_Mr. Editor_:--Your correspondent, N.B.S., has so decisively given a
_quietus_ to the question as to the birthplace of Cotton Mather, that
there is no danger of its ever being revived again. But there is
another question of equal importance to many, to the literary world
in particular, which should in like manner be put to rest. _Who was
Mother Goose?_ and _when_ were her melodies first given to the world?
These are questions which have been often asked, but have never been
satisfactorily answered. The recent publication of a book called "Mother
Goose for Old Folks" has again revived these questions, which serves to
show that the subject has not yet lost its interest.
Many persons imagine that Mother Goose is a myth,--that no such person
ever existed. This is a mistake. _Mother Goose_ was not only a veritable
personage, but was born and resided many years in Boston, where many
of her descendants may now be found. The last that bore the ancient
paternal cognomen died about the year 1807, and was buried in the Old
Granary Burying Ground, where probably lie the remains of the whole
blood, if we may judge from the numerous grave-stones which mark their
resting place. The family originated in England, but at what time they
came to this country is unknown,--but probably about the year 1656.
This was the "_Wealthy family of Goose_" which is immortalized by
Mr. Bowditch in his book of Suffolk Names, who at the same time has
immortalized himself. They were landholders in Boston, so early as 1660.
Nearly half the space between West and Winter streets, on Washington
street, and extending westerly towards Tremont street, 275 feet belonged
to this family, as did also a large tract of land on Essex, Rowe and
Bedford streets, upon which now stand two churches and a large number of
dwelling houses. _So much for Mother Goose._ Now for her melodies.
It is well known to antiquarians that more than _two_ hundred years ago
there was a small book in circulation in London bearing the name of
"Rhymes for the nursery; or Lulla-Byes for Children," which contained
_many of the identical pieces_ which have been handed down to us and
now form part of the "Mother Goose's Melodies" of the present day. It
contained also other pieces much more silly, if possible, and some that
the _American_ types of the present day would refuse to give off an
impression. The "cuts" or illustrations thereof were of the coarsest
description.
The first book of the kind known to be printed in this country bears the
title of "_Songs for the Nursery; or, Mother Goose's Melodies_ for
Children." Something probably intended to represent a goose with a very
long neck and mouth wide open, covered a large part of the title page,
at the bottom of which, Printed by T. Fleet, at his printing house,
Pudding lane, 1719. Price, two coppers. Several pages were missing,
so that the whole number could not be ascertained.
This T. Fleet, according to Isaiah Thomas, was a man of considerable
talent and of great wit and humor. He was born in England, and was
brought up in a printing office in the city of Bristol, where he
afterwards worked as a journeyman. Although he was considered a man
of sense, he was never thought to be overburdened with religious
sentiments; he certainly was not in his latter days. Yet he was _more_
than suspected of being actively engaged in the riotous proceedings
connected with the trial of Dr. Sacheverell, in Queen Ann's time. In
London, Bristol, and many other places, the mobs and riots were of a
very serious nature. In London several meeting houses were sacked and
pulled down, and the materials and contents made into bonfires, and much
valuable property destroyed. Several of the rioters were arrested, tried
and convicted. The trials of some of them are now before me. How deeply
Fleet was implicated in these disturbances was never known, but being
of the same mind with Jack Falstaff, that "the better part of valor is
discretion," thought it prudent to put the Ocean between himself and
danger. He made his way to this country and arrived in Boston, 1712.
Being a man of some enterprise he soon established a printing office
in Pudding lane (now Devonshire street), where he printed small books,
pamphlets, ballads, and such matter as offered. Being industrious and
prudent, he gradually accumulated property. It was not long before he
became acquainted with the "wealthy family of Goose," a branch of which
he had before known in Bristol, and was shortly married to the eldest
daughter.
By the record of marriages in the City Registrar's office, it appears
that in "1715, June 8, was married by Rev. _Cotton Mather, Thomas Fleet
to Elizabeth Goose_." The happy couple took up their residence in the
same house with the printing office in Pudding lane. In due time their
family was increased by the birth of a son and heir. Mother Goose, like
all good grandmothers, was in ecstasies at the event; her joy was
unbounded; she spent her whole time in the nursery, and in wandering
about the house, pouring forth, in not the most melodious strains, the
songs and ditties which she had learned in her younger days, greatly to
the annoyance of the whole neighborhood--to Fleet in particular, who was
a man fond of quiet. It was in vain he exhausted his shafts of wit and
ridicule, and every expedient he could devise: it was of no use--the old
lady was not thus to be put down; so, like others similarly situated,
he was obliged to submit. His shrewdness, however, did not forsake him;
from this seeming evil he contrived to educe some good; he conceived the
idea of collecting the songs and ditties as they came from his mother,
and such as he could gather from other sources, and publishing them for
the benefit of the world--not forgetting himself. This he did--and thus
"_Mother Goose's Melodies_" were brought forth. The adoption of this
title was in derision of his good mother-in-law, and was perfectly
characteristic of the man, as he was never known to spare his nearest
friends in his raillery, or when he could excite laughter at their
expense.
_Cotton Mather and Mother Goose_ thus stand in juxtaposition; and as
the former was instrumental in cementing the union, which resulted in
placing the latter so conspicuously before the world, it is but just
that it should be so,--although the one was a learned man, a most
voluminous writer, and published a great many books, some wise and
some foolish, it may well be doubted whether any one, or all of them,
together, have passed through so many editions,--been read by so many
hundreds of thousands, not to say millions,--put so many persons to
sleep, or in general done so much good to the world as the simple
melodies of the other.