by Edward Ellis, Special Correspondent
At Christmastime two hundred years ago, New Bern’s news was delivered via John I. Pasteur’s weekly vehicle, the Carolina Centinel, available “at $3 dollars per annum, one third payable in advance.” The talk of the town December 19, 1818 was the front-page story of President James Monroe’s initiative to open land on the extreme western frontier of the United States – Alabama.
The North Carolina legislature was hotly debating bills “to prohibit Physicians from practising in any County within this State unless he can produce a Diploma” – a winning idea if we ever heard one – and a bill to prohibit fishing on the Sabbath – which we feel needed further study.
One item reported the total sum of notes issued by the Bank of the United States – the Federal Reserve of its day – was $19,851,881, with $11,184,189 in hand and $8,670,692 circulating. In this pleasingly liquid moment, the Bank of New Bern announced a stockholder’s dividend of four and a half percent, according to cashier M.C. Stephens.
Being a major American port town, many ship’s masts were standing tall on the New Bern riverfront. The schooner Jarvis Brown was in from New York City. The Pigot had arrived from Guadeloupe along with Millennium from Savannah, Jasper from Philadelphia, and Four Sisters from Alexandria. Sloops at the wharves added to the picturesque scene. These hailed from Charleston, New York and Philadelphia, with square-sail brigs – some 150 feet long – leaving the Neuse for St. Lucia, Bermuda and other exotic locales.
These ships off-loaded goods necessary in a festive season, like the Madeira wine offered by the ironically-named spirits merchant Michael H. Lent, and the “first quality” Jamaican rum, in quantities of one, five and ten gallons, pitched downtown by the perfectly-named Ichabod Wetmore.
But the booming local shops of A. Giraud & Co., Nathaniel Smith, and John Coart were really prepared for secret Santas. Check the wish list: almonds, anchovies, filberts, sweet oil, palm nuts, spermaceti candy (Yum!), pecans, nutmegs, raisins, cloves, cheeses and “Sugar Plumbs of all kinds.” And there were Sugar Toys, rock candy, dry citron, fruit in brandy, muscatel wine, lime juice, clarets, olives, porter in bottles, silks, calicoes, cambric muslin and Spanish Sigars. Plus, dolls, “jewellery – some with Pearls and filigree,” snuff boxes, cologne water, playing cards, perfume, shaving soap, pocket knives, tooth brushes, pocketbooks and watches. And guns and whiskey, of course.
It’s interesting to note that in the entire issue the actual word Christmas appeared just once; in the tiny notice shown above. Therein the publisher promises a special edition if all heck breaks loose, but otherwise is closing shop in hopes his employees enjoy their “Holy-days.” May we do so as well these two centuries later.
Craven County native Eddie Ellis is a journalist, writer and historian. He’s the author of New Bern History 101 and other works about the area’s rich heritage.
More at edwardellis.com