25 



interrupted business and social relations. The Eepnblicans com- 

 plained that they did not receive suitable accommodations at these 

 two banks, and they accordingly obtained the charter of the Merchants, 

 whose officers, and most if not all of its stockholders, were of the 

 Republican party. 



The site of this building was a part of the estate owned by the 

 Elder John Browne, one of the early settlers. After his death it came 

 into the possession of his son James, then his daughter Hannah, wife 

 of William Pickering, then to her daughter Elizabeth, wife of Abraham 

 Watson, then to her son John Watson, who in 1808, sold to the present 

 owners. It was preoccupied by thi-ee buildings, two of which were 

 very ancient. An old house in a very decayed condition was, on Essex 

 street, tenanted by several families. In the rear was an old building 

 which had been used for many years as a school-room, by Master John 

 Watson, an eminent and successful teacher in his day, and a very 

 worthy man. He was a sou of Deacon Abraham and Elizabeth 

 (Pickering) Watson, and he lived in the house on the eastern corner 

 of Essex and Union streets. His mother was a daughter of Capt. 

 William Pickering, who commanded the " Province Galley " for 

 the protection of the fishermen from the depredations of the French 

 in 1707. His father was from Cambridge, but came in early life to 

 Salem. His wife was Abigail, daughter of Capt. John and Abigail 

 (Blaney) White. She died August 19, 1806, aged 54. He died October 

 31, 1813, aged 67. 



He was succeeded in the school by Master Peunel, an Englishman, 

 tvho came here from Boston. His family occupied a tenement in the 

 old house above mentioned. South of the school-house was a more 

 modern wooden building, used by a Mr. Baker, from Ipswich, for the 

 manufacture and sale of hats. 



For many of the above facts we are indebted to the kindness of W. 

 B. Parker, Esq., who is an officer of the corporation and the keeper of 

 its records; and to Hon. B. F. Browne, who has done a good sei-vice 

 in the preservation of materials for our local history, by his valuable 

 contributions to the publications of the Essex Institute, and to the 

 newspapers of this city. 



A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE LATE HORACE MANN. 



BY A FRIEND AND ASSOCIATE. 



Biographical sketches of our late departed friends sometimes sound 

 like solemn mockeries. When in rising, ripening youth, a man of 

 promise is cut down unexpectedly to the majority of his friends, the 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN. 4 



