 Epes Merchant |
 Sally Thomas Merchant |
|
Epes Merchant Epes Merchant (1780 - 1859) was a fisherman, master mariner, outfitter, member of the Coast Guard during the War of 1812 and Captain in the Militia. In 1803 he married Sally Rowe Thomas ( Family history indicates that Epes was born in the part of Gloucester known as Pigeon Cove. When his father William died in 1802, Epes and three of his brothers (William, Nathaniel and James) moved to Gloucester where they engaged in hazardous work as boat fishermen. During this time, he resided at what was known as the (Dean) Elizer Grover house at north Main Street. This is where he and Sally set up housekeeping after they married, and their first son George was born here. [It is related that an Englishman by the name of Qualls or Cwalls who had been a soldier in Burgoyne's Army, offered to finish off the house if Epes would board him for the winter. The offer was accepted and the work was completed in a manner of which a workman of today, even with modern tools need not be ashamed. About 1834-5 an addition was made to the northern and earlier end.] During the War of 1812, when he served with the Coast Guard, a story is told that he and some of his comrades once followed an English schooner from Eastern Point to Long Beach in order to prevent its crew from landing. During this walk of six miles, he and his men were obliged to ford what is known as "the river" at high water, carrying their powder on their heads. In January of 1815, Epes bought land and dwelling thereon from the corner of what was known as Point Hill to the top of the hill for $140.00, and it was here that he made his home until his death in 1859. [The property was purchased from Ingatious and Sarah Sargent and was described as "southerly by the Eastern Point Road, 19 rods 11 links, to an old cross road, thence easterly by said cross road, to Eleazer Grovers land, thence by said Grovers northerly 19 rods, more or less to a stake upon Little Good Harbor Road thence westerly 6 rods by said road to the corner first mentioned, containing 1 1/2 acre more or less formerly of Daniel Sargent.] This seems to have also included land at the head of the harbor, which became home to several Merchant family fishing enterprises It is not known when Epes decided to abandon the sea life for the home life of an outfitter, but as early as 1820 he was engaged in that occupation. In 1825 he began a partnership with his son Epes William (Epes Merchant & Son) with the vessels the Hornet, Volant and Emblem, all about 45 tons. This firm was continued until about 1848. Upon the disolve of this firm, sons Gorham, Addison and Samuel joined together in the same line of business. Gorham died shortly after this business got underway and it was continued by Addison and Samuel until Samuel died in 1860. Samuel's son William T. Merchant and son-in-law James L. Shute, who had joined Samuel and Addison in the business, then opted to form the partnership of Shute & Merchant.
From the House of Jabez -- Chronicles of the Merchant-Marchant Family by Frank R. Merchant |
|
|