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Page 4
On October 21, 1773, a noted burglar was hanged in Boston for various
robberies committed in different parts of the State, and covering a
period of some years. The unfortunate man was present at the delivery
of a sermon, preached at his own request, on the Sunday before his
execution; and to many of the printed copies is appended an account
of his life. In it the poor fellow states that he was only twenty-one
years old, and that he was born at Groton of a respectable family. He
confesses that he broke into Mr. Cutler's shop, and took away "a good
piece of broad-cloth, a quantity of silk mitts, and several pieces of
silk handkerchiefs." He was hardly seventeen years of age at the time of
this burglary. To the present generation it would seem cruel and wicked
to hang a misguided youth for offences of this character.
Mr. Cutler died December 19, 1782; and he was succeeded in business
by Major Thomas Gardner, who erected the present building known as
Gerrish's block, which is soon to be removed. Major Gardner lived in the
house now owned by the Waters family.
Near the end of the last century a store, situated a little north of the
late Mr. Dix's house, was kept by James Brazer, which had an extensive
trade for twenty miles in different directions. It was here that the
late Amos Lawrence served an apprenticeship of seven years, which ended
on April 22, 1807; and he often spoke of his success in business as due,
in part, to the experience in this store. Late in life he wrote that
"the knowledge of every-day affairs which I acquired in my business
apprenticeship at Groton has been a source of pleasure and profit even
in my last ten years' discipline."
The quantity of New-England rum and other liquors sold at that period
would astonish the temperance people of the present day. Social drinking
was then a common practice, and each forenoon some stimulating beverage
was served up to the customers in order to keep their trade. There were
five clerks employed in the establishments; and many years later Mr.
Lawrence, in giving advice to a young student in college, wrote:--
"In the first place, take this for your motto at the commencement of
your journey, that the difference of going _just right_, or a
_little wrong_, will be the difference of finding yourself in good
quarters, or in a miserable bog or slough, at the end of it. Of the
whole number educated in the Groton stores for some years before and
after myself, no one else, to my knowledge, escaped the bog or slough;
and my escape I trace to the simple fact of my having put a restraint
upon my appetite. We five boys were in the habit, every forenoon, of
making a drink compounded of rum, raisins, sugar, nutmeg, &c., with
biscuit,--all palatable to eat and drink. After being in the store four
weeks, I found myself admonished by my appetite of the approach of the
hour for indulgence. Thinking the habit might make trouble if allowed
to grow stronger, without further apology to my seniors I declined
partaking with them. My first resolution was to abstain for a week, and,
when the week was out, for a month, and then for a year. Finally, I
resolved to abstain for the rest of my apprenticeship, which was for
five years longer. During that whole period, I never drank a spoonful,
though I mixed gallons daily for my old master and his customers."[1]
The following advertisement is found in the Columbian Centinel (Boston),
June 8, 1805:--
_James Brazer_,
Would inform the public that having dissolved the Copartnership lately
subsisting between AARON BROWN, Esq. SAMUEL HALE and the subscriber; he
has taken into Copartnership his son WILLIAM F. BRAZER, and the business
in future will be transacted under the firm of
JAMES BRAZER & SON;
They will offer for sale, at their store in _Groton_, within six
days a complete assortment of English, India, and W. India GOODS, which
they will sell for ready pay, at as low a rate as any store in the
Country.
JAMES BRAZER.
Groton, May 29, 1805.
"'Squire Brazer," as he was generally called, was a man of wealth
and position. He was one of the founders of Groton Academy, and his
subscription of �15 to the building-fund in the year 1792 was as large
as that given by any other person. In the early part of this century he
built the house now belonging to the Academy and situated just south of
it, where he lived until his death, which occurred on November 10, 1818.
His widow, also, took a deep interest in the institution, and at her
decease, April 14, 1826, bequeathed to it nearly five thousand dollars.
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