Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

226 RAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH.
of rum, for which he paid the penalty at the town pump.
Next was a long two-story dwelling house fronting the
street and elevated six or eight feet above its level. It
extended from the yard of Mr. Stavers' house to a narrow
passage way at the western end of it, which terminated in
a goldsmith's shop, occupied by Capt. Martin Parry, who
also occupied the other western part of it as his dwelling
house. Capt. Martin Parry died of yellow fever in 1802,
which was prevalent in this vicinity at that time and swept
off some of our best citizens. He was a merchatt of honored standing, and the agent of William Gray, Esq., of Salem,
whose ships then were loading at o'r pier for Calcutta, Russia and other places. Capt. Parry left an only daughter,
Ann, who was the first wife of our respected townsman, the
late William Jones, Esq., who after the fire built the house
now occupied by Rev. James DeNormandie, near the spot.
The eastern half of the house was the residence of Madam
Bettenham, so favorably known and respected as a lady
who never failed to make all happy who had the privilege
of her company. Her mother, who was the daughter of
George Meserve, ship builder, occupied the same house
before her. Capt. James Christie, who married the daughter of Mrs. Bettenham, occupied this house till his death
at Philadelphia in 1812. His children John and Aary were
born here. The late William Simes, gold and silver smith,
was an apprentice of Capt. Parry, and after his master
engaged in mercantile pursuits, occupied the shop.
The next building was the long two-story store of Jacob
Sheafe, Jr. Esq., standing end to the street and fronting on
Washington street. Many amusing reminisences of this
of this store mi^iht be mentioned. It was once occupied
by Mir. VWiliam Neil, an emigrant from Ireland, a,entlem-A.
beloved and reapected by all who knew him. He was the
friend of man in the full and true sense of the word. He
had a very pleasant manner of address, and at times was