FISHERMEN'S OWN BOOK. 209 



Town Landing, then and now known as Gilbert's wharf, occupied at pres- 

 ent by Francis W. Homans. His fleet comprised \\i^ Phxnix ; Economy, 

 Capt. Jonathan Gilbert ; Sea Serpent, Capt. Nathaniel Thurston ; Addison, 

 Arab ; and Shamrock, William Marshall, skipper. 



James Mansfield & Sons' came next. Wharf now occupied and the busi- 

 ness continued by successors under the same style. The wharf extended 

 far out into the harbor on account of the flats. They owned and fitted 

 schs. Susan and Eliza, Capt. Elias H. Day ; Abigail, Capt. William Shackel- 

 ford ; Ann and Mary, Capt. John M. Parsons. The last-named schooner 

 was scuttled inside of Rocky Neck during the war of 18 12, to preserve her 

 from the English cruisers. The rigging and materials were stored in the 

 barn of the old Low mansion house in Town Parish. After the war, Mr. 

 William Pew went master of her, and in three Grand Bank trips in one year 

 stocked $10,000, without bounty and oil. Their other vessels were: Dili- 

 gent, Mary Elizabeth; Industry, Capt. George Gerring ; Active ; Leader, Capt. 

 Samuel Curtis ; Friendship, Capt. Gorham Riggs ; and Hornet. 



Next to the Mansfields' came the wharf then owned by Zachariah Stevens, 

 where the Riggs Brothers subsequently carried on the fishing business. 



The wharf now owned by Charles H. Boynton was then owned by Charles 

 L. Roberts, who had the schs. Frances and Elizabeth, Mary, and perhaps 

 others. • 



Dr. Coffin's adjoined this. It was a small wharf and a noted resort, where 

 Town Meeting orators, waxing warm with each other in the discussion of 

 local affairs, would adjourn to and fight it out. It was the scene of many a 

 hotly contested rough-and-tumble fight over questions which agitated the 

 minds of those who were interested in town affairs — and perhaps had im- 

 bibed too much of the famous New England rum of that period. There 

 was not much business done at this wharf, as it served more for a landing 

 place for small boats. Mr. Gorham Burnham commenced his blacksmith- 

 ing business at this wharf. 



Next to Dr. Coffin's was the Central Wharf, now owned by Charles H. 

 Boynton. For many years it was occupied by David Pearce, who was largely 

 engaged in the West India trade. William Pearce & Sons had a distillery 

 on this wharf, which was destroyed in the great fire of 1830. Cargoes of 

 Surinam molasses were here landed and made into rum. There were also 

 two small wharves adjoining, owned respectively by Abraham Sawyer and 

 Daniel Gaffney. 



William Parsons, Jr., had the wharf now owned by George Steele. He 

 owned and fitted schs. Peacock, Capt. Benjamin Rowe ; Hussah, Capt. John 

 Blatchford ; Herald; Amaratith, Capt. George Blatchford ; Mariner, Capt. 

 Charles Wood ; Henrietta, Capt. William DoUiver ; William, Capt. William 

 Blatchford ; Six Brothers, and the Illinois. 



