Volume II Part 7 (1/2)

Where were or where was, as the case might be, the ”Cornfields” or ”Cornfield” of Boston in 1763? Martin Gay kept a store or lived near there, and in 1767 Master Britt kept a school for young ladies near the ”Cornfield.”

Choice English Peas

at the North-Mills, TO BE SOLD, by the larger or smaller Quant.i.ty, at a low Rate, Enquire of _William Paine_ at said Mills, or of _Martin Gay_, near the Cornfields, _Boston_.

Dec. 12, 1763.

When we remember the old pictures and portraits of stately ladies with high headdresses and gentlemen with wigs, the following advertis.e.m.e.nts are interesting:--

Joshua Davis, _Peruke-Maker_.

HEREBY informs his Customers, and others, That he has Remov'd his Shop from the Head of the Long Wharf, next the Crown Coffee House, to the first Shop in Mackrell Lane, next the Bunch of Grapes Tavern, where they may be serv'd with Fidelity and Dispatch.

--> Said _Davis_ makes the neatest and most fas.h.i.+onable Wiggs, at a moderate Rate.

_Boston Gazette_, Feb. 18, 1761.

A genteel Gold Watch, made by _Marmaduke Storr_, to be Sold, inquire of the Printers.

Sept. 14, 1761.

A few Genteel Grey and light Grey London-made WIGS, to be sold by JOHN CROSBY, Periwig Maker near the Sign of the Lamb, also Wig-makers Ribbons, Silk and Cauls, Bodyed Grizle, and Grizle Hairs for cut Wigs, Bleach'd, Tye and Brown Spencer Hairs, white Goat Hairs, white, black, and brown Horse Hairs, Moy Crown Hairs, Cards and Brushes, drawing Cards and Brushes, best Razors, purple Thread, Tupee Irons, & Curling Tongs, Tupee Combs in Cases, Wig Blocks, Silk Puffs, Hair, Powder, Shaving Boxes, & Brushes, wash Ball Boxes, and wash b.a.l.l.s, London black b.a.l.l.s with Printed directions, to use them very Nice, black Sattin Baggs for the Hair, white, black, yellow; & Bear Grees, Pomatum Excellent with their use to make Hair of a good Colour, & to grow thicker, Gold & Silver Powders (so called) to clean Gold and Silver Lace & Embroaderry.

_Boston Post-Boy_, Dec. 12, 1763.

At fires, leather buckets were used by the inhabitants, and were sometimes lost or misplaced, as appears from the following advertis.e.m.e.nts from the ”Boston Gazette”:--

LOST at the late Fire on the 5th of November Inst. a Leather Bucket, No. 2, mark'd _Wm. Hickling_: Whoever is taken up the same, are desir'd to return it to the Owner, or the Printers hereof.

_LOST at the Fire near Oliver's-Dock, on the 14th Day of November last, a Pair of Leather Fire Buckets, mark'd_ Benj^a. Barnard, _and dated 1757. Whoever will give Information, or bring them to the Printers hereof, shall be handsomely Rewarded._

Dec. 10, 1759.

Within the writer's recollection, in nearly every house in Salem two or more fire-buckets, marked with the owner's name, were, when not in use, kept hanging in the front hall. At fires, lanes, as they were called, of men were formed, under the direction generally of the fire-wards, and water was pa.s.sed from one to another and to the fire from some neighboring pump or cistern.

We see notices like the following of insurance offices; but they were princ.i.p.ally for marine risks, as not many fire risks were taken before the beginning of the present century.

_Hurd's_ Insurance-Office,

At the BUNCH OF GRAPES, STATE-STREET, BOSTON,