Henry Francis Walling's1/ large scale, and extra large Map of The County of Bristol, Massachusetts, 1858 ("Bristol County Map ") is a simply decorated, topographical, trigonometric survey of Bristol County, Massachusetts presenting the county's south eastern shoreline on Buzzard's Bay, its major 19th c. cities such as Fall River, Taunton and New Bedford and small inland towns that together comprise the southeastern edge of Massachusetts. The Bristol County Map features salt and fresh water rivers, marshlands and other coastal features. Bristol County cities and towns were dominant forces in the America 19th c. shipping and textile industry and the map is a record of 19th c. domestic and international industrial history. The scope of land surveys and historical records represented by this map define the region three years before the U.S. Civil War. 2/
The map is composed of a primary map of Bristol County, each town's borders defined with color and surrounded by thirty-five (35) inset, framed town and village maps and charts. The numerous framed town maps completely surround the primary county map leaving little space for the title block or pictorial vignettes. This mammoth map is a veritable gazetteer and directory of land and building owners, their homes, businesses, farms, working harbors, small and large factories, taverns, mills. Waves of immigration to Bristol County can be tracked in these names. The legacy of Native Americans who lived here can be parsed only from place names.
The map's title block is decorated with the Massachusetts state seal. The motto reads " Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem". 3/ The architectural vignette in the top right corner presents the Free Public Library of New Bedford Mass, a bank vault shaped building safekeeping knowledge. The fancy Taunton Hotel is represented. A small vignette of Chilson's Iron Foundry in Mansfield shows a brick foundry and its numerous chimneys sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. A color-coded Geological Map of Bristol County Massachusetts By Edward Hitchcock identifies The Silurian era as a major influence, and large areas of granite.
The three largest inset maps with business directories are the Bristol County seat Taunton (13" x 18"), New Bedford (18" x 24") and Fall River (14" x 21") including part of Rhode Island. The Bristol County Map bursts beyond its linear frame: Westport's Gooseberry neck dips below the map border and into the margin. Inset survey maps have history referencing placenames, such as "Squawbetty" in Taunton and "Brittaniaville" in Hopewell Village, Taunton.
Major railroad lines cut through the county, joining its industrial cities and small towns northward to Boston and northern New England. The railroad southern connections were until 1937 complemented by the steamship ferry to New York City. A Table of Distances shows the distances among the cities and towns. A small framed Terms of Probate Court for Bristol County gives the court calendar in the district's court houses. A chart titled Population, Schools, &c. is based on the 1855 census. The location for returns of Elections are the Town Clerk's office of listed towns. This map was a useful reference for personal, civic and business purposes.
The Bristol County Map shows an unresolved issue concerning the Massachusetts and Rhode Island border, whereby Fall River was divided between them, having been so allocated by a Rhode Island boundary commission acting ex parte. Walling has drawn a dotted line between Fall River City in Rhode Island and Fall River, Massachusetts labeled as follows: "Line as Reported by Minority of Boundary Line Commission Appointed 1844." This 1844 Commission line restores some of Fall River City to Massachusetts. The Massachusetts legislature then set up its own commission to redraw the line. Ultimately, both states filed bills in equity to the U.S. Supreme Court and the Court established a new boundary effective 1862 that did not divide pre-existing cities by a state boundary. 4/
The Atlantic Ocean and the good harbors in Fall River drew early English settlement at Fall River and regionally from Plymouth Colony beginning in 1620. The region had already been settled for generations by Native Americans of the Pocasset Wampanoag tribe. Fall River is thought to be the English name derived from the Wompanoag word meaning falling waters. The Quequechan River has eight waterfalls. Native settlements were then confined by these Colonial settlers. The Quequechan River powered Fall River's textile industry looms in 1817. Iron works were built on the Quequecan River. The American Print Works fabric printing factory was built in 1835 and produced fabric for the international markets into the early 20th century. In 1846, river power was first supplemented by steam power. Steam power became dominant by 1859, and permitted mills to be built above the dams. Look on the Bristol County Map for the Union Mills and Wamsutta Mills above the dam on Quequecan River. Coal powered gas also powered some mills.
Today, the Massachusetts South Coast is experiencing a population upsurge. Many new residents are drawn to the qualities of small town life, the area's natural beauty and its cultural life. A generation is leaving the Boston area dismayed by its 21st century "urban renewal.". Walling's Bristol County Map, 1858 is perhaps ironically a valuable point of entry and bridge for today's map reader over the so-called 1960's" urban renewal" in Bristol County. The 1960's federal and state urban renewal plan in Bristol County was large scale demolition of 19th and early 20th c. city neighborhoods to build the Braga Bridge and Interstate 195. The Quequechen River and its eight natural water falls were rerouted and buried and the river bed filled in. The federal highway and bridge walled off and cut asunder cities and towns. The Bristol County Map can encourage and guide restoration of the Quequechen River and modern, functional urban design based on actual, historic town plans. The New Bedford Whaling Museum has endured and its deep collection of maps and Bristol County history. Every year it holds a reading of Herman Melville's Moby Dick. This map deserves annual reading.
As this Bristol County Map 1858 demonstrates, the expressive value of cartography lives for succeeding generations who behold the map and imagine a new present.
Notes:
1. As Massachusetts Superintendent of the State Map from 1855 to 1888, cartographer Henry Francis Walling (1825 to 1888) surveyed or supervised the survey of every town and county in Massachusetts. Walling's fourteen Massachusetts county maps, surveyed and published between 1855 and 1860, were based on town or city maps that he had surveyed in part with municipal payments and published at his own expense. For his revision in 1860 of the Massachusetts state map Walling was not compensated, instead, in Walling's own words, "...the privilege of publishing the map was granted him" and according to Ristow that map was not completed and Walling lost money as he was not paid at all for his time, skill and efforts. Over the course of his professional life (1848-1888) Henry Walling surveyed, drew and privately published maps in 20 states, 280 counties and at least 100 municipalities. His mapmaking set the standards for 19th c. American maps. Please see, Ristow at 338.
2. see, Map of the Town of Dartmouth Bristol Co. Massachusetts 1854: Map of the Town of Fair Haven Bristol Co. Massachusetts, 1854 | Original Antique Maps by Carol J. Spack
3. Massachusetts state motto translated from Latin is frequently translated "By the sword we seek peace, but peace under liberty." History of the Massachusetts Seal
4. Massachusetts and Fall River Boundary Commission law suit. fowler4.pdf
Bibliography:
American Maps and Mapmakers, Commercial Cartography in the Nineteenth Century, Walter W. Ristow, Wayne State University Press, Detroit 1986.