The Olden Time Series, Vol. 6: Literary Curiosities | Page 5

the world, and he had buried, the parish twice
over!
* * * * *
1807.
......DIED......
Near Gloucester, Virg., Elizabeth Wagner, aged 107. She never took
medicine of any kind in her life.
* * * * *
From "Salem Gazette," 1811. Appropriate name for a rope-maker.
Mr. WILLIAM TARRING, rope-maker, 38.
* * * * *
"Massachusetts Mercury," Dec. 27, 1799.
Died,
At Hamilton, Essex County, PLATO WHIPPLE, aged 103, one of
God's images in ebony.
* * * * *

"Salem Gazette," 1811.
Mr. JACK DALAND, a very worthy black man, aged 65. He was
brought from Africa to the West Indies at about 11 years of age; but
instead of being eaten, as he expected, by the white men, he was
transferred by purchase to a happy asylum in this place, where he has
spent upwards of 50 years of his life, respected by the whole town, as a
faithful, industrious, pleasant-tempered, intelligent man. His honest
industry was rewarded by the acquisition of a comfortable property,
which he has left for the enjoyment of his family. The long train of
white people who followed his remains to the grave, testify to the
esteem in which he was held.
* * * * *
The following is a notice of a "distinguished merchant" and "literary"
character of Newburyport, Mass. In the appendix to "Lord" Dexter's
great production--where all the stops are placed together on the last
page, so that "people can salt and pepper as they please"--we find these
lines:
"All men inquire, but few can tell How thou in Science doth excel!"
TIMOTHY DEXTER. The subject of the present sketch, according to
his own account, was born in Malden, Massachusetts. "I was born,"
says he (in his celebrated work, "A Pickle for the knowing ones"),
"1747, Jan. 22; on this day in the morning, a great snow storm in the
signs of the seventh house; whilst Mars came forward Jupiter stood by
to hold the candle. I was to be a great man."
Lord Dexter, after having served an apprenticeship to a Leather dresser,
commenced business in Newburyport, where he married a widow who
owned a house and a small piece of land, part of which, soon after the
nuptials, were converted into a shop and tanyard.
By application to his business his property increased, and the purchase
of a large tract of land near Penobscot, together with an interest which
he bought in the Ohio Company's purchase, afforded him so much

profit, as to induce him to buy up Publick Securities at forty cents on
the pound, which securities soon after became worth twenty shillings
on the pound.
His Lordship at one time shipped a large quantity of warming pans to
the West Indies where they were sold at a great advance on prime cost,
and used for molasses ladles. At another time, he purchased a large
quantity of whalebone for ship's stays; the article rose in value upon his
hands, and he sold it to great advantage.
Property now was no longer the object of his pursuit; but popularity
became the god of his idolatry. He was charitable to the poor, gave
large donations to religious societies, and rewarded those who wrote in
his praise.
His lordship about this time acquired his peculiar taste for style and
splendour; and to enhance his own importance in the world, set up an
elegant equipage, and at great cost adorned the front of his house with
numerous figures of illustrious personages.
By his order, a tomb was dug under the summer house in his garden,
during his life; which he mentions in 'A Pickle for the knowing ones,'
in the following ludicrous style:--
"Heare will lie in box the first Lord in Americake the first Lord Dexter
made by the voice of hampsher state my brave fellows Affirmed it they
give me the titel and so Let it goue for as much as it will fetch it wonte
give me Any breade but take from me the Contrary fourder I have a
grand toume in my garding at one of the grasses and the tempel of
Reason over the toume nand my coffen made and all Ready I emy
house painted with white Lead an side and outside touched with green
and bras trimmings Eight handels and a good Lock, I have had one
mock founrel it was so solmon and there was so much Criing about
3000 spectators I say my house is Euqal to any mansion house in
twelve hundred miles and now for sale for seven hundred pounds
weight of Dollars by me
TIMOTHY DEXTER."

Lord Dexter believed in transmigration sometimes; at others he was a
deist. He died on the 22d day of Oct. 1806, in the 60th year of his age.
Salem Observer, Dec. 17,