The Olden Time Series Volume II Part 7

Where were or where was, as the case might be, the "Cornfields" or "Cornfield" of Boston in 1763? Martin Gay kept a store or lived near there, and in 1767 Master Britt kept a school for young ladies near the "Cornfield."

Choice English Peas

at the North-Mills, TO BE SOLD, by the larger or smaller Quant.i.ty, at a low Rate, Enquire of _William Paine_ at said Mills, or of _Martin Gay_, near the Cornfields, _Boston_.

Dec. 12, 1763.

When we remember the old pictures and portraits of stately ladies with high headdresses and gentlemen with wigs, the following advertis.e.m.e.nts are interesting:--

Joshua Davis, _Peruke-Maker_.

HEREBY informs his Customers, and others, That he has Remov'd his Shop from the Head of the Long Wharf, next the Crown Coffee House, to the first Shop in Mackrell Lane, next the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, where they may be serv'd with Fidelity and Dispatch.

--> Said _Davis_ makes the neatest and most fas.h.i.+onable Wiggs, at a moderate Rate.

_Boston Gazette_, Feb. 18, 1761.

A genteel Gold Watch, made by _Marmaduke Storr_, to be Sold, inquire of the Printers.

Sept. 14, 1761.

A few Genteel Grey and light Grey London-made WIGS, to be sold by JOHN CROSBY, Periwig Maker near the Sign of the Lamb, also Wig-makers Ribbons, Silk and Cauls, Bodyed Grizle, and Grizle Hairs for cut Wigs, Bleach'd, Tye and Brown Spencer Hairs, white Goat Hairs, white, black, and brown Horse Hairs, Moy Crown Hairs, Cards and Brushes, drawing Cards and Brushes, best Razors, purple Thread, Tupee Irons, & Curling Tongs, Tupee Combs in Cases, Wig Blocks, Silk Puffs, Hair, Powder, Shaving Boxes, & Brushes, wash Ball Boxes, and wash b.a.l.l.s, London black b.a.l.l.s with Printed directions, to use them very Nice, black Sattin Baggs for the Hair, white, black, yellow; & Bear Grees, Pomatum Excellent with their use to make Hair of a good Colour, & to grow thicker, Gold & Silver Powders (so called) to clean Gold and Silver Lace & Embroaderry.

_Boston Post-Boy_, Dec. 12, 1763.

At fires, leather buckets were used by the inhabitants, and were sometimes lost or misplaced, as appears from the following advertis.e.m.e.nts from the "Boston Gazette":--

LOST at the late Fire on the 5th of November Inst. a Leather Bucket, No. 2, mark'd _Wm. Hickling_: Whoever is taken up the same, are desir'd to return it to the Owner, or the Printers hereof.

_LOST at the Fire near Oliver's-Dock, on the 14th Day of November last, a Pair of Leather Fire Buckets, mark'd_ Benj^a. Barnard, _and dated 1757. Whoever will give Information, or bring them to the Printers hereof, shall be handsomely Rewarded._

Dec. 10, 1759.

Within the writer's recollection, in nearly every house in Salem two or more fire-buckets, marked with the owner's name, were, when not in use, kept hanging in the front hall. At fires, lanes, as they were called, of men were formed, under the direction generally of the fire-wards, and water was pa.s.sed from one to another and to the fire from some neighboring pump or cistern.

We see notices like the following of insurance offices; but they were princ.i.p.ally for marine risks, as not many fire risks were taken before the beginning of the present century.

_Hurd's_ Insurance-Office,

At the BUNCH OF GRAPES, STATE-STREET, BOSTON,

OPEN at all hours of business, where Policies of Insurance are underwritten upon the most moderate premiums; and the Gentlemen forming this Insurance Company, whose names are inserted in each Policy, having established adequate Funds for the ready payment of such losses as may happen, hereby notify, that business will be done with all possible attention, dispatch and punctuality, by

JOHN HURD,

April 8, 1784. (Insurance Broker.)

THIS is to inform all Gentlemen in Trade, That

THE INSURANCE OFFICE

Lately kept in Ann-Street near the Town-Dock, by SAMUEL PHILLIPS SAVAGE, is removed to the House of the Honorable WILLIAM BRATTLE, Esq; next Door to the British Coffee-House, King-Street: Where the Business of Insurance is carried on as usual.

_Boston, December 6, 1759._

With regard to policies, the term "under-writer" came from an old custom. There were in old times no joint-stock companies for insurance, but policies were filled out and left at an office kept by some person for the purpose, where any responsible man could sign his name to a particular policy and affix such sum as he was willing to risk, and thus become one of the "underwriters." We have seen, for instance, a policy for $20,000 with twelve or fifteen names of merchants, signed with various sums from $500 upwards.

A quaint notice of the death of Obadiah Brown, of Providence, from the "Boston Post-Boy":--

_PROVIDENCE, June 21, 1762._

ON Thursday last died at his Seat in the Country, after two Days Illness, OBADIAH BROWN, Esq; in the 50th Year of his Age. He was one of the most considerable Men in this Town: In the various Branches of Business which he carried on, his Activity was unequalled, his Judgment and Prudence oftener admired than imitated, his Honesty and Integrity fit to be drawn into Example.--As a Magistrate, he was judicious, grave, and reserved:--As a Friend, constant, open, facetious, and cheerful:--In the Relations of a Husband, Father, and Master, the deep and real Sorrow of his Widow, the mournful Tears of his Children, and the unusual Cries and Lamentations of his Servants, are invincible Proofs in his Favour. His Beneficence is witnessed by the Sighs of the Poor and Thanks of the Tradesmen: And his Death is universally lamented, because his Life was universally useful.

Notice of Hon. Daniel Russell, from the "Boston Gazette":--

_Charlestown, December 10, 1763._

ON Tuesday last departed this Life, after a short Illness, the Hon. DANIEL RUSSELL, Esq; who, for upwards of Twenty Years, was a Member of his Majesty's Council for this Province: He also served the Province as Commissioner of Impost, and the County of Middles.e.x as Treasurer, for more than fifty Years; in the Discharge of all which Offices, such was his conscientious Fidelity and unsullied Integrity, as procured him universal Approbation and Esteem.

In public and private Life, his whole Conduct was such as evidently showed his invariable desire and endeavour to preserve a Conscience void of Offence both towards G.o.d and Man; and by the Rect.i.tude of his Behaviour, to adorn and recommend the holy Religion which he professed, and to approve himself to the all-searching Eye of the Father of Spirits.

His Memory is greatly honoured by all who were acquainted with him, in whose esteem he was truly that "n.o.blest Work of G.o.d, _An honest Man_."

It is observable that in the several Offices which he sustained, he succeeded his worthy Father and Grandfather; both of whom held and discharged the same, for a great Number of Years, with unspotted Reputation.

His Remains, we hear, will be inter'd on Monday next, on which Day, had he lived, he would have entered the 79th Year of his Age.

"The sweet Remembrance of the just "Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust."