The Olden Time Series Volume I Part 1

The Olden Time Series.

Vol. 1: Curiosities of the Old Lottery.

by Henry M. Brooks.

INTRODUCTION.

WHILE this work does not pretend to be a history, it will yet present many historical facts. Its object is to show from old newspapers, which are not accessible to all, such items and comments upon a variety of subjects as might be supposed to amuse or instruct both old and young.

It is not the easy thing that many imagine to examine, read, and select from a vast number of newspapers such matter as is believed to be worth reproducing. Possibly to some it would seem to be a stupid and an uninteresting work. The Compiler, however, has found it a source of pleasure to make and arrange these selections; and the value of his work will be greatly enhanced if these volumes should prove of interest to any considerable number of persons.

There appears to be from year to year a growing taste among the most cultivated people for quaint and curious reminiscences of the Olden Time; and as these volumes will be of a handy size for the pocket or carpetbag, it is hoped that they will be welcomed by many who would not undertake to read a more pretentious or c.u.mbersome work on similar topics.

SALEM, Ma.s.s., _April, 1885._

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CURIOSITIES OF THE OLD LOTTERY.

PEOPLE of the present generation who look over files of old newspapers are filled with astonishment to see the great number of lotteries which are advertised, for many years, down to as late a period as the year 1826. The Faneuil Hall Lottery, the Harvard College Lottery, the Rhode Island College Lottery, the Ma.s.sachusetts State Lottery, and lotteries for a bridge over the River Parker, for Marblehead, for the Williamstown Free-school, for Episcopal and Congregational Churches, were all advertised, with numerous other projects. A lottery was proposed for the purpose of finis.h.i.+ng Bunker Hill Monument, although the scheme was not carried out. It is perhaps not generally remembered that this monument was at length completed by means furnished by a Ladies' Fair, in 1840, and handsome contributions by several individuals. Among other contributors was the celebrated _danseuse_ f.a.n.n.y Ellsler, who was at that time giving performances in Boston. Some of the best men in the community were interested in recommending the various schemes, and members of churches, men in high repute, bought and sold the tickets. In Salem, Ma.s.s., such well-known and esteemed citizens as John Jenks, Daniel Jenks, Thomas C. Cus.h.i.+ng, of the "Gazette," John Dabney, the postmaster, Colonel John Russell, and the now venerable and respected Edward H. Payson--who, at the age of eighty, is still cas.h.i.+er of the First National (formerly the Commercial) Bank, to which office he was elected in 1826--sold tickets; so did Colonel John Hathorne. Colonel Henry Whipple, who is remembered as one of our best citizens, kept, in connection with his bookstore, a "Fortunate Lottery Office." Other names might be mentioned, but we think we have given enough to show the respectability of the calling. The better the man, the better the agent.

Indeed, it was generally thought to be just as respectable to sell lottery-tickets as to sell Bibles; and we have seen them cla.s.sed together in the same advertis.e.m.e.nt. Our observations have been confined chiefly to Boston and Salem prints, but we have no doubt that similar matter could be found in other papers. We propose now to give liberal extracts from some of the old advertis.e.m.e.nts of the different schemes, which will, we think, confirm what we have already said on the subject.

Let us take first from the "Boston Gazette" of May 19, 1760, the lottery to raise $1,000 towards building a bridge over the River Parker, in Newbury. The managers were the first men in the place, and the tickets were sold by men of excellent standing in Boston.

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NEWBURY, _May 17, 1760._

SCHEME of a LOTTERY,

FOR raising a Sum of Money for the building and maintaining a Bridge over the River _Parker,_ in the Town of _Newbury,_ at the Place called Old Town Ferry (in pursuance of an Act of the General Court, pa.s.sed in _April_ 1760) Wherein _Daniel Farnham, Caleb Cus.h.i.+ng, Joseph Gerrish, William Atkins,_ Esq., and Mr. _Patrick Tracy,_ Merchant, (or any Three of them) are appointed Managers. The acting Managers are sworn to the faithful Performance of their Trust.

_Newbury_-Lottery Number Four, consists of

5000 Tickets, at Two Dollars each; 1655 of which are Benefit Tickets of the following Value.

1 of 500 Dollars, is 500 Dollars.

4 of 100 are 400 5 of 50 are 250 6 of 40 are 240 10 of 30 are 300 14 of 20 are 280 45 of 10 are 450 75 of 8 are 600 1495 of 4 are 5980 ---- ---- 1655 Prizes, amounting to 9000 Dollars.

3345 Blanks.

---- 5000 Tickets, at Two Dollars each 10000 To be paid in Prizes, 9000 ---- 1000 Dollars.

Remains to be applied for the Purpose aforesaid.

Two Blanks only to one PRIZE.

_THE Bridge aforesaid is already built, and upon a Settlement of the Accounts, and Demands relative thereto, the Managers of the former Lottery for that Purpose, were found to be greatly in Debt: The Charges of building the Bridge, and prosecuting the Lottery, amounting to much more than what was allowed to be raised by the former Act of the General Court--therefore the present Lottery is allowed._

_AND since the said Bridge so well answers the Expectation of the Public, and the Travelling that Way thereby is rendered much more easy and pleasant; the Managers doubt not there will be a great Demand of the Tickets, from a Principle of encouraging and promoting a Work of such general Utility, if there were no other Inducement. But when they consider how much this Scheme is calculated in Favour of the Adventurers, there being many Prizes of great Value, and but two Blanks to a Prize; they doubt not of a very speedy Sale of the Tickets._

_Tickets purchas'd at_ Boston, _if fortunate, will be paid off there. Public Notice will be given of the Time and Place of Drawing; and as soon as finished, the Prizes will be published in the_ Boston Gazette and Country Journal. _Gold as well as Silver will be received for Tickets; and the Prizes paid off accordingly. Prizes not demanded in Twelve Months after Drawing, will be considered as given to the common Stock for building and maintaining the said Bridge, and will be so applied._

_Tickets are to be Sold by the Managers in_ Newbury, _by_ Ebenezer Storer, _Esq., and Son; Mr._ Timothy Newell; William & James Jackson, _and the Printers hereof in_ Boston.

The town of Taunton, Ma.s.s., was favored by a lottery grant in 1761 to aid in clearing the Great River.

_Taunton, March 16. 1761._

PUBLICK NOTICE is hereby given to all Persons who are so disposed to encourage the Clearing of _Taunton_ Great-River, (so beneficial to the Trade of this Province) by adventuring in the LOTTERY granted for that Purpose, That the Managers of said Lottery have determined to begin to draw the First Cla.s.s on Tuesday the 27th Day of _April_ next; the Town of _Taunton_ having voted to take off all the Tickets that shall remain unsold at that Day;--And all Persons who have taken Tickets to dispose of, are desired to return them, or the Money for them, by the First Day of said _April._

--> Tickets are yet to be had of Messir's _Gould_ and Company, and of _Green & Russell,_ Printers in Queen Street, _Boston._--As also of the Managers at their respective Dwellings in _Taunton._

Next we will take from the "Boston Post Boy" of November, 1762, the scheme to raise money to rebuild Faneuil Hall, after the fire of 1761.

It will be noticed how small an amount was reserved for the purpose for which the Lottery was granted,--only $1,200. It seems as if a very small sum subscribed by every freeholder would have produced more money. If the population of Boston at that time was, say, twenty thousand, or three thousand families, fifty cents for every head of a family would have raised a larger sum than could possibly have been raised by the expensive and questionable process resorted to. At first sight it may seem strange to us that this was not thought of at the time; but when we reflect that even in our enlightened times people are quite as thoughtless about the processes of raising money for charitable or public purposes,--witness the numerous fairs and raffles which are constantly taking place,--we are not so much amazed at these old financial operations, nor do we think we can boast much of our superior morality when we look around and see how some things are managed nowadays.

_BOSTON, November 1, 1762._

SCHEME

OF A LOTTERY,

FOR Raising a Sum of Money for Re-building FANEUIL _Hall_; agreeable to an Act of the General Court, wherein Messieurs _Thomas Cus.h.i.+ng, Samuel Hewes, John Scollay, Benjamin Austin, Samuel Sewall, Samuel Phillips Savage,_ and _Ezekiel Lewis,_ or any Three of them, are appointed Managers, who are Sworn to the faithful Discharge of their Trust.

FANEUIL-HALL Lottery, No. One, Consists of 6000 Tickets, at Two Dollars each, 1486 of which are Benefit Tickets of the following Value, _viz._

Dollars.

1 Prize of 1000 Dollars, is 1000 1 of 500 is 500 2 of 200 are 400 12 of 100 are 1200 20 of 50 are 1000 20 of 20 are 400 30 of 10 are 300 200 of 6 are 1200 1200 of 4 are 4800 ---- ---- 1486 Prizes, 10800 Dollars.

4514 Blanks.

---- 6000 Tickets at 2 Dollars each, is 12,000 Dollars.

To be paid in Prizes, 10,800 ------ Remains 1200 Dollars,

to be applied to the Purpose aforesaid.

The Necessity of a large and convenient Hall in such a Town as this, upon all Public Occasions, can't be disputed. The Rebuilding _Faneuil-Hall_ has therefore been generally approved of; and the Encouragement it will meet with from the Public, will, we doubt not, be in some Measure proportionable to its Importance: We promise ourselves therefore a speedy Sale of the Tickets; and hope we shall soon be able to draw.

Public Notice will be given of the Time and Place of Drawing; and as soon as the Drawing is finished, a List of the Prizes will be published in _Edes_ and _Gill's Boston Gazette,_ &c.

and the Money paid to the Possessors of the Benefit Tickets, in Twenty Days. Gold as well as Silver will be received for the Tickets, and the Prizes paid off in like Manner.

Prizes not demanded within Twelve Months after Drawing, will be deem'd as generously given for the Purpose aforesaid, and will be applied accordingly.