Old Marietta Papers - Number 2

The Marietta Register, May 29, 1863

"Old Marietta Papers" was a series of columns compiled and published in 1863 and 1864 by Rodney M. Stimson, editor of "The Marietta Register." 

The Ohio Gazette of Sept. 9, 1807, contains an advertisement of "an estray mare" taken up in Waterford by Titan Kimble. Mr. Kimble died at a very advanced age, a year or two ago, in Lawrence County. William Gray was then Justice of the Peace in Waterford and Thomas Stanley, in Salem. Amos Hanaway advertises a nail factory in Marietta, and Robert Miller of Lexington, Kentucky, an attachment in the sum of $15,000 against Harman Blennerhassett; also Francis Regnier advertises a dry goods and grocery store in Marietta. Joseph Buell, William Skinner, Levi Barber and Samuel Fairlamb, "Corresponding Committee for the Republican Society of Marietta," publish a short article in favor of Return J. Meigs, Jun., for Governor, who had been previously nominated. Among the selections is this: "An Irishman and an Englishman falling out, the Hibernian told the other if he did not hold his tongue, he would break his impenetrable head and let the brains out of his empty skull." 

The number of February 8, 1808, announces that the Legislature of Ohio had passed an act incorporating the Bank of Marietta; and we can't find an item of any interest in that of Feb. 15th. Feb. 15, 1808, Merriam & Prentiss advertise new goods at their store in Marietta, and the late Nathaniel Clark says that he has "commenced a Pottery in Marietta," which stood where John Newton's house now is on Fourth Street. The Sheriff at this time was John Clark, who offers property for sale.

Tonnage of shipping at Marietta Feb. 20, 1808: Ship Francis, 350 tons; ship Robert Hall, 294; Brig Rufus Putnam, 165; Brigantine Goelet, 200; Brig Enterprise, 170; and two vessels of about 70 tons each. Total 7 vessels, 1,319 tons.

March 14, 1808, died at Springfield, Mrs. Catherine Buckingham, wife of Ebenezer Buckingham, and daughter of Gen. Rufus Putnam, in her 29th year.

By return published, Washington County contained in December 1807, free white male inhabitants to the number of 1,011; and the whole number in the State was 31,308.

The number of the Gazette of March 21 and March 18, 1808, contain not a line of editorial matter - all foreign news, advertisements, with a poetical selection.

April 4, 1808, Griffin Greene was still Postmaster. The paper of this date contains the act to incorporate the Bank of Marietta - Rufus Putnam, Benjamin Ives Gilman, William Skinner and others. The brig Hope, built at Marietta, owned by Charles Greene, sailed for New Orleans, March 25, under command of Capt. Miner - 130 tons, built by Amos Miller; and on the same the brigantine Goelet, 200 tons, was launched from the shipyard of Col. Abner Lord - Washington McGrath, builder. 

The following card of our friend, the venerable Dr. Hildreth, appears in the Gazette of April 13, 1808:

Physician and Surgeon.

Samuel P. Hildreth

Respectfully informs the inhabitants of Marietta and the vicinity that he practices in the above branches. The strictest attention will be paid to all who may favor him with their commands, and with as little expense as possible He may be found at any hour by calling at the mansion of the late Col. Sproat.

May 3, 1808, Jabez True advertises that he is going to New England and that all indebted to him must pay up; and Augustus Stone & Co. advertise Jewelry, Dry Goods and Groceries in the Store lately occupied by Maj. Joseph Lincoln. M. B. Belknap & Co. advertise a dissolution of partnership - bookstore, dry goods and groceries.

May 11, 1808, Joseph Holden advertises a "New Store, just opened at the dwelling house of the subscriber on Market street, next door to Capt. Obadiah Lincoln's." Mr. Holden still lives in this city, at about the age of 94.

In June 1808, the names of William Woodbridge, Benjamin Ruggles, Paul Fearing, and David Putnam appear attached to advertisements as attorneys. William Woodbridge was a brother of the late Dudley Woodbridge, afterwards removed to Michigan and was a Whig U.S. Senator from that State 1841-47. He died a year or two ago. Benjamin Ruggles lived in Marietta at that time. He afterwards lived in Belmont County and was U.S. Senator from 1815 to 1833, a period of 18 years. Paul Fearing was Representative in Congress in 1801-03. The name of David Putnam appears as Cashier of the Bank of Marietta, June 16, 1808.

The following extraordinary paragraph appears June 10, 1808. "Died in England, an honest Welsh farmer, aged 105. He had been three times married. By his first wife he had 30 children, by his second 10, by his third 4, and by two concubines 7. (Only 51!) His youngest son was 81 years younger than the oldest, and 800 persons, descended from him, attended his funeral.

Elder William Holley, "for some years a teacher of the Baptist order," died in Marietta July 7, 1808, in his 60th year; and Israel Stone died at Rainbow July 13, aged 60.

On July 7th, 1808, Mr. Fairlamb's printing office was offered for sale, advertised in his own paper, by John Clark, Sheriff, at the suit of Elijah Backus; and on the same date Jordan & Curtis advertise as Hatters - Jonathan P. Jordan and Jason Curtis; they dissolved partnership the next September.

Died Sept. 18, 1808, Mrs. Jane R. Woodbridge, daughter of Benjamin I. Gilman and wife of Dudley Woodbridge, Jr.

Nov. 3, 1808, Lewis Anderson gives notice that he "has commenced the Tailoring business" on Ohio street.

The Presidential election in 1808 occurred on the 8th of November. We have the Ohio Gazette of each week for the next month and the only return of the election in this county is contained in the words: "It is understood that there is a small Federal majority in the county." At the election in October previous, the vote for Representatives in Congress stood (Athens then being classed with Washington) as follows: Jeremiah Morrow, Republican, 411; Philemon Beecher, Federal, 453.

Mrs. Ruth Stone, wife of Augustus Stone of this town, died Dec. 1, 1808. Dr. Thomas Jett was in practice here at this time, Dec. 1808, and performed a remarkable cure of a cancer.

March 27, 1809, Alexander Hill, Captain, notifies his company, the first company, first battalion, first regiment, first brigade and third division, to meet "for training" on the first Saturday of April on the commons by the Market House.

The above are all the items we can find that we think of interest enough to print at this time, in 33 numbers of the Ohio Gazette, published in the years 1807, 1808, and 1809.