![[1846 Margaret Gillies sketch of the Hutchinson Family quartet]](http://www.oocities.org/hfsbook/pic/gilliessketch342.jpg)
The new Geocities ads on the right side of your browser window can be pushed offscreen by clicking on the tab that's marked by a couple
1846-1847
Chapter 7 Part 2
Page 8
Notices from late 1846 mention that the Hutchinsons were introducing a variety of new songs to their repertoire, such as "The Bridge of Sighs," "The New England Farmer," and "There's a Good Time Coming." An even newer piece was Jesse's excellent adaptation of "The Spider and the Fly," sung by Abby.
|
"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider to the fly, "'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy; My floors are carpeted so nice, with velvet soft and clean, So just walk in, my little fly, and I'll treat you like a queen. Refrain: Will you walk in Mr. Fly?
"Why stand you in the cold without exposed to every storm, When in my palace you will find a shelter snug and warm? Full many a fly I've taken in from out the chilly rain, And such attachments do they form, they ne'er go out again.
"I love to gaze upon you now, you charming little fly, Your golden wings and modest brow, your bright and flashing eye; And then you sing your dulcet songs so merrily and so free, I only wish you'd hop in, and sing your songs to me."
The silly fly with vaunting pride flew near the palace door, So charm'd was he with flattering words he ne'er had heard before; The spider bade him welcome in with wide extended arms, And patting gently on his back he lavished him with charms.
And then the little silken cords were gently wove around, Until within the spider's grasp the little fly was bound; Too late he sought to fly away, but the spider held him fast, And then he laughed "Ha! ha! my boy, I've caught you, sir, at last. Will you walk out, Mr. Fly?"
The moral here is very clear, and warns us to beware, The lying and the flatt'ring tongue, which charms but to ensnare; And when the tempter falsely says, "Thou shalt not surely die," Just call to mind the little song of the spider and the fly. "Will you keep out, Mr. Fly?" |
As a rule, new original songs from the Hutchinson Family depended for their success on lyrics by Jesse, music by Judson, or, quite often, both. However, Brother Asa was a versatile man, and he was beginning to contribute melodies on his own. His "Recollections of Home" came out at this time, and formed a part of the Hutchinsons' repertoire for many years to come.
"Notices from late 1846 mention that the Hutchinsons were introducing": "The Hutchinson Family at the Tabernacle," New York Daily Tribune, November 18, 1846, p. 3 col. 6.
"The Spider and the Fly: A Popular Song," music: adapted by
It seems to me that the word, "king," should be substituted for the word, "queen," since the character being spoken of is Mister Fly.
"His Recollections of Home came out at this time, and formed": "Recollections of Home, New England," music: Asa B. Hutchinson, first line of text: "Ah! why from my own native home did I part" (Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1846).
Page 9
Many of the enterprises of the Hutchinsons in early 1847 involved domestic matters. John purchased the Wheeler farm near the Milford town line in Amherst, and soon moved in. As is often the case, we are not informed of Brother Judson's activities.
It was in this year, 1847, that Asa compiled the first Hutchinson Family songbook, The Granite Songster. Though Asa, with his numerous journal entries and carefully collected papers, was our first Hutchinson Family historian, these activities seem to have been given a lower priority hereafter. For the past couple years, Asa maintained a regular correspondence with Lizzie Chace. By this time, he appears to have been busy courting her.
Family members sang at the Boston antislavery meetings. The quartet gave concerts in Boston and at Woburn and Providence, where, according to John,
In Hartford the Hutchinsons had the company of their friend Rev. William Weston Patton, who was living there by this time. They sang to another full house in New Haven. It was on this trip that they witnessed their first demonstration of the magnetic telegraph - a recent technological development they would soon be using to help arrange details of their travels.
This tour took the group back through Springfield to Albany. The plan was to move on to New York; but Judson balked, until he was convinced to go to sing for the benefit of the poor and starving people of Ireland. At New York on March 3, the Hutchinsons were met by Ludlow Patton; and soon they were joined by Joshua, who was on a singing tour of his own. On Friday the quartet gave their opening concert at the Broadway Tabernacle and were serenaded by only a few hisses. The following Monday they enjoyed one of their most successful concerts in Brooklyn.
The Journal of Commerce published a short notice of the Hutchinsons, with criticism of their topical lyrics quite awkwardly inserted in its midst. "They have sung the same songs, beautiful as they are, too long, and have injured themselves by what appeared partisan abolitionism. The public are glad that minstrels should sing in praise of good morals and good piety, but not that they should become partisans in any present
"John purchased the Wheeler farm near the Milford town line in Amherst": If you know the location of this Wheeler farm and/or the full name of the person after whom it was named and you would be willing to share your information, please use the contact link near the bottom of the page to e-mail us.
"It was in this year, 1847, that Asa compiled the first": Asa B. Hutchinson, The Granite Songster; Comprising the Songs of the Hutchinson Family, Without the Music (Boston: A. B. Hutchinson, New York: Charles Holt, Jr., 1847).
A songster is a booklet of lyrics, ordinarily published without music, and of a size intended to fit conveniently in a pocket.
"Providence, he said, was second only to New York as their biggest": It is a little surprising that Boston would not have been the Hutchinson Family's second-biggest concert city after New York. Be that as it may, research into the Hutchinsons' activities in Boston is very much lacking. This would easily be among the greatest areas of need for further research.
"In Hartford the Hutchinsons had the company of their friend": This Patton family line had strong ties to Hartford County, Connecticut for some reason. It seems likely those ties began with the relocation of Rev. William W. Patton and family to that area. Pattons and their descendants were based in Hartford County at least as recently as the 1930s, and it is entirely possible that later generations are there still.
"At New York on March 3, the Hutchinsons were met": Brother Zephaniah made a reappearance here. Perhaps he was acting as advance agent for Joshua.
"They have sung the same songs, beautiful as they are, too long": "The Hutchinsons," New York Journal of Commerce, March 11, 1847.
The phrase, "partisans in any present controversy," is one of the most interesting lines encountered in this research. Did the editor of the piece quoted here think minstrels should only take sides in controversies which have long since been settled? That certainly would qualify as playing it safe. The Journal of Commerce notice is also remarkable for including an arguably reasonable criticism of the Hutchinsons' performance: that they had repeated the same songs, "beautiful as they are," too often for too long.
Incidentally, the call-and-response of cheers and hisses at Hutchinson Family concerts was probably great fun for a lot of audience members.
Page 10
It was a notable event when the quartet crossed paths with another Hutchinson Family act - Brother Joshua. He had a fine baritone voice, and it seems likely he developed a strong following through the Northeast during his time with the Home Branch. Now, he was the first of the Hutchinsons to start on a regular concert tour as a solo artist.
It is difficult to go far beyond the broad outline of Joshua's career. Much of his memorabilia, based on present knowledge, is undated and undatable. Significant writings have been preserved, but he seldom wrote about himself and his work. His career took him through New England, New York, and Pennsylvania - the latter for some reason being best represented in his advertisements, press notices, and news correspondence. New Jersey concert stops also seem likely. We may safely guess that on this tour Joshua was returning from Pennsylvania through New York.
"There Must Be Something Wrong," a song listed as part of Joshua's repertoire in most of his promotional materials for decades, went into circulation at just this time. The labor press started publishing the words - always without music and with no mention of the lyricist or composer - beginning in the early months of 1847.
|
When earth produces, free and fair, The golden waving corn; When fragrant fruits perfume the air, And fleecy flocks are shorn; Whilst thousands move with aching head And sing the ceaseless song, "We starve, we die, oh, give us bread!" There must be something wrong. "We starve, we die, oh, give us bread!" There must be something wrong.
When wealth is wrought as seasons roll, From off the fruitful soil; When luxury from pole to pole Reaps fruit of human toil, When from a thousand, one alone, In plenty rolls along; The others only gnaw the bone, There must be something wrong.
When poor men's tables waste away, To barrenness and drought; There must be something in the way, That's worth the finding out; With surfeits one great table bends, While numbers move along And scarce a crust their board extends There must be something wrong.
Then let the law give equal right To wealthy and to poor; Let freedom crush the arm of might, We ask for nothing more; Until this system is begun, The burden of our song Must be, and can be, only one There must be something wrong. |
"There Must Be Something Wrong, a song listed as part of Joshua's repertoire": Isaac Baker Woodbury, "There Must Be Something Wrong," lyrics:
If you know the identity of the lyricist,
"The labor press began publishing the words - always without music": E.g., "There Must be Something Wrong," Exeter, NH, Factory Girls Album and Mechanics Offering, February 1, 1847, p. 1 col. 1; "Poetry: There Must Be Something Wrong," Lowell, MA, Voice of Industry, February 12, 1847, p. 1 col. 1. The labor movement may have used this song for a long time, judging from its publication in the San Francisco Truth, September 1, 1883, cited in Philip S. Foner, American Labor Songs of the Nineteenth Century (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1975), 46 n. 1.
Joshua may have learned of this piece via "There Must Be Something Wrong," The Liberator, Boston, February 5, 1847, p. 4 col. 1, though there is nothing necessarily saying he did not learn of it from an organized labor source. Joshua did show multiple signs of being interested in the labor reform movement.
"When earth produces, free and fair, The golden waving corn": "There Must Be Something Wrong" was in the repertoire of the trio of brothers during the 1854-1855 season, judging from the fact that it was included in their program for the Tremont Temple concert on January 12, 1855. John sang or recited part of this song during his address at the commemoration of the Milford, NH, Centennial. See Celebration of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Incorporation of Milford, New Hampshire, June 26, 1894: Including the Proceedings of the Committee, Addresses, Poem, and Other Exercises of the Occasion, compiled by William B. Rotch (Milford, NH: Cabinet Print [Shop], 1894), 54.
A fifth verse sometimes appeared between those that begin
"When wealth is wrought as seasons roll"
and
"When poor men's tables waste away"
It reads
|
And when production never ends, The earth is yielding ever A copious harvest oft begins, But distribution - never! When toiling millions work to fill The wealthy coffers strong When hands are crushed that work and till There must be something wrong. |
Page 11
Many Hutchinson Family songs were popular in organized labor circles - as pieces to hear, sing, and parody. Titles such as "The Popular Creed," "The Song of Labor," and "There Must Be Something Wrong" appear in Joshua's publicity so often that they must have been an important feature in his concerts.
Judson, who had been reluctant to finish the last tour, was now considering leaving the group altogether and returning to farming. Asa was thinking along similar lines. He purchased the family homestead, while Judson bought an adjoining farm. John and Fanny were settling in at Amherst, in what Abby called their "little cottage among the elms." On Sunday, April 18, their daughter Viola was born in nearby Mont Vernon. It was also in this year, 1847, that Jesse bought more land on High Rock - this time, a parcel in "Rocks Pasture," purchased from Sidney Ingalls.
About this time, Asa went on a trip to Nantucket and brought back his sweetheart, Lizzie Chace. They were married on Monday, April 26. The new bride, said Abby, was given a warm welcome into the family. "We had, at his marriage, a family meeting, and were all there, except two brothers, who could not leave their homes. It was on May-day that we met at the old farm-house, and we rambled in the fields, and gathered May-flowers, and then made our new sister a bridal 'May-Queen.'"
Abby was enrolled as a student at the Edes Female Seminary, in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Examples of her writing from this period have been preserved. Most intriguing of these pieces may be the delightful semi-fiction of "From the May Flower: The First Book of Queens."
By 1847 or not much later, she began performing a charming song, "Jamie's on the Stormy Sea." And we have more than a hint that her friendship with Ludlow Patton had turned to romance - if it was ever anything else.
That year, John was busy with a new farm and a young family.
"He purchased the family homestead, while Judson bought": Book of Brothers (1852, 45). Cf. Abby J. Hutchinson to Mary Howitt, Plymouth, MA, May 5, 1847, in Item 8r, Ludlow Patton's Hutchinson Family Scrapbook, Wadleigh Memorial Library, Milford, New Hampshire. The Book of Brothers reads as if Judson owned an interest in the Milford homestead.
"It was also in this year, 1847, that Jesse bought more land": Elizabeth Hope Cushing, Historic Landscape Report: High Rock Reservation, Lynn, Massachusetts (Boston: Boston University, American and New England Studies Program, 1986), 9.
In a letter to Lynn's Mayor and Common Council, dated May 10, 1873, John identified the Rocks Pasture parcel of land as "6th lot 3 range."
Are you taking notes? If you are, may I suggest jotting down something about Jesse's purchase of land from Sidney Ingalls.
"We had, at his marriage, a family meeting, and were all there": Abby J. Hutchinson to Mary Howitt, Plymouth, MA, May 5, 1847, in Item 8r, Ludlow Patton's Hutchinson Family Scrapbook, Wadleigh Memorial Library, Milford, New Hampshire.
For about the next seven years, Asa and Lizzie resided at the North River Road homestead in Milford.
The best, most accessible photographs of Asa's family may be among institutional holdings in Minnesota. The most accessible likeness of Lizzie appears in Carol Brink, Harps in the Wind: The Story of the Singing Hutchinsons (New York: Macmillan, 1947), picture section. If you know of any likenesses of Lizzie when she was young and you would be willing to share the information, please e-mail us by way of the contact link near the bottom of the page.
"Abby was enrolled as a student at the Edes Female Seminary": Abby J. Hutchinson to Mary Howitt, Plymouth, MA, May 5, 1847, in Item 8r, Ludlow Patton's Hutchinson Family Scrapbook, Wadleigh Memorial Library, Milford, New Hampshire; Frank Carpenter, New York Home Journal, December 7, 1892, in John W. Hutchinson (1896, 2:270-275).
After countless hardcopy and Web searches, the author is not convinced that Edes Female Seminary is the actual name of this school, though it could be. If you have information about the Edes school of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and/or if you can identify the person or people from whom it took its name and you would be willing to share your information, please e-mail us via the contact link near the bottom of the page.
"Most intriguing of these pieces may be the delightful semi-fiction": For contemporary samples of Abby's writing, see Abby J. Hutchinson, "An Unfortunate Cat, Plymouth, Mass., March 30, 1847;" and especially Abby J. Hutchinson, "From the May Flower: The First Book of Queens, Plymouth, Mass., April 3, 1847;" both MS, in Item 122r, Ludlow Patton's Hutchinson Family Scrapbook, Wadleigh Memorial Library, Milford, New Hampshire.
"By 1847 or not much later, she began performing a charming song": "Jamie's on the Stormy Sea: Ballad," music: Bernard Covert, first line of text: "Ere the twilight bat was flitting" (Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1847). "As sung with rapturous applause by Abby Hutchinson."
"[N]otwithstanding the cares and trials of professional life, he recalled": John W. Hutchinson (1896, 1:228-229).
Page 12
In August, then, John's heart was gladdened by a family trip. On this expedition were Caleb and Laura, Judson and Jerusha, Asa and Lizzie, Joshua, Rhoda, Abby, Fanny, Viola, and others. They traveled through Manchester and Concord. This party, which was growing larger as it moved along, proceeded into the White Mountains. While there, the Hutchinsons met the Baker Family twice and had the pleasure of singing with them. By this time there were many traveling family troupes giving concerts, and we are told the New Hampshire Bakers were among the most popular. Coming back from the mountains, the Hutchinson party went to Hanover and crossed into Vermont, moving south to Brattleboro. The company crossed back into New Hampshire, and went home through Keene and Peterborough. Of course in typical Hutchinson Family fashion, they mixed business with pleasure, making professional appearances along the way.
As concert season approached, farm life seemed to lose its hold on the singers. "John," said an early biography, "could not give up his love of music; indeed the others were at times seized with desires to follow the bent of their harmonious inclinations. Judson struggled, it would seem, against this
The quartet began the 1847-1848 season with a Thanksgiving concert at Amherst. They planned to tour from New England to Ohio and other points in the West. But when they were to start on the Down East leg of their trip, Asa became too ill to go. Their plans had to be postponed until the early months of 1848.
"On this expedition were Caleb and Laura, Judson and Jerusha": Joshua's wife Irene was pregnant, which may figure into her apparent absence.
"Coming back from the mountains, the Hutchinson party went to Hanover": A picture of the Hutchinson Family quartet was shot by William C. North of this town, Brattleboro, Vermont, according to an item in the September 9, 1847, issue of the Brattleboro Vermont Phoenix. It said, "We have been shown a Daguerreotype of the Hutchinson Family, by Mr. North of this village, taken in the best style of the art, and giving a life-like representation of those celebrated musicians as they appear at their concerts." The daguerreotype discussed in the Vermont Phoenix article would seem to be the picture which appears as the first illustration in Dale Cockrell, ed., Excelsior: Journals of the Hutchinson Family Singers, 1842-1846 (Stuyvesant, NY: Pendragon Press, 1989), xii. In the illustrations section of Carol Brink, Harps in the Wind: The Story of the Singing Hutchinsons (New York: Macmillan, 1947), above a caption that reads "A nest of brothers with a sister in it," there's a picture that includes all four quartet members plus Jesse Jr. and Rhoda. In both photos, Abby Hutchinson is shown wearing the same dress as in a likeness of her alone which is said to be from the 1847 North shoot.
Sister Abby may have favored William C. North. He shot her again in 1848, this time at his 142 Washington Street studio in Boston.
"The quartet began the 1847-1848 season with a Thanksgiving concert": "The Hutchinsons,"
The start of this tour had already been postponed once, because Viola became frightfully ill.
"John, said an early biography, could not give up his love of music": Book of Brothers (1852, 45).
"But when they were to start on the Down East leg of their trip": In his family history, referring to 1858 or possibly to the 1857-1858 concert season, John said, "It was a terribly broken year as I remember it." The year 1847 was every bit as badly broken: it was just broken differently. And with regards to giving concerts, it was less productive.
|
Behold the day of promise comes, full of inspiration The blessed day by prophets sung for the healing of the nation Old midnight errors flee away, they soon will all be gone While heavenly angels seem to say the good time's coming on
The good time, the good time, the good time's coming on The good time, the good time, the good time's coming on |
E-Mail Us
Brattleboro, Vermont: Published by the author. 2006.
All rights reserved. Used with permission.