to thank again those people who have given us large donations of money and artifacts worth thousands of dollars, so essential to a growing Association. Thanks also to volunteers, staff, officers, and especially to the curators, unpaid, but devoted to constantly improving our exhibits. It is the combined effort of all these people that makes possible the fulfillment of our museum to collect, preserve and present Nantucket history and tradition. Leroy H. True
10
TREASURER'S REPORT as of year ended May 31,1979 BALANCE SHEET ASSETS: Cash and demand deposits Pledge receivable Investments Fixed assets and collections
39,726 1,500 687,851 1,202,969 1,932,046
LIABILITIES: Taxes payable Unrestricted funds Restricted funds
473 1,572,851 358,722 1,932,046 REVENUE & DISBURSEMENTS
REVENUE: Admissions Dues Gifts and grants Merchandise sales Investment Income Other & loss on sale of securities
108,342 23,965 69,020 61,478 42,738 (1,856) 303,687
DISBURSEMENTS: Salaries & wages Utilities Repairs, maintenance & supplies Insurance Printing Purchases for resale Addition to working capital & changes in funds Other
99,854 20,902 44,269 8,747 4^162 42,565 75^292 7,896 303,687
Above subject to final audit of Rodriques, Guckin & Tobojka, whose report is available to members at the Association office. _. „ ,, John N.Welch Treasurer
Two Hundred Years of Nantucket Needlework AS A FEATURE of the summer at the Peter Foulger Museum, there has been a special exhibit in the north room, second floor, with the intriguing title of "Two Hundred Years of Nantucket Needlework" This unusual exhibit was gathered and displayed by Mrs. Elizabeth Gilbert and her committee, and sponsored by the Nantucket Historical Association. A booklet was especially prepared by Mrs. Gilbert and contains an astonishing listing of articles selected from the Association's collections, including samplers, lace caps, fire screens, pincushions, embroidered bags, wall hangings, sewing boxes, quilts, flags and petticoats. The loan collection has an equally diversified selection of coverlets, quilts, throws, samplers and aprons. The Maria Mitchell Birthplace loaned em broideries, samplers, a wedding skirt, and a fire screen. The Theatre Workshop loaned material from its costume collection. In her introduction to the catalogue, Mrs. Gilbert wrote: "The concept of "Two Hundred Years of Nantucket Needlework" developed partly from an awareness of, and appreciation for, the early embroidered treasures being shown at the various Nantucket Historical Association houses and museums, and, more recently, the packing up and removal of the contents of the Fair Street Museum to the Hadwen Satler House. There was considerable concern expressed as to what was going to happen to these treasures so, last winter, with the assistance of many willing hands, approximately one hundred of the best and/or most historically interesting pieces were sorted, laundered, repaired, cleaned, catalogued and prepared for this special exhibition. "Simultaneously, word was spread throughout the Association membership and the community that personal treasures were being sought from houses and attics for display as a loan collection. The response with approximately forty more pieces was extremely gratifying, and produced some fascinating and beautiful examples. "In choosing the name for this exhibit, it was purposely left ambiguous as to which two hundred years of Nantucket
12
HISTORIC NANTUCKET needlework would be represented, as no one could tell what would appear during the course of the winter! It became very exciting when nearly one hundred and fifty pieces were collected from the 18th and 19th centuries alone, and the "piece de resistance" - a quilted wedding skirt from the Coffin family dated 1692 became the earliest example. "Much of the early American embroidery in museums today serves as documented information about early settlers, their families and their descendants, as well as their European ancestors. Almost everything the ladies worked was dated, and signed or initialled, mainly as proof of ownership. These became valuable possessions, as so much time went into the fine and intricate work. Samplers and friendship quilts have served as particularly useful historical sources, and this exhibit includes many superior examples of Nantucket family records by these means'.'
The Needlework exhibit was enjoyed by both the visitors to the Peter Foulger Museum and the Nantucketers who came especially to view it, as well as the regular members of the Association. In expressing her ap preciation for the workers who contributed to the success of the show, Mrs. Gilbert gave special thanks to Leroy H. True, the Association's Administrator, and Curator Stackpole of the Museum. She went on to thank the committee of ladies who volunteered countless hours of time and had worked so diligently for six months in preparation in various capacities. Her acknowledgements continued:
"To Virginia Aydelotte, for cleaning and restoring the pieces; Dorothy Gardner, whose vast knowledge of Nantucket history was invaluable, and who spent endless hours researching and cataloguing; Rosamond Hall, for mounting samplers; Kris Van Lieu, our "official laundress", whose expertise in handling the fragile embroideries and costumes speaks for itself; Merle Orleans, who kept her fingers on publicity and advertising, both locally and nationally; Helen Winslow Sherman, whose expertise in photography has provided the Association with a professional and permanent record of the exhibit; and Pudge Thompson, who spent many hours with us, sorting boxes in cold houses, and to all of them, who were always available when the time came for setting up and displaying.Without the support and enthusiasm of these ladies, this would not have been possible.
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET "Last, but not least, these people deserve special men tion: Wallace Deacon and Tom Burke for framing samplers; Jack Gardner for making time during his busy season to print this catalogue; Helene Von Rosenstiel for her professional advice and guidance; Nancy Cazan for art work; Lee Van Ness for continuous assistance in every way; the staff of the Association, with special thanks to Peter Metters at the Peter Foulger Museum, who was always ready to help; Suzanne Zobel for keeping such an enthusiastic and watchful eye on the treasures for the summer; and Clare Macgregor for the loan of the mannequins from the 1800 House. "All the exhibitors of the loan collection deserve special credit for parting with their treasures for the summer.Without these, and so many other contributions, this idea could never have become a reality."
In his comments on the unique quality of the exhibit, Edouard Stackpole, of the Peter Foulger Museum, stated: "Needlework is an all encompassing word, especially as it concerns Nantucket. For so many centuries the Island women and girls found the use of needle and thread an integral part of their lives, and work accomplished was a matter of pride as well as skill. In this unique exhibition there has been gathered a collection of materials which, in an historical sense, help to interpret the work of these Island women."
15
U.S.S. Snook — SS(N)592 by Theodore C. Wyman PERHAPS THE STORY starts with the fact that, once upon a time, there was a Nantucket man named John Walling, who was lost at sea during World War II while skipper of the submarine Snook, when that ship did not come back from a patrol in the Pacific. And so the years passed until one of the new nuclear submarines being built was to be given the name Snook and John Walling's mother, Mrs. Georgie L. Walling of Nantucket, was asked to christen her. She in turn asked me to go to the christening and so the U.S.S. Snook came into my life. She was built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation at Pascagoula, Mississippi and was launched there on Sunday, 31 October, 1960. There had been the heart attack in August of 1959, and now my heart started acting up. It looked as though I would miss the launching, but I was able to fly to Mobile, to be met there and to be driven to the Longfellow House in Pascagoula. And I shall include here just a little of what I wrote at the time. "It was a tremendous moment when that great ship slowly gathered speed in her rush to the sea, a moment that seemed to have in it something of the past and the future as well as of the present. There were the dreams and work of all who created her and the unknown future that would unfold and reveal her life and the lives of the men who would sail her. I could not help hoping that those lives would have many great achievements, but that it would not be necessary for them to hold the one for which she was designed." I could not help wondering at the time how men so young could carry the responsibility of operating a submarine like the Snook, yet I remembered how men even younger and less experienced had taken out the LST 197 and done all that was required of them. U.S.S. S n o o k SS-279 Built by Portsmouth Navy Yard, New Hampshire. Commissioned 24 October, 1942. The U.S.S. S n o o k SS-279 was lost while conducting her ninth war patrol. She reported her position to Tigrone on 8 April, 1945 as 80 degrees - 40' N., Ill degrees - 39' E. She did not acknowledge signals the next day from Tigrone.
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
16
U.S.S. S n o o k SS (N) 592 Keel laid 7 April, 1958 Launched 31 October, 1960 Commissioned 24 October, 1961 Motto — Festina Lente (Make haste slowly) There was the launching and we were driven to Mobile the next day for the flight home and reached New York just as all flights were grounded, and we had to finish the trip on the Merchants Limited from New York. And to finish the story I shall mention one embarrassing moment. Because of my heart condition I could not reach up to take my suitcase off the rack, so Mrs. Walling's granddaughter had to do that for me. And I can remember the skeptical looks of the passengers as they watched a young girl handle the luggage of a grown man.
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The Coffin Family by Walter Weston Folger RECENT PUBLICATIONS CONCERNING the counties of Cornwall and Devon brought about further research into the ancestry of Tristram Coffin, of Brixton Parish, Hundred of Plympton, Devonshire. Using the family given names Nicholas (will proved 3 November 1613), Peter and Tristram as leads, several parish registers were checked. A list of these parish registers, with the Coffin entries, will be placed in The Peter Foulger Museum. The only "Tristram" Coffing (sic) found resided in Stoke Damerell Parish, Hundred of Roborough, Devonshire, in 1641. This seems to have been only a transient record, as our Tristram was listed in the seating of the "Parishnours" of Brixton Church in 1638, and he is believed to have come to this country in 1642. There were two Coffyns of the given name Nicholas, born between the years of 1509 and 1553, residing in Plympton (St.) Mary Parish, Hundred of Plympton, in 1569.1n 1641 we find a Nicholas Coffine (sic) in Plympton St .Maurice Parish and two of the same given name in Bickleigh Parish, Hundred of Roborough.Plympton and Roborough are adjoining hundreds.A Nicholas Coffyn married Thomasyn Russell in St.Budeaux Parish, also in the Hundred of Roborough, 29 September 1604. Still another Nicholas Coffen (sic) was listed in Colan Parish, Hundred of Pyder, co.Cornwall, in 1641. Peter Coffyn, of St. Mawgan Parish, Hundred of Pyder, co. Corn wall, gent., whose will was dated 13 April 1605 and who was born in I elyn(t) Parish, Hundred of West, of the same county, married Mary (Marie), daughter of Hugh Boscawen and Phillip(a) Carminow, in St. Michael Penkivel, Hundred of Powder, where her memorial brass may be seen in the center of the floor of the church. Peter mentions his wife and a sister, Elizabeth Goldsmith, in his will. Pelyn Parish, incidentally, is only about twenty miles down the coast from Plymouth, Hundred of Roborough, Devonshire. This will should dispel the long-held belief that Peter was the father of Nicholas Coffyn, Tristram's grandfather. Peter Coffyn, of Brixton, whose will was proved 13 March 1627/8, was Tristram Coffin's father. Too much effort has been made to attribute Tristram's paternal ancestry to the elder (Alwington) or more prominent branch of the Coffin family. If Nicholas Coffyn, Tristram's grandfather, represents a cadet
THE COFFIN FAMILY
19
h branch of that family, the divergence therefrom must have been in an earlier generation than is now believed. According to the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Brixton Parish, John Coffyn resided there and had goods of 4d in 1545. The name is also listed there in 1569, but not in the Subsidy Rolls of 1571 and 1582. Tristram Coffin, in calling the region at Cappam Harbor (Cappamet) on Nantucket "Northam", suggests a connection with the Alwington branch of the family but the Northam Parish Registers do not support this rather tenuous theory: there are no Coffyn entries from 1538 to 1700! Northam and Alwington parishes are in the Hundred of Shebbear, Devonshire. It may be significant, however, that John Coffyn, of Northam, born c. 1458, second son of William Coffyn, of Alwington, who died 11 September 1486, was the founder of the Northam branch, which he may have inherited from his mother's family. This search failed to reveal information pertaining to the ancestry of Tristram Coffin. It is hoped that a new approach may be productive. One is only left to conclude that Tristram's grandfather, Nicholas, was one of the two of that given name residing in Plympton St. Mary Parish in 1769.
Finding the origins of Nantucket's Portuguese Bell by The Rev. Edward B. Anderson (Continued from the July issue)
"To the Good Jesus of the Mountain (Bom Jezus do Monte) the devotees of Lisbon direct their prayers, offering him one complete set of six bells, to call the people and adore him on his sanctuary. Joze Domingues Da Costa has done it in Lisbon on the year 1810."' THIS TRANSLATION OF the Portuguese inscription on the bell that has been hanging in the tower of the Unitarian Church, on Orange Street, since 1815, was provided by Joaa Jacintho Rebello in 1876 at the request of Mr. Fred A. Wellington. It may not be the most idiomatic English rendition possible: "Made by Joze Domingues Da Costa, Lisbon, 1810," sounds a bit less awkward to our ears than "has done it in Lisbon on the year 1810," but Rebello's literal translation adequately conveys the in formation the founder cast into the bell and which Wellington had taken the trouble to climb into the tower to copy.
I reread the letter. Of course, English was Rebello's second language; more probably his third or fourth.In Romance languages case endings often provide the same structure of meaning that is carried by word position in an English sentence. Changing the position of one modifier in Rebello's sentence would alter its meaning so that it would be consistent with what the people of Lisbon were trying to tell me. By "Mountain is a place in Lisbon where is a church of great veneration," Rebello meant, "Mountain is a place where is a church of great veneration in Lisbon." Bom Jezus do Monte of Braga is venerated in Lisbon. What better measure of the high respect it is given than that everyone I spoke to in Lisbon directed me immediately to a place in the opposite end of the country. Several days later we arrived in Braga. Three of the most venerated shrines in Portugal overlook the city. One of them is Bom Jezus do Monte. Naturally, it was the third one we came to on the tortuously
The Portuguese Bell in the South Tower
22
HISTORIC NANTUCKET
winding road. Just as we reached our destination the bells in the twin stone towers of Bom Jezus started to ring noon. Some bells are not particularly melodious. These are. In fact, they are the most famous bells in all Portugal. They ring out every fifteen minutes, longest on the hour and longest of all at noon. Before they had finished striking I had wandered around with my binoculars and counted twelve bells. One obviously weighs well over a ton and a half; the smallest no more than one hundred pounds. The Nan tucket bell, weighing about 1575 pounds, is approximately the size of the fourth largest in Bom Jezus. In shape they seemed to match Da Costa's. On one of the larger bells I was able to make out some kind of an in scription located in the correct place to be one of the original six. Above all, they rang out with a familiar resonant tone. In size and age Bom Jezus and the Unitarian Church on Nantucket are quite similar. The first stone of Bom Jezus was laid on June 1, 1784. It was finally finished and consecrated on the 20th of September, 1811 according to Latin inscriptions over the side portals. The historic church on Orange Street was erected in 1809. "Is this the place?", I wondered. "Is this the place our bell might be hanging if Capt. Clasby had not been in Lisbon in 1812? The date is right. The shape is right. The bells certainly sound good, but I need some concrete proof." One hundred yards to the right of the church there is a hotel; a hundred yards to the left a restaurant. There was no one at the desk in the hotel but I did find a waiter in the restaurant whose poor French was only slightly better than mine. He directed me to a door over a shop that sold religious momentoes. It was shut so I waited until two when I expected business to resume. A sign over the door indicated that behind it lay some kind of museum. I wandered around, taking pictures, cooling my heels and trying to curb my excitement while the rest of Portugal savored a two hour siesta. I even tried to get into the tower of Bom Jezus but was turned back at the first landing by a locked door. When no one showed up at the museum by 2:15 I gave a rather healthy knock...then another.. healthier. My pounding finally brought two policemen running from another door I had not noticed. I smiled. I always smile at policemen when they come running at me that way, especially when I might be causing an international incident. They frowned and shook their heads. I pulled out a sheaf of documents which seemed to enlighten them not a bit.
NANTUCKET'S PORTUGUESE BELL
23
They looked at the papers; then at each other; then back at me....and shrugged. I pointed to the bells, then to the sign that said "Museu." Seeing I was somewhat insistent, one of them returned from whence he had come and, to my amazement returned with a key. He unlocked the forbidden door, pushed it open and politely gestured for me to enter. I walked into a room completely empty except for a ladder, three paint cans and a couple of drop cloths. T h e museum was being renovated during the off-season. It was my turn toshrug my shoulders. So near and vet so far. All the evidence indicated that this was the church for which Nantucket's bell had been cast. All I needed was the one bit of concrete evidence that would prove it. Dejected, the Rev. Mr. James Bond returned to his car, wishing he had some of the skills of Capt. George Rezendes, or that Fire Chief John Gaspie would drive up in the ladder truck and lift him up into the tower beyond that locked door. But just as we pulled out of the parking lot the waiter appeared ushering another man along by the elbow.He waved.I jumped out of the car and ran over to him, hoping desperately that things were about to take a more positive turn. T h e new man on the scene turned out to be the proprietor of the shop selling religious momentoes. That generosity of spirit and genuine desire to help which we found so characteristic of the Portuguese people had prompted the waiter to take the time and the trouble to leave his job during the lunch hour and locate the one man around who could move our investigation forward. I bought a fistfull of stuff in his shop as evidence of my interest while the merchant puzzled over my documents, most of which were in a language totally foreign to him; English. I pointed to the bells.I knew that word."Sino?" I asked, trying to inflect the two syllables into a question. "Joze Domingues D a Costa?" Another question. "Si! Domingues Da Costa'.' My heart leaped at his answer.At least we might have the right foundry and that seemed to be about the most we could hope for.Then it was my turn to be guided by the elbow, the waiter on one, the merchant on the other. From somewhere t h e y p r o d u c e d a b e n t , l i t t l e m a n w i t h a t o o t h l e s s s m i l e a n d a b i g k e y . .. t h e key.The merchant spoke to him for a minute.He nodded, then turned to me and nodded.The merchant and the waiter motioned me to follow my new guide into the gloom.
For a moment I thought of racing back to the car for my camera, but I did not want to risk confusing matters, so I tumbled through the now unlocked door and into the tower, past mountains of dusty sweepings of
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
candle drippings and began the ascent to the bells. Around and around and around we went until we finally bumped into a trap door. Another eight inch key and we were there. Bells. Seven of them in the north tower. The four largest, the only ones close enough to read without a ladder, all had inscriptions on them which read: "To The Good Jesus of the Mountain the devotees of Lisbon direct their prayers, offering him one complete set of six bells, to call the people and adore Him on His sanctuary.Joze Domingues Da Costa has done it in Lisbon on the year 1810" This was one Portuguese passage I had committed to memory. We had finally found the church for which Nantucket's famous bell had originally been intended. Bom Jezus do Monte in Braga. And we had found the other five bells in the set of six. They are the most famous bells in Portugal. The inscriptions are identical. There is very little more to say about the bells at this time. The clappers are of a very different shape than the one removed from the Orange Street Tower last Spring. They are straight shafted, delicately pointed and appear to be of bronze. The old one in the South church was serviceable but hardly a thing of beauty. It may have been forged on the Island from an old iron cannon ball and a bent axel.
Why did Da Costa break up his set of six by selling one to Capt. Clasby? Possibly correspondence with the two Portuguese historians who have access to records in Braga will shed some light on questions such as these. The answer may be as simple as the fact that Clasby offered a good price. It was sold to the Nantucket congregation for $500., $350. of which was paid by the congregation the remainder by popular subscription. Da Costa knew he could make another bell. He may not have known whether or not he could sell the six he had.Clasby learned about the declaration of war, the War of 1812, right after he bought the bell.Since Portugal was allied with Britain against France, it is doubtful a Nantucket vessel would have remained in Lisbon long after June 18.But the year was 1812.Bom Jezus had been consecrated the previous September. Why were the bells which had been cast in 1810 still languishing in the Lisbon foundry in June 1812 and not ringing out the hours in Braga? My guess is that it was a matter of finances.Portuguese commerce took a catastrophic plunge in volume during the Napoleonic Wars.The national government fled to Brazil adding to the economic crisis.
The Old South Tower—Unitarian Church
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HISTORIC NANTUCKET
The major contributor to the funding for Bom Jezus was a wealthy Lisbon merchant, Pedro Jose do Silva, whose income depended on overseas trade. From 1810 until at least 1812 the treasury intended to meet all the obligations incurred by the erection of a new church may have run dry due to temporary setbacks in Do Silva's business. At any rate, the Da Costa Foundry did make more bells for Bom Jezus and presumably would not have done so had the money not been forthcoming. On the other hand, the foundry did go out of business so perhaps Joze Da Costa had too generous a heart. Finding the bells was an adventure, but finding the people: the waiter, the merchant, the hotel clerk, the interpreter, the priest, the man with the key, the policemen - finding the people who helped us find the bells was even more exciting and memorable. Ted Anderson March 25, 1979
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The Hussey
Wood Family
J. WILLIAM BARDOE, Director of Research, English Genealogical Research, Guildford, Surrey, furnished the entries below, some of which he re-checked for accuracy, and stated that the registers of the adjacent parishes of Abinger and Sheir (Shera) do not contain Hussey entries prior to 5th 12. 1593. Neither do the Richmond Parish Registers reveal anything pertinent to the ancestry of Christopher Hussey. DORKING PARISH REGISTERS, CO. SURREY, ENGLAND, 1503-178):
25th 9. 1569. 5th 12. 1593* 28th 6. 1562. 5th 5. 1581. 9th 7. 1581. 30th 8. 1584. 3rd 10. 1588. 29th 4. 1596. 18th 2. 1598. 31st 1. 1601.
MARRIAGES John Wood Joane Taylor John Hussey Marie Wood. BAPTISMS John Wood, son of John Wood (senior) and Audrey, his wife. Sara Wood, daughter of John Wood (junior). Marie Wood, granddaughter of John Wood (senior). Elias Wood, son of John Wood (junior). Martha Wood, daughter of John Wood (junior). John Hussey, first child of John Hussey and Marie Wood. Christopher Hussey, second child of John Hussey and Marie Wood. Marie Hussey, third child of John Hussey and Marie Wood.
1581. 1586. 8th 11. 1597. 18th 2. 1603. 5th 4. 1612. 24th 5. 1632.
BURIALS Marie Wood, daughter of Joane Wood, daughter of John Hussey, son of John Audrey, wife of John Wood John Wood (senior). John Hussey, aged 74.
John Wood (senior). John Wood (senior). Hussey and Marie Wood. (senior).
^Between 1582 and 1752, March was the first month of the year. The 12th month, therefore, was February, which brought about double dating. 5th 12. 1593, for example, should read 5th February 1593 4 or February 5, 1593 4. — Walter Weston Folger
