Saugus Iron Works in Saugus Massachusetts
RESTORED IN THE 1950'S
Joseph Jenks
1599-1683
| "...whereas the Lord hath beene pleased to giue mee knowledg
in Makeing, and erecting of Engines of Mills to goe by water for
the speedy dispatch of much worke with few mens labour in litle
tyme my desire is to Jmproue this talent for the publike good and
benifitt and seruice of this country; to which end my Jntention
and purpose is (if God permitt) to build a Mill for making of
sithes; and alsoe a new Jnvented Saw Mill, and diuers other
Engines for making of diuers sorts of edge tooles; whereby the
Country may haue sush necessaryes in short tyme at farre cheaper
Rates then now they can; Now yor petitioner doth humbly beseech
this Honoured Court that you would please to grant mee this
priueledg; and to order that no other person shall set upp or Vse
any such new Invention or trade for the space of fowerteene
yeeres without my licence; which hath been vjuall priveledge and
liberty Granted by the high Court of Parlayment in England to men
that doe first sett vpon workes of this nature; least after your
petitioner haue expended his estate, study, and labour, and haue
brought things to perfection; Another when hee seeth it, maketh
the like; and soe J loose the benifitt of that I have studied
many yeeres before. . . First Patent in America At a generall Courte at Boston the 6th of the 3th mo 1646 Jenkes monopolye The cort consideringe ye necessity of raising such manifactures of engins of mills to go by water for speedy dispatch of much worke wth few hands, and being sufficiently informed of ye ability of ye petitionr to pforme such workes grant his petition (yt no othr pson shal set up, or use any such new invention, for fourteen yeares w'hout ye licence of him ye said Joseph Jenkes) so far as concernes any such new invention, & so as it shalbe alwayes in ye powr of this corte to restrain ye exportation of such manifactures, & ye prizes of them to moderation if occasion so require. 1654 "The Annals of Lynn" The selectman of Boston agreed with Mr. Joseph Jenks `for an ingine to carry water in case of fire.' |
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This was the first fire engine made in America. |