YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY THE COLONIAL TAVERN BOOKS BY EDWARD FIELD. Tax Lists of the Town of Providence during the Administration of Sir Edmund An- dros, 1686-1689. Sq. Svo. $i.c» net. Revolutionary Defences In Rhode Island. With Maps, Plans and Illustrations. Svo. $2-25 net. I'KESTON AND ROUNDS PROVIDENCE, n. I. The Colonial Tavern ,\ CIIMl'SK OV NEW ENGLAND TOWN LIFE IN THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES EDWARD FIELD PROVIDENCE, R. I. P R [¦: S r O N AN D ROUNDS 1897 CorviiiuiiT, 1890 1' RE ST ON AND ROUNDS n. L. rilLKMAN .V 30N8, Tlio V IDtM t . ii. i. TO MY WIFE " I'll view the manners of the town, Peruse the traders, gaze upon the buildings, And then return, and sleep within mine inn ;" — Comedy of Errors, Act I, Scene 2. f^REFACE. The material that has been used to pro duce these reflections from the Colonial tavern has been gleaned from many sources. The various New England town histories and newspapers have disclosed many a curious item; old diaries, letters, account books and other writins^s have been studi- ously examined and their quaint entries liberally made use of; while state, town and court records have brought to light many forgotten episodes that have gone far to make up this picture of one side of the life in New England during the seven teenth and eighteenth centuries. 'J'hc list of printed volumes which have been consulted in preparing this book in cludes the following admirable town his tories: Roads' '' Mardlc/iead," Temple's "Brook/ic/d," Tildcn's '' McdJIc/d," Usher's Vlil l'lh the cracks and crannies in the dilapidated old meeting house, (lro\e the shivering townsmen to seek some warmer and more comfortable place to discuss and deliberate over the gra\e c|ues- tions of state, and the vote "that the meet ing be moved from the meeting house to the ordinary" was passed with great unani mity. I'llE COLONIAL TAVEKN 5 This proved to be a most popular vote in Medford, always without a dissenting voice, and the records of that town con tain many entries where the winter meet ings were "moved to the house of Samuel Sadey, inn keeper, by reason of the cold." No one ever complained of the tavern "by reason of the cold." As a rule it was always snug and comfortable; the great fireplace heaped high with blazing logs produced a cheerful warmth for the ex terior, while the contents of the "buffet" stimulated an internal warmth that lived in the memories of the townsmen from one winter's town meeting to another. When these meetings were held at the tavern it was customary for the town officers and the members of the town council or selectmen, after the business had been disposed of, to repair to the liviu": room of the tavern and dine at the expense of the town. Many times this was done openly, often secretly ; however it was done the town paid the bill either "as an allowance over his said account," as one town ingeniously records it, or "for this dales fireing and hous room," as it is entered on the records of another. The 6 'J'llE COLONIAL TAVERN town of Medfield (Mass.) in 1658 author ized its Selectmen "to dine at the ordinary at the town's expense," and it is said by the historian of that t(jwn, that an annual dinner at the i)ublic cost was all the compensation that selectmen of this town received for nearly two hundred years. Now it was not long before the attrac tions of the tavern caused many of the townsmen to forsake the meeting house and assemble at the ordinary on Sundays and Lecture days ; the General Court of Massachusetts, therefore, in order to head off this backsliding, passed a law having for its object a more universal attendance on church occasions. This law required inn-keepers within one mile of the meeting to which they belonged, "to clear their houses of all persons able to go to meeting during the time of exercise," and thus, to use an apt phrase, the townsmen were "frozen out" of the tavern to be "frozen" in the meeting house. Hut after all there were church occasions when the tavern was not cleared of its patrons, and this was when the meeting house was raised. This was an event which was celebrated by a grand demonstration. TttE COLONIAL TAVERN J Long years of agitation had resulted in at last determining when, where and how the meeting house should be built. Great preparations were made for this ceremony, and the coming event was heralded through out the neighboring country. Besides car penters, masons, joiners and other crafts men, lumber, stone, and other merchandize and building material, there was another commodity as essential to the occasion as all these, and that was rum. No meeting house could be properly raised unless its foundations were suitably anointed with this liquor. On such occasions the tavern was the centre of attraction. Fond antici pations of what was in store for them there stimulated the concourse of mechanics and helpers to their best efforts, and when at last the master workman announced that the new meeting house was duly and truly raised, then there came what was called in those days "rioting in the tavern." The records of the town of Medfield furnish a vivid illustration of what was necessary on such occasions. The wants of that town had made the erection of a new meeting house an abso lute necessity; the usual discussion and 8 THE COLONIAL TAVERN dispute as to the site, size and cost came to an end, and the actual work was com menced. On the day appointed for the "raising" people came from miles around, teams lined the village streets, booths were erected where cakes and beer were sold, and the whole place took on a holiday appearance Besides the great army of craftsmen, crowds of men, women and children, attracted by the advertisement of the event, came to witness the great si Daniel Rugg 20i James Wilder 39 William Houghton '13 William Sawyer 23 James Butler 17* Widow Rugg 7i Philip Larkin H 616" Cider making was an important industry in Lancaster, and was taken into consid eration when the town undertook to lay out its highways. In the year 1734 the proprietors of the Nichewaug lands agreed vvith Captain Jonas Houghton, surveyor, to build a road "from Lancaster along the north side of Wachusett." In this agree ment it was stipulated that this highway should not be accepted unless it be "so feasible . . . as to carry comfortably, with four oxen four barrels of cider at once." Sillabub was another mixture which 142 TIIE COLONIAL TAVER.V appears to have been more or less popular; it cost four pence a pot. The method of preparing it is thus described : " Fill your sillabub Pot with cyder (for that is best for a Sillabub) and a good store of sugar put in as much thick cream by two or three spoonsful at a time, as hard as you can, as though you milk it in then stir it together exceeding softly over and about and let it stand two hours at least." Another recipe is as follows : "Take the juice and grated outer skyne of a large Lemon four glasses of cyder a quarter of a pound of syfted sugar mix the above and let it stand some hours, then whip it & add a pint of thick cream and the whites of two Eggs cut to a froth." Home brewed beer had some users but it was not so often called for as cider and liquors of a "stronger size." Our colonial forbears seem to have pre ferred a more fiery mixture for the full gratification of their taste. Major Thomas Fenner of Neutacon- conet, made great quantities of beer which I A I' ERN CHEER AND CHARGE I 43 he doubtless disposed of, for there are charges of it by the barrel at 3 shillings a barrel, and here is his recipe for making it: " Receipt to make Bear One ounce of Sentry Suckery or Sulin- dine one handful Red Sage or Large \ Pound Shells of Iron Brused fine take 10 quarts of Water Steep it away to Seven and a quart of Molases Wheat Brand Baked Hard one quart of Malt one handfull Sweeat Balm. Take it as Soone as it is worked." "Beer of the best kind" was sold at Salem in 1670 for lid a quart. Rum un diluted is the most common among tavern charges, while grog by the "Bole," "dobel bole," or nip, stands a close second. An old account book contains, among a num ber of similar entries, "Oct the 25 1706 then Reconed with John Absalom and all accounts balanced then due to ballance More money lent him 00 5 6 More one jile of Rum 3 More half a pint 6 More for Rum 7 More money 01 01 for cyder 02 144 THE COLONIAL TAVERN for cyder 02 More for Rum 06 for Rum & cyder OI for Rum and cyder 06 In the days before court houses, town houses and other buildings for the trans action of public business, the tavern vvas utilized for all such purposes, and the records of the ancient towns and counties contain the accounts which the freemen were called upon to pay for the expenses of their public officers at such places. While there is no great complaint of extravagance, or examples of the abuse of this privilege or custom on the part of ofificials in their dealings with the tavern keepers, it was thought advisable by the magistrates of Cambridge that some regu lations be adopted relative to the tavern charges for the County Court, and in December, 1679, it was stipulated that henceforth for the jurors there shall be allowed in money: " For their breakfast one man 0 0 4 For their dinner " " 0 1 3 For their supper " " 0 I 0 For the magistrates : TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE 1 45 For dinner one man 020 For supper " " 016 F'or the marshal and constable : A meal o 1 o" As it is unlikely that there was any difference in the quality or quantity of the food furnished either class of public servants, the greater sum allowed the magistrates and officers of the court was probably for liquid refreshments. The selectrtien of Cambridge, however, do not seem to have been restricted in their allowances, and they dined and wined at the public expense at the " Blue Anchor Tavern," in which Governor Jona than Belcher was born. In 1749, and for many years thereafter, this tavern was conducted by Ebenezer Bradish, and his charges for the entertain ment of the selectmen are found in the following bill : " The Selectmen of the town of Cambridge To Eben' Bradish Dr March 1769 To dinners and drink o 17 8 April " To flip and punch o 20 May " To wine and eating 068 10 146 TIIE COLONIAL TAVERN M'ay 1 - 69 To dinners drink anil suppers 0 18 0 To flip and cheese 0 I 8 To wine and flip 0 4 0 June I To punch 0 2 8 July ( To punch and eating 0 4 0 .August To i)unch and cheese 0 3 7 Oct ( To punch and flip 0 4 8 To dinners and drink 0 13 8 Due Jan 1 770 & Feb Sundries 0 1 2 0 4 'o 7 A bill of the town council of Bristol, (R. I.), for entertainment furnished at Stephen Wardwell's tavern during the year 1795, amounted to ^12-3-2, and was made up of so many items that it is a monotonous repetition of " nips of grog," " Dubel boles of tod," " Brandi sling," punch and rum, with occasional charges for "Supers." The town council of Providence, in 1784, usually assembled at Esek Aldrich's tavern and his charges read as follows : "To the use of my house at ten diff'rnt times on business of the Town having furnished one double Bowie of punch & two Bottle of wine 3-12-0." Another bill reads: "To House Room Fire and Bottle of wine 9s." Another has charged: "To TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE 1 47 Room Wine Candle & Fire &c o-i 2-0." While yet another: "To Room Wine Fire Candles &c 0-15-0," the "&c" doubtless accounting for the variation in prices. Ames' tavern at Dedham was a popular place for dinner parties, and this letter will convey some idea of what was pro vided for the guests on such occasions. There is no mention of any liquors, but it is safe to say that they were not omitted at table, even if they were from the bill of fare proposed. " Before I heard from you this morning the Gentlemen had concluded to dine at Gay's but I took the pains to see 'em again & we have agreed to have the Dinner at your house. I hope you will have every thing in that agreeable & genteel order that will Recommend your house to the Gentlemen & my preference of it before Gays acceptable to them & the Ladys I am your hble Servant, Ezekial Price. We propose Bacon Lamb Chicken Green Peas &''" Asparagrass Sauces &''"' for the Dinner. 148 TIIE COLO.VLAL TAl'ER.V There will be about twelve chaises in cluding those we meet so that you will provide for 24 persons. We are to meet some Company from Newport who will set out tomorrow & the next day being Wednesday we shall set out & be at your house abt 10 "Clock unless the Weather is so bad we can't proceed. Monday morning June 11 1753." In the town of Medford the rate of charges at the taverns were fixed as foi lows : " West India toddy one bowl 18s " " flipp one mug i8s New England Toddy per bowl 12s New England flip a mug 1 2s Breakfast i8s Common meat supper 20s " When the courts met at the taverns, they became the resort of large numbers of people, attracted thereto by the nature of the proceedings. Some of the culprits were neighbors and some of the crimes or misdemeanors had been the subject of household discussion for weeks and months. The whole neighborhood was TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE 1 49 deeply interested or morbid curiosity greatly aroused so that a large crowd always put in an appearance, much to the gratification of the tavern keeper, who was to be the most benefitted by the pro ceedings. In what is now York county, in Maine, the courts were usually held at the tavern of Samuel Austin. The jurors who were in attendance at the trials were allowed "two meals a day at the expense of the county," which, considering the great distance that many of them had to travel when responding to the summons of the sheriff was not a very liberal allowance. Viewed in the light of modern methods for conducting such proceedings, the man ner in which the courts were opened at Austin's tavern is worth mentioning. At the hour appointed, the court drummer, an important functionary, took up his station at the tavern door Jtnd beat the drum; for this service he was allowed two shillings a day, twice what a juror received for patiently listening to these long stories of crime and misconduct. This tattoo on the drum was the signal for the populace to draw near and give their attendance. The county court held its 150 THE COLONIAL TAVERN session at Austin's tavern in Wells, dur ing a whole week in July, 1670, and the bill which landlord Austin presented, for the expense of this session, vvas made up of these items: " Magistrates and jurors 37 07 07 John Bennett ex[)enses of John Pot ter the murderer 16 o John Smith the ilrummer for 6 days attendance 12 o " A curious lot of cases were determined in this Court at different times. In 1661 John Roadman was presented for saying "he belonged to the Divil, and if the Divil had his due he had had him seven years ago." In 1668 Rowland Hansell vvas pre sented "for living in this Country six or seven years, he having a wife in England," while several more or less good townsmen and their wives were all brought before the Court for " profane speech," it being- alleged that they commonly used, as an answer to questions propounded, the words, "the Divil a bit;" and they pun ished some of these offenders, too, in a most thorough manner, for in i66i George Gaylord was subjected to thirty-nine lashes "for visiting" the widow Hitchcock." I'AVER.V CHEER AA'D CHARGE 151 Other irregularities and misdemeanors were punished with a fine, and to illus trate the scale of prices for certain breaches of the law, this curious record is given. It is found in the town of W^estborough, Mass. "A fine paid by Benj Warren for uttering Two profane Oaths 050 " .\ fine paid by Joseph Rice, Jr., of Northborough, for uttering three profane oaths and two profane curses 080 "A fine paid by William Nus in Westborough for uttering two Profane Curses o 6 o" Profane curses cost three shillings each, while profane oaths were less expensive. In the heat of passion, or in animated dis cussion, it must have taken much skill to formulate a sufficiently expressive retort consistent vvith economy. The attractions of the tavern at Cam bridge were more than the students at Harvard College could resist, the stu dents of 1672 being not unlike those of to-day. So frequently were they found within its doors, and so loth was landlord Gibson to dispense with their custom and •52 '/•///; COI.ONIAI. I'A VERN company, that at last, as a means of cor recting the habits of the young men and checking this irregularity of the landlord, he was waited upon by the constables of the town for "entertaining some of the stud'" contrary to law," and on October I, 1672, having been convicted of this offence, he was sentenced "to be admon ished and to pay a fine of forty shillings in money," and stand committed until it was paid. It was only at the tavern that opportu nity was offered for social gatherings for the amusement of young and old, and in the eighteenth century the strict rules previously in force regulating the conduct of such places had been materially modi fied. The various tavern keepers made ample provision for the wants of the people, and provided means for the enter tainment of those who resorted to their houses. Benjamin Parker, the town treas urer of Medford, when he built his com modious establishment, in 1745, provided a large dance hall, which supplied at once a long felt want. Dancing at taverns had been common enough even in the early days of the New England towns. So I'A VERN CHEER AND CHARGE 153 common, in fact, that in 1631 the Massa chusetts Bay authorities, in "consequence of some miscarriages at weddings" which had taken place at the taverns, passed a law prohibiting dancing on such occasions at public houses. I^ut in 1745 orderly assemblages for the purpose of dancing and its incidental sociability were not regarded with disfavor. These old time dances which brightened for a moment the dull life of the period would not awaken much enthusiasm in the hearts of the youth of to-day. But to those brown-faced, stalwart country youths, and those red-cheeked, hearty colonial maidens, they were the height of pleasure and enjoyment. The music supplied on such occasions was the flute, viol, or spinnet. The min uet, the most graceful and artistic of all the dances of Colonial days, was probably seldom witnessed on the floors of Parker's tavern, but the old-time contra dances, where the first gentleman was "to foot it to the second lady and both turn single," and the "first three couples haze, then lead down in the middle and back again," where "the first couple three hands round 154 THE COLONIAL TAVERN with the second lady, allemand; three hands round vvith the second gentleman, allemand again; lead down two couples, up again, cast off one couple, hands round with the third, right hand and left," were gone through with all the spirit and enthusiasm of enjoyment. Then, after refreshing with the good tilings to eat, vvhich had been bountifully provided in the great dining room, it made an evening the recollection of vvhich lived in the minds of those boys and girls of the farms for months after wards, and was even recalled in after life over and over again. The law, too, with respect to "bowls, quoits, loggets, ninepins and billiards," had been "mitigated," and another Med ford tavern keeper built a bowling-alley in his house, and thereby added to the vocabulary of the good people of the town such words as "strikes" and "spares." No better place for the exhibition of strange animals and other novelties could be found than at the tavern. The tavern keeper, when such opportunities offered, was ready and willing to give up a part of his stables or other outbuildings for such purposes. It drew a crowd and benefitted TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE 155 him as much as it did the showman, for all these "curiosities" were freely dis cussed before the tavern bar; after they had been examined by those attracted to the show. A Polar bear is not now re garded as a "monstrous sight," but the following advertisement, printed in the Columbian Sentinel, shows how such an animal vvas looked upon in 18 10. "MONSTROUS SIGHT. To be seen at A. Pollard's Tavern, Elm Street. A White Greenland Sea Bear, which was taken at Sea weighing 1000 wt. They have been seen several leagues at sea, and sometimes floating on cakes of ice. This animal displays a great natural curiosity. Admittance 12 1-2 ets. Children half Price." Another natural curiosity was adver tised in this wise: "A beautiful MOOSE. The Curious in Natural History are invited to Major King's Tavern, where is 156 TIIE COLONIAL TAVERN to be seen a fine young MOOSE of six teen hands in height, and well propor tioned. The properties of this fleet and tractable Animal are such as will give pleasure and satisfaction to every be holder. Price of Admission, Nine Pence." Near this same establishment there vvas exhibited "a beautiful African Lion," notice of which vvas published in the Boston Gazette, Aug. 13, 1801, in the fol lowing attractive manner: " To the Curious. A beautiful African LION To be seen every day in the week (Sun days excepted) in Brattle-street, next to Major King's near the Market, where a very convenient situation is provided for those Ladies and Gentlemen who may please to favor the proprietor with their presence. THIS noble Animal is between three and four feet high, measures eight feet from nostrils to tail, and a beautiful dun color; 11 years old, and weighs near 500 wt. — His legs and tail are as thick as those' TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE I 57 of a common size ox. He vvas caught in the woods of Goree, in Africa, when a whelp; and brought from thence to New- York. Great attention has been paid in providing a strong substantial Cage, and to have the Lion under very good com mand. The person who has the care of him can comb his mane, make him lie down and get up at any time : and it is said by those who have seen Lions in the Tower of London, and many parts that he is really worth the contemplation of the curious. gi^"" A dm ilta nee 25 cen ts. — Ch ildren half price r Market day was another happy time for the tavern keepers, but they could not have grown rich on the prices paid for "bed and dyet," for all this, and even more, could be had for three shillings a day. It was the extras, the sales at the bar, that made the day a notable one in tavern life. The taverns at Medford are said to have been filled every night during the winter vvith New Hampshire and Vermont farmers, who had come to town, bringing 158 'THE COLONIAL TAVERN with them butter, pork, grass seed, poultry and other farm products, to dispose of on market days. These occasions were regu lated by town laws, and places were desig nated where the market should be kept. At Providence they were set up near the taverns, at Olney 's and at Whijiple's. A town officer, called the Clerk of the Market, regulated the conduct of these places. In the city of Providence this officer is now regularly elected each year. A story is told of one of these New Hampshire farmers, who, while on his way to market, put up over night at a tavern a few miles out of Boston. That evening a party of young people came to the inn for a dance and a general good time. Dur ing the evening, while they were enjoying themselves, the old farmer became inter ested in the actions of this gay company, and as such affairs were none too com mon in his life, the novelty of it prompted him to go down stairs, and without any feeling that he was intruding, he took up a position near a window and watched the proceedings vvith eager eyes. One of the company, observing him, and having, doubtless, imbibed too freely of the liquors TAI'ERN CHEER AND CHARGE I 59 with which the party vvas supplied, took from the table a decanter and threw it at his head. The window and the decanter were both broken, and the face of the surprised farmer slightly injured. Such a good shot aroused much enthusiasm among the party, and the thrower was cheered and congratulated, all agreeing that it was a good joke on the farmer. Hut the injured man did not so regard it. He retired from the spot, and vvith a men tal resolve that he would be even with them, returned to his room. Here he dressed his wounds, and then descended to the yard and straightway made for the stable, where he sought out each vehicle in vvhich the party had arrived, took out the liiicli-pins and hid them. Then he retired to his room and was soon sleeping. At a late hour the dancers departed, filled with merriment and other things of which there had been a store. The details of the collapse which followed their departure have not been preserved. Hut it is said that the old gentleman, saw enough on the roadside next morning to show him that he had been successful, and that his injuries had been avenged. l6o THE COLONIAL TAVERN It was a busy day at the tavern when the auction, the notice of which had been displayed about the tavern for weeks, took place, for these usually occurred at the tavern ; especially vvas this so when j)er- sonal belongings were to be sold, and human beings also. Human beings of two classes were sold at the taverns, crim inals and paupers. At Israel Clifford's tavern in Dunbarton, N. II., one Gould, a sheep thief, vvas sold at public auction for "damages and costs," taxed at ^2-12-10; previous to this sale he vvas "whipped thirteen stripes by Archibald Stark Con stable." One of the townsmen bid off the culprit and he vvas set at work to break and clean flax. He applied himself to this labor with such success that after he had dressed as much as he could carry he departed for parts unknown, very much to the grief of his purchaser. But there is a more pathetic side to these tavern auctions of human beings, for it vvas customary in some New England towns to dispose of the town's poor in this way. In the town of Wareham, on Buz- lAVEKN CHEEK .UVD CHARGE l6l zard's Bay, at the tavern of Benjamin Fearing, such events frequently took place. "The sales were made," says Bliss in his Colonial Times on Buzzard's Bay, "in the bar room of the inn, where the landlord as he served the thirsty guests from his decanters, discussed with them the value of the services of the paupers, for whose keeping they had come to bid," and the town records bear silent testimony to these sad phases of colonial life in the following words : "Jurned from the meeting house down to Benjamin Fearings house to vandue the poor." In contradistinction to this sad side of tavern life, is the event which took place at the Saugus tavern in 1756. It is a most curious happening and its like was seldom witnessed, for it was an encounter between two men eminent in the neighborhood for their wit and humor, and resolved itself into a sort of duel with ideas instead of the more deadly weapons commonly used. These two individuals were Jonathan Govven of Lynn and Joseph Emerson of Reading. At the appointed time for this exhibition of humorous gymnastics, the I 62 TIIE COLONIAL TAVEK.Y tavern was filled with a merry, rollick ing crowd, cheering and encouraging the two champions to their best efforts. So great was the crowd that all the space in side the doors vvas taken up, and that none should be deprived of all this display of sparkling wit, an adjournment was taken to an open field near the house, where these Yankee humorists could have full play and the crowd full hearing. What kind of a performance this re sulted in or what kind of buffoonery took place, contemporary annalists have neg lected to perpetuate, but when this "fight" was over the Reading wit vvas vanquished. How this was determined has not been handed down to posterity, but it has been recorded that Gowen's wit "was beyond all human imagination." But, alas, he was destined to fall from the dizzy height to which he had been elevated by this strange exhibition, for he gradually lost his bright mind, his wit faded, and he ceased at length to be even funny, and finally became so stupid that the expres sion, "you are as dull as Jonathan Govven," became proverbial. There were other ex hibitions about the tavern which inured TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE I 63 to the benefit of the tavern keeper and the townsmen too, for that matter, but not to all. The stocks and the whipping post were near neighbors of the tavern, and when ever the courts had decreed that an offender should be punished there was always a crowd about the place. These appliances for the administration of justice were of different forms; at some places regularly built stocks were set up, as at David Arnold's tavern in Warwick, R. I., where "John Lowe was ordered to erect the public stocks and whipping post near David Arnold's tavern, and to procure iron and timber for the same;" a similar order provided for their erection near the tavern of Thomas Angell, in Scituate, R. I. The stocks were not elaborately con structed, but consisted of a frame built a few feet from the ground, and whereon was placed two sticks of timber between which the legs of the culprit were con fined. The whipping post was less elabo rate in construction ; most anything that was substantial enough to stand the writh- ings and strainings given by the unfor tunate person who was tied to it, was sufficient for the purpose. Sometimes 164 'THE COLONIAL I'AI' ERN a tree standing conveniently near by vvas utilized for this purpose, as at the old Gavitt tavern in Westerly, R. I., and this old oak, as bereft of foliage as a stalk of asparagus, yet full of life, stands there to-day, looking as though it was doing penance for the many cruel ties there from time to time inflicted. But it was not always essential that the regular whipping post be used on such occasions, for poor Lydia Wardwell, wrought up to the highest pitch of religious frenzy, for walking into the meeting house at Ipswich, naked, "vvas taken thence and tyed to the fence post of the tavern," and sorely lashed while the hard-hearted Puri tan townspeople looked on and saw this horrible treatment inflicted upon "a young and tender chaste woman." That grew some structure, the gallows, too, vvas a companion of the tavern, and in the town of Cambridge stood near Porter's tavern. This fact seems to have inspired some ancient rhymster to inscribe the following: " Cambridge is a famous town, Both for wit and knowleilge, Some they whip and some ihey hang, .\nd some lliey scnil to college." TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE I 65 Execution day at Cambridge was an event of great interest to the people of this town, and neighboring towns as well. From the diary of a Boston man we get some idea of the way he spent the day, and thus judge how the day was passed by others, for he writes: "Thursday the i8th day of Sepf(i755) Execution day a clear but for the time of year a Cold day about i o'clock sat out for Cambridge saw y" execution Mark hanged and Phillis burnt then to Brad- ishes, & then to morses drank some punch with Mr Moreley Tom Leverett Mr Coop er Tom foxcroft Ned Emerson & others & walked down with Jonathan Bradish and then to mr Moreleys house tarried till ten supped & refreshed nature and then went home sufficiently and went to bed & slept woke up very finely refreshed." Execution day, with its writhing, hang ing forms and the odor of burnt flesh, seems to have acted on him as a mild tonic. It was also a gala day at Bradish's tavern, and punch and other mixtures flowed freely down the parched throats of the I 66 THE COLONIAL 'TAVEKN multitude that had assembled to hear " Mr. Appleton preach to the people, but more especially to the prisoners who were to die, from Proverbs y" 13th, at the i5tli verse: 'The Way of the Transgressor is Hard'" and then witness the proceeilings when they were launched into eternity. Altogether there vvas a certain cheerful ness about the occasion, and it was doubt less looked upon as a day of hand shaking, merry making and deep drinking. Madam Knight, that early inter-colonial traveller, on her journey from Boston to New York, in 1704, stopped for a time at Ames' Tavern, in Dedham, to procure a guide. In her diary of her journeyings she mentions visiting at this time the Rev. Joseph Belcher, the minister of that town. After the Revolution, this house being- conducted by a Mrs. Woodward, was known as Woodward's Tavern, at the sign of the " Law Book." It is related that the tap room windows were screened with heavy wooden shutters, in vvhich were small heart shaped open ings. In the evening, when this room vvas lighted, these little openings emitted a brilliant streak of light, and travellers as TAVER.V CHEEK AND CHARGE I 67 they passed along the highway, or in cross ing the meadows, seeing the light in the darkness, were wont to remark to each other, "See the light shine through Mrs. Woodward's heart." Near the bar, or in a convenient quarter of the main room in most of the taverns, was a desk, usually nothing more than a box with a slanting lid, which could be raised at will. On this stood an ink horn, a sand box and quill box. Inside this desk or on the top of it, there was always kept the tavern account book, wherein were re corded the various transactions which the landlord had with his customers. Here were carefully registered the pints and quarts which the bibulous townsmen had charged up against them. Many of these curious old books are yet preserved, and they form the outline for a most complete series of sketches of the every day life of the people and complete pictures of life at the tavern. They are of all sizes, shapes and conditions, from a few leaves of irregu larly shaped paper stitched together, to substantially bound volumes in vellum ; but whatever their form, the entries upon their now torn and finger-marked pages l68 'THE COLONIAL TAVERN are pretty much of the same character. Let us examine one and dwell for a time on the life in Barrington more than a hun dred years ago, as reflected by the old day book of Squire Bowen, erstwhile tavern keeper and store keeper in that section of the Massachusetts colony since transferred to Rhode Island. Like many other tav erners he kept the country store, and he dealt in all sorts of commodities, horn combs, "scains of fine thread," gingerbread, almanacks, cord wood, coffins, and New England rum by the hogshead. The country store as it existed in colonial days has disappeared from modern life, but now and then in some remote country town there may be found one that has not lost entirely its old time characteristics. There is one to-day in a little New England town, vvhich has masqueraded for years under the metropolitan title of Hopkinton City, where the people of the village congregate at evening and exchange the news and gossip of the place, where politics are dis cussed, and politics here are politics, for three governors have been selected from this little village and two have come from this store; crops, too, are prophesied, and TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE 169 SO are all manner of subjects, just as the ancestors of those who assemble there to day talked and prophesied more than a hundred years before. The villagers, too, buy their household supplies at the same counter that their fathers, grandfathers, and great grand fathers leaned up against and counted out their money. The room is low studded and dingy, for the little windows, shaded by the shelving, admit but little light. A counter, now scratched and splintered with a century's trade, extends across the room with a slight sweep inward. Behind the counter, shelves fill up the space not taken up by the little windows, whereon are displayed every conceivable article for household use. In front of the counter and in the middle of the store there used to stand an old-fashioned iron box stove, or, as they were sometimes called, a wood burner. It was one of the first enclosed stoves ever built, and until within a few years has regularly performed its winter service. Now its place is filled with a modern coal burner, and this old relic has been carefully set away. Opening from the store are three doors. 170 TIIE COI.ONIAI. 'TAI'ERN one into the dwelling house, which adjoins the store, another into a little room wherein is stored the more bulky com modities like molasses, vinegar, oil and such articles, and I suspect that, in the days long ago, hogsheads of rum might have been found here, but not now. Another door, one of those curious Dutch doors vvith shutters, opens out to the village street. Above the store is the loft, where the extra stock is kept, and there are to-day stored away in this little space articles purchased for the shop more than seventy years ago. The collector of old china would here find a rich store on vvhich to feast his eyes; but it would end there, for these old treasures are highly prized by the owner, and no consideration would tempt him to part vvith them. Hanging at one end of the counter from the side of the shelving there is a string of button moulds, just where it has hung for forty years. Perhaps Henry Bowen's store vvas like this, but if not, it is too late now to tell, for his old shop was destroyed by fire som e years since. Let us assume that it TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE 171 was, and enter and live for a brief time vvith his friends and neighbors. Beside the open window Squire Bowen sits sleep ing in his chair. The air is redolent with the perfume of jessamine and flowering currant and the hum of dozens of bumble bees, the only sound to be heard, is not sufficient to awake him, while we tip-toe to the desk and scan the pages of his old day book, lying open as he left it before dropping off into sleep. 'Tis haying time and many of his neighbors have been obliged to purchase the necessary appliances for cutting the rich meadow grass, and the charges read : " Thomas Allin Dr To I scythe 5 — Capt. Aaron Barney of Rehoboth Dr To I scythe 5 — 6 To I sickle ' i — 4 Esther Tiffany Dr 'Po I scythe Did yr Negro Dant. 5 — 6 " Perhaps if they had not left the old one hanging in the crotch of the apple trees to rust through the winter, they 172 TIIE COI.ONIAI. TAI'ERN would not have been called upon to make this outlay. But there have been other customers, doubtless returning from or going to the hay field, as these items seem to show: " Consider Tripp Dr To \ Gil Bitters 2d Joshua Bicknell Dr To I Gil W. Rum 4d To \ bowl 'Poddy sd Thomas Allin Dr To 2 bowls Punch @ is 4d 2s 8d To I mess oats for Doct Bradfords hors 3d John Rogers Richmond Dr To 1 qt N. Rum did yr Indian boy i\(S. Josiah Viall Dr To I pt Jamaica Spirits 81I " Josiah Viall was the blacksmith and he shod the store keeper's horse : " Josiah Viall Cr By setting my horses shoes behind 8d By setting & steeling my horses hind shoes lod " I'AVEKN CHEER AND CHARGE I 73 He also mended the flip iron and gen erally took his pay in liquor, for the next charge, but one after the above is " Josiah Viall Dr 'Po I Pt Jamaica Spirits ¦]\A " and the next day " Josiah Viall Dr To 2 Qts Jamaica Spirits 2s 3d " thus overdrawing his account. Joshua Bicknell was a frequent customer at the tavern and store, and he seems to have been the most unfortunate of all of Bowen's customers, and these charges against him appear upon this open book : "Joshua Bicknell Esq Dr To cash paid Mr. Chaffee for mend ing my cart ladder irons which you broke " 3s To 1 iron hoop you lost off my cart exaltree is To I stake bar you broke is " And a few days later more trouble for goodman Bicknell is indicated in this entry : 174 THE COI.ONLAL TAVERN " 'Po cash paid Natt Heath for making one cart ladder which you broke And then again: " Joshua Bicknell Dr 'Po i Gil W Rum 2d 'Po I qt W Rum is id 'Po I wine glass you broke 911 His dealings with Bowen, seem to have resulted in a general breaking up of every thing he laid his hands on. But he was not the only unfortunate person who dam aged the property of the Scjuire, for there appears to have been another, and the charge for this breakage reads thus: " Samuel Allen 2d Esq To breaking my arin'd chair 3 o 'Po breaking one Scpiare of glass in my winilow 7 'Po splitting of the groove of a panel door 2 o S 7 " It would be interesting to know if there is any connection between this charge and the following, vvhich are found registered at about the same time : TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE I 75 " Samuel Allen 2d Escj 'ro \\ mugs flip @ 9d 1 i^ 'Po I bowl toddy 9 " " Samuel Allen 2d Esq 'Po 4 Gil Bitters 2 To 4 bowl toddy 4^ " The broken chair vvas duly mended at Allen's cost, for some days later there is entered upon the book: "Samuel Allen, Cr. By paying Natt. Heath for mending my arm chair, 3s." But all of his cus tomers do not make such purchases; even goodman Bicknell mixes his rum and re- ligion, and stands charged: " 'Po 2 Qts W. Rum o i 9 'I'o I Bowl 'Poddy o 010 To 1 Psalm book o 40" Another literary inclined townsman buys "the history of King Philip's War" at three shillings; another "the Manuel Exercise;" another buys a spelling book, while nearly all, at the coming in of the new year, buy either Bickerstaff's or J Vest's Almanacks. Gingerbread seems to have been a staple article at Bowen's store, and he sells it by 176 'THE COI.ONIAI. TAVERN the barrel, "rol," and cake. When sold by the barrel it is usually for ship's stores, but most of his trade in this article vvas by the cake and usually accompanied some liquor, as " Josiah Viall Dr 'Po I pt N Rum 004 'Po 5 Rols ginger bread o o i| " or " John Harding Dr 'Po \ gil Rum 002 'Po I Gil Rum 004 'Po 2 Qts N Rum o i 2\ 'Po 2 Cakes ginger bread (V/ 4d o o 8 " Here is a charge which shows the care with which he noted down the minute details of his dealings. " Benjamin Jackson of Rehoboth Dr 'Po cash not paid for things you took on Asa Bicknells acct more than y order which you Promised to pay if sd Bicknell wood not allow il 00 9^ " There was to be no dispute when neigh bor Bicknell exhibited some surprise at TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE I 77 the amount vvhich his friend Jackson had drawn on his order, and here is another: " Matthew Allen Dr To I mug flip Did Timothy Allen the 21st Last Jany which you promised to pay if he did not in one week 009" And Timothy Allen did not respond in the allotted time and this charge is mad« " Feby. 26, 1772." The housewife frequently drop's' in to the storefor sundry purchases, and the charges made on such occasions seem strange enough in these days when the articles had' are considered. " Hannah Adams Dr 'Po 8 Rows of Pins o o 2f " and on another occasion, "5^ yds Dowlas @ IS 2d 8 8j " and " Rebecca Brown Dr To 1^ yds Quality @ 2d 003" It is doubtful if Squire Bowen meant exactly what he wrote when he made this entry : 178 'THE COI.ONIAI. TAVERN "Israel Barney of Swansy Dr 'Po my scow one ilay taken from yr own mouth o 2 6 " for this "scow" vvas used for such pur poses as "loading Cromell Childs schooner," "freighting i Bbl of ginger bread & i of Biskit," and "loading marsh hay." The charges for entertainment at his taven are here recorded. Breakfast vvas 9d, while dinner at the tavern vvas is, 2^d, with a bowl of grog it vvas is, t\A. Most of his guests had their dinner at this latter named price. John Tripp and his wife put up at the inn on the iith of May, 1776, and the "score" which undoubtedly he settled "without higgling," illustrates the customs of the times as well as conveys a perfect idea of the expense of putting up at one of the old Colonial Inns for a day or so: ,•> "To I Dinner 91I 'Po Bread and cheese 61I To 2 mugs cyder i,_id I'o 1 gill W. Rum 4 5.I 'Po breakfast & dinner is 31I 'I'o one bowl Toddy 911 2 To lotlging you and wife 6 'I'o I.J bowl toddy is i ,1 lo .} mug cyder 1 .UI 1 3 'I'o lodg self & wife6il lo 1 gil Bramly 5.UI 1 1 .1 To breakfast 9.UI mug ciiler i^ 11 TAVERN CHEER AND CHARGE 179 'Po 4 bowl toddy 4^d Dinner 8d i o^ 'Po 15 lbs 'Pobacco (7^ 6d 76 'Po \ bowl Poddy 4.UI 'Po A mug cyder \\ 6 j 'Po supper 6" In the family record which goodman Bowen caused to be spread upon the town books, it is stated that his "fifth child vvas buried near his mother, who died October 30, 1778." On this old day book there is written, under this date: "William Kelley Cr By I coffin 12s " Every other word on the page on which this is written is in the familiar handwriting of Henry Bowen. This vvas written by another hand. It was a sad day to the taverner, for death had entered the inn an unwelcome guest, and departing, had taken away its mistress. He remained a widower for seven months, and then, as the record says, "married his second wife, Elizabeth Harding, May 2, 1779," and Elizabeth took the place made vacant, "to welcome the coming and speed the parting guest." For nearly fifteen years Bowen con ducted the tavern and store at Barrington, l8o THE COLONIAL TAVERN but in the latter part of the year 1783 he sold out a good part of his belongings at •' Vandoo," gave up the inn and all the offices to which he had held so tenaciously, and removed to Providence, where he embarked in business on a more elaborate scale. There vvas yet another cheerful, happy day for tavern keepers that has not yet been referred to, and this vvas Ordination Day, when the minister was settled over the parish. The tavern then vvas the cen tre of activity, a special brew of beer was prepared for such occasions called "Ordina tion beer," while the " Ordination ball " was the social event of the season. The records of the ancient churches disclose a habit and custom which pre vailed on such occasions, when roast meats, gingerbread, cider, punch and grog con stituted the main item of expense at tending these services. The historians of these churches have with great unanimity avoided any reference to them in their recital of events connected with the life of the church. Mrs. Earle in her Sabbath in Puritan Ah'w England, has resurrected from old diaries and other contemporary TAVERN CHEER AND CLLARGE l8l writings many quaint illustrations of the customs on such occasions. She gives the bill of one tavern keeper in Hartford for entertainment furnished at such a time: £ .f d 'Po Keeping Ministers o 2 4 2 Mugs tody o 5 IO 5 Segars o 3 o I Pint Wine o o 9 3 lodgings o 9 o 3 bitters o o 9 3 breakfasts o 3 6 '5 boles punch I IO o 24 dinners I i6 o 1 1 bottles wine o 3 6 5 mugs flip o 5 lO 5 boles punch o 6 o 3 boles tody o 3 6 And " This all Paid for except the Minis ters Rum," as the bill is quaintly indorsed. With so many attractive days in the tavern calendar, with so much sociability, jollity and conviviality about his house, no wonder that the tavern keeper was gener ally good natured and his place a favorite resort, and he could truthfully call atten tion to his place as furnishing " Food for the Hungry, Drink for the Thirsty, and a Home for the Weary Traveller." CHAPTER VI. 'I'AVERN TALES AND TRAVELLERS. illustrative of all phases of life are associated with the tavern. Tragedies and comedies have here been enact ed. Romance, with all its various shades of love, joy and sorrow, cluster around it. It is not neces sary to depend upon imaginary or fanciful details to tell the tales of the wayside inn, for there is enough in the real life of the people to give these stories interest, and yet not overstep the bounds of truth. On September 26, 1671, Goodman Ayers of Brookfield, or, as it vvas called in those days, Quawbaug, was granted a license " to keep an ordinary, and sell wine 'PA I 'ERN 'PA LES A ND TRA VELLERS 1 8 3 and liquor." Regularly each year his license vvas renewed, until the year 1675-6, so eventful to many New England towns. Ayers' tavern was located in the centre of the little settlement, and was the most substantial of any of its neighbors. Un usual attention had been paid to its con struction, for it served the double purpose of tavern and garrison Iiouse, for Quaw baug was a frontier town and in the midst of the Indian country. Directly across the road was the meeting house, where Parson Younglove preached to the peo ple of Brookfield on all church occasions, and at other times worked in the fields and hunted in the woods, to eke out a living in this wilderness. The people were slow in contributing their mite to the pittance which had been agreed upon for his salary, and even goodman Ayers, the most thrifty of the townsmen, refused to pay "for the maintenance of Mr. Younglove, on account that he keeps the ordinary, and has for time past, and should be free from it;" so it is recorded in the annals of the old town. Brookfield, at this early day, was not a populous or prosperous settlement. The 184 TIIE COI.ONIAI. TAVERN train band could not boast of a commis sioned officer, and was commanded, when it had occasion to be commanded at all, by goodman Ayers himself, by virtue of his appointment to the office of Sergeant. Thus affairs went on in the town, unevent ful and uninterrupted by outside influence, until the outbreak of that bloody Indian trouble, which has since been handed down in history as King Philip's war. Startling stories of Indian hostilities had reached the ears of the good people of Brookfield from time to time, but they had not taken the news seriously at heart, and had little fear that any trouble would befall them. The depredations of the Indians and their continuous hostile movements had been brought to the attention of the Colony authorities, and in order to treat with the savages for a peaceful solution of the difficulties. Captain Edward Hutch inson of Boston was commissioned bythe General Court to proceed to the neighbor hood of Brookfield "to treat with several sachems in those parts in order to the public peace." He therefore set out from Cambridge on the 28th of July, 1675, TAVEKN TALES AND TRAVELLERS 185 having an escort of twenty men under the command of Captain Thomas Wheeler, who had also "been ordered by said council to accompany him with part of my troops for security from any danger that might be from the Indians, and to assist him in the transaction of matters committed to him." This body of men arrived at Brookfield after a march of three days, on the first day of August, when they halted and immediately made an attempt to treat with the savages. When the news of the arrival of the force reached Brookfield some of the townsmen joined vvith them, prominent among whom was Sergeant Ayers, the chief military man of the town and landlord of the tavern. Messengers were dispatched to the main body of the Indians, variously estimated from two to five hundred, and it was arranged that the two parties should meet for a discussion of the subject in hand "upon a plain three miles from Brook field," at 8 o'clock the next morning. Promptly at the time appointed the com missioner and his followers were on hand, but the Indians did not appear. Through 1 86 THE COLONIAL I'AVERN the influence of the Brookfield men, who assured the party that the Indians had no evil intentions, it was decided to go to them since they had failed to meet their ap pointment. The troops therefore set out for the main camp of the savages, which vvas located in the midst of a thick swamp. Doubtless this was just what the wily heathen had intended for them to do, for no sooner had they reached the swamp, — the way to it being "so very bad that they could only march single file," — when the Indians made a savage attack upon them from ambush. In this attack Sergeant John Ayers vvas killed. The thoroughly frightened and demoralized troops scat tered and fled to the town. The news of the Indians' treachery and the loss of so many men, — for eight men had been killed and five wounded, — spread quickly throughout the settlement. Many of the families hurriedly left their homes, and, with the soldiers, took up quarters in Ayers' tavern, where they proceeded to lortify themselves as best they could. Encouraged by their success in this das tardly attack in the swamp, the Indians started in ])ursuit of the fleeing townsmen TA VERN TALES AND TRA VELEERS I 87 and soldiers, and arrived at the settlement almost as soon as they did. Through the afternoon the savages occu pied their time with stray shots at the be sieged townsmen and in pillaging the deserted houses and desecrating the meet ing house. "That night," says Captain Wheeler, in his narrative, "they did war against us like so many wild bulls, sending in their shot amongst us till towards the moon rising which was about three of the clock ; at which time they attempted to fire our house by hay and other combusti ble matter which they brought to one corner of the house and set it on fire." Under the protection of the guns, a party ventured outside and succeeded in quench ing the flames before they had communi cated with the house, but two of the party were wounded by the enemy's shots, which "pierced the walls and flew among the in mates." Fearing that their ammunition and provisions would be exhausted before help could reach them, for there were eighty-two persons, men, women and chil dren shut up in this house, Captain Wheeler decided that, with all the danger attending it, a messenger must be dispatched to 1 88 THE COLONIAL TAVERN Boston for assistance. He therefore se lected Ephraim Curtis, a young man thirty- three years of age, who had accompanied the expedition as a guide and interpreter. Twice did this brave fellow attempt to steal away from the besieged tavern, but each time the alert savages discovered him and he was forced to return. On the third attempt he succeeded in stealing away. Boston was between sixty and seventy miles distant, but, says Captain Wheeler, "through God's mercy, he got safely to Marlborough, though very much spent and ready to faint by reason of want of sleep before he went from us, and his sore travel night and day in that hot season till he got thither from whence he went to Boston." Meanwhile the Indians kept up their at tack, and the brave defenders of the tavern, without rest and hardly without time for food, struggled against their ferocious enemy trusting that they might hold out until succor arrived. During the daylight the Indians were less demonstrative, vvhich afforded the cooped up men in the tavern some slight rest, but as darkness came on the savages renewed their attack vvith the greatest boldness and intensity. " Ihey TA VERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 1 89 also used several strategems to fire us," says Wheeler, "namely by wild fire on cotton and linen rags with brimstone in them which rags they tyed to the piles of their arrows sharp for the purpose and shot them to the roof of our house after they had set them on fire which would have much endangered the burning thereof, had we not used means by cutting holes through the roof and otherwise to beat the said arrows down and God being pleased to prosper our endeavors therein. They carried more combustible matter, as flax and hay, to the sides of the house, and set it on fire, and then flocked apace towards the door of the house, either to prevent our going forth to quench the fire, as we had done before, or to kill our men in their attempt to go forth or else to break into the house by the door, whereupon we were forced to break down the wall of the house against the fire to put it out." All through that long and weary night all of the ener gies of the men were exerted to their highest pitch to resist the various modes of attack by which the cunning savages sought to take their lives. Shortly after daybreak on Wednesday, the fourth of I go THE COLONIAL TAVERN August, the Indians resorted to a new plan and fortified themselves at the meeting house, and at the barn adjoining the tavern. Here they constructed a rude breastwork or barricade of boards, rails and hay. At night they dragged one of the farm carts from the barn, and filling it with "flax hay and candlewood," set it on fire and pushed it against the tavern, using much ingenuity in their method of constructing this appliance to save themselves from harm. Happily for the worn out people in the house it rained that night and so dampened the woodwork and combustibles that the flames did not take effect. Had it not been for this, there is little doubt but what the brave body of defenders of the tavern would have been forced to surrender, and throw themselves into the hands of the merciless savages. The men and women, too, were nearly exhausted, six of their number were incapacitated and suffering from wounds, while the smoke of burning wood, brim stone and powder filled the house, almost stifling them. Besides this, since they had been locked up in this house, their number had been increased by four, two women having given birth to twins. Surely they TA VERN TALES AND 'ERA VELLERS I g I were in a desperate position, but it is said "'tis always darkest before daybreak," and so it proved, for along in the night of the third day of the siege. Major Willard and Captain Parker, of Groton, with a body of forty-six men and five friendly Indians, arrived upon the scene and put an end to further hostilities. They had heard the news of the attack on Brookfield, and hastily getting together a force, had set out to aid their brethren. Three days later the help which Ephraim Curtis had sought also arrived, and thus secured the men of Brookfield from danger. During the attack the town was practically wiped out of existence, nothing remaining of this once happy and peaceful settlement except this ruinous old tavern and another building " that was not then finished," and vvith this bitter experience Ayers' tavern for the entertainment of travellers, and goodman Ayers, who declined to pay the minister's rate, passed into history. David Fairbanks of Medfield was a tav ern keeper and also kept the country store; he was the most energetic business man in the place and broadened his fields of useful ness by embarking in an industry which 192 THE COI.ONIAI. I A VER. N was destined to grow into great propor tions. He was the pioneer in the straw goods business and acquired a considerable property by this means. Conceiving the idea that the spare time of the young women of the town might be put to greater good than gossiping brought them, he pur chased large quantities of straw braid, dis tributed it around among the young girls and women, and for a reasonable compensa tion employed them to sew it into bonnets and hats. He found a ready market for his goods in New York, sending them over land by ox teams to Providence and thence by packet to New York. From this small beginning the straw goods industry grew to be a large and profitable business in this town. Not many years ago there was a little coterie of persons in Medfield who pro duced no end of fun and amusement for the towns people by a curious custom which they inaugurated, of aj^plying to different persons in the village high .sound ing titles and names of important and celebrated personages. Mr. Onion, the dignified postmaster, 'was dubbed the "Emperor." James Clark, the good- I'A VERN I .MES AND TR.I VEI.IEKS 193 natured, ])ortly tavern keeper, vvas styled the "Alderman," while others bent under such weighty titles as "Pope," "Count," "Marshal Ney," "Marshal Marmont," and others equally as grand. The derivation of these titles too was as curious as the custom itself, for one mem ber of this dignified body having ventured out in a "large tub to gather floating cran- berries," unfortunately capsized the frail craft and was thrown bodily into the water, and upon emerging from this impromptu bath vvas immediately given the rank of "Admiral." The leader in this club of humorists seems to have been Mr. Onion, the post master and store keeper, and he issued his mandates to the others in the most pom pous manner. On necessary occasions he furnished bulletins of current news and gossip all in the same style. One day there came to the town two itinerant ped lars of various wares, and by the cheap ness of their goods and their persistency in advocating they succeeded in disposing of a good stock to the villagers. Such an invasion was frowned upon by the village store keepers, and especially by Mr. Onion, 194 THE COLONIAL I A VERN the " Emperor," but in addition to this usurpation of the rights and privileges of the village merchants, and to their suri/rise these two unpopular foreign traders found shelter, comfort and cheer at the tavern of James Clark, the popular "Alderman" of the circle. Such a disregard for the feel ings of the other villagers could not be tol erated and it vvas considered the proper time for a manifesto to be issued. This the "Emperor" proceeded forthwith to do, in the following grandiloquent manner: "Headquarters, September 14. Sir: — It has fallen to our allottment to behold our hitherto peaceful community in a state of complete anarchy and con tention, occasioned by the influx of ped lars. The invading forces from Foxboro and other places encamped with Alderman Clark, who immediately engaged in their service with his usual ardor. The affairs of the day were conducted with much order and regularity until about 5 o'clock P. M. Then the invad ing forces, finding they were losing ground, withdrew for the night, giving notice of their intention to resume business in the TA VERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 1 95 morning at private sale. Consequently, the Hotel vvas transformed into a peddling shop. What a degrading scene to witness in our once splendid Tuileries! Yesterday ended; but this morning I was up early, walking the street, watching the splendor of the sun of Austerlitz, when my attention was attracted to the palace above named to view the appearance of Alderman Clark, one of the bellygerents pointing to a splendid sign board on his chimney top, and raving in a furious man ner to Johnson and others, which drew me to the front. I looked up, and read, in large, well-painted letters: Pedler's Home, Kept by J. Clark, on which the worthy Alderman was de claiming. This war is now not to be avoided. A declaration and manifesto are issued; and eternal wrath threatened on all con cerned in erecting the banner, particularly J. H. B. and C. F. Your humble servant is in for his usual share of condemnation and suspicion of projection. We are all now under arms, and are negotiating for 196 TIIE COLONIAL TAVERN the former usual libation to be handed over on raising a sign. All such reason able demands are, however, treated with contempt. I regret much that you are absent; trust you will hasten home speed ily, your services are wanted. Have sent express for W. Janes, as we must carry the garrison by storm to correspond vvith its defence. I am in haste, the stage is at the door. Yours in haste, EMPEROR. To Marshal Le Brun." Such proceedings as these produced no end of fun for those within the little circle, and even for those without, for these men were as well, if not better known, by these titles than by their own names, and it is a fact that the printed report of the town's finances for the year 1849 contains this item of expense paid by the town: " Emperor, for postage, ;f 1.53." The post master vvas better known by that name than by his real one, Mr. Onion. There are no more pathetic stories con nected with Colonial life in New Eng land than those that tell of the suffcrinos TA VERA' TALES AND TRA VELLERS 1 97 experienced and the cruelties inflicted for conscience sake. Associated with an old tavern which vvas formerly located at Ipswich is the name of Lydia Wardwell. It was for a brief time only she breathed the air that surrounded it but that short time was filled vvith torture to her body inflicted by the hard-hearted Puritan townsmen, accus tomed to persecute and punish that sect to which she belonged, called Quakers. Lydia Wardwell vvas the wife of Eliakim Wardwell of Hampton, and is described as being a "young and tender chaste woman." About the year 1663 she had separated from the church at Newbury where she had formerly worshipped, and had united with the Quakers. In those days with drawing from the Puritan church was a '' ¦ most serious and horrible offence, and she vvas commanded to return and ex])lain her conduct in so doing. At last she did so, and imbued with that Quaker purity and fearlessness, "and as a sign to them she went in (though it vvas exceeding hard to her modest and shamefaced disposition) naked amongst them." The anger of the Puritan church people was aroused to ils igS I'HE COLONIAL I'AVER.V highest pitch at this act, and she was roughly laid hands on and forcibly ejected from the Newbury meeting house. She then returned to her home at Hampton. Meanwhile the elders of the church, with all the bitterness and harshness that char acterized their acts in the persecution of her sect, had considered her conduct, and at the next term of the court at Ipswich she was presented for her misconduct, and under the date of May 5, 1663, there may be found on the records of this court, yet preserved at Salem, this entry: "Lydia Wardwell on her presentment for coming naked into Newbury meeting house. The sentence of the court is, that she shall be severely whipt and pay the costs and fees to the Marshal of Hampton for Bringing her. Costs ten shillings, fees two shillings and sixpence," and the order of the court was obeyed, for she was presently taken in charge by the officers and conducted to the most public spot in the town, in front of the tavern. Here she was "tyed to the fence post of the tavern," and then sorely lashed "with twenty or thirty stripes," while a crowd of people gazed upon this cruel treatment. "And this," said George Tavern tal.es AND TRAVELLERS igg Bishop in his Netv England fudged by the Spirit of the Lord, "is the discipline of the church in Newbury in New Eng land, and this is their religion, and their usage of the handmaid of the Lord, who in a great cross to her natural temper came thus among them, a sign indeed signifi- catory enough to them, and suitable to their state, who under the visor of religion were thus blinded into cruel persecution." Another such occurrence is associated with the "Anchor Tavern "at Swampscott, where three Rhode Island men were in carcerated on the occasion of their visit to a sick and aged townsman, one William Witter, in July, 1651. These men were Dr. John Clark, John Crandall, and Obadiah Holmes, all prominent men in the Rhode Island colony, and all of the Baptist per suasion. They arrived at the Swampscott settle ment on or about the twentieth of July, the day being Sunday, and went at once to the home of their friend Witter. Here they held religious services, and Dr. Clarke preached to the company assembled, and afterwards, it is said, administered the sac rament. This irregularity in the midst of 200 THE COLONIAL TAVERN the Puritan bay colony vvas soon brought to the attention of the authorities, and a warrant vvas sworn out by Magistrate Robert Bridges, of Salem, directing the constables to apprehend them as disturbers of the ])eace. Two constables were di rected thereby " to go to the house of William Witter and so to search from house to house for certain erroneous persons, being strangers and them to apprehend and in safe custody to keep and to morrow morning at eight o'clock" bring them be fore the magistrate for examination. With great alacrity the law officers proceeded upon their errand and repaired to Mr. Witter's house. Their arrival is described by Dr. Clarke, who says, "while 1 vvas yet speaking, there comes into the house where we were, two constables who with their clamorous tongues makes an interruption, and more uncivilly disturbed us than the pursuivants of the old English Hisliojis were wont to do." The services were per emptorily brought to a close, and the three visitors were informed that they were under arrest. In the afternoon the three Rhode Islanders were taken to Mr. Whitney's meeting Iiouse, where they arrived while 'Pa VERN Tales anD Tra vei.lers io\ the congregation was standing at prayers. The party entered the house in an orderly manner, and were assigned to seats, when they sat down, put on their hats, and "fell to reading," in this way showing their dis approval of the proceedings. At the con clusion of the service Dr. Clarke arose and asked permission to make some remarks, which was refused, and he was commanded to remove his hat. Upon refusing so to do, Magistrate Bridges, who was in the meeting house, ordered the constable to " uncover their heads," who performed this duty without much ceremony. Under the escort of the constables these three summer visitors were conducted to the "Anchor Tavern," then kept by the im pecunious Joseph Armitage, where they were locked up and strongly guarded. Next morning they were brought before Magistrate Bridges, who sent them to jail at Boston. On the last day of the month their trial took place, and the Court of Assistants imposed upon each a fine, Mr. Holmes, thirty pounds, Mr. Clarke twenty, and Mr. Crandall five. Mr. Holmes was a minister, and although the less active in the proceedings which brought them into 202 THE COLONIAL TAVERN trouble, had aroused the wrath of the Puri tan authorities some time before, by com mitting some disorders on the Lord's day, viewed from their intolerant standpoint. Clarke and Crandall were soon out of their troubles, for their fines were paid. Not so with Holmes, he vvas made of sterner stuff, and for conscience sake he refused to pay his fine or to permit it to be paid by others. For some weeks he re mained in jail, refusing to discharge the fine or receive aid from his friends, when in the early part of September, he vvas brought forth from the prison and publicly whipped. When he arrived at the whipping post and the preparations had been made for punishment, he requested liberty to speak to the people, but the presiding officer, one Flint, whose name seems to have been particularly appropriate to his position, re fused his recjuest and instead ordered him to be stripped. Then the executioner stepped forth, his sleeves rolled up, "spat three times in his own hands, that he might not fail to honor justice," took firm hold of the three corded lash and proceeded with the work assigned to him. Governor Joseph Jenckes, of Rhode Island, has left Ta VERN Tales aNd tT:a Vellers 203 an account of the details attending this scene, and in it says: "Mr. Holmes was whipped 30 stripes and in such an un merciful manner, that for many days if not some weeks he could not take rest but as he lay upon his knees and elbows, not being able to suffer any part of the body to touch the bed." " As the man began to lay on the stripes. Holmes said : ' though my flesh should fail,. yet my God will not fail.' He then prayed ' Lord lay not this sin to their charge.' " When he was released, two spectators, John Spur and John Hasel, went up and took hold of his hand to sympathize with him; they had come way from Rhode Island to be with their friend in his misfortune. For this exhibition of sympathy they were each fined forty shillings. It is also stated that some of his friends, just before the executioner proceeded with the lash, brought to him some wine, which they requested him to drink, but he de clined to take it, " lest the spectators should attribute his fortitude to drink." It is difficult to fully comprehend from this brief recital of the trials and hardships of these men what this trouble was about. 204 TIIE COi.ONIAI. TAVERM, The only irregularity vvhich the visitors appear to have committed vvas in keeping their hats on in meeting, which, at the worst, vvas hardly serious enough to war rant such fines and punishments. The reason for it, however, is not far to seek, for it lay in the narrow-minded, intolerant rule which governed the affairs in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay. And this is but one of hundreds of such cases. Roger Mowry's tavern, at Providence, the first hostelry to be established in the set tlement, is still standing, the oldest house now in that city, and is distinguished, among other things, as being the only one at the north end of the town that escaped destruction when Providence vvas burned, in King Philip's war. Landlord Mowry came from Salem, where he had the distinction of holding the position of "neat herd" to that town. The duties of this ofiice gave into his charge the care of all the town cattle. The custoni of the time being to drive the common herd afield during the day, and returning them at night, during the season when the grass vvas suitable for fodder, his term of office commencing the "fifth of the second TA VERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 205 month," and to continue eight months; " another sufficient man " was associated with him. A time was fixed when each townsman should have their cattle ready to be driven with the common herd, and those who, from various circumstances, neglected to have theirs ready at the ap pointed time and place, were obliged to bring them themselves after the herd. For this duty the price was regulated at seven shillings a head for "all except bulls," which compensation was "to be paid in four ecpial payments, and always one quar ter beforehand." It was in May, 1655, that goodman MowTy vvas granted a license to keep a house of entertainment, and was directed to "sett out a convenient signe at ye most perspicuous place of ye saide house there by to give notice to strangers that it is a house of entertainment." It is unfortunate that no record exists as to the name or device which must have appeared upon this sign so conspicuously displayed. In the early days of the town's life this house vvas a prominent point. It served many purposes too as the tavern generally 206 TIIE CO LONL A L TAVERN did, here the people of the settlement as sembled and discussed the news, here the town council held its sessions and voted payment to the landlord for his entertain ment in these words, "that ye Treasurer pay to Roger Moorie is 6d out of the Treasurie for this days firing and house room." Here too Roger Williams held service for the worship of God, for in the Provi dence settlement for many years there was no meeting house, and religious services were conducted in private houses or at the tavern. This old house is full of historic interest and many quaint stories of early life in the town centre around it. But it is of a tragedy that occurred near it that is to be here related. Among the members of the household of Roger Williams, that fearless expounder of the doctrine of soul liberty, was a young Dutch lad named John Claw- son. Williams in his wanderings had come across this young fellow in a half naked and starving condition, and seeing his friendless and pitiable state had taken him to his home, where he served his bene factor as a household servant. TA VERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 207 He grew to man's estate, acquired a tract of land whereon he built a house, and served the townsmen at his trade of carpenter. One winter morning in 1660, Clawson was found in a dying condition near a clump of barberry bushes, at the parting of the paths, not far from Roger Mowry's tavern, and he was tenderly carried to the house of Williams, where after some hours of intense suffering, for his head was cut as with a broad axe, he died, surrounded by many of his friends and neighbors, in cluding Williams and his wife and Eliza beth Hernden, "Goode Wickenden," and Mistress Throckmorton. So badly was he injured that it was with difficulty he could speak, but it is said that he im precated curses upon one of his townsmen named John Hernton, whom he accused of being responsible for this attack, and hoped that all of his children and his children's children would "be marked with split chins and haunted by barberry bushes." Meanwhile a search was instituted to find the murderer, and as it was the first crime to be committed in the settlement, of 208 TIIE COI.ONLAL TAVERN SO serious a nature, the greatest excitement prevailed throughout the town. It was not long before suspicion was directed to one Waumanitt, an Indian, and he vvas therefore apprehended and taken to the tavern of Roger Mowry, where he vvas locked up and securely guarded. Gradu ally, little by little, the story of the murder came to light; all that is definitely known of it to-day is what tradition has handed down, and is to this effect. Clawson, while leisurely walking along the upper end of the Town Street, not far from where the tavern was located, passed by a "clump of barberry bushes." As he did so, Waumanitt, who had been in hiding awaiting his approach, sprang upon him, and with an axe, clove his head. Tradition also tells the story that the murder was instigated by one John Hern den, one of the townsmen, who had em ployed the Indian to commit the deed, but for what reason tradition is silent. Clawson had some little estate, and the town a depleted treasury. In order, there fore, that the expenses attending this affair might be provided for, the town treasurer vvas directed to take into his hands the I'AVEKN P. I LES. WD IRA VELLERS 209 property belonging to the dead Dutchman and i^ay the charges from it, for Clawson is said to have had no kindred. The account of the disbursements from this fund is yet preserved, and it tells many little details of this tragedy that have heretofore been unknown. In the quiet and peaceful settlement of Providence there had been no provisions made for shackles to bind a murderer. So the services of Henry Fowler, the town blacksmith, were brought into play to make them, and his bill 'for irons" wqs six shil lings and three pence. .\ guard of nine men, including "the man at Moories," was necessary to watch the prisoner, at three shillings each a night, and for two days and a half this watch was maintained. Stephen Northup, the town constable or town crier, was employed "warning the town about the prisoner," and vvas paid three shillings for it. Landlord Mowry, "for houseroom for the prisoner," put in a bill of four shillings. Upon the death of Clawson the " Crowner's Quest " vvas suiii- iiioned, and the cause of it duly deter mined. Then the town meeting was convened to 2 ID TIIE COLONIAL TAVERN determine what should be done vvith the In dian, for he vvas not a welcome guest at the inn. There was no prison or place suitable for prisoners in Providence, for the colony prison vvas at Newport, and so the meeting voted "that the prisoner Waumanitt shall be sent down unto Newport to the Collony prison There to be kept until his tyme of Triall." At the preliminary hearing Roger Wil liams and Valentine Whitman, who were skilled in the Indian language, assisted the authorities in getting at the facts of the case, and the former for " Interpreting once," and the latter for "Interpreting about the prisoner twise," were paid twelve shillings. A boat vvas got in readiness to transport the prisoner to the town of Newport, and there was provided "i pint of liquors for the young men that lancht the Boat," at two shillings six pence. Two of the towns men, Thomas Walling and Ed. Inman were selected to escort the prisoner, and with "i pint of liquors to carry with them in the Boat" and "for powder and shott to carry along vv''' y*^ prisoner," they set out for Newport thirty miles away. Whether they ever reached Newjjort or not or what TA VERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 2 I I afterwards became of the murderer is not known, for on these points the records are silent. Among the first to reach the side of the young Dutchman, when he vvas taken to Williams' house, were Benjamin Hernden and his wife, the father and mother of the alleged instigator of the crime, and they tenderly nursed him and administered "sack and sugar whilst he lay wounded." The general provisions for his funeral were con sistent with his position and estate. The special provisions were "5 pints liquors," " Bread and Cheese," these with a "wind ing sheete" cost £,\ 2s 6d. For making the coffin and furnishing nails and " 2 Trap lines " with which to lower the body into the grave, there was paid five shillings and six pence, and with the simple rites attend ing his burial, passed from the scenes of the Providence settlement this poor mur dered Dutch carpenter. Notwithstanding the suspicion that was directed against Hernden he seems to have continued to dwell in the settlement, and not until the early part of the next century was he gathered to his fathers. The land adjoin ing the spot where this murder is said to 212 TIIE COI.ONLAL lAVERN have been committed was some years later laid out for a burying ground, and there are those now living who can remember a dense growth of barberry bushes there by the roadside. It was, until recent years, a lonely, dark and grewsome spot, and it is related that travellers along the road always whipped up their horses or walked at a more rapid gait, when they reached this place and called to mind the dark deed there com mitted and the curse of Clawson. In the early part of the present century the country taverns were the common resort of many of the old soldiers who had served in the American Revolution. Here they would assemble on all occasions and recount their experiences at Bunker Hill, Long Island, Springfield, Monmouth, Brandywine, and other momentous battles in which they had borne an honorable part. They were always surrounded with a crowd of young men, and even old ones, who stood or sat with attentive ears, listen ing to their stories of victory, defeat and disaster. Some of the old heroes had formed a habit of deep drinking, and so long as the onlookers and listeners would I'AVERN IA IES AND I'RA VEI.I.EK S 213 keep up a supply of liquor to lubricate their vocal organs these stories would fall from their lips just as long as there were ears to listen. There was an old tavern in New Hamp shire vvhich vvas a favorite resort for such parties, and through the long winter eve nings and hot summer days a little coterie of these story tellers could always be found. One of the characters in the village was a young fellow, not over bright, who vvas the butt of many a joke, and was always found lounging about the tavern. He vvas known in the village and even for miles around as John Jack, a contraction of his real one, which was Jonathan Jackson Tuttle. Besides im bibing the various beverages which the tavern bar supplied, he had also imbibed all these stories which he had heard, and so familiar had he become with the various episodes of the war that he could tell these oft-repeated tales as well as many of the veterans. But this was not the worst of it, for so familiar had these details of the Revolutionary struggle become to him that he at last repeated them as his own experiences. The villagers encouraged 2 14 I'HE COLONIAL TAl'ER.V him in this, until finally he vvas as firm in his belief that he, too, had fought in the Revolution, as any of the old heroes themselves. One day there came to the village a gentleman from another town on a visit to one of the townsmen, and in the course of showing him about the place they en tered the tavern one hot summer aflernoon and found the little knot of heroes discus sing the various phases of the war, j^romi- nent among whom was John Jack, talking as loud and as earnestly as any of them. Somewhat surprised to hear the young man talking so knowingly of events which had transpired long before he was born, the visitor turned to his companion and asked him what kind of a character this young fellow vvas. Without replying to his question, he looked up into his face, gave a significant wink and said, " John, do you remember the battle of the Brandy- wine : "Wall I dew," drawled the youth, "I r'member that day bettern' all the others for I fought pretty much all by myself that day along vvith Gineral Washington. Ver see our comp'ny was in the lead an when Ta VERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 2 I 5 the Britishers begin to fire on us lots o' our fellows just cut an run, they did. Seeing as I was pretty much alone I jest crawled along by an old stone wall by an apple orchard and scrouched down in a corner and there I sot. " There vvas lots of fightin' goin' on all around but I gest sot right there and pep pered away at the red coats pretty much all the morning and say I must a killed mor'n twenty on em for ev'ry time I fired I seen a red coat drop. Wall, along in the after noon, bout three o'clock, who should come ridin' down right near where I sot, but Gineral Washington settin on a big white horse, and when he seen me, he pulled up his horse and with a wave of his hand says, 'John what you doin down here all alone by yourself.''' I says 'Gineral; fightin, fightin for my country I've been here pretty much all day 'and I've killed mor'n twenty on em.' " ' John ' he says and he looked clown at me so pleasant like, 'John' he says 'you've served your country well to day. You'd better go to your tent and rest.' '" No Gineral,' says I, ' I can't do that, my country needs me right here every minute- 2l6 TIIE COI.ONLAL TAVER.V 'John,' he says, and he looked down agin so pleasant like, 'John, don't call me Gineral, call me George.'" A hearty laugh followed the recital of this story, and after supplying the would be revolutionary hero with a draught at the bar, the party withdrew. It is also related that an ancient towns man, who was classed among the habitues of the tavern, and who was obliged to limp about with a cane, was always alluded to as a survivor of the revolution, for the injuries vvhich produced his lameness were received on an over shot water wheel which he was engaged in repairing. The romance of the " Fountain " inn is, perhaps, the best known and the most interesting of any of the tales of the taverns. The poet has sung it in charm ing verse, the novelist has woven it into a delightful story, while the historian has found ample material for a valuable mono graph in colonial history. If ever you go to that even-to-day quaint old seaport town of Marblehead you can not fail to hear the name of Agnes -Sur- riage; indeed, you are more apt to hear the name of this peculiarly fortunate weak Ta VERA' TALES AA'D TRA I'ELLERS 2 I 7 woman, who lived there in her girlhood, than you are to hear the names of many of those old-time worthies, who added lustre to the history of the town, for the story of a weak woman has outlived in many cases the heroic acts on land and sea of the men of Marblehead, and the old well which stood beside the " Fountain " inn has many more visitors than the house where dwelt that staunch old patriotic Elbridge Gerry. If you go over to the " Neck," among the broad piazzas overlooking the bay, you will find the summer guests in little groups telling the story of Agnes Surriage, and pointing to the ruins of old Fort Sewall, across the harbor. On the counters of the shops in the town you will find Bynner's charming story of her life. The guide book points out the location of the tavern, and if you stroll down upon the ramparts of the old fort, linked so closely with her memory, you will find cut deeply into one of the wooden benches, the names, "Agnes Surriage" and "Harry Frank- land." Near the foot of Burying Hill, on a lane running from the main street of the town. 2l8 TIIE COLONIAL TAVERN stood the " Fountain " inn, presided over by goodman Salkins. Up the hill was the little graveyard, and close beside this vvas the meeting house, while stretching down towards the sheltered harbor vvas the little settlement of hardy fishermen. The " Fountain " inn was the most popular, if not the only, public house, in the town, and was a favorite resort for the townspeople, — mostly seafaring men, — who here discussed the prospects of the next catch at the " Banks," and drank with each other over their stories of the sea.. The tap room at the "Fountain" vvas a most inviting spot, as the liquors which were there dispatched were of the finest quality, for it is said many a cargo of Spanish wine was smug gled into the little port, and the smugglers themselves found shelter within the tavern. Infrequently there would come to the town, dignitaries of the colony brought there on official business, and on such occasions the "Fountain" vvas even more of an attractive spot than usual. One day in the fall of 1742 there came to the tavern a traveller, who announced himself as Sir Harry ['"rankland; he vvas directly from the town of Boston where he Ta I'ERA' Tales and 'TRA i'ell ers ± i g occupied the position of Collector of the Port. His visit, it is said, was in connec tion with the fort then in process of con struction on the point. While stopping at the inn he chanced to fall into conversation with one of the servants at the house, a young girl of fif teen years, whose striking personality very much impressed him. She was barefooted, down upon her knees engaged in scrub bing the floor, dressed in the coarsest of ill-fitting apparel. As she looked up and turned her face toward him and replied to his questions, the exquisite mouldings of her features and the charming music of her voice filled him with astonishment and admiration. Such beauty and grace in one so lowly circumstanced he had never witnessed, and so interested did he become in this fair young girl that he prolonged the conversa tion. At last, noticing the bare feet show ing beneath her petticoat, he asked her why she did not wear her shoes. To which the young maid replied that she had none. Pitying her poverty and impressed with her face he took from his pocket a piece of money, telling her to use it to purchase 2 20 THE COLONIAL TAVER.V a pair of shoes. During his stay his thoughts reverted frec|uently to this illit erate and destitute servant girl, until, so curious did he become, that he made in quiries of the tavern keejier and ascertained that her name vvas Agnes Surriage, the daughter of a reputable fisherman in the town named Edward Surriage. The busi ness which brought him to the fishing town vvas soon over, and Frankland left for Boston. Some time after this P'rankland again had business which called him to Marblehead, but whether it vvas the build ing of the fort, or the visions of this beau tiful face, would be difficult to decide. I le repaired at once, however, to the old inn, where, busily engaged in the drudgery of the house, he saw again the fair creature who was destined to play such an important part in the drama of his life. She vvas clad pretty much as he had at first found her, and her feet were without shoes or stockings. Noticing this pres ently, he asked her if she had not used the money which he had given her for the shoes, and vvas answered that she had, but that she vvas keeping them to wear to meeting. To I'^ankland there was an 'TA VERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 22 I irresistible attractiveness in the beauty and personality of this young girl, and ere he made his departure from the town, he had arranged vvith her parents to take her to Boston, there to be educated. The fact that he obtained her parents' consent for such an undertaking is most remarkable. Frankland at this time was but twenty-six years of age, only older by ten years than the young woman whom he took for his ward, and the great difference in the positions occupied by each would seem to have prompted a refusal to such a request at once. Doubtless amazed, be wildered and confused at so startling a proposition, her parents had not the force to calmly consider the question, and the request was promptly granted. Frankland escorted the young girl to Boston, where, true to his word, she vvas soon settled at her studies. He employed |)rivate tutors, who instructed her in music, dancing, painting, and the common branches of learning; and such aptness for these did she display, that in a few years her intellectual advancement had kept pace vvith her increased womanly charms, and "the poor servant girl of the 2 22 TIIE COI ONIAI. 'TAVER.V tavern became the one absorbing subject of conversation in the fashionable circles of Boston." Such a condition of affairs as existed between these two young people did not pass unnoticed by the people of Boston. Frankland vvas too prominent a personage in the social life of the town to escape the tongue of scandal, and old matrons busied themselves with the stories vvhich came to their ears, and the young women whispered their suspicions to each other. It vvas not long before "charges of improper intimacy were freely made, and vvith Puritanic firm ness the polite society of the town refused to recognize one whom they believed to be guilty of transgressing the most holy laws of God and man." Gradually but surely the two were ostra cised from all society until life in Boston became so unbearable that Frankland resolved to take his protege to some se cluded spot in the country, away from the carping criticism of his associates. Pub lic opinion vvas too much against him for a comfortable home in Boston. Nearly nine years had now passed since he had taken this woman to his care. In 1751, TA VERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 223 having selected a farm tract of four hun dred and eighty-two acres in the town of Hopkinton, he erected a magnificent man sion. The house formerly stood on the old road from Ashland to Hopkinton, but about the year 1857 it was totally de stroyed by fire. Dr. Nason, who owned the house at the time of its destruction, thus describes it: " It stood at some distance from the main road, and was approached by a noble avenue cut through the chestnut forest, and by a flower garden tastefully arranged ill front. The spacious hall, sustained by fluted columns, was hung with tapestry richly ornamented with dark figures, on a ground of deepest green, according to the fashion of the times. The chimney pieces were of Italian marble, and cornices of stucco work and other costly furnishing embellished the parlor, ante-rooms and chambers." Everything surrounding the establish ment was on the same elaborate and sub stantial plan, the barns and outbuildings were commodious and finely equipped, while fruit trees of every kind and flower beds embellished the grounds. 224 THE COLONIAL I'.il'I.KN Notwithstanding the ill favor in which they had been situated, the house at IIoj)- kiiiton seems to have been the resort of the "elite of Boston," and parties and as semblies enlivened their days at the Hop kinton mansion, and here they lived for three years, surrounded with all that wealth could su})ply. Slaves waited ujion them, of whom iMankland had quite a retinue, rejoicing in such names as Jacinta, Bacchus, Cato, Dinah, and several others. These three years were noteworthy ones ti^ the people of the little town in those days, and even now are not altogether lost to memory by the people of Hopkinton. Business of an important character took Frankland to England in 1754, and with him went the )'oung woman who had so many years been his companion. Doubt less Frankland thought that the queenly grace and great beauty of .Agnes would gain for her admission to the social life of his native land and that she vvoukl be re ceived by his people with open arms. The irregularities of his life, however, had jire- ceded him, and Agnes vvas no more wel comed in England than she had been in Boston, and no amount of solicitation TA VERN Tales and tra vellers 225 and excuses could gain for her admission to that select social world in which his people moved. Wearied at last with the situation, yet still devoted to his mistress, he resolved to make a tour of Europe. By a strange fatality which seems to have followed the couple through their lives, they were in Lisbon at the time of the great earthquake in November, 1755. There is a suspicion that the gay life of the European cities had diminished some what the love vvhich Frankland had thus far so devotedly shown for Agnes, for on "All Saints Day," the day of the great calamity to the Portuguese capital, he was riding vvith a lady on his way to Church. History has failed to chronicle the name of his companion on this fatal day, for with the upheaval which followed the earthquake shock, the falling walls of a building engulfed the carriage, killing his companion and burying carriage, horses and all in the debris. In the midst of the excitement and confusion following the shock, Agnes Surriage rushed from her apartments into the street and min gled with the crowd of terror-stricken people. Her only thought was for the 226 TIIE COLONIAL TAVERN safety of her lover, and while wandering, grief-stricken, aimlessly about the city, she heard a faint voice crying for help coming from beneath the ruins which lined the roadway. She instantly recognized it as the voice of Frankland. Crying to him to keep up good cheer, she went manfully at work to extricate him, and with the assistance of some of the people about the street, she at last was rewarded by seeing her lover dragged from the mass of ruins not seriously injured. Frankland, during the time while he lay thus imprisoned, had occasion to review the life he had led, and as the full significance of it came upon him, he made a vow before his God that if he was spared "he would thereafter lead a better life." The injuries vvhich Frankland had re ceived were not severe, but they necessi tated his being carried to a neighboring- house, where, for some days, he vvas ten derly nursed by his devoted companion. As soon as he had sufficiently recovered, faithful to this vow he had made, he sent for a priest, and in the city of Lisbon, Agnes Surriage, the former servant girl of TA VERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 227 the "Fountain" inn at Marblehead, became Lady Agnes Frankland. When his injuries were healed and his health restored. Sir Harry and Lady Agnes proceeded to England. During the pas sage, another bit of romance was added to their hitherto romantic life, by a marriage on ship-board, for Frankland, in order to conform to his religious views, was re married by a clergyman of the Church of England. Their reception in England was in strange contrast to that which they had received on their former visit. Her husband's people received her with open arms, and she, who only a short time before had been snubbed and disregarded, now "gained access to the most cultivated and aristocratic circles " of London. Tired at length with the gaiety and ex citement of their London life, and yearning for the scenes so closely identified with their earlier days, the couple sailed again for Bos ton, where, for some time, they occupied alternately an elegant mansion in that town, and their Hopkinton manor house. " Though Lady Frankland had thus risen from obscurity to this commanding 2 28 I LIE COI.ONIAI. 'TAVERN social position, she did not allow herself to forget her humble origin, or cease to cherish a sister's kind regard for the other members of the family." She contributed much to the comfort of her sisters and brothers, aiid they were always welcome guests at her home. Two years after their marriage, and while living in Boston, I'^ankland received the appointment of consul general at Lisbon, and for six years their residence vvas in this gay capital, but in 1763, they again re turned to their Hopkinton home, but not for that long and happy stay which they had hoped. After a few months at their manor house, Frankland's health became impaired, and again they sailed for England, hoping that the change would benefit him. It was destined to be his last sojourn at the home they had both known so long and well. For five years, vvith varied stages of hope and despair, P^-ankland went from place to place, vainly seeking the health he so much desired, when in the year 1768, while sojourning in Bath, to vvhich place he had been recommended, he breathed his last. /\lone, and in the midst of strangers, iMiglaiid had no charms for Lady P^raiik- I'A i'ERN TALES AND TRA VELLERS 2ig land, and with a sad heart she again re turned to America and established herself at her Hopkinton home. Here, surrounded by her sister and her sister's children, she lived, "respected and beloved by all who knevy her," until the outbreak of the war of the Revolution, when alarmed at the aspect of affairs and being more closely wedded to the cause of the crown than that of the colonies, she resolved to return to Boston and seek protection from the British military authority. She therefore asked permission from the Committee of Safety to pass the lines. A pass was readily granted and liberty given her to take with her also, "six trunks, one chest, three beds and bedding for the same, six sheep, two pigs, one small keg of pickled tongues, some hay, three bags of corn and such other goods as she should think proper to carry thither." Armed with her pass she set out for the town; while nearing Boston a company of continentals under the com mand of Captain Abner Craft, stopped her, and notwithstanding the authority from the Committee of Safety for her passage, she was arrested and held in custody for some time, until at last an order was 230 TILE COLONIAL TAVER.V ¦V received for her release. I ler journey was continued with a guard of soldiers fur nished by order of the Provincial Court, and with this escort she safely reached Boston. Soon after her arrival was fought the battle of Bunker Hill, and this con flict she watched from the windows of her apartments. As soon as the oppor tunity presented itself, she again set sail for England, and there lived for several years in the family of her late husband. While living there she formed the acquaint ance of John Drew, a wealthy banker of Chichester, to whom she was niarried. Her eventful life terminated on the twenty-third of April, 1783, , at the age of fifty-five years. On her tomb there is this inscription and epitaph : DamK AgN'KS l''RANKI.ANn, ubii.icr OK SiK Chakles lliiNuv Franki.a.nd, Baki,, an 11 la'ie wife (ie John Dkew, Died Ai'uii, 23, 1783, .•\r.Ei) 55 \'eaks. ¦'Virtue, not rolling Suns, the miml matures, 'I'hat life is long which answers life's greal end, The time that bears no fruit, deserves no name, 'Phe man of wisdom is the man of )'iars.' i'A VERA' I'A LES AA'D I'RA VELLERS 23I Such is the story of these two lives, and well may it be called the romance of the Fountain inn. The old tavern at Marblehead in time fell into decay, tumbled down, and was for gotten, save as the townspeople recalled now and then the romantic story which there had its origin, until one day, not many years ago, the old well, which formerly stood in the garden, was accidentally un covered, and uncovered, too, the history which surrounded it. And to-day the water within it sparkles as brightly and is as sweet to taste as when, long years ago, Agnes Surriage sang by the well sweep, as she filled her bucket with its waters to w^ash the floors of the Fountain inn. CHAPTER VII. THE TAVERN IN THE REVOLUTION. £ME years before the outbreak of the Revolutionary war there might have been found in the tap rooms of the taverns or about their door yards little groups of hardy yeomen intently engaged in discus sing the peculiar aspect of affairs in the Colonies. For generations the people had looked upon the public house as the source of all information, and to it they naturally re sorted when such momentous questions agitated their minds. Here their griev- ances were fully ventilated, and measures of resistance, to British tyranny and oppres sion, formulated. The tavern was their club, their board of trade, their "exchanges," The taVern av the revolution ±t^^^ and, indeed, to most of the colonists it served as their newspaper. John Adams noted this widespread feel ing of resistance and determination to strike for liberty as he travelled from town to town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. A conversation vvhich he overheard while drying himself before the fire in the Shrewsbury tavern showed plainly to him, much as he detested the public house, that some sound doctrine was laid down even in the taverns, for he says: "Within the course of the year, before the meeting of Congress in 1774, on a journey to some of our circuit courts in Massachusetts, I stopped one night at a tavern in Shrews bury, about forty miles from Boston, and as I was cold and wet, I sat down at a good fire in the bar-room to dry my great coat and saddlebags, till a fire could be made in my chamber. There presently came in, one after another, half a dozen, or half a score, substantial yeomen of the neighborhood, who, sitting down to the fire, after lighting their pipes, began . a lively conversation on politics. As I be lieved I vvas unknown to all of them, I sat in total silence to hear them. One said: 2 34 THE colonial I'AVL'.RN ' The people of Boston are distracted.' Another answered: 'No vvonder the peo jile of Boston are distracted. Oppression vvill make wise men mad.' i\ third said: ' What would you say if a fellow should come to your house and tell you he was come to take a list of your cattle, that Parliament might tax you for them at so much a head.'' .And how should you feel if he was to go and break open your barn to take down your oxen, cows, horses and sheep.?' ¦ What should I say.'' ' replied the first, ' I would knock him in the head." 'Well,' said a fourth, 'if Parliament can take away Mr. Hancock's wharf and Mr. Rovve's wharf, they can take away your barn and my house.' After much more reason ing in this style, a fifth, who had as yet been silent, broke out: ' Well, it's high time for us to rebel; we must rebel some time or other, and we had better rebel now than at any time to come. If we put it off for ten or twenty years, and let them go on as they have begun, they vvill get a strong party among us, and plague us a great deal more than they can now. As yet they have but a small party on their side.'" TIIE TAVERN IN TIIE REVOLUI'IOA' i;^^ Such conversations might have been heard at this period at all the taverns throughout the New England colonies. As early as 1 768 the Sons of Liberty were holding their meetings at the public houses, and advocating that freedom and liberty which had prompted their fathers to establish themselves in the wilderness of America. Captain Joseph Olney, of Providence, vvith imposing ceremonies dedicated one of the great elms that shaded his tavern as a Liberty Tree. The event vvas a memor able one to the town, and the formalities attending this dedication were solemn and dignified. The Olney tavern stood at the top of Constitution Hill, a large old-fashioned, two story, low-studded house, vvith a large yard in front. "In this yard," says one who remembered well the old place, for it vvas long since demolished, "stood the largest elm tree that I ever saw. A flight of steps was erected, leading perhaps twenty feet up to where three or four limbs set out. There a convenient seat was fixed for say ten or twelve people to sit in and enjoy themselves in the shade." 236 TIIE COI.ONLAL AVERN On the twenty-fifth day of July, 1768, a large concourse of the townspeople assem bled around the spacious yard of the tavern to witness these ceremonies, and lend encouragement by their presence to the principles there enunciated. The orator on this occasion vvas Silas Downer, a leading attorney in the town, and standing on this platform in the tree, high above the heads of the people, he delivered a most eloquent discourse, teem ing with patriotic and inspiring utterances. After the speaking those assembled rever ently laid their hands upon the tree of liberty, while the orator solemnly and im pressively pronounced these words: "We do, in the name and behalf of all the true sons of liberty in America, Great Britain, Ireland, Corsica, or wheresoever they may be dispersed throughout the world, dedi cate and solemnly devote this tree to be a tree of liberty. May all our councils and deliberations, under its venerable branches, be guided by wisdom, and directed for the support and maintenance of that liberty, which our renowned forefathers sought out and found under trees and in the wilderness. May it long flourish, and THE TA VERN IN THE REVO LU TLO N 237 may the sons of liberty often repair hither to confirm and strengthen each other; when they look towards this sacred elm, may they be penetrated with a sense of their duty to themselves and to their posterity; and may they, like the house of David, grow stronger and stronger, while their enemies, like the house of Saul, shall grow weaker and weaker. Amen I " In the long years of uncertainty and doubt which followed, it vvas the custom for the leading men of the town to assem ble here beneath this tree or in the cool shade of its branches, and discuss and lay plans for the success of the cause which they esjooused. Nearly every town throughout the colo nies had its Liberty tree or Liberty pole. A year later, in I76g, John Adams attended one of these gatherings of the Sons of Liberty, and of it thus wrote in his diary, under the date of August 14, i76g: "Dined with three hundred and fifty Sons of Liberty, at Robinsons', the sign of Liberty Tree, in Dorchester. We had two tables laid in the open field, by the barn, with between three and four hun dred plates and an awning of sail-cloth 238 THE COLONIAL TAVERN overhead, and should have spent a most agreeable day had not the rain made some abatement of our pleasures. . . . This is cultivating the sensations of P'reedom. There was a large collection of good com pany. Otis and Adams are politic in pro moting these festivals; for they tinge the minds of the people, they impregnate them vvith the sentiments of liberty, they render the people fond of their leaders in the cause, and averse and bitter against all opposers. To the honor of the Sons, 1 did not see one person intoxicated, or near it." So rapidly had the seeds sown by the Sons brought forth fruit, that in the follow ing year Landlord Woodbridge of the tavern at York, (Me.), boldly emblazoned upon his signboard, vvhich bore the pcutrait of Mr. Pitt, " Entertainment for the Sons OF LiiiERTV," and John Adams wrote again in his diary, "Thus the spirit of liberty circulates through every minute artery of the Province." At another time he men tions his stop at Woodburn's tavern in Worcester, and in the course of the evening the conversation turning in the direction of the all absorbing subject of liberty, the THE TAVERN IN THE REVOLUTION 2 3g landlord sent out for two young ladies who presently appeared and added to the enter tainment and enthusiasm of the hour by singing the "New Liberty Song." As time went on and a peaceful adjust ment of the grievances of the colonies became impossible, and war clouds hung dark and low, the taverns were the center of all activity. Within their walls the Committees of Safety were holding their sessions. The Councils of War were gravely deliberating the great cjuestions laid before them. Recruiting ofificers had their headquarters in the tap rooms. The town arms were secreted in the tavern chambers. One of the depositories for the town arms of Smithfield, CR, I.) was at Peleg Arnold's tavern, a house still standing near the Woonsocket line, and within this old inn the Smithfield company of minute men were recruited. The tavern kept by Increase Newhall at Lynn vvas one of the alarm stations in this section, where the minute men were ordered to assemble on occasions of emer gency. In 1777 there vvas a feint made by the 240 'THE COLONIAL TAVERN British, vvhich has since been known as the " King's Beach alarm." The intelli- gence was quickly circulated, and the militia men came pouring in from the surrounding country, eager to defend their homes and property from the depredations of the enemy. They left the plough, the shop, and the forge, promptly responded and patiently awaited their commander, who was to lead them to battle. At last they were forced to inarch away under the command of a subordinate officer. On the approach of the company the enemy withdrew and the men returned once more to their rendezvous safe and sound, just in time to see their captain emerge from the great brick oven in the kitchen where he had secreted himself when danger threatened. The comjiany after this had little confidence in the valor of their commanding officer. Weatherby's " Black Horse " tavern was situated on the road between Cambridge and Lexington, at what was then called Menotomy. Here the Province Commit tees of Safety and Sujiiilies held their meetings. Included among the members of these committees were such men as TILE TAVER.V LN THE REVOLUTION 24I John Hancock, Samuel Adanis, Elbridge Gerry, Azor Orne, Colonel Jeremiah Lee, and General William Heath. On the eighteenth of April, 1775, these committees had a meeting of more than usual importance; rumors of an intended attempt to destroy the stores at Concord had reached the ears of the committeemen and measures were considered to secure these invaluable munitions of war against loss. The session was prolonged till near sun set, when the meeting adjourned. General Heath departed for his home in Roxbury, and while riding along the road toward Lexington was somewhat surprised to see so far from their quarters eight or nine British officers, fully armed, on the road apparently reconnoitering. He made no further investigation of the matter, re turned to his home and went to bed, little dreaming of the events of the morrow. Hancock and Adams went over to Lex ington to pass the night. The three Mar blehead members of the body, Orne, Lee and Gerry, resolved to remain that night at Weatherby's. Along in the evening, as they sat by the tavern windows, they 24: THE COLONIAL TAVERN noticed from time to time small parties of British soldiery passing the house. Their suspicions were excited, and believing that such movements were with hostile intent, Gerry sent a messenger over to Lexington, informing Hancock and Adams of what had been seen. Nothing unusual occurred before bedtime, and these three patriots, thoughtless of any personal danger, retired to their rooms and soon slept. Shortly after midnight they were suddenly awak ened by one of the attaches of the tavern, who excitedly informed them that a large body of British troops were within sight of the house. Hurriedly jumping from their beds and hastily putting on some of their clothing, they went to the window and looked out. It was a clear, cold, moon light night, and outlined sharp and distinct they saw the dark line of regulars steadily marching up the road, the polished steel of their arms glittering and flashing where the moonbeams glanced upon them. So intently did they watch this strange pro ceeding that the troops were before the tavern before they fully realized it, and not until a squad of soldiers entered the tavern yard and approached the house did they TIIE 'TAVER.V IN TIIE REVOLUTION 243 think of personal danger. Then it came flashing through their minds that the British had doubtless learned of the meet ing the day before and were taking steps to prevent another. Hastily descending from their chambers half-dressed, they left the tavern by one of the rear doors, and undiscovered by the soldiers, secreted themselves in a field ad joining the house ; here for more than an hour they shivered and shook in the chill April morning air, until the soldiers, fail ing to discover their whereabouts, left the tavern. " Every apartment of the house vvas searched for the members of the Rebel Congress. Even the beds in which they had lain were examined, but their clothing and other property, including a valuable watch of Mr. Gerry's which was under his pillow was not disturbed." Upon the withdrawal of the troops the refugees returned to the tavern, chilled through from exposure. It was a fatal night to Colonel Lee, for he "was soon after attacked with a severe fever which resulted in his death." The battle of Lexington was fought that morning, and for many years Avas waged 244 '''''''''-' ^'"/O.VIAI. lAl'ER.V that sanguinary conflict which finally re sulted in American Independence. While Landl(M-d James Olney was enter taining the Sons of Liberty under the shade of his Liberty tree at the north end of the town of Providence, there was meet ing at another tavern at the south end of the town another body of patriots. They met but once, but the act resulting from that meeting vvas of such boldness and daring that it sent a tremor of excitement and wonderment throughout the colonies, for it vvas the first deliberate, premeditated armed attack against the British crown. Down along the water front of Provi dence town among the docks where great Indiamen rose and fell vvith the tide, James Sabin had a tavern, much resorted to by the seafaring men of the town as well as by the substantial merchants and colony officials. Directly opposite his house was Fenner's wharf, from which a regular packet sailed to New York and to New port, then a most flourishing sea-port. On the ninth day of June, 1772, there arrived at this wharf, about sunset, a little sloop called the "Hannah," whereof one Benjamin Lindsey was master. .After the TIIE TAVERN IN TIIE REVOLUTLON ^45 captain had securely moored his craft to the dock, he communicated some start ling information to the little knot of by standers who had come down to the wharf to witness the arrival of the packet. While they gathered around him, he excitedly told them, that on his trip up the bay, soon after leaving Newport, he vvas chased by His Brittanic Majesty's schooner "Gas- pee," that the chase had continued as far as Namquit Point, where by drawing his pur suer into shallow water, the "Gaspee" had been stranded on the point, and there she lay unable to extricate herself, nor would she until high water at midnight. The news of this cunning of the Hannah's cap tain and the situation of the craft spread like wild-fire about the town. For months the "Gaspee" had been an annoyance to the commerce and peace of the colony. Her commander, William Duddingston, had, without the slightest authority, stopped all vessels, including market boats, seized many of them, and contrary to all law had sent the vessels so seized to Boston for trial. Not only had he an noyed and interfered with the vessels, but members of his crew had oftentimes landed 246 TIIE COLONIAL TAVEliN along the bay-side and robbed and insulted the inoffensive bay-side farmers. So per sistently had Duddingston and his crew |)ursued their illegal and offensive course, that the colonial authorities had taken notice of the matter, and letters between the Governor and the commander of the "Gaspee" had frequently passed, but lo no purpose. Letters were sent to Admiral Montague in command of the British fleet, at Boston, complaining of the acts of Duddingston, and even the home government in England had been apprised of the situation of affairs, but without avail. The British admiral would not withdraw the "Gaspee," and its commander would not respect the law. All of this had so excited the indig nation of the colonists that their bitterness against the vessel and her commander had been aroused for months to the highest pitch. The time was now ripe for action. .A few of the leading merchants and ship owners discussed gravely the news which Captain Lindsey had brought, and it vvas determined to destroy the vessel before she could be released from the treacherous sands of Namquit. TLLE TAVERN IN TIIE REVOLUTION 247 Along about dusk that June evening, one of the townsmen, beating a drum, passed up and down the main street, in forming the excited inhabitants that the "Gaspee" was aground on Namquit Point and would not float till after midnight, and invited those who felt disposed to take part in her destruction to assemble at James Sabin's tavern. At nine o'clock that evening Sabin's tav ern vvas a busy place. Outside the house, in the street, the drummer beat his drum and little knots of excited men stood whis pering together vvith determined faces. Inside the tavern, in the southeast room, there was a crowd of men, including many professional men, merchants and ship mas ters ; it was no irresponsible mob, but a body of educated, deep thinking, deter mined men. Nearly every man had a gun, powder horn and bullet pouch. Around the fire place men were melting lead and running it into bullets, others were oiling the locks of their guns, and seeing that their arms were in good order. By ten o'clock the room was filled with people, when with a whispered order from some one in authority 248 TIIE COI.ONIAI. I AVERN the party silently filed out of the tavern, crossed the street to Fenner's wharf, and dropped, one by one, into eight long boats which had been prepared for the expedi tion. Silently, and with oars muffled, the fleet of boats passed down the river, nearing at last the location of the stranded vessel, where, looming up before them the occu pants of the boats saw "a huge, black hulk, that was magnified By its own reflection in the tiile." When within about sixty yards of the "Gaspee," the boats were hailed by the sentinel with "Who conies there?" to vvhich there was no answer. Again he hailed, no reply. The cry of the sentinel had aroused Lieutenant Duddingston, the commander, who now appeared upon deck, clad only in his night shirt, and he de manded, " Who comes there ?" This was answered by bold Captain Abraham Whip ple, who commanded the expedition, vvith a volley of oaths intermingled with, " I am the Sheriff of the County of Kent," " I have got a warrant to apprehend you," "so surrender." TilE TAVERN Ln tiie REVOLUTION 24g At the conclusion of this peculiar answer there was the report of a musket, and Duddingston fell to the deck, wounded in the stomach. The boats then closed in, and the party scrambled aboard the doomed vessel. The crew were soon prisoners, and after the wounds of the commander of the "Gaspee" had been treated, the whole ship's crew were rowed ashore and landed at the little village of Pawtuxet, a short distance north of the point. A de tachment from the expedition then set the vessel afire, and the annoying, pestiferous craft, which had been for so many months a menace to the colony, was, ere daylight, completely destroyed. As orderly and deliberately as the expe dition had set out it returned to the town, and the members of it silently repaired to their several homes. All of the party were enjoined to the greatest secrecy, and notwithstanding the rigorous investigation which subsequently followed by a Royal Commission appointed by the King, and the offer of large rewards, not a single person comprising this daring party was ever apprehended. Indeed, not till years after, were the names of the conspirators 250 THE COLONIAL TAVEKN known, and only those of a very few are known to this day. In the early years of the present century, on the anniversary of American Indepen dence, a conspicuous feature of the parade was a carriage, containing the survivors of this midnight expedition, in 1772. They were Colonel Ephraim Bowen, Captain Benjamin Page, Colonel John Mawney, and Captain Turpin Smith, and the old banner on which vvas emblazoned the names of these survivors of that large party of tavern conspirators is yet preserved among the relics in the possession of the Rhode Island Historical Society. The shot fired at Namquit reverberated around the world three years before the minute men of Massachusetts fired upon the red coats at Concord and Lexington. During the siege of Boston, in 1775, just outside the line of intrenchments which stretched across the head of Boston Neck, there vvas located on the road lead ing into Boston town the famous "St. George " tavern. It vvas an advance post of the Continental army, and less than a quarter of a mile beyond it were the ad vanced works of the British army. Many TLIE TAVERN JN THE REVOLUTLON 'i.t^l years before the war it had been opened, and widely popular was the landlord who presided over it. In 1721, during the small pox epidemic in Boston, the General Court held its sessions here; the Probate Court for Suffolk county, too, dispatched the business brought before it for consid eration at this time within its walls. The grounds about the house are said to have been beautifully laid out, and a magnifi cent orchard comprised a part of the tavern estate. The " St. George" tavern occupied an unfortunate position during the siege, for it was on disputed territory and directly in the line of fire of the two contending forces. Its advanced position made it a desirable spot from which to reconnoiter the enemy, and it was well protected by a force of Continentals. On the fifth of July General Washing ton and General Lee visited the Roxbury camps, inspected the works thrown up, and continued out to the "St. George," from the grounds of which Washington got his first view of the British advance after taking command of the army. For weeks the enemy had endeavored to obtain control of this post at the tavern. ig2 THE COLONIAL TAVER.V III the early morning of the twenty-sixth of June a party of British troops advanced down the Neck, and had it not been for the vigilance of the sentinel, would doubt less have captured the guard and destroyed the tavern, but the force turned out quickly, repulsed the attacking party, and they retreated within the British lines. During the next four weeks there were frequent at tacks and bombardments, and nearly every farmhouse on the Neck was destroyed. On the fourteenth of July, a Connecticut soldier, says General Heath "was killed in the street in front of the George Tavern. The shot entered his body, drove it some distance, and lodged in him, in a remark able manner." "On the thirty-first," con tinues General Heath, in his memoirs, "A little before one o'clock A. M., a British floating battery came up the river, within three hundred yards of Sewall's Point, and fired a nuniber of shot at the American works, on both sides of the river. At the same time the British, on Boston Neck, falling towards Roxbury, drove in the American sentinels, set fire to the George tavern, and returned to their works." Thus went up in flames this famous hostelry. THE TAVERN IN TJIE REVOLUTION 253 Some years after peace had been re stored, about 1 788, another house was erected on the site of the " George," and opened for the entertainment of travellers. It was maintained by a woman named Sally Barton, who provided the novel attraction of bull-baiting for the amuse ment and edification of her guests. Such performances do not appear to have been uncommon in Massachusetts, for in the Essex Register for June, i8og, there may be found this advertisement: "SPORTSMEN, ATTEND. The gentlemen Sportsmen of this town and its vicinity are informed that a Grand Combat will take place between the URUS ZEBU, and Spanish BULL, on the 4th of July, if fair weather, if not, the next fair day, at the HALF-WAY HOUSE on the Salem Turnpike. There will also be exposed at the Circus, other Animals, which, for courage, strength and sagacity, are inferior to none. No danger need be apprehended during the performance, as the Circus is very Convenient. Doors opened at 3, performance to be gin at 4. Tickets 50 cents. 254 THE COLONIAL TAVERN After the performance there will be a good FOX CHASE on the marshes near the Circus, to start precisely at 6 o'clock." The " Blue Anchor" tavern stood on the old Boston road, a short distance west of the Saugus river. During the Revo lution it vvas kept by Jacob Newhall, a staunch old patriot, who, vvith a desire to keep up vvith the times, took down his old sign, and substituted a rising sun, em blematical of the new republic. At the outbreak of hostilities, and the call for troops to assemble around Boston, land lord Newhall made provision to care for the men wdiom he knew would throng the road by his tavern, on the way to join the grand army, and in order "to provide for such emergencies he kept on hand fatted oxen, from which a sufficient number might be promptly slaughtered." On the morn ing of the seventeenth of June, 1775, his house vvas filled with minute men, who had hurriedly armed and equipped them selves, and had set out from their homes in various parts of the colony. Tired and hungry, they arrived one by one, until a large nuinber were there as sembled. He fed them all bounteousl)', THE TAVERN IN TIIE REVOLUTLON 255 which good treatment so pleased them that the object of their mission in these parts vvas somewhat lost sight of, and they lounged about the tavern and its cool shades, little thinking of the great need there was of their services at the front. At last the patriotic old landlord could stand it no longer, he admonished them of their duty, and hurried them off where their presence was more necessary than lounging about the tavern. Alden's tavern at Lebanon, Connecticut, vvas the scene of that ludicrous encounter with the captive British General Prescott. After his capture at his headquarters on the island of Rhode Island by General ,Barton, Prescott vvas taken to David Arnold's tavern in Warwick, R. I., where he passed the night securely guarded, for he was too important a prisoner to lose sight of. In the morning, he was escorted to Providence, and there turned over, a prisoner of war, to General Spencer. In due time he was sent to New York for exchange. On his journey there the way led through Connecticut and the town of Lebanon, where the party stopped at Alden's tavern to dine. It happened on 256 TIIE COLONIAL TAVERN this occasion that "the landlady brought on the table a dish of succotash (boiled corn and beans). The general, unaccus tomed to such kind of food, vvith much warmth exclaimed, 'What! do you treat us with the food of hogs.'"' and taking the dish from the table, emptied the contents over the floor. The landlord being in formed of this, soon entered with his horse whip, and gave the general a severe chastisement. After the general was ex changed, and he resumed his command on the island, the inhabitants of Nantucket deputed Dr. Gilston to negotiate some concerns with General Prescott, in behalf of the town. Prescott treated the doctor very cavalierly, and gave as the cause, that the doctor looked so like that d d landlord who horsewhipped him in Con necticut, that he could not treat him with civility." Prescott was a little, peevish old man, imperious and arbitrary, and the chastisement vvhich he vvas forced to re ceive at the hands of mine host Alden vvas more humiliating to him than his capture. There vvas a tavern in the town of Ben nington, Vt., which vvas the headquarters for the leading patriots in that section TIIE TAVERN IN TIIE REVOLUTION 257 during the war. It bore the euphonious name of the "Catamount" tavern. It was the meeting place of the Council of Safety vvhich included such men as bold Ethan Allen, Chittenden, Stark, Robinson, War ner and other prominent patriots in Ver mont. It vvas the headquarters for that brave band of Green Mountain Boys whose scouts, skilled in woodcraft, first learned of the plan formulated by Bur goyne to attack Bennington and deprive the American Army of its stores. One of the rooms in this hostelry was designated as the "council room," and here these brave men laid their plans and drank good New England rum. The old tavern ac count book bearing the unbalanced "score" charged against Ethan Allen is yet pre served. Allen was a tower of strength to the cause of liberty.; a blunt, honest man of the highest integrity. In religion it is said "he vvas a free thinker, and passed for an infidel," and this it was that prompted the Rev. Dr. Ezra Stiles to write in the margin of his almanack for the year 1789, against the date February 13, "General Ethan Allen of Vermont died and went to Hell this day." The 258 TIIE COI.ONLAL I'AVERN "Catamount" tavern vvas destroyed in 1871. Another noted hostelry in Vermont was Coffin's tavern, "situated on the north part of Cavendish, on the old military road, cut out, in the French wars, by the ener getic General Amherst, vvith a regiment of New Hampshire Boys, and extending from Nuniber Four, as Charlestown on the Connecticut vvas then called, to the for tresses on Lake Champlain." It vvas pre sided over by Captain John Coffin, and vvas the rendezvous for the scouting parties sent out by the Council of Safety in V&\- mont, and whose services were of so much consequence to the success of the Ameri can army at Bennington. "Pitt's Head" and the "White Horse" were two famous taverns in Newport, and previous to the occupancy of that flourish ing seaport by the British army, these two houses were the recruiting stations for that town. Edward Cole vvas the recruit ing officer at the former, while Archibald Mc Kendrick enlisted soldiers for the Con tinental army at the "White Horse," still standing on Marlborough street. When the British army took possession of Newport the taverns were the common TIIE TAVERN I A' TIIE REVOLUTION 259 drinking places of the soldiery. At the " Marquis of Granby " a number of Hessian oflicers were quartered. Among the ser vants at the "Marquis" vvas a young Ger man girl, Gertrude Hegel, a maid-of-all- work. She rapidly picked up the English language, and vvith her knowledge of Ger man she proved to be a most valuable ally to the loyal farmers on the island who frequented the tavern on market days. Through her many of the points desired by General Spencer for his proposed ex pedition against the enemy in 1777 were obtained, and had it not been for other causes which interfered, the expedition planned at that time might have proved a more creditable affair than it subsequently turned out. At Henry Bowen's tavern the Barring ton infantry company and artillery com pany were recruited, and the landlord was the recruiting officer for the town. The great number of soldiers which Harrington furnished for the army, com pared vvith the population of the town, during the war, testifies to the energetic work of this estimable and picturesque tavern keeper. 2 6o TIIE COI.ONLAL 'TAVERN The "Green Dragon " tavern in Union street, Boston, has been called the head quarters of the Revolution, for it was another meeting place of the ante-revolu tionary patriots, and later vvas used as a hospital. Of the meetings held here and the schemes concocted, Paul Revere says : "In the fall of 1774 and winter of 1775 I was one of upwards of thirty, chiefly me chanics, who formed ourselves into a com mittee for the purpose of watching the movements of the British soldiers, and gaining every intelligence of the move ments of the Tories. We held our meet ings at the Green Dragon tavern. This committee were astonished to find all their secrets known to General Gage, although every time they met every member swore not to reveal any of their transactions, ex cept to Hancock, Adams, AVarren, Otis, Church, and one or two more." One of those entrusted vvith these secrets proved a traitor, for Church vvas afterwards ar rested for treason. How well Revere watched the movements of the British soldiers has been told by the landlord of the " Wayside inn." The " Black Horse " tavern was between THE TAVERN IN TIIE REVOLUTION 26 1 Salem and Hanover streets in Boston, and is said to have been noted as a place of refuge and concealment "for deserters from the British army." On the occasion of the victory of Stark, at Bennington, there was a grand celebra tion at the "Bunch of Grapes," in Boston. Early in the evening there began to arrive great numbers of the principal men in the town, as well as strangers, who happened to be "within the gates of the city" at this time. "In the street were two brass field- pieces, with a detachment of Colonel Craft's regiment." On the balcony of the town house all of' the drummers and fifers in one of the regiments then in the town were posted. At a given signal the artil lery commenced a salute of thirteen guns. After this the enthusiastic party assembled in the house, drank a series of toasts, follow ing every one of which there was a salute of three guns and a shower of rockets. "About nine o'clock two barrels of grog were brought out into the street for the people that had collected there. It was all conducted with the greatest propriety, and by ten o'clock every man was at his home." 262 TIIE COLONIAL TAVERN This popular hostelry was situated on what is now State street. Not far away, on the corner of Exchange and State streets, was the " Royal Exchange" tavern, near which occurred the Boston massacre. Many of the British officers had their quarters at this tavern. This deplorable affair was started by the sentinel whose post was in front of the Royal Custom House, directly opposite the tavern. As in time of peace the town and county courts were held at the taverns, so in war times courts martial were held there, too. It was the custom for the Provost Marshal to provide suitable quarters in which to hold these courts, and having due regard for the comfort of his fellow ofiicers in the disagreeable duty which they were obliged to perform, he provided them with accommodations at the taverns, whenever it was possible to do so, that there might be some cheer about this duty after all. The orderly book of Colonel Henry Sherburne's Regiment contains man)' refer ences to such proceedings, the orders usually reading: "A court martial to set tomorrow g o'clock at Mr. Pierces' Innholder at Bristol THE TA VER At JN THE REVOLUTION 263 to try such prisoners as may be brought before them." For many months this regiment was en camped in Rhode Island, on the east side of Narragansctt bay, at the town of Warren. There is evidence that there were sundry incursions upon the farmers' stock near the encampment, for the proceedings of the court martial thus ordered show the fol lowing: "Bristol Jany g, i77g. " The Gen Court martial which sat yester day at Pierces Tavern, is ordered again to convene this day at half an hour past 10 o'clock Forenoon. " At a Gen Court martial held at Bristol Jany 8 whereof Major Bradford is presi dent vvas Try'd Sergt Amos Avery & Corp John Paine of Col Sherburne's Regt for Stealing Sheep from the Public & Inhabi tants of Bristol. The prisoners being brought before the court plead not guilty. The court after considering the evidence are of opinion that they are guilty aiid sentance them to be reduced to the ranks & Receive fifty lashes each on their naked Backs and that the value of the Sheep be stop'd from their pay. 264 '/'//''• COLONIAL TAVER.V "The above sentences are approved & the Prisoners to be punished this afternoon at Retreat beating & their Epeuletts taken from their shoulders. "Also Tryd by the same Court Wm Grant Ezekiel Chace Eben B. Dickey & Wm Gilbart all Soldiers in Col. Sher- burnes Regt for Stealing Sheep from the Public and Inhabitants of Bristol. To which charges they all Plead Guilty. The Court sentance Grant to receive Sixty Lashes on his naked back. Chace to Re ceive .Sixty Lashes on his naked back Likewise. Eben B. Dickey to Receive the same number. But in consequence of the Recommendation of the Court in favor of Dicks incapacity to Withstand the alure- ments of the Designing he is pardoned Gilbart who's Crime appearing to the Court more agravated Do Sentance him to Receive one Hundred Lashes on his naked back. And further adjude that Gilbart Chace & Dickey be put under stoppages to the value of one sheep and further that stoppages be made from the pay of Chace Dickey & Gilbart to the value of two sheep it appearing to the Court that Grant was not Present at the Last Theift. THE TA vERiV I A' Tlie keVoLutlon 265 " The above sentances are approved & the prisoners ordered to Receive their Punishment this evening at Retreat Beat- ing and join their Regiment." Nearly every one of the country taverns throughout the colonies bore some part in the Revolutionary struggle. Its impor tance in the community naturally made it the rendezvous for the townspeople ; within it the ]3atriots of '76 bade their last fare well to friends and neighbors before joining the army; around the board in the dining room the town authorities made provisions for supplying the army in the field and the distressed families of those who were fighting for liberty or had fallen in free dom's cause. Here was received the first news of victory or defeat, and when peace threw her mantle over the contend ing forces, the walls of the old taverns rang with the shouts of victory, and the return ing victors were feted and feasted in the same familiar room wherein they had sub scribed to their oaths of enlistment, and where had been laid the plans for the building of a new nation. CHAPTER VIII. the tavern and the stage coach. the middle of the eight eenth cen tury pub lic stage coaches be gan to run regularly between Boston and other towns in the New England colonies. Boston was the coaching center. Drake, in his "Land marks of Boston," says that the first line of coaches was betvveeli Boston and Ports mouth, N. IL, and was conducted by Bartholomew Slaver. The station of the "Portsmouth Flying Stage Coach" was at the " Lighthouse" tavern, where passengers were booked for the trip. The coach then in use held six inside passengers, and the fare between the two points vvas "thir teen and six, sterling." THE TAVERN AND TJIE STAGE COACH 267 The advantages which these "creaky, mud-covered old caravans" offered for getting from place to place caused many persons to embark in the stage coach busi ness, and ere the close of the century regular lines of Flying stage coaches, mail stages and light "Waggons" were in operation throughout the settled portion of New England. The tavern in those days was to these lines what the depot is to the modern railway systems. Dis tances were always reckoned from tavern to tavern, the town in which the house was located being merely noted for convenience. The early editions of various almanacks contain these old stage routes, with the various tavern stops, against which will be found the distance between each in miles. Thus, in the " Nciv England Al manack or Lady's and Gentlemen s Diary" for the year 1765, the "Road to Hartford, through Killingly, Pomfret, &c.. From Providence Court House, on the South Road, over the Great Bridge," wound snake-like over hill and dale, through thick woods and meadow land to Jonathan Olney 's tavern in Johnston, two miles; then to Joseph Fenner's tavern, one 268 the: COLONIAL TA VERN mile farther. From Providence there vvas another route to the main road, leading to Hartford, which lay by the "North road over the Mill Bridge from Providence Court House" to Ephraim Pearce's tavern in Johnston, where the north and the south roads met. The distance by the north road was one mile and a half more. F^rom the "parting of the roads" the route onward is thus scheduled: " From Pearce's to Eddy's J A. Belknap's in Johnston •^ 'Po Smithfield, Foster's 3 Ditto Hopkins I Gloucester Wilmarth's 6 Ditto Smith's 3 Ditto Barrett 4 Killingsly Learned 2 Ditto I'^alshaw 2 Over the Bridge Grosvenor a\ Ditto Sessions 4 Ash ford Sumner -> Ditto Wales 4 Ditto Clarke A Ditto l''ay -\ Mansfield Waterman 4 Coventry Kimball 8 E. Plartford Pelkins 7 Ditto Bidwell 9 Hartford Flagg or Bull 2 " TIIE TAVERA' AA'D TIIE STAGE COACH 26g The first name being the town, the latter that of the tavern keeper, while the figures indicate the distance between each in miles. Many pages of these old almanacks are devoted to this subject. And it was valuable information too, for it vvas to the people of those early days what the railroad "folder" and time table is to the modern traveller. The almanack maker realized the importance of this part of his publication, and he gave notice to the tavern keeper from year to year by publishing such notices as this, which is taken from Nathaniel Ames almanack for the year 1763: "8^°" It happens every year that some Tavern Keepers in one or other of the Governments give up their License, and others are substituted in their Room: It is therefore requested for the Benefit of Travellers as well as their inn, that such new Licensed Persons would send a Letter Free of Charge to the Author living at I3EDHAM, that it may be inserted in the following years. — They must be par ticular in expressing the number of miles they are from the stages before & after them." 270 'THE COLONIAL TAVER.V And again he notes: "If any good House of Entertainment is omitted, or any inserted that do not keep a Tavern; also if there are any Errors in the Distances of the Stages, it is desired that those who live at or near the Places where the mistakes are, would send a letter to Richard & Saniuel Draper, Printers in Boston, free of charge, and they shall be rectified." The middle road from Boston to Hart ford and New Haven lay through Medfield, where the first change of horses was made, twenty-five miles out from Boston. The regular stop vvas at Clarke's tavern. Long before the coach reached the village the sound of the coach bugle gave warning to the hostlers that it was approaching and to get ready the hitch. Eleven miles out of Boston the coach had made its stop at the Ames Tavern, at Dedham, then on to Colburn's in the same town, then on again to Medfield, where it had drawn up at the Clarke tavern, where the first stoj) of any consequence vvas made. I'rom there the way led through Medway, Hellinghain, Milford, Uxbridge, Douglas, Thompson, THE TAI'ERN AND 'THE STAGE COACH 271 Pomfret, Ashford, Wilmington, Mansfield, Coventry, East Hartford, and finally drew up at Bull's tavern, in Hartford. The evening of the arrival of the coach was a lively one at the tavern. Eager townsmen, hoping for information from distant towns, would drop in one by one, mingle with the day's arrivals around the fire in the great room, and listen with at tentive ears to the news that they related. Packages containing some long looked for article or some little memento from distant friends were sometimes sent by the passen gers to brighten for days and even weeks afterward, the hearts of the recipients. Around the comfortable fire the assembled company would discuss albmanner of' sub jects ; politics, however, was the main sub ject. In this way the people obtained the views and opinions of those in the surround ing governments, and which influenced them in their actions at home. Toddy, flip and other drinks were gen erously passed around, until tired and worn out with the day's trip, and the long talks, the new arrivals gradually withdrew from the circle and retired to their rooms. The tavern was the "booking" place\ 272 'THE COLONIAL 'TAVEKN for the trip. Here the prospective trav eller would repair and write in the book which the stage line provided, his name and the place where the stage vvas to call for him. Perhaps he might stojj at the tavern that night, in order to be on hand promptly when the stage started. The time taken in the journey can be under stood by the following notice in the "A^eiu England Tnon and County Almanack" for i76g: "The Norwich coach conies once a week from Mr. Azariah Lathroj^'s, in Norwich, to Dr. Samuel Carew's, on the west side of the Great Bridge, in Provi dence, where travellers vvill meet vvith the best entertainment. The stage performed in a day." At the same time it vvas also announced : " The Providence coaches kept by Mr. Thomas Sabin and Knight Dexter, Esq., go twice a week from Provi dence to Boston, performing their respec tive stages in a day." P""or more than twenty years travel between these towns was limited to three trips each week, but about i7g3 Israel Hatch put on a "line of stages," and issued the following notice to the travelling public: tiie tavekn and the stage coach 273 "Boston and Providence Stages. Israel Hatch Most respectfully informs the publick that his line of Stages will run every day in the week, excepting Sundays. His Coach leaves Boston at 5 o'clock, and arrives at Providence by 2 P. M. The Stages from Providence start at the same early hour, and arrive at Boston by 2 o'clock. Twenty- four excellent horses, six good coaches, and as many experienced drivers are always provided. The horses will be regu larly changed at the half-way house, in Walpole. Passengers may be accommo dated with places at the sign of the Grand Turk, No. 25 Newbury street, Boston; at Mrs. Catharine Gray's, State street; at Col. Colman's, State Street; and in Provi dence, at Mrs. Rice's, the sign of the Golden Ball; or at Mr. Coggeshall's, the sign of the Coach and Horses. ¦^g' Price from Providence to Boston, or from Boston to Providence, is onlyOw^ Dollar, which is one half the customary price, and ^s cheaper than any other stage, — Twenty pounds of baggage is allowed; and every 100 wt. rated at 6s. 2 74 I'HE COLONIAL TAVERN Books will be kejDt at each of the above- mentioned places, for the insertion of the names of Passengers. *^* He cannot but hope for the en couragement of the public. He is sin cerely thankful for past favours; and an ticipates a continuance of them. He is also determined, at the expiration of the present contract for conveying the Mail from Providence to Boston to carry it gratis; vvhich will undoubtedly prevent any further underbiddings of the envious. Boston, June 15, I7g3." At the same time Thomas Beals, oper ating a rival line of Mail Stage Carriages, issued his advertisement: "BOSTON AND PROVIDENCE SP.\(;E. The subscriber informs his friends and the Publick, that he for the more rapid conveyance of the Mail Stage Car riage, genteel, and easy, has good horses, and experienced, careful drivers. They will start from Boston and Provi dence, and continue to run three times each week, until the first of November. — Will leave Boston every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 5 o'clock A. M., and arrive THE TAVERN AND THE S I'AGE COACH 275 at Providence the same days at 2 o'clock P. M. They will leave Providence Tues days, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 5 o'clock A. M., and arrive at Boston the same days at 2 o'clock P. M. The Price for each passenger, will be Nine shillings only, and less, if any other person will carry them for that sum. Twenty pounds of baggage gratis. Also a good new Philadelphia-built light Waggon, to go the other days in the week, if wanted — and as the proprietor has been at such great expense to erect the Line, he hopes his exertions will give satisfaction, and receive the public patron age. Ladies and Gentlemen, who wish to take passage in this Stage, will please to apply for seats, at the house of the Sub scriber in Dock Square, at Col. Colman's, or Mrs. Gray's, State street, as the Stage will set out from each of those places; books are there kept for entering pas senger's name. The Stage will start from Coggeshall's Tavern in Providence, for merly kept by Knight Dexter, Esq. THOMAS BEALS. Boston, June 15, 1793." 276 'THE COLONIAL TAVERN The "Stable and Horses" was at this time the news center of the town, for the passengers here "set down" brought from time to time the happenings in many sec tions of New England. Landlord Dexter of this famous caravansary had been a progressive man, and called attention to the excellence and advantages of his es tablishment by this advertisement, which he caused to be printed in the Providence Gazette : "Food for the Hungry, Drink for the Thirsty and a home for the Weary Traveler. Knight Dexter, Begs leave to inform the public in general, and all his old friends and customers in particular. That he has again opened a House of Entertainment, at that noted place the sign of the Stable and Horses, opposite Messieurs Joseph and William Russels in the main street, where he for merly devoted his time to procure refresh ments. Ease and Entertainment for the traveler and man of business. ^ He has laid in the very best of Provis ions, Liquors &c and those persons who THE TAVERN AND TIIE STAGE COACH 277 favor him with their custom may depend on the best treatment." The arrival of the stage coach at one of these taverns vvas the weekly, semi-weekly or tri-weekly event of the town. The rumble and rattle of the lumbering old vehicle over the rough country roads, gave warning of its coming long before it came in sight. If the tavern was a " change station," where a fresh team of horses was hitched, then the sound of the bugle or horn would be heard echoing through the woods or reverberating over the hills. At these sounds of warning the villagers, who always made it a point to be on hand when the coach arrived, began to assemble about the tavern yard. The loungers in the bar room slowly roused themselves from their reverie, shook themselves together, and shuffled across the sanded floor to the doorway, where the landlord, full of smiles and graces, stood waiting to welcome the guests. With a snapping of whip and loud "whoas!" from the red-faced driver, the coach swung into the driveway to the tavern, and hauled up before its door. Then all was bustle 278 I'HE COLONIAL TAVERN and excitement. The tired, road-stained passengers were let out of the vat shaped box, stretched their limbs, and, vvith a satis fied look that they had escaped disaster, en tered the tavern, and were soon besieged by all of those who had congregated, for news from the outer world. The driver of the coach at such times was a most impor tant individual. He had news for every body and of every kind. Many a sly bit of scandal had been picked up by him while he had waited for dinner or for the horses to be changed. He knew every one that had left the coach during the trip and whither they went. He had left a message at the Thurber homestead that Captain Thurber's ship had arrived at Boston just before he had started, direct from Surinam, and would himself be down on the next coach if he could arrange matters regard ing the cargo. The new minister had arrived, and was left at Deacon Parks, where a number of the people were gathered to receive him. There had been an earthquake at Lisbon. A cassowary was on exhibition at a tavern on the road. There vvas much snow to the northward, or the crops were all blasted TIIE TAVERA' AA'D THE STAGE COACH 27g with thp drought at the southward. He had news of all kinds which was as wel come to the eager listeners as was the fiery liquids which he took at the bar to wash away the dust that had accumulated during the last few miles of the trip. Stage drivers were selected with great care; they were men of ability, prudence and experience. On the driver of the coach depended the safety of the outfit and the human freight which it contained. Captain Ezra Lunt of Newburyport, who kept the tavern at that place, and led the singing in the meeting house on Sundays, before he took charge of the tavern, drove the first four-horse coach line between Newburyport and Boston, and was a man of high character and great influence in this town. Joseph Wyman, who run the stage be tween Boston and Medford, had the remark able record of driving for thirty-four years continuously, twice a day, without an acci dent of any kind. His stage left Medford at eight o'clock in the morning, and started from Wild's tavern in Elm street, Boston, at four o'clock in the afternoon. This coach carried ten passengers. The number of 28o I'HE COLONIAL 'I'AVER.V passengers which a coach usually carried depended somewhat on the character of the trip. If it was a mail coach it was limited to six passengers, otherwise eight or ten were carried. The length of the trip sometimes regulated this. On the long stages not more than six passengers could be comfortably carried, while on the shorter ones more. The price, too, varied, and for travelling by the mail coaches a greater sum vvas charged than by the slow coaches. Four horses were commonly used, except in the spring time and winter. The roads in those early days were not of a high order. Little money and little labor was expended upon them, for it was not until the days of the Turnpike Companies that the highways were kept in any kind of repair. In the spring time the mud was anywhere from twelve to eighteen inches deep, and in the lowlands even deeper, while in the winter season the drifting snow made it almost impossible to put the coach through at all. At these seasons six horses were always hitched to the coach. The condition of the roads at the period of the Revolutionary war is shown by the TLIE TAVERN AND THE STAGE COACH 28 1 statement of one who made a trip from Providence to Pomfret, for he says: "In May, 1776, I went to Pomfret, thirty-six miles in a chaise ; the road was so stony and rough, that I could not ride out of a slow walk, but very little of the way ; I was near two days in going, such was the gen eral state of our roads at that time." The coaches themselves have been lik ened to "diving befls," "distiller's vats," "violincello cases hung equally balanced between front and back springs," and having a motion "like a ship rocking or beating against a heavy sea; straining all her timbers with a low moaning sound as she drives over the contending waves." Coaching in early New England was not altogether unlike that in old England in the seventeenth century. A pessimistic stage coach traveller in England has left the following synopsis of his adventures in the stage coach. It illus trates some of the joys and sorrows of coaching in New England in the early days of the road, as well as it does the exjDeriences in old England's coaches. It is found in Tristam's entertaining story of " Coaching Days and Coaching Ways." 282 tiie colonial tat'era' "stage coach adventures. Inside — Crammed full of passengers — three fat, fusty old men — a young mother and sick child — a cross old maid — a poll parrot — a bag of red herrings — double barrelled gun (which you are afraid is loaded) — and a snarling lap dog in addi tion to yourself — Awake out of a sound nap with the cramp in one leg and the other in a lady's band box — pay the dam age (four or five shillings) for gallantry's sake — getting out in the dark at the half-way house, in the hurry stepping into the return coach and finding yourself next morning at the very spot you had started from the evening before — not a breath of air — asthmatic old woman and child with the measles — window closed in consequence — unpleasant smell — shoes filled with warm water — look up and find its the child — obliged to bear it — no appeal — shut your eyes and scold the dog — pretend sleep and pinch the child — mistake — pinch the dog and get bit, — Execrate the child in return — black looks — no gentleman — pay the coachman and drop a piece of gold in the straw — not to be found — fell through a crevice — coachman says 'He'll find it!' — THE TAVEKN AND THE STAGE COACH 2S3 can't — get out yourself — gone — picked up by the ostler — no time for blowing up — coach off for next stage — lose your money — get in — lose your seat — stuck in the middle — get laughed at — lose your temper — turn sulky — and turned over in a horse pond." " Outside, — your eye cut out by the lash of a clumsy Coachman's whip — hat blown off into a pond by a sudden gust of wind — seated between two apprehended murder ers and a noted sheep stealer in irons — who are being conveyed to gaol — a drunken fellow half asleep falls off the Coach — and in attempting to save himself drags you along with him into the mud — musical guard, and driver horn mad — turned over — one leg under a bale of cotton — the other under the Coach — hands in breeches pockets — head in hamper of wine — lots of broken bottles versus broken heads — cut and run — send for surgeon — wounds dressed — lotion and lint four dollars — take post chaise — get home — lay down — and laid up." The stable adjoining the tavern was an important adjunct to the house. Besides 284 L'llE COLONIAL I A VERN the horses which were used on the coaches the landlord had a few extra beasts for the use of travellers and other patrons of his establishment. These were let for many purposes and the tavern account books show the extent to which this department of the inn was patronized. Here was put up the traveller's horse, and here the towns men could hire a horse or horse and vehicle at the general price of three pence a mile. For odd jobs the price was regulated ac cording to the nature of the service per formed, as the following: "'Po my horse to grind bark 2 or 3 hours 8s." " 'Po my horse to harro \\ acres of corn lod." " 'Po my horse and cart to go to John Jacobs for lime is 4d" " 'Po my bay horse & cart to Cart i Load of Onions 9s." " To my horse & cart to cart stalks 6s." " To my bay horse and cart to cart yr flax 2s 6d." " To my horse to ride to meeting o o 8." There is a suggestion of discrimination in the conduct of the stable of one tavern- keeper in the charge which he makes upon his book, for under the date October 10, 1775, there is entered: TIIE TAVERN AND TIIE STAGE COACH 285 " Lieut. James Smith Dr For keeping your horse 6 days after the best manner 3s." Perhaps in the management of the stable there were several "manners" of keeping horses, one of which was the "best man ner," but a careful examination of the account books fails to disclose what the other "manners" were and their prices. On Henry Bowen's Barrington tavern account book there may be found frequent charges for the use of his carts and horses. Among these is a most curious entry. From this it appears that Hezekiah Kin- nicut had occasion to attend a funeral of his brother's child, and like most of his neighbors on such occasions, he resorted to Bowen's for a conveyance. On August 18, 1777, Henry Bowen wrote upon his book this charge: " Hezekiah Kinnicut, Dr. 'Po my Slay over to the Funeral of Y Brother Shubael's child, and almost wore out the runners, 6s." If this entry is of the same date as the funeral of Shubael's child, a "slay" would 286 THE COLONIAL TAVERN seem to be a peculiar conveyance for mid summer, and there seems to be some reason in assuming it to be so, for he "almost wore out the runners." The wear on the horse does not appear to have been considered. When an outfit vvas procured for a trip to a neighboring town the charge was three pence a mile, and the entries for such read as follows: " 'Po my horse to ride to Seaconet, 24 miles, at 3d, 6s." " 'Po my hors and cart to go to Josiah Kent of Rehoboth, lod." Careful accounts were kept of the ex penses of the stable; "shooing," horse "steeling two before," and other charges were carefully noted. Along in the month of December the coaches run less regularly. The chill winter winds discouraged travel, except in cases of emergency. Snow, too, filled the roadways, and often blocked them for weeks. There are numerous instances of heavy storms of snow overtaking the coach on the trip, and drifting so badly that all progress is impeded. The plunging THE 'TAVEKN AND TIIE STAGE COACH 287 of the " leaders " tangled the harness, broke the pole, and overturned the coach ; then there was trouble. The last tavern that the coach had passed is five miles back in the face of a drifting snow storm; the next one beyond is about the same distance, with the storm increasing; it is growing dark, too, and the air is biting cold. Six shivering, furiously mad indi viduals stand looking at the overturned coach and uttering strange oaths. To remain a great while in such a place means to freeze. The nearest house or shelter is the tavern, distant either way five miles. The driver climbs up on to the box of the coach and brings forth the necessary appliances for starting a light. He orders the shivering passengers to assist in procuring wood enough to start a fire and keep it burning, vvhilehe mounts one of the horses and braves the storm for help. At the tavern beyond, the wind whistles down the chimney, now and then blowing the smoke out into the great room where the men folks of the house are assembled in the growing darkness. "There'll be no coach to-night. Aker- 288 THE COLONIAL TAVERN man never 'd start from the 'Buck' with this storm in the air," says mine host, as he walks to the window and gazes upon the white landscape and flying snowflakes. " No," replies the hostler, who has sought I the comfortable warmth of the tap room, "it's driften bad and he'd never get through with that pair of 'wheelers.'" " They'll put up at the ' Buck ' to-night," chimes in the hostess. " It's just our luck, Daniel," she adds, turning to the landlord, "the coach never gets further than Knox's when there's a storm, and there they'll stay for two or three clays, and after you've helped 'break the roads,' and they 're again on the road they'll go ridin' by here without so much as a smile on their face or taking a drop with us." "Hark! what's that.?" suddenly shouts the hostler, and all rush to the window. " Some one on horseback, shouting and waving his hands like mad." " Well, I vum, its Akerman," replies the landlord, and he and the hostler grab their hats and run into the yard to meet the horseman who has now come into the driveway. "What's up, Akerman.?" "Coach on its side and six of 'em up THE 'TAVERN AND THE STAGE COACH 28g there about five miles freezing in the woods ; you'll have to put a fresh pair in the pung, and go up and get 'em." There is no need of any, further discus sion. The biting wind and the whirling flakes stimulate the stable hands to quick work, and before Akerman has fully thawed himself out at the fire place, two hostlers, well bundled up with robes and blankets, are on the way to the rescue, yelling and snapping the whip over two powerful grays, who are throwing the dry snow in great clouds right and left as they plunge down the road. Mistress, in anticipation of seven hungry persons coming in upon her, is busily en gaged, with a satisfied look on her face, for the "Buck" will not have the guests this time. Akerman, sufficiently thawed out to enjoy a hot toddy, sits contentedly by the fireside and explains the disaster to the landlord, and thus the time drags on until well along into the evening, when the pung, with its six half frozen travellers and the team of the overturned coach, arrive at the inn. And what a cheerful place it is after these hours of exposure to a bitter winter storm, and how well the hot cakes, 2gO THE COI.ONLAL TAVERN coffee and bacon harmonized vvith their faint stomachs, and how right to the spot does the hot toddy find its way, and how well did the old time tavern keeper and his good wife know how to soften the hearts of such travellers, when they came to the inn vvith empty stomachs, fussing and swearing over their misfortunes. The supper being over, the weather bound passengers repair to the great room, light their pipes, and now so comfortably settled, with their hunger appeased, they regard their adventure more as a joke, and seem contented to remain a week; and such proves to be the result, for after two days of driving snow, the roads are left in such condition that here they must remain snowed up. Snow storms were not the only disturb ing element in coaching, for on the ninth of October, 1804, during a violent gale of wind, a stage coach, in crossing the West Boston bridge, was blown over and several of its passengers severely injured. With the passing of the stage coach the tavern, too, soon followed. It had served its pur pose; a change had come and it quietly closed its doors. The tavern sign is THE TAVERN AND THE STAGE COACH 2gi relegated to the museum collections and the landlord and lady, whose cheerful smiles greeted the traveller, when, tired, stained and hungry, he climbed from the box, now sleep side by side in the little God's acre on the Post Road. Along the country roads and on the city's busy streets many of these weather- beaten old structures, once the scene of so much life and activity, still serve to recall memories of departed days. But all else is changed. There is no crowd of curious townsmen hanging about the doors, eager to catch a glimpse of the coaching book and scan the names of the coming and parting guests. The echoes of the coach horn, vvhich awakened so much excitement and anticipation, have faded away. The great room wherein the towns men and travellers met and discussed the great questions of public concern, and the good qualities of New England rum, is deserted, for "Long ago at the end of its route. The stage pulled up and the folks stepped out. 'Phey have all passed under the tavern door, 'Phe youth and his bride and the gray threescore. 'Pheir eyes were weary with dust and gleam. 2g2 THE COLONIAL TAVERN 'Phe day had gone like an empty dream. Soft may they slumber, and trouble no more For their eager journey, its jolt and roar, On the old road over the mountain I " The New England tavern as an institu tion has vanished, but its importance as an educational factor in the life of New Eng land will always remain. INDEX Account books, 167. Adams, John, dines with sons of liberty, 237. undertakes tavern reform, 37-. describes taverns, 61. stops at Shrewsbury, 233. Advertisement of Mary Burlte, 66. Nathaniel Ames, 128. Bull fight, 253. Moose, 155. Polar bear, 155. African lion, 156. Israel Hatch, 273. Thomas Beals, 274. Knight Dexter, 276. for seamen, 100. Alden's tavern, story of, 256. Aldrich, Esek, tavern keeper, 147. Ames, Nathaniel, tavern keep er, 86. Almanack. 87. Anchor tavern at Lynn, 54. prisoners confined, igg. Anecdote of tavern, 213. Angell, Israel, diary men tioned 72, 128. Thomas, tavernkeeper, 163. Angiers, Edward, tavern keep er, 68. petition of. 6g. Armit.-ige, Joseph, tavern keep er, 48. Arms of the militia, 108, log. Arnold, David, tavern keeper, 163. Peleg, tavern keeper, 239. Ayers, John, Sergt., tavern keeper, 64. Ball and Ren tavern, 58. Barre hotel sign, 8g. Barrington tavern, 60. Beadle, .Samuel, tavern keeper, 56. Berkeley, training at, 124. Black horse tavern, story of, 240. Blue anchor tavern, story of, 254. Boston taverns, 30, 31. tavern keepers, 67. trainings, llg. Bowen. Henry, tavern keeper, 60. account book, 168. Bradish, Ebenezer, tavern keep er, 145- Bradley, Nat, tavern keeper, 62. Bradstreet, Simon, tavern ex penses, 53. Brookfield, attack on, 183. establishes a tavern, 15. Ayers tavern at, 26. Bullock, Job, tavernkeeper, 56. Burke, Mary, tavern keeper, 65. C.imbridge rhyme, 164. tavern keepers, 63, 68, 70. 294 INDEX Cambridge taverns, 136, 144, hines for absence at trainings, 145. >'•• Canton tavern, 136, Catamount tavern, 257. Charges for meals, 21. Cider, scarcity of, in Lan caster, 13S. regulates higluvaysat l.an- c.ister, 141. Clark, Catharine, tavern keep er, 67. John, lined. 199. Clawson, John, nuirdcrof, 206, Clerk of tlie market, 158. Clifford, Israel, tavern keeper, 160. Cofiin, I'ristan), and wife, evade law. 44. 45. Collin's tavern at Cavendish. 258. Complaint as lo conduct of taverns, 20. Country store, description of, 169. Court drummer, 149. Courts martial at taverns. 262. Crandall, John, lined, 199. Crimes punished, 150, 151. Criminals sold at auction, 160. Curse of Clawson, 206. Daggett, Jesse, tavern keeper, 58. Dances at taverns, 152, 153, I5-1- Dedham tavern keeper, 62. Drunkenness, fines for, 21. Dunbarton training d.iy cus toms, 123, Eastham, bill for arms. 109. Isia, Daniel, tavern keeper, 47. ICndicott, Governor, tavern ex penses, 50, 51. Execution day at taverns, 165. Fairbanks, David, tavern keep er, 191 I'cnner, Thomas, tavern keep er, 62. for misdemeanors, 151. I'ishcr, Joshua, tavern keeper, 62. llip iron, cost of repairing, ¦35- taverns celebrated for, 136. I'ountain inn. romance of, 217. I'rankland, Sir Harry, story of, 217. Kurnishlngs of the tavern, 27, 28, 29, 30. Games prohibited at taverns, 15- Gaspee, story of the, 244. Harvard students frequent tav erns, 151. Haverhill tavern keepers, 45, 62. Holmes, Obadiah, punishment of. 199. Howard, Nicholas, tavern keeper, 151. Indians attack Brookfield, 183. sale of liquors to, prohib ited, 25. Ipswich t.ivern keeper de scribed, 134. Johnson, John, tavern keeper. 58. Kennebunk, punisliment at, 131 , King Philip's war, 183. Kittery, punisliment at, 131. Lancaster, scarcity of cider in, 139. quantity made in, 140. Liberty tiue at Boston, 100. Providence, dedication of, 236. License, form of, 16, 17. l.ii|nors forfeited, 23. INDEX 295 Liquors, quality defined, 24. list of, 137. Lunt, Ezra, leads tbe singing, f>3. Lynn tavern, 49. story of, 239. Mail Coach guard poem, 82. Malt to be supplied elders, 10, It. Market day, 157. Marlborough tavern, condition of bond, 18. Marshall. Thomas, tavern keeper, 55. Medfield meeting house raised, 7, 8. selectmen dine at tavern, 6. humorists, 192. Meeting house near the tav ern, I. used for a tavern, 2 raising of, 7. Medford tavern. 15. license, 17. trainings, 118. Mowry, Roger, tavern keeper, 204. Murder of Clawson, 206. Newbury tavern keeper, 12. 63. Newburyport establishes tav ern, 13. Newhall, Increase, tavern keeper, 239. New Haven colony, habits of, 10. Notices posted on tavern door, 4. OIney's tavern, liberty tree dedicated, 236. Ordination Ball, 181. beer, 181. Parker's tavern. 153. Paxton inn and sign, 98. Pitt's head tavern recruiting station, 258. Prescott, General, anecdote of, 256. Providence tavern keepers, 26, 73. 204. Eenner's tavern at, 26. Arnold's tavern at, 26. form of license, 16. Punishments for drunkenness, 22. on training day, 131. Quakers, persecution of, 197. Rhymes of the tavern, 89, 90, 91, 94, 95. Rice, Henry, tavern keeper, 105. Roxbury tavern keepers, 58. Royal proclamation read, I2g. Sabin's tavern at Providence, 244. Salem, liquor sold on Lord's day, 9. tavern keeper, 67. Saltonstall, Nathaniel, protest of, 32. Salutation tavern, gi, 92. Saugus tavern, advertisement of, 66. Schooling, charges for, 74. Sewall, Judge, opposes tavern keeper for office, 37. Sherratt, Hugh, tavern keeper, 46. Sign, origin of, 77. Admiral Vernon, 98. Ames tavern, 86. Anchor, 49. Axe and the Bottle, 81. Bacchanals, 81. Ball and Pen, 58. Battle Axe, 81. Bag of Nails, 81. Blue Anchor, 145. Boulogne Mouth, 81. Bull and Mouth, 8i. Bunch of Grapes, g8. Elm Tree, 135. General Wolfe, 85, g7. 2g6 INDEX .Sign, Goat and Compasses, 81. Golden Ball. 105. Green Hush. 78. Green Dragon, 90. Hancock, John, 100. Ivy Bush, 78. Kings Anns, 97. Head, 97. Law Book, 166. Leg and Seven Stars, 80. Marquis of Rockingham, '17 Palavers, 93. price of, 88. Red Horse, 91. Rising Eagle, 84. Ship, IOI, 102. St. George, 97. Small pox at tavern, 47, 48. Sons of Liberty, 237. Sparhawk, Nathaniel, tavern keeper, 63. .Stage coach adventure, 282, 287. routes, 267, 268. Stedman, John, petition of, 71. St. George tavern destroyed, 250. Stiles, Dr. Ezra, notes death of Ethan Allen, 257. Stocks and Whipping Post, 163. .Surriage, Agnes, story of, 217. Tavern charges, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 150, 171, 173. 174. >75, 17&. "77. 178, 179, 181. keepers described, 41. 42. 'Pips, origin of, g6. 'I'obacco prohibited at tavern, 21. Town meeting adjourns to tavern. 4, 5. on training day. I IO. officers dine al taverns, 6. Town's poor sold at auction, 161. Powns to be supplied with taverns. 12. Irain bands, 108. Praining days, 107. expenditures, I14, 115.. Treadwell'stavern, Ipswich, 59. 'Purpin, William, tavern keep er, 73- Wardwell, Lydia, punishment of, 164, 197. Weatherby's tavern, 240. Wells, tavern at, 149. Whipping post near tavern, 163. White horse tavern, recruiting station, 258 Williams, Roger. 206. Wit, encounter of, 161. Woodburn's tavern, 238. Woodward's tavern at Ded ham, 16O. PUBLICATIONS PRESTON AND ROUNDS, PROVIDENCE, R. I. History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1 636-1 790. By SAMUEL GREENE ARNOLD. New Edition. 2 vols. Octavo. 574 and 600 pp. $7.50, net. Governor Arnold's History of Rhode Island, based upon a careful study of documents in the Dritisli State Paper Office and in Ihe Rhode Island State Archives, supplemented by in vestigations at Paris and The Hague, has from its publication been the autlioritative history of the State. Genealogica! students will find in tliese volumes the names of over fifteen hundred persons prominent in Rhode Island affairs. This work is of much more than local interest, as the experi ment of religious liberty here tried gives lo this history an im portance far beyond the narrow limits of the Stale. " One of the best ,*^tate histories ever written Is S. G. Arnold's His tory of the State of Rhode Island nnd Providence Plantntions." — John FiSKE. "The best history of Rhode Island is that of Arnold." — Prof. George P. Fisher, Yale University. "Mr. Samuel Greene Arnold in hts history of Rhode Island has brought together all the extant materials. He brings out more clearly than any previous writer the distinct threads of the previous settle ments." — Prof- John A. Dovle, 0.\ford. "A work prepared after long and carefid research. Probably no student has ever made himself more familiar with the history of Rhode Island than did Arnold. This work abounds, therefore, in valu.ible in formation."— Phes. Charles Kendall Adams, Cornell University. SENT POSTPAID UY THE PUBLISHERS. 3 Among Rhode Island Wild Flowers. By W. WHITMAN BAILEY, Professor o/ liolany, Uroiun University. Cloth. i6ino. Three full-page Illustrations. 75 cents, net Tliis admirable little volume, the outgrowth of the author's ripe experience in teaching and in botanizing, contains a popular and interesting account of Rhode Island wild (lowers as distrib uted throughout the State. The favorite collecting grounds are fully described, thus forming a botani cal guide to Rhode Island. In writing this volume Professor Bailey has had in mind the needs of the nature lover, and has dis carded technical terms as far as possible, adapting the work to the amateur as well as the botanist. It should be in the hands of every lover of wood land and meadow. Forwarded postpaid to any address upon receipt of price by the publishers. 4 Tax Lists of the Town of Providence During the Administration of Sir Edmund Andros and his Council, 1 686-1 689. Compiled by EDWARD FIELD, A.B., Member ofthe Rhode Island Histflrical Society, aud one ofthe Record Commissioners of the City of Providence. Cloth. Octavo. 60 pp. $1.00, net. The " Tax Lists of the Town of Providence" is a compilation of original documents relatinf]^ to taxation during the Adminis tration of Sir Edmund Andros and his Council, 1686-1689. 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For a study of this episode in New England Colonial History this work is invaluable. The index of all names contained in the lists and text is a feature of this work. The edition is limited to twb hundred and fifty numbered copies. Sent postpaid to any address on receipt of one dollar. 5 Early Rhode Island Houses. An HisiiiriL.il nnd Arc))ilc;cliir:il Slmly by NlMlaces and enormous hiMins. 'I lie slutlent will find in lluse old t.\.imples a vahialile Comment. iiy on Ncw I'.nglanii hiblory, while the aiuhiti-Ll will dibcovrr in the mrabiirtincnlb and analyses uf conbtiiiciion much of professional interest. Among the houses clesciibed are the Smith Garrison House and the homesteads of the f.onilies of Fenner. (^Iney, Field, Crawford, Waterman, Mowry, Arnold. Wliipplf. und Manton. A chn[)li-'i is devoted lo the e.irl>' hoiisis of Ncwporl, which were unlike those of the noithern part of Ihe biale and resemble the old work in ihe Hartford colony. 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It is the first systematic attempt to give candid and judicial interpretation of Gorton's peculiar re ligious views, and is of equal interest to the theolo gian and historical student. Sent jiostpaid upon receipt of iirice \>y the pub lishers. '4 This preservation photocopy was made at BookLab, Inc., in compliance with copyright law. The paper is Weyerhaeuser Cougar Opaque Natural, which exceeds ANSI Standard Z39.48-1984. 1992 YALE UNIVERSITY )01926709b .1) •.'Is :F?;-n ''¥..:^':i