The Project Gutenberg eBook of Stage-coach and Tavern Days
Title: Stage-coach and Tavern Days
Author: Alice Morse Earle
Release date: August 30, 2011 [eBook #37272]
Most recently updated: January 8, 2021
Language: English
Credits: Produced by Bryan Ness and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images generously made available by The
Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries.)
Stage-coach and Tavern Days
Travel in the South in the Thirties.
Frontispiece.
STAGE-COACH AND
TAVERN DAYS
By ALICE MORSE EARLE
Author of Home Life in Colonial Days, Child Life in
Colonial Days, and other Social and Domestic
Histories of Colonial Times
| “Long ago, at the end of the route, The stage pulled up, and the folks stepped out. They have all passed under the tavern door— The youth and his bride and the gray three-score. Their eyes were weary with dust and gleam, The day had gone like an empty dream. Soft may they slumber, and trouble no more For their eager journey, its jolt and roar, In the old coach over the mountain.” |
NEW YORK
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY
LONDON: MACMILLAN & CO., Ltd.
1900
All rights reserved
Copyright, 1900,
By THE MACMILLAN COMPANY.
Norwood Press
J. S. Cushing & Co.—Berwick & Smith
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.
TO MY HUSBAND
HENRY EARLE
Contents
| Chapter | Page | |
| I. | The Puritan Ordinary | 1 |
| II. | Old-time Taverns | 30 |
| III. | The Tavern Landlord | 62 |
| IV. | Tavern Fare and Tavern Ways | 76 |
| V. | Kill-devil and its Affines | 100 |
| VI. | Small Drink | 121 |
| VII. | Signs and Symbols | 138 |
| VIII. | The Tavern in War | 170 |
| IX. | The Tavern Panorama | 194 |
| X. | From Path to Turnpike | 223 |
| XI. | Packhorse and Conestoga Wagon | 241 |
| XII. | Early Stage-coaches and Other Vehicles | 253 |
| XIII. | Two Stage Veterans of Massachusetts | 291 |
| XIV. | A Staging Centre | 308 |
| XV. | The Stage-driver | 320 |
| XVI. | The Romance of the Road | 340 |
| XVII. | The Pains of Stage-coach Travel | 361 |
| XVIII. | Knights of the Road | 373 |
| XIX. | Tavern Ghosts | 409 |
List of Illustrations
| Travel in the South in the Thirties. From painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A. |
Frontispiece | |
| Page | ||
| Ordinary at Duxbury, Mass. | 3 | |
| Taproom Furnishings of an Old Ordinary. Owned by Miss Elizabeth Nicholson, Providence, R. I. |
7 | |
| Oldest House in Easton, Mass.; once an Ordinary | 10 | |
| Leather Black-jack | 14 | |
| Tavern Bill against East Church, Salem, Mass. Owned by Essex Institute |
16 | |
| Taproom of Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Mass. | 19 | |
| Buckman Tavern, 1690, Lexington, Mass. | 23 | |
| Hound-handle Tavern Pitcher | 26 | |
| Sign-board of Hayden Tavern, Essex, Conn. Owned by Connecticut Historical Society |
28 | |
| Indian Queen Tavern, Bladensburg, Md. From painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A. |
facing | 32 |
| Old Road House, Md. | 34 | |
| Plate, City Hotel, N. Y., Staffordshire Ware | 38 | |
| Cato’s House, N. Y. From an old print | 41 | |
| Washington Tavern, Westfield, Mass. | 43 | |
| Door Latch, Washington Tavern, Westfield, Mass. | 45 | |
| Wadsworth Inn, Hartford, Conn. Photographed by Mr. George C. Atwell, Hartford, Conn. |
47 | |
| Taproom, Wadsworth Inn, Hartford, Conn. | 51 | |
| Fountain Inn, Medford, Mass. | 54 | |
| Sign-board of N. Mowry’s Inn, Lime Rock, R. I. Owned by Miss Elizabeth Nicholson, Providence, R. I. |
57 | |
| Pine-tree Tavern and Eagle Tavern, East Poultney, Vt. | 59 | |
| Sign-board of Washington Hotel, Salem, Mass. Owned by Essex Institute |
63 | |
| Sign-board of Hays’ Tavern, West Brattleboro, Vt. | 65 | |
| Cooper Tavern, Arlington, Mass. | 68 | |
| Travellers’ Rest, Shelbyville, Ky., 1783 | 71 | |
| Miller’s Tavern, Lancaster, Penn. | 73 | |
| Ellery Tavern, front, Gloucester, Mass. | 79 | |
| Ellery Tavern, lean-to, Gloucester, Mass. | 83 | |
| Bill of Cromwell’s Head Tavern, Boston, Mass. Owned by Mrs. H. M. Hunt, Kingston, R. I. |
facing | 86 |
| Bill of Fare of City Hotel, Hartford, Conn. Owned by Mr. George F. Ives, Danbury, Conn. |
89 | |
| Platter, Mendenhall Ferry and Tavern, Schuylkill River, Penn. Owned by Miss Frances C. Morse, Worcester, Mass. |
93 | |
| Collin’s Tavern, Naugatuck, Conn. Photographed by Mr. George C. Atwell, Hartford, Conn. |
97 | |
| Old Rum Bottles | 102 | |
| Burgoyne Tavern, Westfield, Mass. | 106 | |
| Tavern Pitcher, Happy Farmer, Crouch Ware | 109 | |
| Flip Glasses, Loggerhead and Toddy Stick. Owned by Pocumtuck Valley Historical Association |
110 | |
| Porcelain Monteith Bowl, 1700 | 115 | |
| Punch Bowl, bearing Insignia of Order of the Cincinnati, Chinese Ware | 117 | |
| Sign-board of Amherst Hotel, Amherst, Mass. From History of Amherst |
123 | |
| Eagle Tavern and Sign-board, Newton, N. H. | 126 | |
| Cider Pitcher and Cups, Copper Lustre Ware | 129 | |
| Parsons’ Tavern, Springfield, Mass. | 131 | |
| Toby Fillpots, Staffordshire Ware. Owned by Miss Frances C. Morse, Worcester, Mass. |
134 | |
| Flip Glasses and Nutmeg Holders. Owned by Miss Frances C. Morse, Worcester, Mass. |
136 | |
| Sign-board, Stratton Tavern, Northfield Farms, Mass. Owned by Pocumtuck Valley Historical Association |
140 | |
| Sign-board, Three Crowns Tavern, Salisbury, Lancaster County, Penn. Painted by Benjamin West |
143 | |
| Browne’s Hall, Danvers, Mass. | 145 | |
| Hat Tavern and Sign-board, Leacock Township, Lancaster County, Penn. Sign-board painted by Benjamin West |
147 | |
| Sign-board, Bissell’s Tavern, East Windsor, Conn. Owned by Miss Emma B. King, Indianapolis, Ind. |
151 | |
| Sign-board, Reverse Side, Bissell’s Tavern, East Windsor, Conn. Owned by Miss Emma B. King, Indianapolis, Ind. |
153 | |
| Sign-board of William Pitt Tavern, Lancaster, Penn. | 156 | |
| Sign-board, Doolittle Tavern | 158 | |
| Sign-board, “A Man loaded with Mischief,” London, Eng. Painted by Hogarth |
facing | 160 |
| Sign-board of Walker’s Tavern, Charlestown, N. H. Owned by Worcester Society of Antiquity |
162 | |
| Drawing for Ames Sign-board, Dedham, Mass. | 165 | |
| Buck Horn Tavern, N. Y., 1812. From an old print | 168 | |
| Old North Bridge, Concord, Mass. | facing | 172 |
| Boston Liberty Tree and Tavern. From an old print | 174 | |
| Stavers Inn, Portsmouth, N. H. | 176 | |
| Handbill of Wolfe Tavern, Newburyport, Mass. | facing | 178 |
| Sign-board of Wolfe Tavern, Newburyport, Mass. | 180 | |
| Hancock Tavern, Boston, Mass. | 182 | |
| Sam Fraunces. From original drawing. Owned by Mrs. A. Livingstone Mason, Newport, R. I. |
184 | |
| Green Dragon Tavern, Boston, Mass. From an old print |
187 | |
| Conkey Tavern, Pelham, Mass. From History of Pelham |
facing | 188 |
| Sign-board of Conkey Tavern. From History of Pelham |
190 | |
| Naval Pitcher, Liverpool Ware | 192 | |
| Washington Tavern, North Wilbraham, Mass. | 196 | |
| Black Horse Tavern, Salem, Mass. | 199 | |
| Sign-board, Stickney Tavern, Concord, N. H. Owned by New Hampshire Historical Society |
203 | |
| Sign-board of Keeler’s Tavern, Ridgefield, Conn. | 205 | |
| Plate, Nahant Hotel, Staffordshire Ware | 206 | |
| Sign-board of Wolfe Tavern, Brooklyn, Conn. Owned by Connecticut Historical Society |
211 | |
| Postlethwaite’s Tavern, Lancaster County, Penn. | 214 | |
| Sign-board of Pembroke Tavern, Plymouth Turnpike, Mass. Owned by Bostonian Society |
217 | |
| Map Pitcher, Liverpool Ware | 220 | |
| Waiting at the Ferry. Painted by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A. |
facing | 226 |
| Old Chain Bridge, Newburyport, Mass. | facing | 230 |
| Bridge Toll-board. Owned by Mr. A. G. Richmond, Canajoharie, N. Y. |
233 | |
| Megunticook Turnpike | 235 | |
| Advertisement of Mail-stage | 236 | |
| Bridge Sign-board. Owned by Bucks County Historical Society |
239 | |
| A Wayside Friend, North Conway, N. H. From photograph by T. E. M. and G. H. White |
facing | 242 |
| Conestoga Wagon. Photographed from an old wagon |
facing | 246 |
| Stage Wagons. From print in an old English story book |
251 | |
| English Coach, 1747. From a painting by Hogarth |
254 | |
| Quicksilver Royal Mail, 1835, London, Eng. From an old print |
facing | 256 |
| “One Hoss Shay” | facing | 258 |
| “Washington” Chariot. Owned by Misses Francis, Spring Green Farm, Warwick, R. I. |
259 | |
| Advertisement of Stage Lines. From first issue of New York Commercial Advertiser, 1797 |
261 | |
| Stage-coach of 1818. From an old print |
264 | |
| Stage-coach of 1828. From an old print |
265 | |
| Concord Coach, built in 1863. Owned by “Buffalo Bill” |
266 | |
| Concord Coach at Toll-gate. From photograph owned by Major Lewis Downing, Jr., Concord, N. H. |
facing | 268 |
| Advertisement of Pioneer Line Stage-coaches | 270 | |
| The Omnibus “Accommodation” between Springfield and Chicopee Falls, 1843 | 273 | |
| Notice of Post-rider, 1799 | 276 | |
| Old Mail-coach and Sign-board, Barre, Mass., 1840 | 280 | |
| Pitcher, Quincy Railway, Staffordshire Ware | 284 | |
| Veazie Railway, Bangor, Me. From an old print | 286 | |
| The Arrival of the Train. From a painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A. |
facing | 288 |
| Uncle Ame Morris’s Oxen serving as Locomotive. From an old print |
289 | |
| Pease Tavern, Shrewsbury, Mass. | 292 | |
| Old Arcade, Shrewsbury, Mass. | 294 | |
| Harrington Tavern, Shrewsbury, Mass. | 299 | |
| Balch Tavern, Shrewsbury, Mass. | 301 | |
| Advertisement of Ginery Twichell’s Stage Lines. Owned by American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass. |
facing | 304 |
| Ginery Twichell’s Ride. From drawing owned by Mr. Frederick A. Currier, Fitchburg, Mass. |
306 | |
| Sign-board of Tarleton Inn, Piermont, Cohos Turnpike, N. H. Owned by Mr. Amos Tarleton, Haverhill, N. H. |
310 | |
| Sign-board, Reverse, of Tarleton Inn, Piermont, N. H. Owned by Mr. Amos Tarleton, Haverhill, N. H. |
312 | |
| Bliss’s Tavern, Haverhill, N. H. | 314 | |
| Old Sleigh with Double Dashboard | 316 | |
| Old Passenger Pung | 318 | |
| Relay House, Dorchester, Mass. | 321 | |
| The Relay. From painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A. |
facing | 324 |
| View of Middletown, Conn. From an old print | 327 | |
| Deerhide and Pigskin Trunks | 331 | |
| Old Carpet Bag. Owned by Mrs. Voice Adams Beecher, Brooklyn, N. Y. |
333 | |
| Sign-board of David Reed’s Tavern, Bedford, Mass. Owned by Concord Antiquarian Society |
337 | |
| Midsummer along the Pike | facing | 344 |
| A Vista of White Birches | 346 | |
| The Hollyhock’s Promise | 348 | |
| The Cool Depths of the Pine Woods. From photograph by T. E. M. and G. H. White |
facing | 348 |
| Taylor’s Tavern, 1777, Danbury, Conn. | 350 | |
| M. M. Taylor’s Milestone, Danbury, Conn. | 351 | |
| Peleg Arnold’s Milestone, Woonsocket, R. I. From photograph by Mr. Edward Field, Providence, R. I. |
352 | |
| The Watering Trough | 355 | |
| Topsfield Bridge, 1760. Ipswich River, Mass. | 357 | |
| The Shadowy Water under the Arches. From photograph by T. E. M. and G. H. White |
facing | 358 |
| Winter Stage, Dalton, Mass. | facing | 362 |
| Winter Stage, Chepachet. From photograph by Mr. Edward Field, Providence, R. I. |
364 | |
| Advertisements of Carriages and Wagons. From Connecticut Journal, July 3, 1815 |
facing | 368 |
| A Wet Start at Daybreak. From a painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N.A. |
facing | 370 |
| The Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Mass. | facing | 372 |
| Sign-board, Perkins Inn, Hopkinton, N. H. Owned by Mr. E. R. Guerin, Hopkinton, N. H. |
375 | |
| Russel Tavern, Arlington, Mass. | 379 | |
| Sign-board of Gifford’s Tavern, Barrington, R. I. Owned by Mrs. Gifford, Bristol, R. I. |
381 | |
| Sign-board of Wells Tavern, Greenfield Meadows, Mass. Owned by Pocumtuck Valley Historical Association |
382 | |
| Mattapan Tavern, Relay House | 389 | |
| Wilde Tavern, Milton, Mass., 1770 | 391 | |
| Ashburnham Thief Detecting Society. Handbill Heading | 393 | |
| Sign-board of Humphrey Williams Tavern, Centrebrook, Conn. Owned by Mr. George F. Ives, Danbury, Conn. |
396 | |
| Sign-board, Reverse, of Humphrey Williams Tavern, Centrebrook, Conn. Owned by Mr. George F. Ives, Danbury, Conn. |
400 | |
| Poor Tavern and Sign-board, Newburyport, Mass. | 405 | |
| Monroe Tavern, Lexington, Mass. | facing | 406 |
| Sign-board, Dewey Tavern | 411 | |
| Sign-board, Cutter’s Tavern, Jaffray, N. H. Owned by Mrs. Anna Cutter Roberts, Roxbury, Mass. |
412 | |
| Banjo Clock, with Painting of Pahquoique House on Glass Door. Owned by Mr. George F. Ives, Danbury, Conn. |
414 | |
| Wright Tavern, Concord, Mass. | 417 | |
| Sign-board of Moses Hill’s Inn, Douglas, Mass. | 419 | |
| Sign-board of John Nash’s Tavern, Amherst, Mass. From History of Amherst |
421 | |
| Montague City Tavern | 425 | |
| Old Abbey, Bloomingdale Road, New York | 428 | |
| After the Shower. From painting by Edward Lamson Henry, N. A. |
facing | 430 |
| Tavern Pitcher, Apotheosis of Washington. Liverpool Ware | 430 | |
| Sign-board of Grosvenor Inn, Pomfret, Conn. | 432 | |
| The Parting of the Ways, Dublin, N. H. | facing | 434 |
Stage-coach and Tavern Days
CHAPTER I
THE PURITAN ORDINARY
In reverent and affectionate retrospective view of the influences and conditions which had power and made mark upon the settlement of New England, we are apt to affirm with earnest sentiment that religion was the one force, the one aim, the one thought, of the lives of our forbears. It was indeed an ever present thought and influence in their lives; but they possessed another trait which is as evident in their records as their piety, and which adds an element of human interest to their story which their stern Puritanism never could have done; with them their neighborliness, was as ever present and as sincere as their godliness. Hence the establishment of an hostelry,—an ordinary it was usually called,—for the entertainment of travellers and for the mutual comfort of the settlers, was scarcely second to their providing a gathering-place for the church.
The General Court of Massachusetts at an early date took decisive measures with regard to houses of common entertainment. No one was permitted to keep without license “a common victuallyng house,” under a penalty of twenty shillings a week. Soon the power of granting licenses was transferred to the County Courts, as the constant increase in the number of ordinaries made too constant detailed work for so important a body as the General Court.
Consideration for the welfare of travellers, and a desire to regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors, seemed to the magistrates important enough reasons not only to counsel but to enforce the opening of some kind of a public house in each community, and in 1656 the General Court of Massachusetts made towns liable to a fine for not sustaining an ordinary. Towns were fined and admonished for not conforming to this law; Concord, Massachusetts, was one of the number. The Colonial Records of Connecticut, in 1644, ordered “one sufficient inhabitant” in each town to keep an ordinary, since “strangers were straitened” for want of entertainment. A frequent and natural choice of location for establishing an ordinary was at a ferry. Tristram Coffyn kept both ferry and ordinary at Newbury, Massachusetts; there was an ordinary at Beverly Ferry, known until 1819 as the “Old Ferry Tavern.”
Great inducements were offered to persons to keep an ordinary; sometimes land was granted them, or pasturage for their cattle, or exemption from church rates and school taxes. In 1682, Hugh March, of Newbury, Massachusetts, petitioned for a renewal of his license to keep an ordinary, saying thus: “The town of Newbury, some years since, were destitute of an ordinary, and could not persuade any person to keep it. For want of an ordinary they were twice fined by the county, and would have been a third time had I not undertaken it.” In 1668 the town had persuaded one Captain White to “undertake an ordinary” on high moral grounds; and it is painful to record that, though he did so unwillingly, he found the occupation so profitable that he finally got into disgrace through it.