Merrimac Humane Society: You're a Life Saver!
The
Merrimac Humane Society
(MHS) of Newburyport is little recognized today, but during the 19th century it was, literally, a life saver for many in this coastal town.
The Society was established "for the purpose of rewarding acts of valor and heroism and aiding mariners cast ashore on Plum Island." Like the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the MHS was also instrumental in "restoring suspended animation, preserving human life and alleviating its miseries."
The Commonwealth's society was incorporated in 1791, and the Merrimac society was incorporated shortly thereafter in March 1804 with founders including Captain William Coombs, Captain William Johnson, and Captain Ebenezer Stocker, all shipmasters who served as officers for the Newburyport Marine Society.
The MHS erected small huts along dangerous areas of Plum Island's coast for the shelter of shipwrecked victims. It also published directions on how to locate the huts if cast ashore. They were furnished with life saving apparatus and restoratives.
During the first half of the 19th century, there were hundreds of shipwrecks along dangerous and desolate stretches of coast from Cape Cod to Plum Island. The Humane Society made a significant impact on saving lives.
Susan Edwards,
executive director, Museum of Old Newbury, shares, "In addition to assisting mariners, local newspapers in the mid-19th century recorded at least a dozen stories of the MHS saving the lives of young lads who fell from the Newburyport wharves. Perhaps they had gone down to explore the sights and sounds of the bustling waterfront and became careless."
It was customary to reward these acts of valor with sums of money or, more often, with a gold medal or a piece of silver crafted and engraved by a Newburyport silversmith.
In the collection of the museum is a creamer and covered sugar bowl commissioned by the MHS to recognize
Warren Lufkin
for his stalwart efforts in saving lives during devastating winter storms. An article in the December 27, 1850, Newburyport Daily Herald lauds Lufkin in saving the life of Captain Ellard Crocket of the schooner Argus.
His crew of five all perished, but the captain made it to shore and labored until he reached Cross House, two miles below the wreck. Although it was nearing dark, Lufkin spotted the captain and pressed on through the storm and a deep lagoon to reach the nearly expired mariner. The captain was taken to Lufkin's home where he received warmth and medical attention.
Warren Lufkin lived on Sutton Farm at the lower end of Plum Island and saw many ships and sailors in distress. In April 1851, the brig Primrose was wrecked and Lufkin was instrumental in saving the crew from drowning.
Samuel Brockman, the master of the Primrose sent a testimonial to the Daily Herald describing Lufkin as "a bold and fearless man, possessing indomitable energy and perseverance, and the most kind of human feelings." Lufkin plunged into the surf, seizing the line thrown from the brig, and assisted every man from the vessel. Twice thrown into the water, he was in as much danger as the crew.
All survived and were cared for at Sutton Farm until they could be safely released. Through the work of the Merrimac Humane Society the courage and compassion of Warren Lufkin lives on.
Photo Caption: Creamer and sugar bowl c. 1850 with the following engraving: "Presented by the Merrimac Humane Society to Warren Lufkin for saving life on Plum Island in the winter of 1850 -1851". The set was made by George B. Foster, Boston. Foster worked in Salem and Boston from 1842 -1854.
