Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America, published 1869

Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America, 1869

Biography No. XIII — Charles Morris, cont.

Now commenced

The Three Day's Chase,

which has passed into history as one of the most brilliant achievements of the kind ever recorded. It has no parallel in uavel sic affairs, and "Xenophon's retreat of the Ten Thousand" may be considered its counterpart on the land. At one time the wind being light, one of the enemy's frigates furled all her sails, and the boats of the whole squadron were attached to her to bring her along side of the "Constitution." Lieut. Morris devised an expedient by which she was kept out of the way, and even gained ground of their enemies. The British officers with their glasses were watching every movement with the intensest interest, and were not a little chagrined at seeing her leaving them farther and farther in the rear.

The excitement necessarily incident to such a chase can scarcely be imagined. One must be on board and witness the approaching enemy strong enough to make defeat and capture certain—if they can only get within reach—in order to realize the feelings experienced by these gallant tars.

Let us imagine ourselves on board the "Constitution." Friday morning, July 17, 1812, clear weather and fresh breezes from the northward greet us as we come up on deck. The hours are passed in conversation respecting the probability of meeting the enemy, and keeping a good look-out all around the horizon. At 2 o'clock four sails appear, but too far off to be made out. Already the officers are speculating as to the character of the strangers. The man in the binnacle casts furtive glances over the blue waters, and shakes his head significantly. Now he tacks to the east. At 4 o'clock a ship in sight bearing N.E. standing down for us, and three ships and a brig N.N.W. on the starboard tack. For two hours or more light airs from the northward waft us on our way under easy sail. "Ware ship, and stand towards that sail, keeping her a little off the larboard bow"—exclaims Capt. Hull. "Ay! Ay!" replies the man at the wheel. The rapid roll of the drum beating to quarters is heard, and every man thrilled by an electric shock, is at his post in an instant. The ship is cleared for action, and for three hours the light winds bear her slowly toward the strangers. The private signals of the day are made, but not answered. They are, therefore, not friends. At quarter past 11, the signals are hauled down. "What think you?" enquired the first lieutenant of Capt. Hull. "They are too much for us,"—was the reply. "Give them a wide berth and save your bacon," rejoined an old tar sub voce. We make sail by the wind with starboard tacks on board. Clouds fleck the sky,—light airs from the south and west. All night the men have stood at their posts, waiting patiently—watching intently. At 4 o'c A.M., one of the enemy ships makes a signal. It means mischief. She has started the game, and thus, she signals her pack of hounds to join in the chase. At day-light three sails are discovered astern. Shortly after another. And now in full view appear two frigates off our lee quarter, and one ship-of-the-line, two frigates, one brig and one schooner astern. Fine prospect for a capture. If any one of the seven would come out, and single handed, try the fortunes of the day, we would throw down the glove to them, or pick up theirs. But John Bull runs no ventures. He must needs have a fleet to capture a Yankee frigate.

But lo! the wind dies away—it is calm with us! On come the hostile ships in battle array like a pack of hungry wolves thirsting for blood. From the port holes of every ship the bristling cannon appear ready to belch their contents into the sides of the "Constitution." Quick as thought the sharp clear voice of Captain Hull is heard—"Hoist out the first cutter and get the boats ahead—tow the ship's head to the southward." No quicker said than twenty men spring to the work—the oaken oars quiver beneath their brawny arms. The ship moves to the order of its commander. "Up with that twenty-four pounder from the gun deck for a stern gun," A dozen hearties bend to the work and it is done. "Bring aft the forecastle gun." "Cut away the taffarel to give them room." "Run two guns out of the cabin windows." Each order is obeyed with a promptness that challenges admiration. The "Constitution" resembles a bee-hive disturbed by some foreign intruder. Captain Hull is ubiquitous—Lieut. Morris is on the alert completing every order with precision. At 6 o'c A.M. the ship's head is round to the southward. Orders are again heard on deck. "Set top-gallant studding sails and stay sails." Like a cat the nimble sailors spring into the rigging and run along the lines as though they walking on terra firma. Nearer approach the inveterate foe. A puff of smoke from the foremost frigate appears—the splash of the solid shot in the briny deep short of its mark, and the dull report of a thirty-two pounder breaks upon the ear. No response is made to the harmless shot. Hull and Morris are seen in close conversation. "Try it—try it," says Hull. The bowman casts the lead, and announces twenty-six fathoms water. Morris commands a boat—the kedge is thrown, and the "Constitution" moves ahead. A shout goes up, and the men pull with a will. At half past 7 A.M. the stars and stripes are hoisted, and one gun fired at the ship astern just to measure her distance. Half an hour after a dead calm, and the men pull at the oars in towing and kedging. The enemy having a light wind gain upon us with their boats ahead and one using sweeps. On they come, and at 9 o'clock the line-of-battle ship is in close chase, and the nearest frigate is gaining on us! How the boys spring to their oars! It is a life and death pull, and the remembrance of the "Jersey prison ship" puts new vigor into their arms. A light breeze strikes us from the south. Braced up by the wind on the larboard tack, now we move as it were out of the jaws of the British Lion. The nearest frigate, seeing her prey escaping, sends iron regards with fiery vengeance, but they fall short. The boats are ordered along side, two of them run up. Forty hogsheads of water are started to lighten the ship. And now we gain on them again, but our deliverance is short, for another calm follows, and the first cutter is again manned to tow the ship. Six sails off the starboard beam, and the nearest frigate has all the boats of the fleet to tow her towards us. British power and numbers must be again met by Yankee ingenuity, and for two hours kedging is the order of the day under the immediate direction of Lieut. Morris; notwithstanding the success of the enemy seems inevitable.

At a quarter before 1 P.M. of the 18th, a strange sail is discovered two points abaft off the lee beam—the four frigates one point off the starboard quarter—the line-of-battle ship, brig and schooner off the lee beam. A light breeze which does not reach us helps them along and nearer and nearer they approach—while the chasing frigates commence firing their bow chase guns, and their shot comes splashing the water directly in range, and almost reach us. We reply with our stern chasers. At half-past three one of the ships is nearer than ever. Some of the officers and men begin to despair of making our escape. The enemy are jubilant, and exert themselves to the utmost. "Lower the first cutter, green cutter, and gig—pull ahead and tow for life," cried Captain Hull. The crew bend to their oars with all their might. The excitement of the chase is intense. Every nerve is strained to its utmost tension. The kedge is thrown, and the "Costitution" sic is again rescued from the grasp of the enemy. At eleven o'clock P.M. a breeze springing up from the southward, the boats are called back again and hoisted up —the fore-top-mast stay sail, and main-top-gallant studding sail are set, and we sweep ahead out of the reach of immediate danger. All night long the chase is kept up. It is a test of endurance. At 9 o'clock on the morning of the 19th, a ship to the windward is seen—an American Merchantman standing towards us. The frigate astern hoists American colors as a decoy. "Run up the English colors," commanded Captain Hull, and the British Lion was flying from our mast head as a warning to the unsuspecting merchantman to give a wide berth. At eleven A.M. the white caps appear in the distance. Every sailor's countenance brightens. On come the rolling waves and the sweeping winds. The squall strikes the "Constitution," and presses her huge side deep in the water. As good seamanship would have it, we are to the windward, and Captain Hull lets everything go by the run apparently in the utmost confusion as if unable to show a yard of canvass sic, with sails hauled up by the brails and clewlines. The enemy perceiving this hasten sic to get everything snug, before the gust should reach them; but no sooner do they get their sails furled than Captain Hull has his course and topsails set, and the "Constitution" darts forward like an arrow before the blast. 'Tis a well wrought stratagem to gain time. Wild huzzas are heard on board as she leaves the enemy far in the rear; Commodore Broke and his officers bite their lips in mortification and chagrin to see so fine a prize slip through their fingers—out-maneuvered by a Yankee tar.

For sixty hours the crew of the "Constitution" have stood at their stations watching, and laboring and toiling at the sails, oars, guns, and ropes, and it is nothing strange that the weary sailors sink down to rest, and sleep soundly on the deck, or wherevever they happen to be—now the danger of the chase is past.

Capt. Hull arrived at Boston harbor on Sunday, the 26th of July. On reaching State street he was greeted with the repeated huzzas of his fellow citizens, who were overjoyed at his masterly retreat and escape. The enthusiasm was intense, and the gallant Hull knowing to whom the honor belonged, and willing to share with his fellow officers, caused the following card to be inserted in the books of the "Exchange Coffee House."

"Captain Hull finding his friends are correctly informed of his situation when chased by the British Squadron off N. Y., and that they are good enough to give him more credit by escaping them than he ought to claim, takes this opportunity of requesting them to make a transfer of a great part of their good wishes to Lieut. Morris, and the other brave officers, and the crew under his command, for their very great exertions, and prompt attention to orders while the enemy were in the chase. Captain Hull has great pleasure in saying, that notwithstanding the length of the chase, and the officers and crew being deprived of sleep and allowed but little refreshment during the time, not a murmur was heard to escape them."

The Constitution and Guerrier.

Captain Hull very soon put to sea and Aug. 19, 1812, another opportunity was presented for heroism and naval skill. A sail was descried to the leeward, and making chase it was soon discovered to be a British frigate. The "Constitution" cleared for action, and a little past 6 o'clock, P.M. the ball opened in good earnest. The graphic description of Cooper will be read in this connection with peculiar interest. Anecdote—Morris' anxiety to fight.—The guns of the "Constitution" were double-shotted with round and grape shot, and at a little past six the bow of the American frigate began to double on the quarter of the English ship, when she opened with her forward guns, drawing slowly ahead with her greater way, both vessels keeping up a close and heavy fire, as their guns bore.

In about ten minutes, or just as the ships were fairly side by side the mizzen mast of the Englishman was shot away, when the American passed slowly ahead, keeping up a tremendous fire, and luffed short round on her bows to prevent being raked. In executing this maneuvre the ship shot into the wind, got sternway and fell foul of her antagonist. While in this situation, the cabin of the "Constitution" took fire from the close explosion of the forward guns of the enemy, who obtained a small but temporary advantage from his position. The good conduct of Mr. Hoffman, who commanded in the cabin soon repaired this accident, and a gun of the enemy's that had threatened further injury, was disabled. As the vessels touched both parties prepared to board. The English turned all hands up from below, and mustered forward, with that object; while Mr. Morris, the first lieutenant, with his own hands endeavored to lash the ships together. Mr. Alwyn, the master, and Mr. Bush, the lieutenant of marines were upon the taffrail of the "Constitution" to be ready to spring. Both sides now suffered by the closeness of the musketry; the English much the most however. Lieut. Morris wrs sic was shot through the body, the bullet fortunately missing his vitals. Mr. Alwyn was wounded in the shoulder, and Mr. Bush fell dead by a bullet through the head. It being impossible for either party to board in the face of such a fire, and with the heavy sea that was on, the sails were filled, and just as the "Constitution" shot ahead, the fore-mast of the enemy fell carrying down with it his main mast and leaving him wallowing in the trough of the sea, a helpless wreck. When the enemy's mizzen was shot away, Capt. Hull, in the enthusiasm of the moment, swung his hat around his head, and in true sailor phrase exclaimed, "Huzza! my boys! we've made a brig of her!"

The "Constitution" now hauled aboard her tacks, run off a short distance, secured her masts, aud sic rove new rigging. At seven o'clock she were round and taking a favorable position for raking—a jack that had been kept flying on the stump of the mizzen-mast of the enemy was lowered. The victory was complete. The third lieutenant was sent on board the prize, and soon returned with the intelligence that they had captured the British frigate "Guerrier," one of the squadron which had recently chased the "Constitution," of New York. At eight o'clock Capt. Dacres came aboard, and offered his sword to Captain Hull, but he refused to take it.

The "Guerrier" mounted forty-nine carriage guns, and was manned with 302 men. An effort was made to bring her into port, but the next morning she was found to have four feet water in the hold, and was in a sinking condition. She was set on fire, and abandoned, and at half-past three, on the 21st, she blew up. Our loss in the action was seven killed and seven wounded. The enemy lost fifteen killed and sixty-four wounded.

During the healing of his wound, Lieut. Morris was in Providence, R. I., and for some weeks his life was despaired of. He was reduced to a mere skeleton, but gradually began to gain in stength and flesh, and finally was able to enter the service again.

The people of the United States were fired with the greatest enthusiasm when the news of the capture of the "Guerrier" reached them, and Hull and officers were feted, and public demonstrations were made wherever they went. Lieut. Morris received a service of silver plate from the people of Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1812; was given command of the "Adams," Jan., 1813, and passing the grade of master commandant, was promoted to the rank of eaptain sic, and received his commission bearing date March 5th, 1813, was a guest at a public dinner at Georgetown, D. C. the April, following and very soon thereafter went on board the "Adams," a twenty-eight gun ship, and started on a cruise upon the coasts of the United States and Ireland. He captured quite a number of the enemy's merchantmen, and greatly harrassed his commerce in the Atlantic. May, 1814, he was at Savannah and in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy announces the capture of the British Brig "Epervier" of 18 guns by the U.S. sloop of war, Peacock, Captain Warrington. This action was fought with the greatest gallantry, and the victory obtained in forty-five minutes. It sent a thrill of joy throughout the country and added to the enthusiasm already awakened among the sailors and naval officers.

He continued his cruise until Augustt sic, 1814, when the scurvy appeared on board, and the ship having been much injured by running on shore in thick water upon Haut Isle, Captain Morris entered the Penobscot river in Maine, and running up to Hampden made preparations to heave out for repairs. While engaged in this, a strong British expedition entered the river to capture the ship. The militia force assembled for her protection, giving way nothing remained for Captain Morris but to destroy her, which he did, directing his crew to break up into small parties—make their way 200 miles through a thinly settled country, and report to him at Portland. This order was strictly obeyed, every man arriving at Portland in due time. This feat shows the authority of the commander, and the obedience and implicit confidence of his men. Kind and gentle, but firm as a rock, every man loved him, and obeyed him because they did love him.

Arriving in Providence soon after this event, he paid his addresses to Miss Harriet Bowen to whom he was married, February, 1815. He still continued in the service, and was promoted to the highest naval distinctions in the gift of his country, honoring every position, and discharging its duties faithfully.

To follow Commodore Morris in all his public acts and voyages would require a volume of itself. Our space will allow but a brief notice of the remaining part of his useful life. After the peace with England he continued in active employment, either afloat or ashore, being off duty but two and a half years, in a professional career of fifty-seven! He served twenty-one years at sea, commanding four squadrons on foreign stations, eight years in command of different Navy yards—Eieven sic years as navy commissioner, and eight years as chief of a bureau. At the time of his death he was at the head of the bureau of ordinance and hydrography—seventy-two years of age. He was a man greatly loved and respected at the fire-side, and had a public influence commensurate with the important trusts imposed in him.

One or two brief quotations showing the estimation in which he was held by his contemporaries will close this sketch. An officer of the "Constitution," giving an account of the battle with the "Guerrier," says:

When Lieut. Morris received his wound by a musket shot through the body, he was on the quarter for the purpose of boarding. He has since been promoted to the command of the frigate "Adams" of 32 guns. He has ever been distinguished in the navy for his unremitted application in the acquirement of nautical information, for activity, intelligence, and zeal in the faithful discharge of his duty. His gallant conduct while under Commodore Preble in the Tripolitan War gained him the confidence of his commander, the admiration of his companions in arms, and the applause of his countrymen. He was the first man who gained the deck of the frigate "Philadelphia" on that ever memorable night, when under the batteries of the enemy, she was wrapt sic in flames by the Spartan band under Lieut. Decatur; for which brilliant exploit the President most justly gave the latter a Captain's commission. When the "Constitution" made her escape from the British squadron off capes of the Chesapeake,—to Lieut. Morris did the magnanimous Hull give much of the credit acquired in that masterly retreat. The maneuvre of kedging a ship at sea in thirty fathoms water, was an ingenious and novel experiment, and was first suggested by him. Those who personally know the sterling worth and intrinsic merit of Captain Morris, can not but rejoice that his manly virtues, and naval talents have now, a more ample field of exertion in his country's cause. Captain Hull in a letter to the Secretary of the navy passed a handsome eulogium in the following passage. 'I cannot but make you acquainted with the very great assistance I received from that valuable officer, Lieut. Morris in bringing the ship into action, and working her whilst alongside of the enemy; and I am extremely sorry to state that he is badly wounded, being shot through the body. We have yet hopes of his recovery, when I am sure, he will receive the gratitude of his country for this, and the many gallant acts he has done in the service.'"

The author of the American Naval Biography speaking of him, says:

"unpatronized and unobtrusive, Captain Morris may claim as his own, the progress he has made. On his private character we could enlarge with delight, but our readers would find only a re-iteration of praise. In personal appearance he exhibits too much of the pleasing to justify our ideas of the sturdy seaman—enduring hardships, toils and wounds. As not the least among the rewards of his merits he received the hand of Miss Harriet Bowen, daughter of Dr. William Bowen of Providence, in marriage."

Ten children have been the result of this union and some of his sons have manifested the patriotism and heroic daring which characterized their father. His eldest son, Charles, fell nobly contending for the Union, during the "Great Rebellion," in Missouri. Lieut. George, his youngest son, commanded the "Cumberland," when she was sunk by the "Merrimac" in the Hampton Roads, off Fortess Monroe, on the 8th of March, 1862. The "Cumberland" had been struck amidships by the iron prow of the "Merrimac," leaving a large hole through which the water poured in a torrent. "Lieut. Morris"—says Headly, "saw that his vessel was rapidly filling, and knew that in a few minutes she would be at the bottom; but he proudly refused to strike his flag, determined if he could do no better, to sink alongside. A nobler commander never trod the deck of a ship, and a more gallant crew never stood by a brave commander. One sailor with both his legs shot off, hobbled up to his gun on the bleeding stumps and pulling the lanyard fired it, and fell back dead! Deeper and deeper settled the noble frigate, yet her broadsides kept thundering on till the water poured into the ports, submerging the guns!" The swift waves closed over the ship and gallant crew together! Thus nobly perished the youngest son of Commodore Morris.

Biography No. XIV — Dr. John Wilkinson

Dr. John Wilkinson, married April 23, 1780, Mary Mowry of Smithfield, R. I. Descendants of this Mowry family are still living in Smithfield [as of 1869]. At the breaking out of the Revolution, he with his brother William, was a member of R. I. College, and was obliged to suspend studies when the College buildings were taken for barracks for the soldiers. He was not an idle spectator in these stirring times, but at the beginning of the war, 1776, he went out in a private armed vessel and aided in damaging the commerce of Great Britain. Having previously studied medicine he was received into the army on his return as a surgeon, and acquired quite a reputation for his daring and skill in surgery. After the war he received a pension which is alluded to in a letter written by his brother William to a friend at Washington. He says, "My brother John Wilkinson, who died in Dec., 1836. Served as a surgeon in the Revolution and received a pension. He had one child, an only daughter, the wife of John Harris, Esq., of Scituate, R. I. I am informed that a further allowance was made to certain officers of the staff, and that there is now a balance standing in my brother's name on the books of the Pension office."

At the conclusion of the war he settled in Scituate, and had an extensive practice. In 1783 he was elected town treasurer. He was frequently called upon to officiate as Moderator at Town Meetings, and held many important offices. He was a man of great social qualities, and no one conld sic excel him in anecdotes. He was regarded as the best and greatest story teller in R. I. When pressed by a rival he never lacked for want of stock, for if there were no old ones applicable to the case his ready wit could supply the demand, and the appropriate story would be coined from the mint entirely new.

Dr. John Borden resident physician of the same town was a rival, not only as a doctor, but as a story teller; and Wilkinson would rather resign the sceptre of Esculapius than doff the plume to story-telling. They frequently met and then came the tug of war.

The Rev. C. C. Bemen, who resided in Scituate a few years ago and is now in Cincinnati, Ohio, relates an amusing incident concerning these worthy doctors. He says, "An amusing anecdote is told of Dr. Borden and Dr. Wilkinson, his neighbor who had hardly a rival in story-telling, and an inexhaustible fund of anecdote. These two gentlemen some sixty-five years ago were talking in Dr. Wilkinson's house the evening after a large party the night previous, and were very much excited each of them in narrating incidents of the Revolutionary war. It was with great difficulty that one could wait for the other to get through before he began, so powerfully impressed was each with the importance with what he had to say—it was Greek meeting Greek in the tug of war. As neither would give in, both vociferated at once, and rising from their chairs in opposite directions, approaching each other at the top of their voices, and making their tongues go as fast as they could wag, a sudden explosion of merriment among the spectators—a number of whom were boys, and could not repress themselves from the ludriciousness of the scene, brought the stories to a close, both exploding in mid-air; and the two doctors laughing as heartily as anyone at their comical situation and the rage for spouting they had both evinced in the idiosyncracy of their temperments. Mr. Isaac Field, now in his eightieth year, was one of the boys present at this scene, and says that he has had many a laugh since about it."

No man was more respected that Dr. Wilkinson. His success as a physician made many friends and gave him ascendancy over all rivals. He contributed his influence in establishing the R. I. Med. Soc., and his name occurs frequently in their proceedings. Rev. Mr. B. says, "He was a man of a highly social and cheerful turn of mind, had a very large range of friends, and had acquired great knowledge of mankind and general matters by going abroad. He aided especially in the formation of the R. I. Medical Society, and was highly esteemed in Scituate."

His wife died, April 13, 1829, aged 72, and is buried in the family graveyard of the first Joseph. The following is her epitaph:

"Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."

"Sweet are the slumbers of the pious dead;
True blessed Emmanuel sanctifieth trials;
His power shall raise them from their gloomy bed
To bliss immortal in the world to come."

He survived her six or seven years, and then departed at the advanced age of 83, leaving an only daughter, who still lives on the old homestead. He is buried in the family burying ground beside Joseph Wilkinson, the early pioneer of Scituate, and his grave is marked with a plain, marble slab containing the following just eulogium:

"His virtues need no comment.—
In the heart of his friends they are recorded
Like a halo of unfading brightness—
May they serve to illumine
The path of those he loved."

Biography No. XV — William Wilkinson

William Wilkinson, youngest son of Benjamin Wilkinson and Mary (Rhodes) his wife, was born in Killingly, Ct., in June, 1760. He entered Brown University in his 14th year. At the breaking up of the College during the war of the Revolution, he entered the army, and was soon appointed private secretary to Col. Crary, who commanded the R. I. regiment. At the close of the war he returned to College and took his degree in 1783. He then took charge for many years of the Grammar School connected with the University, and was a very successful teacher. Many prominent men of the day were prepared by him for College. He never lost his affection for his Alma Mater, and never failed to walk in the procession on Commencement Day from the year before he entered the College, when he was a boy of thirteen, preparing for College in the Grammar School, till 1851, when he was past ninety-one years old. In 1792, he was without solicitation, appointed Post Master by General Washington, and afterwards removed by Jefferson. He then became a publisher and book-seller, and, for a number of years, was the only one in the town of Providence. In 1815, he retired from active business. He served several terms in the General Assembly, and held other offices of trust in the town and state. In politics, he was always a Federalist. He was Treasurer of the Providence Mutual Insurance Company until within a few years of his death, and retained the office of Director till the last, retaining his faculties perfectly sound and clear, to the age of 92 years. He was married in 1783, to Chloe Learned of Thompson, Ct., who died, 1797. By her he had six children. See Genealogy.

His second wife, whom he married in 1798, was Marcy, daughter of Oziel Wilkinson of Pawtucket, by whom he had eight children, several of whom died in infancy. He was extensively engaged in the manufacturing business, which had its origin, so to speak, in Oziel's family—Samuel Slater marrying the sister of William's last wife. He always attended the First Congregational (Unitarian) Church in Providence. "No man," says the Rev. C. C. Bemen, "was of a more friendly and benevolent disposition than William Wilkinson, and none stood higher for perfect truth and integrity."

Biography No. XVI — Oziel Wilkinson

Oziel Wilkinson, the son of John Wilkinson and Ruth Angell his wife, was born January 30, 1744, in Smithfield, R. I., probably at, or near the old homestead of the senior John who married Deborah Whipple. Oziel was lineally descended from Lawrence in both the paternal and maternal line. The descent on his father's side was Lawrence—John—John, Jr.—John 3d—Oziel; on his mother's side—Lawrence—Samuel—Susannah (dau. of Samuel) who married an Angell, and Ruth Angell, his mother; so he was nearly a full blooded Wilkinson. The two main branches of the family were here united, and we shall have occasion by and by, to note a more singular union of the descendants of Lawrence—one in which all three of his sons are joined.

Oziel's father had a blacksmith shop in Smithfield on a little stream called Mussey's Brook, that empties into the Blackstone River below Manville. Here it was that he became familiar with the trade helping his father in the shop and on the farm also, occasionally. The inventive genius which characterized this branch of the family at a later period, began to manifest itself at this obscure place, and trip-hammers were put in motion, and the heavy work of wielding the sledge was imposed upon the water—thus harnassing the elements to perform the work of man. The educational advantages of Oziel, so far as schools were concerned, were quite limited, but his education in respect to business matters, men and the practical concerns of every day life, was varied and extensive.