12 



season of great activity in ship-building now commenced. Ships 

 and brigantines were built for Boston merchants, and a large num- 

 ber of sloops by people of the town for their own use. Many of the 

 latter were used for the conve}'ance of wharf timber and other wood 

 to Boston, and some were employed in the distant eastern fisheries ; 

 but there is nothing to show that Gloucester had, before 1700, a 

 single vessel engaged in fishing as far east as Cape Sable. About 

 this time, however, a vigorous pursuit of this business began, and 

 with varying fortune it has been carried on to the present time. 

 Out of the fisheries of the town grew a commerce with foreign coun- 

 tries chiefly Spain, Portugal, and the West Indies at first, but 

 finally with mairv other parts of the globe. This has ceased in late 

 years, and it may be said that now Gloucester sends no merchan- 

 dise across the seas, and with the exception of cargoes of salt fir 

 use in her fisheries, receives none. It does however carry on some 

 trade with the British maritime provinces of North America. 



This town has worthily borne its share of all public burthens. It 

 sent about one-quarter part of all its men fit for military duty to 

 suppress the great Indian rising of 1675, and al\va}-s contributed its 

 full quota to the various military expeditions against the French 

 and Indians in the subsequent years till the final reduction of Can- 

 ada. In the memorable year of 1775 the people rose to the full 

 magnitude of the great interests at stake ; and with a prospect of 

 suffering and gloom opening before them, declared that they would 

 defend their liberties at the expense of all that was dear to them. 

 So the}' had two companies in the battle of Bunker Hill, and sent 

 altogether two hundred and twenty men in the first campaign of the 

 war ; and when Capt. Linzee, in the sloop-of-war Falcon, attacked 

 the town in the same .year, and attempted plunder and destruction, 

 they boldly met his force and defeated and captured it : and when, 

 after a year of great hardship and suffering, on the 24th of June, 

 177G, the great question of a declaration of independence b}' Con- 

 gress came before them at a large town-meeting called on purpose 

 to consider it, they voted unanimously, it' Congress should resolve 

 upon the measure, to support them in it with their lives and for- 

 tunes. In ten days the Declaration was proclaimed to the world. 

 The immortal document was read from all the pulpits of Gloucester, 

 and copied into the records of the town. It was also copied into 

 the records of the Third Parish, whose patriotic clerk, Thomas Mar- 

 ett, added u May God Bless these Free and Independent States 



