Polynesian., 1859-06-11
fFrOm the Republican Standard
Sketch of New Bedford.


Sketch of New Bedford.
Without trespassing too largely on time or sub
jeet let US 60 back to the beginning and if so
doing does not give our argument fair start, we
will let it 90 in the line of historical refreshment
In 1902 the river Acushnet, that now accommo-
dates itself to our wharyes and shipping, was dis
covered by Bartholomew Gosnold. 1t then washed
with its waves, sterile shores that have now be-
come valuable property and its waters were stran-
gers to the touch of ships keel, that is now both
their "God-speed" and ''WeleOme." Indians, so
says historian, gave evidence of friendly greeting
by bOuntiful gifts of skins, tobacco, turtles, hemp
and wampum /; but the heel of the white man has
long ago trodden out the soft print of the moceI-
sin ; and the luxury of seeing oil-baTrels has al
most made us forget the existence of canoe. Al
So stately groves, howery meadows and running
brooks, are recorded as things that were; but now
the eye looks on masts and spars on mansions of
chaste architecture and elegant interior adornment
and the playful plash of brooks is deadened by the
roaring noise of business steamboats,. About 1910
our present pOpulous domain was the home Of q
few English settlers and in 1915, the spot now
covered with churches, school houses, dwellings,
and stores depended for protection from Indian
hOstlities on two forts one near the head of APP
pongansett river, and the other adjoining what is
now called the village of Oxford. The land now
taxed at valuation of dollars by the million, cost
no more than thirty yards of cloth, eight moose
skins, fifteen axes, fifteen hoes, fifteen pairs of
breeches, eight blankets, two kettles, one cloak,
two pounds sterling in wampum, eight pairs Of
stockings eight pairs of shoes, one iron pot, and
ten shllings Not till after 1765, the year of the
arrival of Joseph Rotch from Nantucket, in order
to engage in the business of whale fishing, did we
receive our present name. Our land was farm
land owned by Joseph Russell, who resided at the
head of William street, and employed Union street
as a cart-rOad to the shore. At the suggestion Of
Mr.. Rotch, the little village that had begun to
spring up on the farm, was named " Bedford"
and was soon after distinguished by the prefix
90 New In I767. the first ship was launched
from under some buttOn-wo0d trees, near what is
now Hazards wharf, and named the Dartmouth.
She was sent to London freighted with oil the
whales having been caught by boats off the coast,
and by slOOps that cruised in warm weather off the
Capes of Virginia, and brought home the blubber
to be tried out on the shore. During the war,
business stopped our little fleet was burned, to-
gether with many of our shops and dwelling
houses, by the British and the harpOon and line
were exchanged for the musket and sword. As
soon as peace was declared, business operations
were again undertaken, and before long our yes-
sells were hunting for whales in the Indian and
Pacific Oceans. The first American whaler that
doubled Cape Horn is said to have been the ship
Rebecca, built by Col. Claghorn, the builder of
the u S. frigate Constitution, and launched early
in 1885 near the yard that goes by the name of
Wilcox RichmOnd's" She sailed Sept 1871,
and returned full Feb. 1898. Affairs went on
prOsperously ships made good voyages and the
candle factories yielded large profit, till the last
war with England and the crushing embargo. All
things were prostrated then, and the town of New
Bedford was the victim of many severe disasters.
Not until 1918, can it be said that she recovered
from the troubles and begun to look like her for
mer self. But when she did begin, as the Doctors
say" she picked up rapidly" And she has
gone on picking up all the time, Notwithstanding
the occasional seasons of financial leanness that
have afflicted the land.
Since the above period New Bedford has reached
an eminence in the commercial and financial world
that is deservingly admired. Her ships have made
acquaintance with every ocean; her anchors have
been let go in almost every port; her lances have
erimsoned the crest of almost every wave. Her
banks have never failed during any time of fnan-
cal panic to sustain their own honor, and meet all
business necessities with good and current dollars.
Her buildings give evidence that domestic comfort
abounds that the laws of hospitality carefully
preserved and that the essentials of social elegance
have not been omitted. Her merchants are so
well reputed for integrity, strict ful6lment of en-
gagementS at any personal sacrifice, that the in
dorsement of their signatures is as good as pay
ment in gold. Her insurance Offices rest on the
basis of solid capital paid in. and are more than
abundantly equal to their every risk. The mere
name of New Bedford on hotel register is pass
port to her every citizen.