Luther Briggs (1783-1864) was a prominent shipbuilder on the North River, Plymouth County, and descendant of a long line of Massachusetts builders. The following is extracted from L. Vernon Briggs, History of Shipbuilding on North River, Plymouth County, Massachusetts (1889).
Luther Briggs was the son of Elisha, and grandson of Seth, who removed from Scituate to Pembroke early in the last century, having a large family, several of whom followed the occupation of their father. Luther learned the art of shipbuilding of his father and was apprenticed at the same time with Cushing O. Briggs, who in company with his brother Henry, became a successful builder at Scituate. ... The early years of Luther Briggs' life were much interrupted by ill health, which prevented him from engaging in active business for several years after his majority, but later he commenced business at the Brick-kilns, (so called), where his father and grandfather had previously built in company with the late Barker Turner. One incident occurring at the time they built, seems worthy of notice. It had been the custom in all the ship-yards to carry around liquor at stated hours and distribute to the men, as it was considered indispensable to a good day's work. After taking into consideration the great evil of intemperance they resolved building a ship without furnishing liquor to their men. They were told it could not be done, that men would not work without their accustomed dram, and probably many drank at their own expense, but it was the last of their furnishing it, and they had no trouble in building without it. It was an innovation which was soon followed in other yards on the River, where it had been thought indispensable to successful business. Luther Briggs deceased in 1864, aged eighty years, much respected as an honest and just man in all his business relations. He left one son, Luther, an architect in Boston, who still survives him."
Luther Briggs built alone and in company with Barker Turner, Silvanus Smith, and Melzar S. Turner at different times. In 1836, Melzar Turner (as he was commonly called), left the Brick-kilns and built on his own account at Scituate Harbor. Later, he again built in company with Luther Briggs at the Brick-kilns, carrying on his Harbor Yard at the same time. He was not very successful financially, and becoming somewhat embarrassed, in 1845 Luther Briggs was obliged to go down to the Harbor, and "help him out" on a vessel he was building. From this time Luther Briggs continued in business at the Harbor and together they were very successful. Luther Briggs built at the Brick-kilns until 1850, when he gave all his time and energies to the Harbor Yard. He is described as being an extremely nervous man, especially if anything went wrong, just the opposite of his son Luther. ... Luther Briggs was the last member of this family who built in Pembroke.
Luther Briggs was the son of Elisha, and grandson of Seth, who removed from Scituate to Pembroke early in the last century, having a large family, several of whom followed the occupation of their father. Luther learned the art of shipbuilding of his father and was apprenticed at the same time with Cushing O. Briggs, who in company with his brother Henry, became a successful builder at Scituate. ... The early years of Luther Briggs' life were much interrupted by ill health, which prevented him from engaging in active business for several years after his majority, but later he commenced business at the Brick-kilns, (so called), where his father and grandfather had previously built in company with the late Barker Turner. One incident occurring at the time they built, seems worthy of notice. It had been the custom in all the ship-yards to carry around liquor at stated hours and distribute to the men, as it was considered indispensable to a good day's work. After taking into consideration the great evil of intemperance they resolved building a ship without furnishing liquor to their men. They were told it could not be done, that men would not work without their accustomed dram, and probably many drank at their own expense, but it was the last of their furnishing it, and they had no trouble in building without it. It was an innovation which was soon followed in other yards on the River, where it had been thought indispensable to successful business. Luther Briggs deceased in 1864, aged eighty years, much respected as an honest and just man in all his business relations. He left one son, Luther, an architect in Boston, who still survives him."
Luther Briggs built alone and in company with Barker Turner, Silvanus Smith, and Melzar S. Turner at different times. In 1836, Melzar Turner (as he was commonly called), left the Brick-kilns and built on his own account at Scituate Harbor. Later, he again built in company with Luther Briggs at the Brick-kilns, carrying on his Harbor Yard at the same time. He was not very successful financially, and becoming somewhat embarrassed, in 1845 Luther Briggs was obliged to go down to the Harbor, and "help him out" on a vessel he was building. From this time Luther Briggs continued in business at the Harbor and together they were very successful. Luther Briggs built at the Brick-kilns until 1850, when he gave all his time and energies to the Harbor Yard. He is described as being an extremely nervous man, especially if anything went wrong, just the opposite of his son Luther. ... Luther Briggs was the last member of this family who built in Pembroke.
Luther Briggs (1783-1864) was a prominent shipbuilder on the North River, Plymouth County, and descendant of a long line of Massachusetts builders. The following is extracted from L. Vernon Briggs, History of Shipbuilding on North River, Plymouth County, Massachusetts (1889).
Luther Briggs was the son of Elisha, and grandson of Seth, who removed from Scituate to Pembroke early in the last century, having a large family, several of whom followed the occupation of their father. Luther learned the art of shipbuilding of his father and was apprenticed at the same time with Cushing O. Briggs, who in company with his brother Henry, became a successful builder at Scituate. ... The early years of Luther Briggs' life were much interrupted by ill health, which prevented him from engaging in active business for several years after his majority, but later he commenced business at the Brick-kilns, (so called), where his father and grandfather had previously built in company with the late Barker Turner. One incident occurring at the time they built, seems worthy of notice. It had been the custom in all the ship-yards to carry around liquor at stated hours and distribute to the men, as it was considered indispensable to a good day's work. After taking into consideration the great evil of intemperance they resolved building a ship without furnishing liquor to their men. They were told it could not be done, that men would not work without their accustomed dram, and probably many drank at their own expense, but it was the last of their furnishing it, and they had no trouble in building without it. It was an innovation which was soon followed in other yards on the River, where it had been thought indispensable to successful business. Luther Briggs deceased in 1864, aged eighty years, much respected as an honest and just man in all his business relations. He left one son, Luther, an architect in Boston, who still survives him."
Luther Briggs built alone and in company with Barker Turner, Silvanus Smith, and Melzar S. Turner at different times. In 1836, Melzar Turner (as he was commonly called), left the Brick-kilns and built on his own account at Scituate Harbor. Later, he again built in company with Luther Briggs at the Brick-kilns, carrying on his Harbor Yard at the same time. He was not very successful financially, and becoming somewhat embarrassed, in 1845 Luther Briggs was obliged to go down to the Harbor, and "help him out" on a vessel he was building. From this time Luther Briggs continued in business at the Harbor and together they were very successful. Luther Briggs built at the Brick-kilns until 1850, when he gave all his time and energies to the Harbor Yard. He is described as being an extremely nervous man, especially if anything went wrong, just the opposite of his son Luther. ... Luther Briggs was the last member of this family who built in Pembroke.
Luther Briggs was the son of Elisha, and grandson of Seth, who removed from Scituate to Pembroke early in the last century, having a large family, several of whom followed the occupation of their father. Luther learned the art of shipbuilding of his father and was apprenticed at the same time with Cushing O. Briggs, who in company with his brother Henry, became a successful builder at Scituate. ... The early years of Luther Briggs' life were much interrupted by ill health, which prevented him from engaging in active business for several years after his majority, but later he commenced business at the Brick-kilns, (so called), where his father and grandfather had previously built in company with the late Barker Turner. One incident occurring at the time they built, seems worthy of notice. It had been the custom in all the ship-yards to carry around liquor at stated hours and distribute to the men, as it was considered indispensable to a good day's work. After taking into consideration the great evil of intemperance they resolved building a ship without furnishing liquor to their men. They were told it could not be done, that men would not work without their accustomed dram, and probably many drank at their own expense, but it was the last of their furnishing it, and they had no trouble in building without it. It was an innovation which was soon followed in other yards on the River, where it had been thought indispensable to successful business. Luther Briggs deceased in 1864, aged eighty years, much respected as an honest and just man in all his business relations. He left one son, Luther, an architect in Boston, who still survives him."
Luther Briggs built alone and in company with Barker Turner, Silvanus Smith, and Melzar S. Turner at different times. In 1836, Melzar Turner (as he was commonly called), left the Brick-kilns and built on his own account at Scituate Harbor. Later, he again built in company with Luther Briggs at the Brick-kilns, carrying on his Harbor Yard at the same time. He was not very successful financially, and becoming somewhat embarrassed, in 1845 Luther Briggs was obliged to go down to the Harbor, and "help him out" on a vessel he was building. From this time Luther Briggs continued in business at the Harbor and together they were very successful. Luther Briggs built at the Brick-kilns until 1850, when he gave all his time and energies to the Harbor Yard. He is described as being an extremely nervous man, especially if anything went wrong, just the opposite of his son Luther. ... Luther Briggs was the last member of this family who built in Pembroke.
Inscription
LUTHER BRIGGS / DIED / April 18, 1864 / aged / 80 y'rs & 6 mo's. /
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The memory of the just is blessed.
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