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Descendants of Joseph Bemis


      163. David4 Bemis (Jonathan3, John2, Joseph1)1114 was born 25 Jan 1726/27 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts1114, and died 08 Feb 1790 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts1115. He married Mary Bright1116 29 Nov 17531117, daughter of Nathaniel Bright and Ann Bowman. She was born 06 Apr 1731 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts1117,1118.

Notes for David Bemis:
History of Paris, Maine from Its Settlement to 1880 with a History of the Grants of 1736 & 1771 Together with Personal Sketches, a Copious Genealogical Register and an Appendix
Bemis.

"David, (son of Jonathan) was b. Jan. 25, 1726, m. Mary Bowman."
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[Draper:177] Mr. Bemis was Selectman 1773-4-5-6-9 of Watertown.
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[History of Newton, Massachusetts. Town and City from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. 1630 - 1880, Samuel Frances Smith, D.D., Boston: The American Logotype Company, 1880, pages 576-582]

The history of the North Village of Newton, as connected with the establishment and growth of various original kinds of manufactures, is full of interest. Some of the works first planted here were on the Watertown side of the river; but, the village being one, the water-power being equally available on each side, and the enterprise of the owners having built up a business constantly expanding in each direction, the history of manufactures at this point belongs to the history of Newton, and the history of Newton cannot be complete without it. The locality bore for many years the title of "Bemis's Factories."

An article in the Waltham Sentinel of April 29, 1864, supplies the requisite materials for the view which follows.

Through the energy, enterprise and perseverance of the Bemis family through two or three generations, water-power was first applied at this point for manufacturing and mechanical purposes.

David Bemis, the father of Captain Luke Bemis and Seth Bemis, Esq., more than a century since purchased thirty-nine acres of land on the Watertown side, and subsequently twenty-five acres additional, embracing all the land on which the buildings belonging to the village on that side of the river now stand. In 1778, David Bemis with Dr. Enos Sumner, who then owned the land on the Newton side, constructed the original dam across the river where the same now is. The next year Dr. Sumner sold out his interest in the concern to John D. McDongal, of Boston, Michael Carney, of Dorchester, and Nathaniel Patten, of Hartford, Conn., who erected a paper-mill in 1779. In 1780-1, David Bemis became owner of the two-thirds of this business, and with his son, Captain Luke Bemis, carried it on till 1790, when the father, David Bemis, died. Shortly after that event, Luke Bemis and his brother Isaac became sole owners of the property, and continued together till 1794, when Isaac died. From that time till 1821, Luke Bemis, either alone or in partnership with his brother-in-law, Caleb Eddy, of Boston, carried on the business of paper-making. He then sold out to Seth Bemis, his brother, as will be more particularly noticed hereafter, in connection with the history of the Watertown side.

Captain Bemis may be regarded as the first successful manufacturer of paper in this vicinity, and, perhaps, in Massachusetts, and who at the outset had to struggle against great difficulties, being obliged at the commencement to obtain most of his machinery and workmen from Europe, and afterwards suffering the loss of his mill, stock and machinery by fire. But so important was the enterprise considered, in a public point of view, that the Legislature of Massachusetts made a special grant to enable him to rebuild his mill after the fire.

The process of paper-making in those days was slow and tedious, requiring as many months as it now requires days. Each sheet was made singly, by first dipping the mould into the pulp, and shaking it, much in the same manner as a person shakes the riddle in cleaning grain. When the pulp was sufficiently consolidated by this shaking process, the mould was turned over upon a woolen felt, to which the pulp adhered; upon this, another felt was laid for the reception of another sheet, and thus the process was continued. The moulds were all imported until the beginning of the present century. About that time, Mr. Jacob Mead, an ingenious citizen of Waltham, invented a machine for weaving cooper wire for paper-moulds. This invention proved to be very remunerative to the inventor, and a great convenience to the public. No one, outside of the inventor's family, ever saw it until after the inventor's death. It was then sold at auction by the administrator, boxed up and unseen, to the late Mr. Thomas Miller, of Waltham, for $550. The process of paper-making, however, soon became so essentially changed, after Mr. Miller's purchase, that the value of the invention was much diminished.

All the land bounded by the river, on the southerly, that is, the Newton side, extended from or near the Watertown line to a point on the Charles River near the north end of Morse Island, afterwards called Fox Island, belonged, during a century or more from the first settlement of Newton, to Richard Park and John Fuller, and their lineal descendants. The former owned six hundred acres of the easterly portion, and John Fuller the westerly portion, containing seven hundred and fifty acres. The division line between them commenced at a point on the river, near and perhaps identical with that which divided the land of the late Henry Craft from that which now belongs to Messrs. Seth and George Bemis. This line ran southerly to a white oak tree, the stump of which is now remaining at a point about twenty feet south of Watertown Street, opposite the house of the widow Monks. This original landmark still continues as an important one between different owners of land. John Fuller's south line ran westerly from said oak tree to the point near Fox Island, as before mentioned. John Fuller had seven sons, whose Christian names all began with the letter J. This very valuable tract of territory now belongs to Waltham; during more than a century, it was called Fuller's Corner. The father, with some or all of his sons, while traversing the then wilderness near the residence of the late Ezra Fuller, refreshed themselves with cake and cheese and drank from the brook, and hence named it Cheese-Cake Brook, by which name it is still known. At a later hour, they spotted some wild game on the small conical hill standing a little east of the residence of Mr. Conant, which they named Cook Hill. Fifty or sixty years ago it was so designated; but the name has now become obsolete.

The remains of the original house of John Fuller could be seen, until within a few years, near the river, on the farm of the late Ezra Fuller.

Richard Park died in 1665, and his only son Thomas inherited his estate, buy the will of his father. Thomas Park erected a house near the barn, which was burned several years since, belonging to the late Seth Bemis, Esq. The house was standing until about 1808-9, although so dilapidated as to be untenantable. Thomas Park died August 11, 1690, aged sixty-two, and from him, his heirs and assigns, the title of all the land in the vicinity has been derived.

We will now turn our attention to the northerly or Watertown side of the river, which forms an integral part of this busy manufacturing village.

During the period while David Bemis with his son Luke was engaged in the manufacture of paper on the Newton side, he build and carried on a grist-mill and snuff-mill on the Watertown side, until his death in 1790, it being the first mill on that side of the river at that place. At his decease, the property on the Watertown side was inherited by his two sons, Luke and Seth, the latter of whom, in or about 1796, bought out the interest therein of his brother Luke, and became sole proprietor of the mill and its appurtenances. He soon made preparations for the manufacture of chocolate, and preparing dye-woods and medicinal woods and roots for use. These branches of business he carried on successfully until about 1803. Then, by making a small addition to the old mill, he commenced spinning cotton by machinery; and although the machinery was very limited in amount and imperfect in its construction, his profits were said to be almost fabulous on his "cotton warp," which was wholly consigned to a Mr. Bowers, of Boston, father of Mr. Charles E. Bowers, later of Newtonville. So great was the demand that it was impossible for Mr. Bemis, with his limited number of spindles, to furnish the required supply.

It had been and was then the practice universally to manufacture all the cotton cloth for domestic use, in the family. All the families were furnished with spinning-wheels, and nearly all with looms. Hence the great demand for "Bemis' warp," which was much superior to that spun by hand. The woof or filling was still spun, and the cloth woven in families. At that period the women, old and young, knew how to spin and weave, as well as to sew. A writer of the age following says, -- "They were the more respected for being competent and willing to earn their living by honest industry. Alas, the change that the spinning of street yarn and weaving webs of scandal should have so generally succeeded the home manufacture of useful domestic textile fabrics."

The preparation of the cotton for carding was at that time a slow and expensive operation. It was carried out in small parcels, to be picked by hand in families living in the vicinity, at about four cents per pound, exclusive of carrying out and bringing back, which required most of the time of one man and horse. To facilitate the process of picking, such families as were engaged in the occupation were mostly provided with a "whipping frame," the bottom of which was woven, or made of strong cords so loosely that the seeds and dirt could pass through; the cotton, being placed thereon, and two sticks, one in each hand, being laid on smartly for two or three minutes, became very much loosened. For several years the business of cotton picking afforded employment to a multitude of persons, enabling them to procure a comfortable livelihood.

Mr. Bemis constantly improved and increased his machinery for spinning, etc., discarding the old and adopting that which was new and better. After a few years he caused a machine to be made for preparing the cotton for carding, which did not differ materially from the "cotton pickers" of the present day. This machine bore the grim title of "the devil;" and, though not very attractive in appearance, particularly when in motion, performed in a very expeditions and satisfactory manner the service intended, much to the regret of the numerous laborers, who were obliged, in consequence of the invention, to seek their daily bread by other methods.

As early as 1808 or 1809, Mr. Bemis, with the aid of foreign weavers using hand-looms, began to manufacture somewhat extensively sheeting, shirting, bed-ticking, satinet, bagging for the Southern market and cotton duck, woven at that time principally by the State Prison convicts in Charlestown, a large number of whom were employed by Mr. Bemis until his power-looms were put into operation, taking precedence of any in New England. The cotton duck manufactured by Mr. Bemis was the first that was ever manufactured in the United States. Strong prejudice, having its birth in ignorance and interest, existed for some years against its use; but Mr. Bemis had the satisfaction to outlive the prejudice against its adaptation to the uses for which it was intended, and to realize a handsome profit by its manufacture.

In the autumn of 1812, Mr. Bemis caused to be built, at the easterly end of the old mill, the small brick building, -- demolished fifty years later, -- for a gas-house. In this building gas from coal was made under the direction of an English expert, and the lighting of the factory by the same in 1812-13, was said at that time to have been the first attempt to illuminate with coal-gas in the United States. Many persons from considerable distances visited the factory to witness the brilliancy of the experiment. The gas being prepared in close proximity to the dwelling-house of Mr. Bemis, and the pipes, being of common tin, having many leakages, made its use objectionable, and it was abandoned after the second year; but it is a fact worthy of record, that carburetted hydrogen for illuminating purposes gleamed out over the waters of the Charles and irradiated the intervales of Newton two years before it was in use in England.

At this time Mr. Bemis had, by several additions, alterations, divisions and sub-divisions under the same old roof, departments for carrying on, at the same time, the following branches of business, -- viz., the manufacturing of cotton and wool into yarn, the weaving being done in another building, preparing for use the various kinds of medicinal preparations and dye-woods, glass grinding and cutting, polishing binnacle and other lights for lighthouses, ships, etc., a shop for repairing and making machinery, a grist-mill, and, adjoining, the building for the manufacture of gas. In that hive of industry might be seen at that time the late Elisha Crehore, for many years a successful merchant in Waltham.

All the operatives employed in carrying on the foregoing branches of business for the first eighteen or twenty years were apprised of the time to commence operations by the blowing of a tin horn, which required the effort of strong lungs to make the blast long and loud. And, however ludicrous such a method may appear at this age of the world, the ringing of a bell at that time for such a purpose would undoubtedly then have appeared much more so, as no bell larger than a cow-bell was then in use in Watertown, Newton or Waltham. The name of "Tin Horn," applied to the village, has been coined in more recent times, no such term having been in use until subsequent to the employment of the tin horn for the purpose specified.

In 1821, Mr. Bemis, by purchasing of his brother Luke and Caleb Eddy, a brother-in-law of Luke Bemis, their interest on the Newton side, became sole owner of the whole water-power, mills, etc., and soon after sold to the Boston Manufacturing Company twelve inches of the power; that is, he lowered his dam one foot, and received the sum of $12,000 for so doing; and, soon after, re-conveyed to his brother Luke and four or five others a joint interest in the establishment under the firm name of the Bemis Manufacturing Company, and during their corporate continuance carried on principally the manufacture of satinets and cotton ducks, until the dissolution of the Company in 1830.

On the dissolution of the Bemis Manufacturing Company, Mr. Seth Bemis, in company with Thomas Cordis, one of the old company, bought out the entire property of said company, and continued the same business of the former company until 1839. When Thomas Cordis sold out his interest to Seth Bemis and his son, Seth Bemis, jr., they used the water-power on both sides, partly for the manufacture of cotton and wool, and partly for the manufacture of dye-woods and drugs, until 1847. Then they sold out their dye-wood business on the Newton side to William Freeman; and Seth Bemis, senior, again became sole owner of the factory buildings and water-power on the Watertown side, and so continued till his death in 1850.

On the settlement of his estate in 1851, Seth Bemis, son of the deceased, became the sole proprietor of the Watertown mills and property, and retained the ownership till 1860, when he sold out to William Freeman & Co. By a subsequent transfer, Messrs. Freeman & Co. sold to the Aetna Mill Company, by whom the works were greatly enlarged, for the purpose of prosecuting the manufacture of woolen fabrics by both water and steam power.

It will thus be seen that, from the original purchase in 1753 by David Bemis, the property on the Watertown side of the river has been in the Bemis family more or less exclusively for more than a century and a quarter, and on the Newton side for nearly a century.

A bridge across the river was first build by the Messrs. Bemis at this part of the river, being private property, between 1780 and 1796. For ten or twelve years it was without railing, and would now be regarded as dangerous. In 1807, the Watertown end was carried away by a freshet, and a foot-bridge only was substituted during two or three years. Subsequently, a bridge was built by subscription, suitable for teams, the people in the vicinity aiding. In 1818, the Watertown end of this bridge was again carried away. The next day, John Cowdry and Timothy Davis, many years a resident of Waltham, attempted to cross the river to the Newton side, above the dam, in a boat, which was upset, and they were carried over the dam. John Cowdry was drowned, but Mr. Davis, after being several times drawn back into the vortex under the dam, was by a mysterious Providence thrown out of the whirl, and floated to the portion of the bridge on the Newton side, and was rescued by anxious spectators.

The road leading over the bridge was called California Street, and was laid out as a public highway in 1816.

More About David Bemis:
Date born 2: 24 Jan 1726/271119
Died 2: 08 Feb 17941119

Notes for Mary Bright:
Sinnett refers to her as Mary Bigelow, but does not list a father. Bond indicates her father as Nathaniel Bright. The History of Paris, Maine contends that she was Mary Bowman.

More About Mary Bright:
Date born 2: 06 Apr 1781, (obviously incorrect)1120

More About David Bemis and Mary Bright:
Marriage: 29 Nov 17531121
     
Children of David Bemis and Mary Bright are:
  504 i.   David5 Bemis1122, born 15 Sep 1754 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts1122,1123; died in youth1123.
  More About David Bemis:
Baptism: 22 Sep 1754, "David Son of David Bemis"1124
+ 505 ii.   Nathaniel Bemis, born 20 Dec 1756 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died 06 Mar 1835.
+ 506 iii.   Captain Luke Bemis, born 11 Oct 1759 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died 16 Feb 1845 in Springfield (Cabotville), Massachusetts.
+ 507 iv.   Jonathan Bemis, born 12 Jun 1762 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died 05 Jul 1828 in Paris, Oxford, Maine.
+ 508 v.   Anna Bemis, born 03 Sep 1764 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died 1794.
  509 vi.   Isaac Bemis1125, born 26 Dec 1765 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts1125; died 17941125.
  More About Isaac Bemis:
Date born 2: 26 Dec 1767, Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts1126
Baptism: 28 Dec 1766, "Isaac, Son of David Bemis"1127
Cause of Death: suicide1128
+ 510 vii.   Mary Bemis, born Feb 1769 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
+ 511 viii.   Hannah Bemis, born 23 Aug 1771 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died 1835.
+ 512 ix.   Seth Bemis, born 23 Jan 1775 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died 04 Apr 1851 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts.


      164. Anna4 Bemis (Jonathan3, John2, Joseph1)1129 was born 04 Jul 1730 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts1129, and died Bef. 08 May 17691130. She married (1) Samuel Hammond1130. She married (2) Ens. Silas Gates1130 01 Dec 1760 in Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachuetts1131. He was born 10 Jul 1718 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts1132, and died 16 Jun 1779 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts1132.

Notes for Ens. Silas Gates:
[The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1847-1994, v121, p52-3, January 1967]

Ens. Silas Gates (Daniel, Stephen, Stephen), born in Stow, Mass., 10 July 1718, died there 16 June 1779 (gravestone).

His first wife, Mary Whitcomb, was baptized in Lancaster, Mass., 4 Oct. 1724; she died before 25 July 1756, when his marriage intentions with Mary (Daby) Wheeler, widow of Thomas Wheeler, were entered. She was born in Stow 24 Oct. 1722, died after 29 June 1757 and before 1 Dec. 1760, when he married thirdly, in Lunenburg, Mass., Anna (Bemis) Hammond, born in Watertown, Mass., 4 July 1730, widow of Samuel Hammond. She died before 8 May 1769 when he married fourthly, Mary (Graves) Brown, born in Stow 10 Aug. 1735, died in Ashby, Mass., 19 June 1831, widow of Jonas Brown.

Silas was a member of Capt. Benjamin Munroe's Company of Stow in December 1776. This company contained a number of elderly men who belonged to the "Alarm list."

His farm, part of which was given to him by his father, was located at Sprindle Hill, Stow. The house in which he resided burned down in 1913. The farm has passed out of the posession of his descendants.

More About Silas Gates and Anna Bemis:
Intention filed: 13 Nov 1760, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachusetts1133
Marriage: 01 Dec 1760, Lunenburg, Worcester, Massachuetts1134
     
Children of Anna Bemis and Silas Gates are:
  513 i.   Eunice5 Gates1135, born 26 Jun 1761 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts1135. She married Amos Wheeler1135 27 Jan 17801135.
  More About Eunice Gates:
Residence: "removed to Charlestown, N. H."1135

  More About Amos Wheeler and Eunice Gates:
Marriage: 27 Jan 17801135
+ 514 ii.   Catherine Gates, born 05 Mar 1763 in Stow, Middlesex, Massachusetts; died 30 Jul 1785 in Roxbury, Suffolk, Massachusetts.

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