e-Newsletter | June 18, 2021 |
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“To My Dear Grandchildren”
The 1877 Memoir of Captain Joshua Hale
Introduced and edited by Kristen Fehlhaber
Few of us are lucky enough to have a diary or autobiography written by one of our ancestors. The oldest piece of writing that I have is a 1929 letter by my great-grandfather, a retired sea captain in Germany. He wrote to his son, my grandfather, upon his marriage to an American, sending good wishes and some advice for happiness. The father and son would never see each other again; the letter came to me in a cigar box that held my grandfather’s dearest possessions.
Fifty years earlier, a different retired sea captain, this one from Newburyport, sat down to write to his grandsons. The boys’ father had recently died and the grandfather wanted to pass on stories of his own life - and also give a little advice along the way. We presume that each grandson received a copy and the Museum of Old Newbury was very fortunate to receive one of these copies from Joanne Smith of West Rupert, Vermont.
MOON volunteer Tom Mela spent many hours transcribing the memoir. He was almost finished in March, 2020, when the pandemic began and the museum had to close. This spring, transcription was completed.
The writer was Captain Joshua Hale (1812 - 1894). While his brothers went on to careers in marine insurance and academia, Joshua had an illness that interfered with his ability to work indoors. He found that life at sea agreed with him best and earned his living as a sea captain, sailing along the East Coast and to Europe. After retiring from the sea, he spent the rest of his life in Newburyport. At the age of 64, he wrote this memoir.
Editor’s note: The memoir has been abridged and punctuation altered to allow for easier reading. Spelling and phrasing has been preserved. Special thanks to Tom Mela for the tireless transcription and the staff of the Newburyport Public Library Archives for their help in background research.
Part 1: Early life, the Great Fire of 1811, the Risk of Investing in Ships and a Very Bad Day at School
1877: To my dear Grandchildren,
So many times I have heard from your pleasant voices, “Now Grandpa, tell me about when you was a boy?” I have told you often what you wished to hear of the incidents of my boyhood and tales of my youth, which pleased you then and may please you to read again. I will try and recall and write my early recollections of what I did and what others have done for me. Who I am and from whom descended.
Beginning with myself, Joshua Hale, the seventh son and tenth child of my parents Thomas Hale and Alice (Little) Hale. Early in life my father was bound out as an apprentice to learn the art and trade of hat making with Mr. Amos Atkinson in this village. After his freedom he worked one year as a journeyman and then settled here and had a manufactory of his own. He had his retail store in Newburyport.
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In 1811, the great fire burned up most of the business part of Newburyport, and his store with nearly all there was in it. He had been successful in his business and prudent in his expenses. He had built this house (in 1800) where we now live and had an interest in several vessels. I recall the names of the Ships – Massachusetts, Alice, Belleville, and Edwin & Dromo. Three first-named ships were captured in the war of 1812 to 1815 by the English. The Edwin was at about the same time lost on the Coast of Norway and the Dromo of a later date was always an unfortunate ship.
By his vessels he lost much of his property and one reverse followed another until he had lost the hard earnings of his earlier life and he had to continue his business of manufacturing hats many years, nearly to the close of his useful life.
I was born here in the house we now live in [No. 348 High Street], which was then in the town of Newbury, on December 14, 1812.
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From “Old Newburyport Houses,” by Albert Hale, (Boston: W.B. Clarke & Co, 1912), page 2. |
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Very early I was sent to school to “Marm Fowler” – a relief to my Mother for some hours in the day. She lived and kept her school on the lower corner of Ashland Street, then called Pilsbury Lane [near the present site of the Natural Grocer]. All my brothers and sisters had been to her school and learned their letters. At age 10 or 11, I went to the Newburyport Academy [83& 85 High Street] and was there as long as I went to school until I was taken sick.
In the spring or early summer of 1826, I was in school in the morning when my turn came to rise and read. I felt queerly and the words ran together. I could not continue or finish my verses and said “I cannot see” and fell to my seat. The schoolmaster Mr. Pike said “Read on '' in his sharp tone, but he soon saw how I was and then helped me into the open air and left me sitting in the school yard on the cellar roll way doors.
Very soon after I got into the fresh air I was relieved very much. Mr. Pike came out again to see me and said if I could not resume my studies, I might go home. Though still feeling sick, I started for home. I ought not to have been allowed to go alone. When I had walked up as far as Green Street, in front of where the building of Putnam Free School now is [now the High Street portion of Immaculate Conception], I had to hold on to the fence for a time to sustain me — and I think I finally sat or fell down. A man from West Newbury came by, saw and recognized me, and took me into his wagon and brought me home.
And for one year I was sick and not allowed to read or study any. So ended the prospect of my having a liberal or Collegiate Education.
Next time - Part 2: Joshua goes to New York City
Kristen Fehlhaber is a member of the MOON Board of Directors; if anyone knows why the “Dromo” was so unfortunate, please let her know!
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Passing of the Torch
Wednesday, June 16, 2021's Newburyport Daily News article by Heather Alterisio announced the sad yet exciting news of a change in leadership at the Museum of Old Newbury. After seven years, Susan C.S. Edwards is stepping down and soon-to-be former Historic New England Regional Administrator Bethany Groff Dorau is moving into the position.
Find the complete press releases from Susan and Bethany here.
Read Heather's complete story here.
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Pollinator on milkweed blossom. Photo credit: Paula Sable, Newburyport. Send your Garden Tour photos to info@newburyhistory.org and be eligible to win free tickets next year, as well as be featured in upcoming newsletters. |
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Garden Tour Simply Bee-autiful!
Two superbly glorious summer days, 750 people from as far away as Ohio, eight luscious and stunning gardens and their gracious owners, and nearly 100 welcoming volunteers were the successful ingredients to make the museum's 42 Annual Garden Tour, "Sowing the Seeds: a Season of Renewal," one of the most memorable ever.
This, as the theme of the tour implied, sowed seeds for a season of renewal. We are appreciative of our members and friends who adapted to online ticket sales and a digital program book – a new venture for most of us in this post pandemic season. These variations on our traditional way of doing things allowed the museum to return to an in-person tour after a long year of isolation.
The results are in, and our 2-for-1 promotion resulted in 134 new members for the museum. Judging from dozens of phone calls, our new members are enthusiastic about other programs and benefits the museum offers. The net proceeds for this two day event were $24,150 – a number of which we are very proud in this year of transition.
Hearty thanks to all of our members and friends who supported the museum at this long-treasured event.
Editor's note: Don't forget to send us your favorite garden images from the tour...we love colorful, vibrant closeups! Be sure to include your name and town you live in and email: info@newburyhistory.org. Prizes will be awarded and select images to be featured in upcoming e-Newsletters.
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Puzzle Me This...
Thomas Hale's Hat Factory
Sign from Joshua Hale's father's shop located at 21 Market Square. From the collections of the Museum of Old Newbury.
Click on image to begin.
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Miss a Recent MOON Program? Watch here. |
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Thanks to the wonder of the Zoom platform, all of our programs are recorded and available online shortly after presentation. Visit our website for upcoming events, previous recordings, including the four 2020 Virtual Garden Tours, our Annual Meeting, children's and holiday programs, as well as all episodes of "Yeat Yeat, Don't Tell Me!"
In lieu of a printed program book, we will be featuring monthly events here, as well as maintaining a complete list on our website: www.NewburyHistory.org.
All of our virtual programs are free, however donations are gratefully accepted to help defray speaker fees.
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See you in September!
"Yeat Yeat, Don't Tell Me!" finished Season 2 this past Friday, June 11. Watch here.
The dynamic duo of Jack Santos, Custom House Maritime Museum, and Colleen Turner Secino, Museum of Old Newbury, will be back in September. Yeat Yeat, we can't wait.
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REGISTER:
Thursday, July 1, 2021 @ 7:00 p.m.
The First Religious Society Unitarian Universalist and the Museum of Old Newbury kick off the July 4th holiday with a virtual community reading of Frederick Douglass's impassioned 1852 speech, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” Lend your voice to this powerful participatory event.
The reading will be followed by a discussion led by humanities scholar Edward Carson. Carson, an independent historian, is also Dean of Multicultural Education and a member of the history department at The Governor's Academy, Byfield, Massachusetts.
This program is made possible by a grant for Mass Humanities.
This is a virtual event. Register here and a Zoom link will be sent closer to the date. Registration closes at 4:30 p.m. on day of the event.
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Something is Always Cooking at the Museum
With summer just a few days away and lots of burgers and hot dogs sure to hit the grill, forget store bought and mix up a batch of Helen Leslie's go-to condiment. Leslie was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1912. Included in "From the Past" section of the " Cushing House Cooks" book.
Raw Tomato Catsup
1-2 pecks* ripe tomatoes, peeled, chopped fine and drained
In large bowl, add:
1 cup onion, chopped
1 large bunch of celery, chopped
2 green peppers, seeded, chopped
1 cup sugar
1 to 2 cups salt
2 to 3 cups white** mustard seed
1 1/2 pints vinegar (24 ounces)
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon cinnamon
Do not cover. Let stand overnight and bottle.
[Editor's note: for a quicker version: In large pot, add all ingredients and simmer 30-45 minutes or until tomatoes, onion, celery and pepper soften enough to blend with spoon or masher. May use blender or immersion blender to get consistency you desire.]
* 1 peck = 12-13 pounds
** Brown mustard seeds may be substituted, but use half.
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During this difficult period of COVID-19, we rely on your support more than ever. We continue to develop new, online programs for you to enjoy and keep us connected and look forward to in-person events as protocols for safety loosen. We hope, if you are able, that you will consider a donation to the museum. Thank you for your continued support.
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Museum e-Newsletter made possible through the
generosity of our sponsors:
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Museum of Old Newbury
98 High Street
Newburyport, MA 01950
978-462-2681
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