Gloucester MA Samuel E. Sawyer Free Library

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Gloucester MA Samuel E. Sawyer Sawyer Free Library Oriental Rug Review/Asian Trade is pleased to offer a small group of items, c. 1860s-80s, having to do the North Shore town of Gloucester in Massachusetts, its major 19th century personality Samuel E. Sawyer. Sawyer was a merchant and ship owner whose ships were a major component in the China Trade. He lived on his "Brookbank" estate in Gloucester, but maintained offices in Boston and New York City from which he managed his ships and captains. Gloucester's Sawyer Free Library is named in his honor. Samuel Elwell Sawyer was born in Gloucester on Nov. 25, 1815 and he died 73 years later in Gloucester on Dec. 15, 1889. He was perhaps the greatest single benefactor in all of Gloucester history. He loved and remained thoroughly dedicated to the community. He was a diligent and hard worker. Born to a working class family he began his business career working as a clerk in a dry goods store in his early teens. After a few years, still in his teens, he worked his way into a position as a salesman with a Boston firm. He was bold and forward in his thinking; not afraid to try new things. In Boston, he associated himself with a larger company as manager and then part owner in a company that bought and sold materials and goods around the world. Later he bought several ships that traded around the world and he was a major player in the "China Trade." Some of the ships that flew his flag were the "Jewess," "Prima Donna," Annie M. Kelley," and the Sarah L. Bryant" This group of Sawyer/Gloucester documents include: (1.) A Billhead from "Jones & Co., Troy Bell Foundry" sold to" Saml. E. Sawyer 1 Bell , 3775 lbs. for City Hall, Gloucester, Mass." Native Son Samuel Sawyer of Gloucester, Mass. bought his city a large bell for City Hall. He also supported the library, which is now called "Sawyer Free Library" (2.) a. A copy of a letter, dated Feb. 3, 1889, that Samuel E. Sawyer sent to his sister-in-law upon the death of his beloved Abigail; "I trust we shall meet again in love; love that will be shrouded in sorrow and deep gloom, for you and I are now the chief mourners, you for the loss of an only loving sister, and I for the loss of the dear partner of my life." This letter is dated Feb. 3, 1889, and Sawyer would not make it out of the year, dying on Dec. 15, 1889. Both he and his business withered away through 1889. He had lost the love of his life, and, because all of his ships were wooden, powered by wind, they were being run out of ports and out of the sea lanes by sleek, swift steamboats. (2.) b. A copy of a letter, dated March 26, '89, sent to an old friend who had suffered economic woes/ "When I heard of your pecuniary misfortune I thought of writing to you and express my sincere regrets that you should be thus troubled after the many years of labor acquiring these ???? Treasures, but I put it off from day to day, hoping the loss would be partially restrored after so many years But when I read tonight that you had lost the dear partner of your joys and sorrows after so many years, I thought of sweet companionship, I could respond with heartfelt sympathy. Your bereavement so nearly corresponds to mine" We are not 100% on this but the recipient may have been Sawyer's good old friend John Babson. Sawyer provided the money and Babson hunted up a great number of antiques and artifacts for the Historical Society and several antique houses. That might account for Sawyer's use of the word, "treasures." When you see the next item you will see why I say these are copies, probably by a secretary. (3.) A Letter, dated Oct. 4, 1865, written in pencil in the hand of Samuel E. Sawyer. He was writing to his Brother Charles who was much older than himself. He writes of family and friends who have visited his estate, Brookbank. He had been clearing brush out of the pastures because he was afraid of fires due to the extremely dry conditions. He told of the sale of a cargo of hides, but the profit was eaten up by expenses, "bond, storage, Ins., culls, and gold duty.... read more

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