Jacob McGaw Haskell was a merchant.
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Reminiscences of Fugitive-slave Law Days in Boston
Author: Austin Bearse
Printed in 1880 by R. RichardsonOne night in September 1854, Wendell Phillips, Jacob M. Haskell, and J. B. Smith came to my house at nine o’clock, telling me that a schooner lay down at Fort Independence, from Wilmington, North Carolina, with a fugitive slave on board. The schooner proved to be the “Sally Ann” from Belfast, Maine, and was loaded with yellow pine lumber for parties in Boston. They wished me to get my yacht underway. I did. Going past the vessel I hailed the schooner and asked the captain if he was was ready to give up the slave he had aboard --- (having been told by Mr. Haskell that the man to whom the schooner was consigned wanted to get rid of him). The answer I got was this: “If you come alongside my vessel I will send you to eternity ----- quick!” So I went up to Long Wharf and waited for three hours, and only got Mr. Haskell. No other man came. Knowing it was soon coming daylight, I had to lay a plot. I took a dozen old hats and coats and fastened them to the rail in my yacht, which gave me the appearance of having so many men; I then went down back alongside the schooner again, and told the captain I had now come prepared, and he better give up the fugitive and save bloodshed. After parleying a while he agreed to put the slave in my boat. My brother went under his bow with the boat and the slave jumped in, and they pulled alongside the yacht. Then I made sail for City Point, South Boston. I landed the slave and carried him up to my house, stripped off his old tow suit and dressed him in another, so he could not be known. By this time it was midnight. He had just got him ready when Mr. Samuel May Jr. and Dr. S. Cabot drove up to my house with a carriage, took him and carried him to Boston and Worcester depot, and Mr. May went on with him to Worcester and from there he was sent on the underground railroad to Canada.
The next day the vessel hauled into Boston Wharf and the captain had a notice inserted in the papers that his vessel was boarded by a set of pirates in the night, the slave rescued, and offering $500 for the man who headed the gang. After President Lincoln’s proclamation, in 1863, the man returned from Canada and came to see me. He shipped on board a vessel for the West Indies; I have never seen him since, and cannot recall his name.
Boston Herald
February 2, 1906Haskell, Waldo clark, son of Jacob Mcgaw and Adeline Locke Haskell, in his 48th year.
History of Cumberland Co., Maine
1880Page 209
Charles H. Haskell was born in New Gloucester, May 12, 1824. In 1839 he came to Portland, and was a clerk until 1848, when he started business for himself as a wholesale grocer, in partnership with Oliver P. Reynolds. This business he continued until 1878, with the exception of four years, from 1846-60, during which time he was inspector of customs, receiving his appointment from President James Buchanan.
He was a director of the National Traders' Bank for several years, 8 member of the Portland Board of Trade since its organization, its treasurer for ten years, and president of the board in 1878. He was one of' the founders of the Mercantile Library Association, and its president for two years.
Mr. Haskell was formerly a Whig, but upon the dissolution of that party became a Democrat. For two terms he was councilman from the Sixth Ward of the city, and was elected city auditor, but declined to accept the office.
In 1871 he was a representative from Portland in the State Legislature, and was placed on the committee on banks and banking.
In 1875 he was appointed, with, with Joshua Nye, by President Grant, centennial commissioner for the State of Maine, and was State Senator in 1875-76, acting as chairman of the railroad committee. He married, May 10, 1849, Mary E, daughter of Zophar Reynolds, of Portland. She died Oct. 9, 1863, leaving one son, Charles O. Haskell. For his second wife, Mr. Haskell married, June 4, 1879, Mrs. Louise L. Kenney.