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pleasant to the old gentlewoman by the memory of a compliment to her
complexion which Washington probably never paid to it。
The old hotelnow a very unsavory tenement…housewas built by
John Tavers； innkeeper； in 1770； who planted in front of the door a tall
post； from which swung the sign of the Earl of Halifax。 Stavers had
previously kept an inn of the same name on Queen； now State Street。
It is a square three…story building； shabby and dejected； giving no hint
of the really important historical associations that cluster about it。 At the
time of its erection it was no doubt considered a rather grand structure； for
buildings of three stories were rare in Portsmouth。 Even in 1798； of the six
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hundred and twenty…six dwelling houses of which the town boasted；
eighty…six were of one story； five hundred and twenty…four were of two
stories； and only sixteen of three stories。 The Stavers inn has the regulation
gambrel roof； but is lacking in those wood ornaments which are usually
seen over the doors and windows of the more prominent houses of that
epoch。 It was； however； the hotel of the period。
That same worn doorstep upon which Mr。 O'Shaughnessy now
stretches himself of a summer afternoon； with a short clay pipe stuck
between his lips； and his hat crushed down on his brows； revolving the sad
vicissitude of thingsthat same doorstep has been pressed by the feet of
generals and marquises and grave dignitaries upon whom depended the
destiny of the Statesofficers in gold lace and scarlet cloth； and high…
heeled belles in patch； powder； and paduasoy。 At this door the Flying
Stage Coach； which crept from Boston； once a week set down its load of
passengersand distinguished passengers they often were。 Most of the
chief celebrities of the land； before and after the secession of the colonies；
were the guests of Master Stavers； at the sign of the Earl of Halifax。
While the storm was brewing between the colonies and the mother
country； it was in a back room of the tavern that the adherents of the crown
met to discuss matters。 The landlord himself was a amateur loyalist； and
when the full cloud was on the eve of breaking he had an early intimation
of the coming tornado。 The Sons of Liberty had long watched with sullen
eyes the secret sessions of the Tories in Master Stavers's tavern； and one
morning the patriots quietly began cutting down the post which supported
the obnoxious emblem。 Mr。 Stavers； who seems not to have been
belligerent himself； but the cause of belligerence in others； sent out his
black slave with orders to stop proceedings。 The negro； who was armed
with an axe； struck but a single blow and disappeared。 This blow fell upon
the head of Mark Noble； it did not kill him； but left him an insane man till
the day of his death； forty years afterward。 A furious mob at once collected；
and made an attack on the tavern； bursting in the doors and shattering
every pane of glass in the windows。 It was only through the intervention of
Captain John Langdon； a warm and popular patriot； that the hotel was
saved from destruction。
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In the mean while Master Stavers had escaped through the stables in
the rear。 He fled to Stratham； where he was given refuge by his friend
William Pottle； a most appropriately named gentleman； who had supplied
the hotel with ale。 The excitement blew over after a time； and Stavers was
induced to return to Portsmouth。 He was seized by the Committee of
Safety； and lodged in Exeter jail； when his loyalty； which had really never
been very high； went down below zero； he took the oath of allegiance； and
shortly after his released reopened the hotel。 The honest face of William
Pitt appeared on the repentant sign； vice Earl of Halifax； ignominiously
removed； and Stavers was himself again。 In the state records is the
following letter from poor Noble begging for the enlargement of John
Stavers：
PORTSMOUTH； February 3； 1777。 To the Committee of Safety of the
Town of Exeter： GENTLEMEN；As I am informed that Mr。 Stivers is in
confinement in gaol upon my account contrary to my desire； for when I
was at Mr。 Stivers a fast day I had no ill nor ment none against the
Gentleman but by bad luck or misfortune I have received a bad Blow but it
is so well that I hope to go out in a day or two。 So by this gentlemen of the
Committee I hope you will release the gentleman upon my account。 I am
yours to serve。 MARK NOBLE； A friend to my country。
From that period until I know not what year the Stavers House
prospered。 It was at the sign of the William Pitt that the officers of the
French fleet boarded in 1782； and hither came the Marquis Lafayette； all
the way from Providence； to visit them。John Hancock； Elbridge Gerry；
Rutledge； and other signers of the Declaration sojourned here at various
times。 It was here General Knox〃that stalwart man； two officers in size
and three in lungs〃was wont to order his dinner； and in a stentorian voice
compliment Master Stavers on the excellence of his larder。 One dayit
was at the time of the French RevolutionLouis Philippe and his two
brothers applied at the door of the William Pitt for lodgings； but the tavern
was full； and the future king； with his companions； found comfortable
quarters under the hospitable roof of Governor Langdon in Pleasant Street。
A record of the scenes； tragic and humorous； that have been enacted
within this old yellow house on the corner would fill a volume。 A vivid
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picture of the social and public life of the old time might be painted by a
skillful hand； using the two Earl of Halifax inns for a background。 The
painter would find gay and sombre pigments ready mixed for his palette；
and a hundred romantic incidents waiting for his canvas。 One of these
romantic episodes has been turned to very pretty account by Longfellow in
the last series of The Tales of a Wayside Innthe marriage of Governor
Benning Wentworth with Martha Hilton； a sort of second edition of King
Cophetua and the Beggar Maid。
Martha Hilton was a poor girl； whose bare feet and ankles and scant
drapery when she was a child； and even after she was well in the bloom of
her teens； used to scandalize good Dame Stavers； the innkeeper's wife。
Standing one afternoon in the doorway of the Earl of Halifax； （1。 The first
of the two hotels bearing that title。 Mr。 Brewster commits a slight
anachronism in locating the scene of this incident in Jaffrey Street； now
Court。 The Stavers House was not built until the year of Governor
Benning Wentworth's death。 Mr。 Longfellow； in the poem； does not fall
into the same error。 〃One hundred years ago； and something more；
In Queen Street； Portsmouth； at her tavern door； Neat as a pin； and
blooming as a rose； Stood Mistress Stavers in her furbelows。〃）
Dame Stavers took occasion to remonstrate with the sleek…limbed and
lightly draped Martha； who chanced to be passing the tavern； carrying a
pail of water； in which； as the poet neatly says； 〃the shifting sunbeam
danced。〃
〃You Pat！ you Pat！〃 cried Mrs。 Stavers severely； 〃why do you go
looking so？ You should be ashamed to be seen in the street。〃
〃Never mind how I look；〃 says Miss Martha； with a merry laugh；
letting slip a saucy brown shoulder out of her dress； 〃I shall ride in my
chariot yet； ma'am。〃
Fortunate prophecy！ Martha went to live as servant with Governor
Wentworth at his mansion at Little Harbor； looking out to sea。 Seven years
passed； and