NORTH 
SHORE BREEZE and Reminder 
35th Annual Gathering of Ye Elder Brethren 
Manchester’s Unique and Original Organization of ‘‘ Boys”’ 
If a day were manufactured to or- 
der to meet the needs of an outing 
at the grandest spot on the whole 
North Shore for such an affair, Wed- 
nesday was the day and ‘‘Ye Elder 
Brethren’’ were the participants , in 
their 35th. anniversary ‘‘chowder’’ and 
reunion. The usual generous service of 
clam and fish chowders, with pilot bread 
and hot coffee and as usual a porkrasher 
with cracker and cold lemonade to start 
with, combined to make a treat fit for 
a king. 
After dinner the usual business ses- 
sion was held and vice-president EK. P. 
Standley presided, the records being 
read by Clerk William J. Johnson. 
Joseph A. Torrey read a tribute to 
the late President George F, Allen which 
was ordered filed with the records of 
the organization. It was a pleasure and 
pride for him to present this sketch of 
George F. Allen’s life and to speak of 
the greatly missed members whose ef- 
forts for so many years had been so 
successful in keeping up the great in- 
terest in the society. Mr. Torrey’s tri- 
bute was as follows: 
‘As year by year we gather around 
this spot, the pleasure of friendly greet- 
ing is tempered by regret for the ab- 
sence of those who have left us for the 
eternal shore. No one in our circle 
will today be more greatly missed than 
he who for 34 years, ever since its in- 
ception, has presided at the annual 
gatherings of the Elder Brethren. No 
one was more interested in its success. 
On him we depended to insure a large 
attendance, to provide interesting 
speakers, and to stir the current of 
reminiscence and anecdote. It was his 
pleasure and his pride to promote the 
success of our meetings. 
“George Forster Allen, whose feeble 
voice we heard for the last time at our 
meeting one year ago, passed to his 
rest on the 20th. day of last January 
at the age of 86. 
‘*Mr. Allen was to the manor born, 
tracing his ancestory on father’s and 
mother’s side to William Allen, one of 
the Old Filanters of Cape Ann in 1624, 
and who with others two years later, 
under the leadership of Roger Conant, 
removed to Salem, prior to. the coming 
of Winthrop and Endicott in 1628-29. 
‘“William Allen was a carpenter. 
According to the Salem records he was 
an enterprising and influential citizen 
and free-holder. In 1640 Wm. Allen 
was one of those who petitioned for 
leave to erect a village at Jeffrey’s 
Creek on the 400 acres of rock, roses 
and sand since known and admired as 
Manchester-by-the-Sea. The tradition 
is he puilt the first house in the village 
at what was called North Yarmouth. 
‘“From that day to this, the Allens 
have shared the fortunes of the town, 
a sturdy line of yeomanry, farmers, 
fishers, sailors, soldiers, makers of beds 
and tables, serving in every needful 
capacity the church, the _ state, the 
school, free in heart and hand as the 
wandering wind and wave and firm as 
the rocks that dip their feet in the sea. 
‘‘George Forster Allen was the son 
of Nathan Allen, Jr., a cabinet maker, 
and Lucy Story, and was born Sept. 
10th. 1827. His boyhood was spent in 
Puddingbag lane, now better known 
as Morse’s Court. At about the same 
time and place were born eight boys 
who have left their mark upon the 
town,—John Perry Allen, Solomon AI- 
len, Rev. John M. Marsters, David and 
Frank Story, Joseph Story Hooper, 
Chas. Tappan and William C. Rust, the 
last named gentleman being the only 
survivor. 
‘“Mr. Allen in his boyhood contracted 
a hip disease which left him a cripple 
and in life long delicate health. But 
he out-lived his robust mates. He 
learned shoemaking when shoemaking 
was a trade. From 1852 to 1857 he 
kept a general store in company with 
Thomas W. Slade and continued the 
same alone until 1859, retiring on ae- 
count of ill health. In 1868 he re- 
sumed business with a dry goods store 
in the Franklin building, the ‘Old 
Corner’ where one hundred years be- 
fore his grandmother Semple, of roman- 
tic memory, sold similar goods. He 
continued here until 1907 when age 
compelled retirement, 
‘*A man’s character in a community 
like ours may be estimated hy the of: 
fices of trust and responsibility he has 
held in the gift of his fellow citizens. 
Forster Allen was of a different type 
from the usual ‘boss’ or politician. He 
had both the honest and the genile 
qualities of good citizenship which as- 
sured him public confidence for a long 
period.- He was appointed postmaster 
in 1849 and held the office four years. 
He was town clerk from 1862 to 1865, 
selectman and assessor 1862 to 1868, 
school committee two years and presi- 
dent of the historical society. 
‘‘He joined the Congregational 
church in 1866, was church clerk for 
forty years, parish clerk 39 years, 
church treasurer 35 years, trustee of 
Martin fund 12 years. He was one 
on whom the pastors leaned for council 
and support. The active portion of his 
life covered the war period and the 
rise and progress of the town as a sum- 
mer resort. He knew the families of 
the town root and branch. His store 
was a landmark, himself an authority 
on local history. He was the best- 
known man in town and equally respect- 
ed by villagers and resorters. He was 
a gentle soul, a good citizen, a humble 
christian, a friend to all, a foe to none. 
His name is closely interwoven in the 
annals of the town in an important 
period of its history.’?’ 
At the business session, Edwin P. 
Stanley became president. Lyman W. 
Floyd as the newly elected vice-presi- 
dent made a most fitting acceptance 
speech. William J. Johnson was elected 
clerk and treasurer and a committee 
was appointed to care for the interets 
of the society for the year, 
Francis M. Stanwood of Boston and 
Manchester, was introduced as one of 
our most patriotic citizens. He paid 
great respect to the late George F. Al- 
len the president for so many years, 
his tribute to the comrades of the G. A. 
R. was eloquent. He was also impressed 
by the beauty of the spot, the day and 
the ‘‘bang-up chowder.’’ He was re- 
.minded of other anniversaries and fit- 
tingly told something of the various 
newspaper articles in regard to praise 
of Southern generals, but failed to see 
anything to recommend to him a me- 
morial to General Lee on the field at 
Gettysburg. His remarks were of a pa- 
triotic nature as a whole and especially 
his references in praise of Gen. Grant. 
Others speakers were Rev. A. G. 
Warner, W. C. Rust, William Johnson, 
Senator Norwood, Rept. P. H. Boyle, 
Robert Calder, Alex. Pattillo, Emery 
Hodgkins, Rev. E. H. Brewster 
A. 8. Jewett. 
Town Clerk 
Those present: 
G. E. Andrews 
J. M. Andrews 
Capt. John Allen 
Daniel Allen, (85) 
J. R. Allen, (83) 
George F. Ayers 
Joseph A, Andrews 
John F. Annable 
Henry T. Bingham 
Edgar O. Brown 
Robert Baker 
A. F. Bennett (88) 
Charles H. Bennett 
Rev. E.H. Brewster 
Francis Bennett 
James Beaton 
Dr. G. W. Blaisdell 
John Bigwood 
Frank W. Bell 
Robert C. Calder 
Obed Carter 
¢. A. Collins 
Wm. F. Chisholm 
Benj. M. Crombie 
Capt. J. W. Carter 
H. D. Catheron 
M. P. Dugan 
John Dugan 
George W. Dow 
Levi A. Dunn 
George Dow 
Charles H. Day 
H. 8S. Dennis (Si) 
Cyrus M. Dodge 
John ©, Elliott 
Lyman W. Floyd 
Edward Flint 
Chas. P. Goldsmith 
Gilman Goldsmith 
R. T. Goodridge 
D. C. Goodridge 
A. H. Goldsmith 
N. B. Goldsmith 
James Guinnivan 
Chas. L. Gilman 
Jno. G. Haskell 
Emery Hodgkins 
Dri Chr Hort 
Ewd. P. Hooper 
William Hoare 
Chas. O. Howe 
Wm. Johnson (96) 
Frank Johnson 
Wm. J. Johnson 
and 
Geo. W. Jewett 
Edgar M. Jewett 
Alfred S. Jewett 
Chas. H. Killam 
Cyrus B. Killam 
Aug. M. Killam 
Samuel W. Lendall 
Geo. A. Lendall 
Geo. F. Leach 
Edward A. Lane 
Nathan A. Lee 
Andrew Lee 
John H. Meader 
James H. Morse 
Benj. F. Merrill 
Daaron W. Morse 
N.C. Marshall (85) 
Lewis Morgan 
Geo. A. Morse 
Chas. A. Mason 
Geo. A. Morse, Jr. 
C. G. Murphy 
I. M. Marshall 
Frank B. Peart 
Daniel S. Peart 
Alexander Pattillo 
Ezra 8S. Pierce 
Wm. C. Rust (85) 
Chas. A. Read 
Theo. C. Rowe 
J. F. Rabardy (80) 
Oliver T. Roberts 
Jeffrey 8. Reed 
C. Hl. Richardson 
Edwin P. Stanley 
Thomas B. Stone 
Larkin W. Story 
Otis M. Stanley 
Senter Stanley 
Chas. H. Stone 
F. M. Stanwood 
Elmer Standley 
Fred Stanley. 
H. W. Sargent 
W. A. Spinney 
Wm. H. Tyler 
Dr. W. H. Tyler 
J. A. Torrey (81) 
Rev. A. G. Warrer 
I. M. Woodbury 
B. F. Whitaker 
B. L. Woodbury 
Capt. J. K. Winn 
J#hn D. Woodbury 
William Young 
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