Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/14

 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

��^cended from Thomas Webster, an Englishman who settled in Hampton, N. H., in the latter part of the seven- teenth century, — Elijah C. being of the fifth generation. They trace connec- tion with others of the same name who were early settled in Kingston and other New Hampshire towns. John was the eldest of six children, of whom but one other is now living — a sister, residing in Cambridge, Mass. John received the best education afforded by the common schools of that time, with a few terms at Brad- ford academy, under the instruction of the famous mathematician Benja- min (Ireenleaf; and also a term at the private mathematical school of Gal)riel Thompson. But early in life, with this only as his capital, beside the open hand and heart of an honest, industrious and faithful young man, he began to work out his fortunes for himself. Most of his bovhood was spent in working in a grocery store, and an auction-room in Salem, until when, at an early age, he manifested a strong desire to follow the sea. An opportunity soon presented itself, and, at the age of twenty-one he embarked as captain's clerk on a vessel bound for the Red sea. He served on watch. and did all he could of seaman's duty, that he might acquire all the knowl- edge possible of nautical life. On his second voyage he shipped in the same capacity, but on the homeward pass- .age the vessel was ])artially wrecked by a violent storm off the liermudas. By the efforts of Mr. Webster much of the cargo and property was saved, and, fifty-one days after the disaster, what was left of the vessel was brought into port.

For this faithful service Mr. Web- ster was presented with an elegant service of solid silver, and an elabo- rately chased ice-pitcher to match, by ■-the insurance companies interested. On his third voyage he was mate and assistant supercargo, entrusted with half the responsibility of all the mer- cantile transactions of the voyage. On his fourth and last voyage he was master of the vessel.

��The ships upon all these voyages were chartered by Salem merchants — Messrs. Pickman, Silsbee & Stone — to whom we shall have further occa- sion to refer in connection with the life of Mr. Webster.

In his voyages, Mr. Vv'ebster visited all the ports on the east coast of Afri- ca, from Madagascar northward, and upon the Red sea. He became much acquainted with the habits, customs, and languages of the people, and deeply interested in them, receiving from both dignitaries and peasants manv tokens of their fond regard and esteem, which he prizes, with their tales of association, amon? the relics and pleasant recollections of that ad- venturous life, though abandoned yet never to be forgotten.

The writer will not attempt to give any account in detail of his most in- teresting experience as a sailor. The many romantic incidents of peril, ad- venture, and good fortune, connected therewith, and which he relates in a most fascinating manner, would be sufficient material for more than one attractive story, if handled by a pen gifted with tlie ability to do them justice.

Closing his life as a sailor, soon after his return from his last voyage, Mr. Webster became connected with the Newmarket Manufecturing Com- pany, and it is chiefly of his life as identified with that institution, and the town of Newmarket, that I wish to write.

Every man has some main cause at the heart of his life's labors, and for which he spends the force of his best years. Around that center, whatever it may be, cluster his strong thoughts, hopes, and actions ; and it was this work that occupied that place in Mr. Webster's history and experience.

As many of the important papers and early records of the company were destroyed by the great fire in Boston, in 1873, much of its early history could be traced only with diffi- culty, but for the comprehensive re- ports and most accurate memory of Mr. Webster.

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