USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > First era in the history of Haverhill, Mass.; comprising the period from the settlement of the plantation of Pentuckey (1640) to the conclusion of permanent peace with the Indians > Part 1
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Gc 974. 402 H29co 1774732
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01115 2474
B
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/firsterainhistor00corl
1 st.
THE FIRST ERA
IN THE
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL, MASS.
COMPRISING THE PERIOD FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF THE PLANTATION OF PENTUCKET (1640) TO THE CONCLUSION OF PERMANENT PEACE WITH THE INDIANS (1715).
BY JOHN B. CORLISS.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
HAVERHILL, MASS .: C. C. MORSE & SON, PUBLISHERS, 1885.
S: 22
1.74732
F
84435 .2
Corliss. John B.
The first era in the history of Haverhill, Mass. Compris- ing the period from the settlement of the plantation of Pen- tucket (1640) to the conclusion of permanent peace with the Indians (1715). By John B. Corliss. Haverhill, Mass., C. C. Morse & son, 1885.
40 p. 243cm.
1. Haverhill, Mass .- Hist.
Library of Congress
F74.115C7 (831c1)
1-11431
1 17.30
A HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
CHAPTER I.
THE PIONEERS.
ABOUT twenty years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plym- outh, and five years subsequent to the founding of the town of New- bury, was settled on the north bank of the Merrimack River the splan- tation" of Pentucket. The precise date of its founding is not certain : but it is highly probable, from ex- isting evidence, that the event took place in 1640. On May 13th of that year, the General Court granted to "Mr. Ward and Newberry men"- agreeably to their petition-permis- sion to begin a settlement on the Merrimack River, providing -they built there before the next Courte," which met on the seventh of the following October. At this se -- sion, a committee was appointed to "view" the boundary line between Colchester (now Salisbury) and "Mr. Ward's plantation."
There are differences of opinion concerning the identity of "Mr. Ward" mentioned above. Mirick, in his very excellent history of Ha- verhill, states that he was the same person who, for many years after- ward, ministered to the spiritual
needs of the infant settlement, and partook of the hardships and priva- tions of pioneer life in common with his unlettered but resolute country- men. Chase believes, I think with better reason, that he of whom the court records speak was Nathaniel Ward, father of Rev. John Ward. who, according to the same author- ity, did not arrive at Pentucket till the autumn of 1641. Nathanid Ward was born in England in 1570 .. and was pastor of a church in Hert- fordshire, but left the country on account of non-conformity with the established church. He came to America, and settled at Ipswich, in 1631. Afterward he returned to England.
His son, Rev. John Ward, re- mained to lead the settlers of Pen- turket in their struggle for a home. and to preach his faith in a wilder- ness. Born in Haverhill, + England.
*Other authorities have thrown some doubt on the date of his birth. The Historical and Gene- alogical Register, July, 1264, in an article on the "Epitaph of Rev. John Ward, of Haverhill, Eng .. " thinks he was born eight or ten years later. He died in 1653.
t The same authority states that Rev. Nathaniel Ward removed from Haverhill to Ipswich in 1603. If this be true, his son John most probably was born in that town.
6
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Nov. 5, 1606, he was educated at the university of Cambridge, and came to this country in 1639. Soon after his arrival at Pentucket, the name of the plantation was changed to Haverhill, as a compliment to him.
The first settlers of Pentucket were, besides Mr. Ward, as follows; William White, Samuel Gile, James Davis, Hemy Palmer, John Robin- son, Christopher Hussey, John Wil- liams, Richard Littlehale, all from Newbury; and Abraham Tyler, Daniel Ladd, Joseph Merrie, and Job Clement, from Ipswich. The first house was erected near what is now Pentucket Cemetery, and the thickest part of the settlement chis- tered about that neighborhood. Gradually, as their members in- creased, the pioneers pushed their way into the wilderness, some of the more fearless building solitary habitations far beyond the sight and sound of their companions.
New arrivals, from time to time, swelled the number of the colo- nists; but the names of most of them are unknown. Chase men- tions only John Favor, Hugh Sher- ratt, and Job Clement (son of Rob- ert) as having arrived in 1640-1. To these may be added the name of George Corliss, who came from Newbury during one of those years; and it is probable that the Cross estate, now included in the town of Methuen was settled about the same time.
Subjoined are brief biographical sketches of a part of the earlier set- tlers.
Rev. John Ward, as before stated, was born in Haverhill, England, and emigrated to the New World in
1639. After preaching in Agunen- ticus (York, Me.), in the early part of 1641 he came to the frontier set- tlement of Pentucket Cotton Ma- ther, in his "Magnalia," says that Mr. Ward was "learned, ingenious, and religious;"* and adds, after the manner of the times, that, notwith- standing he had various offers of rich matches in England, yet he married a "meaner" person. This was Alice Edmunds, a young Eng- lish woman, with whom he lived happily more than forty years, and by whom he had two children, Mary and Elizabeth. His wife died Mar. 21. 1680. Additional faets concern- ing his life will be found from time to time in the pages which follow.
William White came to America. in 1635, settled in Ipswich, and sub- sequently in Newbury, leaving the latter town to accompany the ad- Venturous spirits who founded Pen- ticket. He died Sept. 28, 1690, at the age of eighty years. His prop- erty was valued at .9508, 10s; and he bequeathed the ten shillings to Mr. Ward. He also gave to the church the linen cloth on the com- munion table and a pewter dish, be- longing to him, which was used at the sacrament. After his death, his widow removed to Ipswich, where she died three years later.
Mr. White was an honorable man, prominent in public affairs, and a firm supporter of the church. He had one child, John, who married
*Perhaps not unlike his grandfather, Rev. John Ward, of Haverhill, Eng., concerning whom there is a quaint inscription in Latin verse on a mural tablet in the chancel of his church, of which the following is a translation :-
"Grant some of knowledge greater store, More learned some in teaching;
Yet few in life did lighten more, None thundered more in preaching."
1
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7
THE PIONEERS.
in Salem, Aug. 25, 1662, and died in 1669.
Hugh Sherratt, or Sherrit, came from Ipswich or, in the opinion of Mirick, from Salisbury. In 1650, the town granted him a house-lot "over the little river," probably near what is now Washington Square. He was, in 1662, allowed to keep an "ordinary" for the sale of intoxicating liquors at retail. He finally, in his old age, became a town charge; and died Sept. 5, 1678, having lived to be one hundred years old. If the moralist be led to des- cant upon the fact of his dependent circumstances as resulting from the demoralization attending liquor sel- ling, he will hardly claim this it shortened his life in any great de- grec.
Thomas Davis came from Mar]- borough, England. Chase believes he was a brother of James Davis, one of the first settlers of Pentucket. He married in England; and, emi- grating to America in 1641, settled in Newbury, but removed to Haver- hill the following spring. He died July 27, 1683.
Tristram Coffin was born in Plym- outh, England, in 1609. He mar- ried, and in 1642, sailed for Ameri- ca, bringing with him his mother, two sisters, wife, and five children -Peter, Tristram, Elizabeth, James, and John. It is not known where he landed, but he came to Haverhill in the summer of the same year. He is said to have been the first in town to plough. In 1643, he moved to Newbury, where he settled, prob- ably close by the river and opposite "Carr's Island." A year or two after,-authorities differ as to the
-
date,-he was licensed to keep an "ordinary," or tavern; and, in 1645, his wife was "presented" for "sel- ling beere at 3d a quarte," which, it appears, was contrary to law, 2d be- ing the legal price.
Mirick states that Coffin afterward went to Salisbury, and that, in 1662, having purchased four-tenths of the island of Nantucket, he removed thither.
Coffin had a daughter Mary, who was a remarkable woman. She mar- ried Nathaniel Starbuck, at Nan- tucket. She took prominent part in public affairs, and was revered as a person of superior intelligence. She became a proselyte to the faith of the Friends, or Quakers, and took charge of the spiritual concerns of the entire island. Her death oc- curred in 1717.
Robert Clement came from Eng- land in the ship with Tristram Cof- fin, near whom he settled in Haver- hill. With him came his wife and four children -John, Lydia, Robert, and Sarah. He had been preceded by his son Job, and was followed by his youngest daughter, who arrived some ten years later, and soon after married John Osgood, of Andover. Chase states that Robert Clement was the first deputy of the town to the tieneral Court, was associate judge, county commissioner, and held various other offices of trust. lle died in 1658, being akont sixty- eight years old. His son Robert was the first cooper in town. In 1652, this son married Elizabeth Fane, who bore him eleven children. He also held various town offices, and was a large land-owner. His house was near the site of the Ex- change Building, Water Street.
1
8
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
Job, the son of Robert Clement, was a tanner. He espoused Mar- garet Dummer, and his was the first marriage in the town.
George Corliss-then spelled Corle -was born in Devonshire County, England, about the year 1617. He immigrated to America, as nearly as can beascertained, in 1639; and pro- ceeded to Newbury. A year or two later he settled in Haverhill, where, Oct. 26, 1645, he married Joanna Davis, a native of Wales. His was the second marriage in Haverhill. Tradition has it, that, when mar- ried, he had a pair of silk breeches, which his wife afterward made into a dress for herself. Thus the worthy dame, in a happy and novel way, relieved herself of all embar- rassment in wearing the time-hon- ored insigna of connubial authority, and I have no doubt wielded her power with grace and wisdom.
In 1647, Mr. Corliss built a los honse on his farm, about three miles west of the little settlement, on land now the property of Charles Corliss, situated on Broadway. The dwell- ing was erected on a sunny knoll, close by a small brook. Traces of its cellar are still visible.
George Corliss died Oct. 19, 1686, leaving a family of one son and sex- en daughters. To clearly illustrate the amount of landed and other prop- erty acemulated by these carliest settlers, I append a copy of his last will and testament :-
"THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF GEORGE CORLE, MAADE OCT. 18, 1686.
"I, being weak in body, but well in minde, and not Knowing how itt may please God to Deal with me, I make my will, as followeth :--
"Ist. I Doe Committ my Soul to God that gave itt, and to Jesus Christ that hath Redeemed itt, () Lord, my God, most true! and my body to the Earth.
"2d. To my son, John Corle, 1 give the Farme he now Lives on, with two Commonages, and my Lower Spickett meadow, and my meadow at Policy, and my Land att west meadow; also I give him half the fourth Division and two Com- mages to the west meadow Land only. I give my wife a quarter part that I was to have of my Son John in kind as Long as She Lives, and that Shee Shall have Liberty to En- joy that House that I lived in for her Lite time, if Shee pleases.
"Bd. To my Daughter Nef," 1 give the Land that my son Nef Lives on,t and to her children born of body forever; and the Pond meadow. and one Commonage.
"4th. And, to my Daughter Hutchins, I give to her two hun- dred Acres of Land and four Acres of meadow att Policy, and two cows. (my Son in Law, Joseph Hutchins. Did ingage to me, that, if I would give him assurance of that Land, he would make over to my Daughter, to Hanna, his wife, and her Chil- dren, his house and Land upon the Ilill
" Land Should be made Sure to him, provided that he do make over that Honse and Land, or that which may be Equivalent.)
"5th. To my Son and Daughter Martha Lad, I give them Ninety Acres of Land att West Meadow that I have possessed them of al- ready, and one Commonage.
"6th. To my son and Daughter Eastman, I give to them half my Upper SSpickett meadow, and one Commonage, and one Cow.
"7th. To my Son and Daughter Ane Roby, I give them of Land
* Afterwards the companion of Hannah Dustin in her memorable escape from the savages.
t Probably the farm now owned by William Swa- zey, Broadway.
9
THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE.
that I recovered of my Brother Da- vis by Law, and two Commonages. "Sth. To my Son and Daughter Kingsbury, I give them Thirty Acres of Land being att West Meadow, and one Commuonage.
"9th. And to my Daughter Sarah Corle, I give her one Cow and two Sheep, half the fourth Division, and one Swine. I give further to my Sou John Halfe that oxe which is betwixt him and myselfe. I further order my Son John to pay all my Debts; and I pray you to be dutiful to your mother and fulltill this Obli- gation to her, or you forfeit your Obligation that is betwist you and myselfe: and for my Household Stuff, and one Cow, and two Calves, and my Sheep, and all my Clothes, I leave my wife to Dispose as Shee pleases. I order my Son John to See that my Will be fulfilled.
"GEORGE X CORLE.
"Witness: mark.
"John Tenny. "Eliz. A. Woster.
"Sarah Wallingford."
The first recorded birth in Haver- hill was that of a son to John Robin- son, in 1641. The child lived but three weeks. The second recorded birth, in 1642, was also a son to the same man; and this infant survived but a week.
Robinson was a blacksmith. In 1657, he bought land in Exeter, and soon removed thither.
CHAPTER II.
THE BEGINNING OF TROUBLE WITH THE INDIANS.
DURING the fall of 1642, the colo- ny of Massachusetts Bay was pro- foundly stirred by rumors of a gen- cral uprising of the Indians. Con- sternation and dismay filled the hearts of the settlers. The govern- or and council thought it proper to
attempt the disarmament of all na- tives within their reach. On the reception of a warrant from Boston, forty men from Newbury, Rowley, and Ipswich set forth to "disarm Pasaconnaway, who lived by the Merrimack."
This famous Indian was sachem of the Penacooks, the most power- ful tribe of northern New England, which held sway over numerous sub- ordinate tribes, the Nashuas, Wam- esits, Agawams, and others, levying tribute from each. He exerted great inthience over his people, and, it is believed, over a large portion of the great aboriginal family, the Algonquins, of which the Penacooks formed a part.
The armed force from Newbury, and other towns, mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, for some unexplained reason failed to capture Passaconaway: but secured the per- son of his son, with his squaw and child. While returning with the prisoners, the son broke away from his captors, and, although shot at, escaped.
Upon learning of this outrage, the governor of the colony despatched a friendly Indian in search of Passa- conaway to present an apology for the seizure of his family, and to ex- plain why the Indians were to be disarmed. The squaw and child were also sent back. The chief was not resentful, and afterward volun- tarily surrendered his arms, At a subsequent date, he went to Pena- cook, N. H., where he is supposed to have remained.
The expected Indian uprising did not occur; but it was afterwards learned that such a scheme had been
10
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
devised, the Narragansetts being the prime instigators in the plot.
CHAPTER III.
THE TOWN DEED.
IN 1642, the settlers of Haverhill obtained of its Indian owners a deed of the town, as follows: -
"KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRES- ENTS,
"That wee, Passaquo and Sagga Hew, with ve consent of Passacon- naway, have sold unto ye inhabi- tants of Pentuckett all ye lands wee have in Pentuckett: that is, cyght myles in length from ye little River in Pentuckett, Westward; Six myles in length from ve aforesaid Biver, northward; And six myles in length from ye aforesaid River Eastward, with ye Island and ve river that ye island stands in as far in length as ye land lyes by as formerly ex- pressed-that is, fourteen myles in length. And wee, ye said Passaquo and Sagga How, with ye consent of Passaconaway, have sold unto ye said inhabitants all ye right that wee or any of us have i ye said ground and Island and River; And wie warrant it against all or any other Indians whatsoever unto ve said Inhabitants of Pentuckett, and to their heires and assigns forever. Dated ye fifteenth day of Novem- ber, Ann. Dom. 1642.
"Witness our hands and scales to this bargayne of sale, ye day and year above written, in ye presents of us, wee, ye said Passaquo and Sagga Hew, have received in hand, for & in consideration of the same, three pounds & ten shillings.
"Ye marke of ". PASSAQUO (bow and arrow). [SEAL.]
"Ye marke of "SAGGA HEW (bow and arrow).
"John Ward. [SEAL.]
"Robert Clements.
"Tristram Coffin.
"Hugh Sheratt.
"William White. "Ye signe of
"Thomas O Davis."
This deed was not copied into the town records till 1680.
A glance at the terms of sale re- veals the fact, that the proverbial capacity for sharp dealing, which the native New Englander of to-day possesses, descended to him through legitimate channels. A trifle over fifteen dollars for a traet of land comprising perhaps a third more than the present city of Haverhill could not have been, even in those days, a munificent compensation !
In May, 1643, the colony of Mas- sachusetts Bay was divided into four counties-Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk and Norfolk. Haverhill, which had previously belonged to Essex, was now assigned to Norfolk, together with the towns of Salisbury, Ilamp- ton, Exeter, Dover, and Strawberry Bank ( Portsmonth). Haverhill re- mained in Norfolk County till 1679, when, in accordance with the King's order, recalling all commissions for governing that part of New Hamp- shire Province lying three miles north from Merrimack Liver, it was restored to Essex County, and all its territory lying more than three miles north of the river was included in New Hampshire.
The first recorded town-meeting was held Nov. 6, 1643; and the first vote carried was to prevent the wan- ton and unnecessary destruction of timber. At the same meeting it was voted, that three hundred acres only should be laid out in houselots, and that no man should have more than twenty acres. This tract is now included in the business section of the city, and was known as an "accommodation grant."
The General Court this year grant-
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THE INDIAN DEED.
ed to Haverhill "a parcel of meadow- land (about six score acres, more or less) west of Haverhill about six miles."" Nathaniel Ward, father of Rev. John Warl, was also, at the same term, granted six hundred acres of land "near Pentnekett."
Richard Littlehale was chosen "elerk of the writs"s and town re- corder. lle continued in office till 1664.
The fifth of March, 1543, was memorable on account of an earth- quake, which, according to Win- throp, did no partienlar damage. According to the same authority, there also occurred, on July 5th, a tornado, which "lifted up their meeting-house at Newbury, the pro- ple being in it. It darkened the air with dust; yet, through God's great merey, it did no hurt, but only killed one Indian with the fall of a tree."
On the sixth of February, 1641, a town-meeting was held. and a vote was passed, as follows: "All land- holders shall pay all publique rates according to their number of acres that they hold to their houselotts; and, if any man shall buy one acre of meadow, one acre and halfe of planting-ground, or one acre of commonage to his houselott, he shall pay proportionately for every acre or commonage with the house- lott."
At another meeting, held on the twenty-seventh of the same month, Job Clement was granted a quarter of an acre of land near the month of Mill Brook, on condition that he erect a tannery. This he did. Clem- ent was a brother of Robert, one of
the witnesses to the Indian deed of the town.
December 28th, were wedded Job Clement and Margaret Dumuner. This was the first marriage in town,
On the sixteenth of February. 1615, and for several days following, so much snow fell as to render the roads impassable for three weeks. The winter previously had been re- markably mild.
Chase says there were thirty land- holders in town this year.
Haverhill was incorporated into a town sometime in 1615.
The first church society organized during the summer. It was com- posed of fourteen members, eight male and six female. In October. John Ward was ordained pastor by an assembly of magistrates and min- isters of neighboring churches. " This church society was the twenty- sixth gathered in the colony.
At a town-meeting held Oct. 29. 1646, it was voted to pay Minister Ward an annual salary of Clo. It was also voted that his land be "rate free" during his life, if he continued minister to the plantation, and used such land himself.
The first selectmen of the town were chosen at the same meeting. They were Thomas Hale, Henry Palmer, Thomas Davis, James Da- vis, and William White.
Feb. 13, 1617, John Ayer, Sen., and James Fiske were fined for be- ing late at town-meeting.
The General Court of May, 1847, appointed John Osgood, of Ando- ver, and Thomas Hale, of Haver- hill, to "lay out the way from An- dover to Haverhill; and James Da-
*The "Court of the Writs" was one to try causes in which the amount involved did not exceed forty shillings.
*Mirick.
12
HISTORY OF HAVERHILL.
vis, Jr., and Antho: Staniell, from Haverhill to Exeetter."
year petitioned the General Court to enlarge the town. The Court ap- appointed a committee "to view the place, and returne their apprehen- sions to ye next General Conrte."
At the same session,-Oct. 27, 1647,-"town-marks were assigned to cach town, for marking cattle. That of Haverhill was the letter ' H.,' which was to be put upon the near quarter."*
An order, that every town of fifty families, or more, must support a school, was passed at the same ses- sion.
The same court also ordered that the inhabitants of Haverhill should choose an officer to drill their mili- tary company.
Richard Littlehale was this year voted a salary of thirty shillings to beat his drum on the Lord's day, morning and evening, and on lee- ture and town-meeting days.
This year, George Davis was "pre- sented" for "unseemly conduct toward his first wife's daughter," Richard Greene was "presented" for drunkenness, and John Brown was fined thirty shillings for beating his wife. Thus it will be seen that the criminal element exisisted even in the colony's earliest days.
During the early part of this same year, Job Clement was made a free- man at Ipswich court, and made constable for Haverhill. Chase thinks he was the first one in town.
The settlement now began to ex- tend toward the north and west. Grants of land were made north of
Pond Meadow, and habitations had been built near what is now Sar-
'Thomas Whiter, of Newbury, brought the first swarin of bees into town.
The town was "presented" at the September term of the General Court, for not having a ferry.
At the town-meeting, held March, 1648, the town voted to erect a meet- ing-house "on the lower knowle at the lower end of the mill lot." This was the ground which Linwood and Pentucket cemeteries now occupy. The edifice was completed the fol- lowing autumn. It was twenty-six feet by twenty, one story, and had neither gallary nor cupola. Chase says the underpinning was rough stones.
Hugh Sherritt was this year put under bonds for good behavior. Two years before he had been licensed to sell wine.
During the year, the Congrega- tional platform of church govern- ment was formed by a synod as- sembled at Cambridge.
At the March term of the General Court, Haverhill was again .. pre- sented" for not having a ferry. A tine of forty shillings, and fees, was imposed in case the town did not provide a ferry-boat within six months. The town thereupon came to terms, and appointed Thomas Hale as ferryman. The rate of fer- ryage was fixed at one penny for single passengers, two pence for young cattle, and four pence for those full grown.
Thomas Hall. Henry Palmer, and Thomas Davis were appointed to try cases in which the value in-
*Chase.
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THE SECOND DECADE.
volved was less than forty shillings.
Jolin Ayer and Job Clement were chosen grand jurymen on the thir- teenth of November.
Feb. 18, 1649, Thomas IIale was chosen constable.
During this year, the General Court ordered the town to erect a watch house, a pound, and stocks. The last-named terror to minor of- fendors were put up on the easterly side of the common.
Sometime during 1649, there came several persons from Rowley, and settled across the Merrimack oppo- site Haverhill. That was then the western portion of Rowley, and those men were the founders of Bradford.
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