GenMassachusetts-L Archives

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Subject: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine - Mariners, Seamen, - endless records.
Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2006 23:46:05 EDT

Here is but one example - what a site for New England mariners, seamen,
trade ships and sailors - Manuscripts of the Mystic Seaport Library (knew it was
there but couldn't ever find it ! Bingo (url below)

Biography of the Orne Family
The family history begins in Salem, Massachusetts. In 1720 Captain Timothy
Orne prospered as a merchant and landowner. His son, Timothy Orne, also a
merchant, insured several vessels. (See List of Salem Vessels Insured By Timothy
Orne, John Nutting, Jr. and John Higginson; Dec. 1757 to Dec. 1758 ) His son,
the third Timothy Orne, also followed a maritime career. Indentured, by Mary
and Nathan Goodale (his father having previously died), to Peter Frye, and
Jonathan Giles, Timothy Orne began his maritime employment as a fisherman. He
later operated as a Salem merchant dealing with coastal and Transatlantic
trade.
Around 1770 Timothy Orne married Elizabeth Sewall Pynchon, the daughter of
William Pynchon, a Salem attorney and son of William Pynchon, settler of
Springfield, Ma. The Pynchon-Orne connection was very close. During the early
years of the revolution, Pynchon, a suspected loyalist supporter, lived with the
Orne's for several months while his own home was besieged by a mob of
patriots. The winter of 1788/89 must have been a difficult one; William Pynchon,
John Orne and Timothy Orne all died.
Fatherless and a widow, Elizabeth Orne continued to live in Salem and raise
her family. The mother of three daughters, Elizabeth Orne managed her own
domestic affairs. From 1790 to 1804 the Widow attended St. Peter's Church,
oversaw her farm in Raymondtown, attended parties, and visited with friends and
relatives. Her daughter, Margaret "Peggy" Orne, also visited extensively,
sometimes staying away from her mother for several months. The two, however, kept
in touch by writing frequent letters.
The advent of widowhood forced Elizabeth Orne to manage not only her
domestic affairs but also her financial situation. From 1790 to 1804 the widow would
allow debts to accrue for a couple of years at a time Then she would sell
one or two pieces of property and use the proceeds to pay off creditors. In
1804, however, her method of support changed; the Widow Orne embarked on the
brickyard business. Beginning with a larger than usual sale of land, $1800.00,
to John Sherry she subsequently purchased "l shop situated in Marlborough
Street on land of William Hunt," and had the building moved to Orne's Point in
January. She also bought oxen and several shovels. She then contracted with
Pickering Dodge for 300,000 bricks. Several other brick sales, some of them
quite large, soon followed. Her son-in-law, Colonel Thomas Cushing became
involved in the brickyard. Married to Elizabeth Orne's daughter, Catherine, in 1802,
Thomas Cushing and Elizabeth Orne continued to co-operate the brickyard
until his death in 1806. While managing the sale, supply and distribution of the
bricks, had been Orne and Cushing's jobs, the actual clay digging and brick
molding was subcontracted to Elihu Eggleston. Beginning in 1806, the year of
Thomas Cushing's death, Elizabeth Orne leased the entire operation to Elihu
Eggleston for $500.00 per year, and apparently distanced herself from day to
day operations.
The remainder of Elizabeth Orne's life, from 1806-182 1, returned to the
domestic realm. Catherine Cushing remarries, this time to Elisha Mack and the
couple moves into Elizabeth's home. Legally bound as guardian to her three
Cushing grandchildren; Timothy Orne Cushing, Elizabeth Orne Cushing and Catherine
Brewer Cushing, Elizabeth Orne concentrated much of her time and resources
on their education and support. Some of the last of Elizabeth Orne's
documents; 1821, are receipts for Timothy Orne Cushing's instruction in navigation
_http://www.mysticseaport.org/Library/Manuscripts/registers2.cfm_
(http://www.mysticseaport.org/Library/Manuscripts/registers2.cfm)
(http://www.mysticseaport.org/Library/Manuscripts/coll/coll246/coll246.cfm)

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